2004 Ford F-250: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Aug 16, 2011 · Fuel system · 55,079 miles · AZ

The problem began in july 2011. I own and bought new, a 2004 f-250 super duty crew cab four-wheel drive truck with a 6.0 liter engine. The problem started with hard cold starts. When it did start after three to four attempts, the engine ran extremely rough. After a few minutes, it would eventually level off. Throughout the day, the engine would start and stop without any problems. But after being parked overnight, the truck would be hard to start. This continued for several weeks. On the evening of august 11, 2011, after the engine was off for only three hours, it was hard to start. The engine would lope, it would not level off for a few minutes and blew black smoke out the exhaust. Eventually, it did level off and drove home. I did not attempt to start it up again until the morning of august fifteen. It would not start. When I turned the key, it cranked, acted like it was going to start, then back to just cranking. I attempted seven times and stopped concerned I would drain the battery, damage the starter, or some other part. I contacted the dealer. It had to be towed to their service center. They ran diagnostics and determined it was the ficm (fuel injector control module) and was going to cost me $1,300 to fix. This is our only source of transportation, so I reluctantly gave them the go ahead to fix it. The day it went in for service it only had 55,079 miles. I don't understand. This truck is only seven years old. I hesitated in switching to diesel, but after researching and listening to friends and relatives about the lower fuel costs, lower maintenence, higher performance, I switched. I am disappointed that in only seven years, I'm having to spend over a thousand dollars to replace a part that cannot be repaired. Poor design or poor quality? American made cars and trucks used to be built to outlast their owners. This event has questioned my trust in the "built ford tough" statement. Recall should be the word for this situation.

Filed Sep 8, 2009 · Transmission · 165,000 miles · IN

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford f250. After approaching a stop sign, the contact attempted to accelerate and the vehicle failed to move; however, she was able to drive in reverse and then forward without any hesitation. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. There were no prior warning signs. The current and failure mileages were 165000.

Filed Apr 7, 2005 · Acceleration · 43,000 miles · OR

When accelerating to 60 MPH vehicle hesitates then decelerates to 30 MPH.

Filed Sep 8, 2004 · Engine · CA

Vehicle was driving poorly while accelerating and hesitated. Consumer noticed the check engine light flashed on, then flashed off. Consumer drove vehicle to the dealer for inspection. The problem could not be duplicated.

Filed Aug 10, 2004 · Engine · 9,800 miles · GA

2004 f250 king ranch. I have had the truck since april 8. Around the middle of july it started hesitating and stalling. It would hesitate while going at any speed, at any time, whether going down the road or sitting still. While the motor is running, it will completely lose power, as if you had taken your foot completely off of the gas pedal. After a few seconds it will regain power, as if you put your foot back on the gas pedal. Several of these occurrences have been very close calls for crashes and could have been life threatening if not for other alert drivers. After "repairing" the truck the first time, I no more than got it home before it was doing the same thing again. After ordering some more parts and "repairing" the truck the second time, it started shaking violently after first starting and while idling. It also gained a loud scrubbing/thumping sound somewhere in the front half of the vehicle. It is now back in the shop for the third time in less than 1 month. I have had my truck for a total of 4 days out of the last 21 and am very afraid of having an accident if they "repair" the problem again.