A driver in Tennessee recently shared his new ride on social media. Well, new to him…it’s a 2008 Ford F-150 FX4 truck. And it’s decidedly nice: clean, two rows of leather seats, tonneau cover. The best part is, he paid cash for it.

He posted a walkthrough of the pickup under his TikTok, @prestonscottcox. He captioned the reel, “Turns out Dave Ramsey was right.” Of course, Ramsey followers know that financing a car can hold your money-related freedom back.

Unfortunately, though, my thoughts and prayers go out to him: it’s got the Ford 3-valve 5.4L V8 Triton engine.

I’m not fooling, either. I wrote dozens of Triton repair estimates during my years at the shop.

Owners of a 2008 Ford F-150 with the 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine can expect several known problems in 2025, most of which stem from long-standing design flaws and age-related wear

One of the most well-documented issues is with the spark plugs. This engine used a two-piece spark plug design that’s prone to breaking during removal, which can lead to expensive repairs if parts get stuck in the cylinder head. 

Ford revised the F-150 Triton design mid-2008 to a more reliable one-piece plug, but many early-year trucks still have the older style unless they’ve already been serviced. Even then, the replacement process remains tricky without the right tools and experience.

Timing chain problems are another common concern. Over time, the chains in these F-150 trucks can stretch, and the plastic guides wear out, leading to a loud rattle at startup or during acceleration. 

Worn cam phasers, which control valve timing, can add a diesel-like knocking noise and cause a rough idle or poor performance. Again, I wrote tons of these engine repair and replacement estimates over the years.

These issues often show up around 100,000 to 150,000 miles and are typically made worse by poor oil maintenance. The phasers and tensioners are oil-pressure driven, so sludge buildup from infrequent oil changes can accelerate failure. Once these symptoms appear, many owners find themselves facing a costly timing set replacement.

Ignition coil failure is also common due to the F-150 5.4L engine’s coil-on-plug setup. The rubber boots and coils themselves wear down with heat and age, causing misfires, rough starting, and poor fuel economy. Replacing all eight coils and boots is often recommended once symptoms begin, especially if the truck has over 100,000 miles.

But wait, there’s more!

Oil leaks from the valve covers, oil pan gasket, or timing cover are frequent in trucks this old. 

Exhaust manifold leaks are another recurring issue, often due to broken studs or rusted flanges. 

These last couple of problems may not leave the F-150 undriveable, but can lead to noisy operation, decreased performance, and higher emissions. 

Some owners also report fuel pump module failures, throttle body problems, and other electronic gremlins as the truck ages.

And even if this exact F-150 has low mileage, it means it wasn’t driven by a commuter. If you buy, say, a low-mileage truck that a retired person used as a grocery-getter and then turn it into a daily, you might expect some sudden hard-use problems to strike, like the oil leaks mentioned above.

Don’t get me wrong: with consistent maintenance, especially regular oil changes with high-quality synthetic oil and early spark plug upgrades, many of these trucks still run well past 200,000 miles. But for those who neglected service intervals, issues with timing components and ignition systems are almost inevitable by 2025.

@prestonscottcox seemed to understand the situation: at the end of the TikTok, he shrugs, gives a thumbs-up, and writes, “I’ll let you know when it breaks down.”

Hopefully, the prior owner already dealt with all of the above. I guess this whole situation is better than borrowing money to get into a 2008 Ford F-150 Triton, too.

MotorBiscuit reached out to @prestonscottcox on TikTok direct message to see how things are going with the F-150 so far.