Diagnostic trouble code · Ford
P0304 on Ford vehicles Cylinder 4 is misfiring
P0304 is named on 37 Ford model years (2016–2026): 93 manufacturer filings and 59 owner reports in NHTSA’s files, across Escape, Edge, Fusion, Mustang, Ranger and 7 more.
Powertrain 37 model years 93 manufacturer filings 59 owner reports
Which Ford model years name P0304
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints| Model year | Filed under | Bulletins | Owner reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Escape | Engine | 4 | 17 |
| 2017 Ford Edge | Engine | 4 | 9 |
| 2016 Ford Edge | Engine | 5 | 7 |
| 2017 Ford Fusion | Engine | 8 | 2 |
| 2016 Ford Fusion | Engine | 4 | 5 |
| 2019 Ford Escape | Engine | — | 6 |
| 2024 Ford Escape | Power Train | 5 | — |
| 2024 Ford Mustang | Power Train | 5 | — |
| 2021 Ford Ranger | Engine | 5 | — |
| 2020 Ford Ranger | Power Train | 5 | — |
| 2019 Ford Ranger | Electrical System | 5 | — |
| 2018 Ford Escape | Engine | — | 5 |
| 2025 Ford Explorer | Power Train | 4 | — |
| 2023 Ford Escape | Power Train | 4 | — |
| 2022 Ford Ranger | Engine | 4 | — |
| 2018 Ford Edge | Engine | 1 | 3 |
| 2016 Ford F-150 | Engine | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 Ford Escape | Not specified | 3 | — |
| 2018 Ford GT | Engine | 3 | — |
| 2017 Ford GT | Engine | 3 | — |
| 2025 Ford Mustang | Power Train | 2 | — |
| 2024 Ford Bronco | Suspension | 2 | — |
| 2021 Ford Bronco | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2019 Ford Fusion | Engine | — | 2 |
| 2016 Ford Escape | Engine | 1 | 1 |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | Not specified | 1 | — |
| 2025 Ford Bronco | Power Train | 1 | — |
| 2025 Ford Bronco Sport | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2025 Ford Maverick | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2025 Ford Ranger | Power Train | 1 | — |
| 2024 Ford Explorer | Power Train | 1 | — |
| 2024 Ford Ranger | Power Train | 1 | — |
| 2022 Ford GT | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2021 Ford GT | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2020 Ford GT | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2019 Ford GT | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2018 Ford Focus | Engine | — | 1 |
A model year is listed because the code is named in its own record — a bulletin filed against it, or an owner’s complaint about it — not because every one of these vehicles sets it. Counts are documents in NHTSA’s files, not failure rates.
Engine 109 Power Train 22 Not specified 8 Equipment 4
When Ford owners report it
Reported at 70k
miles, typically
Half of the 13 Ford owner reports naming P0304 that carry an odometer reading fall between 60,000 and 87,000 miles.
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What Ford owners said
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners’ own words, scrubbed of anything identifying. Unverified reports filed with NHTSA — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
It describes a low coolant level and a runs rough condition with DTCs including P0301 through P0304, states the cause may be coolant intrusion into the cylinder, and directs dealers to replace the long block engine assembly
The engine began misfiring and causing the car to shake and causing an engine light on ignition, pulling an error code of P0304, pointing to an issue with the cylinders
Ford filings that name P0304
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsBulletins and campaigns Ford filed with NHTSA whose summary names P0304. Quote the document number at the service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
- TSB 16-0150 Service bulletin2016-11-02 · Engine And Engine Cooling — Exhaust System
- SOME 2014-2017 FUSION AND 2017 ESCAPE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 1.5L GASOLINE TURBOCHARGED DIRECT INJECTION (GTDI) ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT LOW COOLANT, WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE AND AN ILLUMINATED MIL IF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0217, P300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0316 AND/OR P1299 ARE PRESENT. THIS CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO AN INTAKE MANIFOLD BOLT BACKING OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CHARGE AIR COOLE
- TSB 17-0028 Service bulletin2017-03-14 · Equipment — Other — Owners/Service/Other Manual
- SOME 2014-2017 FUSION AND 2017 ESCAPE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 1.5L GASOLINE TURBOCHARGED DIRECT INJECTION (GTDI) ENGINE AND AN ODOMETER READING 16,000 KM (10,000 MILES) OR ABOVE MAY EXHIBIT LOW COOLANT, WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE AND MAY ALSO EXHIBIT AN ILLUMINATED MIL WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0217, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0316 AND/OR P1299. THIS CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO AN INTAK
- TSB 16-0130 Service bulletin2016-09-26 · Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline — Turbo/Supercharger
- Some 2014-2017 Fusion and 2017 Escape vehicles equipped with a 1.5L Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDI) engine may exhibit low coolant, white exhaust smoke and an illuminated MIL if diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0217, P300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0316 and/or P1299 are present. This condition may be due to an intake manifold bolt backing out causing damage to the charge air coole
