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2008 Ford F-150 Safety Review

July 23, 2008

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good," frontal offset test
IIHS

Five stars, frontal impact protection; four stars, rollover rating
NHTSA

Unlike most of its competitors, F-150 does not offer side airbags or stability control
Edmunds

The 2008 Ford F-150 has a lot of promising safety credentials, but there are still a few noteworthy feature omissions that prospective buyers should be aware of.

The 2008 Ford F-150 has been crash-tested by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and each reports favorably on the Ford F-150. The NHTSA put the Ford F-150 through both of its frontal impact tests and awarded the 2008 Ford F-150 a perfect five stars for both driver and passenger side impacts. The NHTSA also awarded the Ford F-150 2008 four out of five possible stars in its rollover category for rear- and four-wheel-drive versions. The IIHS has also put the 2008 Ford F-150 through their frontal offset test, and they give the Ford F-150 the highest possible rating, "good" in this case, for occupant protection. No side impact tests were conducted by either agency, but this is likely due to the large variety of cab and bed options that would complicate issuing a safety rating.

When it comes to safety features, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the Ford F-150 2008 has a curious mix of welcome safety features and glaring omissions. Edmunds writes that "antilock brakes are standard across the board" and "traction control is optional on 2WD V8 models," but "unlike most of its competitors, the F-150 does not offer side airbags or stability control--the latter a key feature for avoiding accidents in the first place." On the welcome features side of the safety equation, Cars.com says that "front seat belt pretensioners are standard" and the "dual-stage front airbags work with an occupant classification system sensor" that helps prevent the airbags from harming children in the front seat. The two optional safety features on the Ford F-150 2008 are a "rear-obstacle-detection system" and a "rearview camera," according to ConsumerGuide.

That rearview camera option might be nice to have, but it certainly isn't essential since the visibility from the Ford F-150's cab is pretty good to begin with. ConsumerGuide says that "outward visibility is unobstructed," even in the largest Ford F-150 models.

Conclusion

The 2008 Ford F-150 performs very well in the crash tests it has faced, but the lack of some key safety features is unfortunate.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good," frontal offset testIIHSFive stars, frontal impact protection; four stars, rollover ratingNHTSAUnlike most of its competitors, F-150 does not offer side airbags or stability controlEdmunds The 2008 Ford F-150 has a lot of promising safety credentials, but there are still a few noteworthy feature omissions that prospective buyers should be aware of. The 2008 Ford F-150 has been crash-tested by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and each reports favorably on the Ford F-150. The NHTSA put the Ford F-150 through both of its frontal impact tests and awarded the 2008 Ford F-150 a perfect five stars for both driver and passenger side impacts. The NHTSA also awarded the Ford F-150 2008 four out of five possible stars in its rollover category for rear- and four-wheel-drive versions. The IIHS has also put the 2008 Ford F-150 through their frontal offset test, and they give the Ford F-150 the highest possible rating, "good" in this case, for occupant protection. No side impact tests were conducted by either agency, but this is likely due to the large variety of cab and bed options that would complicate issuing a safety rating. When it comes to safety features, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the Ford F-150 2008 has a curious mix of welcome safety features and glaring omissions. Edmunds writes that "antilock brakes are standard across the board" and "traction control is optional on 2WD V8 models," but "unlike most of its competitors, the F-150 does not offer side airbags or stability control--the latter a key feature for avoiding accidents in the first place." On the welcome features side of the safety equation, Cars.com says that "front seat belt pretensioners are standard" and the "dual-stage front airbags work with an occupant classification system sensor" that helps prevent the airbags from harming children in the front seat. The two optional safety features on the Ford F-150 2008 are a "rear-obstacle-detection system" and a "rearview camera," according to ConsumerGuide. That rearview camera option might be nice to have, but it certainly isn't essential since the visibility from the Ford F-150's cab is pretty good to begin with. ConsumerGuide says that "outward visibility is unobstructed," even in the largest Ford F-150 models. ConclusionThe 2008 Ford F-150 performs very well in the crash tests it has faced, but the lack of some key safety features is unfortunate.  2008 FORD F-150 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Edmunds: "F-150s with the Lariat trim offer an upscale ambiance" Automobile: "Assertive trapezoidal grille beneath a muscled-up hoodline" Cars.com: "Regular cabs and SuperCabs have narrow rear-hinged back doors" The Ford F-150 was redesigned ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

When it comes to light-duty trucks, the 2008 Ford F-150 and the Chevy Silverado are the two big dogs. They go at it every day. The Ford has kept selling well even since the Chevy Silverado's complete revamp for the 2007 model year. The Chevy does have some advantages, including a better ride (fewer jiggles) and more polished powertrains. While the Ford outsells the Chevy, if one combines the sales of the Chevy with its GMC twin the Sierra, GM sells more light-duty trucks cumulatively--at least this year. Things may change when the 2009 Ford F-150 arrives. The Dodge Ram 1500 is in the same situation as the Ford F-150; both are due for a remake in 2009. The Dodge needs it, as its truck has been around in current form even longer than the Ford. Styling and available HEMI power are the Ram's two biggest selling points. While the Toyota Tundra is capable, it hasn't proven nearly as popular as the Ford F-150. And even though we consider the Nissan Titan to be the sportiest-handling full-size truck out there, compared to all F-150 production, a year's worth of Titans barely equates to a month of Fords. Ford's got to be doing something right with this truck.

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See the Ford F-150 in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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