- 17-2235 Service bulletin2017-11-21 · Engine
- Some 2016-2017 Edge/MKX, 2017 Continental, and 2017 Fusion/MKZ vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L gasoline turbocharged direct injection (GTDI) engine and built on 1-Apr-2016 and through 1-Jan-2017 may exhibit white or blue smoke from the exhaust, rough idle in neutral or park at normal operating temperature or after a hot restart. The vehicle may also exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicat
- SSM 47204 Service bulletin2018-03-30 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- Some 2015-2018 Fusion/MKZ/MKC/Escape/Edge vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a runs rough condition with DTCs P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316. This may be due to coolant intrusion due to corrosion on the engine block. To diagnose this concern, with the engine at normal operating temperature, pressurize the cooling system to 138 kPa (20 psi) and hold for 5 hour
- TSB 19-2243 Service bulletin2019-08-12 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- Some 2016-2017 Edge/MKX, 2017 Continental/Fusion/MKZ vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost engine and built on 1-Apr-2016 and through 1-Jan-2017 may exhibit white or blue smoke from the exhaust, rough idle in neutral or park at normal operating temperature or after a hot restart. The vehicle may also exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DT
- SSM 46363 Service bulletin2017-02-07 · Engine And Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Emission Control
- SOME 2016 EDGE/MKX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.7L ENGINE AND BUILT ON 1-APR-2016 AND THROUGH 1-OCT-2016 MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR AFTER A HOT RESTART, WHITE OR BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND/OR AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305,
- SSM 46364 Service bulletin2017-02-07 · Engine And Engine Cooling — Exhaust System
- SOME 2017 MKZ/CONTINENTAL/FUSION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.7L/3.0L ENGINE AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE 6-OCT-2016 MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR AFTER A HOT RESTART, WHITE OR BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND/OR AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304
- SSM 52419 Service bulletin2024-04-05 · Power Train
- Some 2023-2024 Escape/Corsair vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 2024 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, and 2024 Nautilus vehicles may exhibit an engine misfire condition with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0301, P0302, P0303 and/or P0304 set in the powertrain control module (PCM). If the codes are stored in the PCM, remove and inspect the condition of all
- SSM 52630 Service bulletin2024-06-19 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2023-2024 Escape/Corsair vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 2024 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, and 2024 Nautilus vehicles may exhibit an engine misfire condition with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0301, P0302, P0303 and/or P0304 set in the powertrain control module (PCM). If the codes are stored in the PCM, remove and inspect the condition of all
- TSB 24-2384 Service bulletin2024-11-22 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2023-2025 Escape/Corsair vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 2024 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, 2024-2025 Nautilus, and 2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an engine misfire condition with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0301, P0302, P0303 and/or P0304 set in the powertrain control module (PCM).
- TSB 21-2147 Service bulletin2021-06-08 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
- Some 2019-2021 Ranger vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to water build up in the spark plug well(s) which can lead to signs of corrosion on ignition system components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Proce
What P0304 means
Source: SAE J2012 / OBD-IICylinder 4 is misfiring.
A stored code names the test that failed, never the part that caused it. The record above is what Ford and its owners have filed about it; the code’s page across every make has the whole file.
From here
Common questions
Source: NHTSA files and the OBD-II standardIs P0304 a known problem on Ford vehicles?
It is a documented one: NHTSA's files hold 93 manufacturer filings and 59 owner reports naming P0304 on 37 Ford model years (2016–2026). Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count — but a bulletin that names the code on your model year is the place to start.
Which Ford models does P0304 appear on most?
2017 Escape (21 documents), 2017 Edge (13 documents), 2016 Edge (12 documents).
Does P0304 on a Ford mean it is recalled?
No. Recalls are filed by campaign and matched by VIN; no recall is triggered by a scan tool. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or open the model year's page here for the campaigns filed against it.