Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
Well the passenger side in front seat seat belt needs replaced due to getting stuck after front airbags in dash and steering wheel after deployment from barley tapping a vehicle in front of the truck
GAS PEDAL IS STICKING. TRUCK SPEEDS UP, ONLY WAY TO STOP IS SHIFT TO NEUTRAL.HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HIT PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET BACK TO IDLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFTERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC EVEN SIGNED OFF FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE ABNORMAL SOUND RETURNED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 247,000.
SEPTEMBER 05, 2017 3:49PM WHEN APPROCHING THE CAPE COD MA BRIDGE, MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS FORD F-150 SUDDENELY ACCERELATED WHEN THE CRUSE CONTROL WAS OFF. SHE REACHED SPEEDS EXCEDING 80MPH AND THE BRAKES WHERE USELESS. SHE HAD TO SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILLE WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC TO REGAIN CONTROL. HAD SHE BEEN IN ANY HEAVER TRAFFIC OR ON THE BRIDGE SHE AND MAYBE OTHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SEVERLY INJURED!!! THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN ISSUE YET FORD AND MY LOCAL FORD DEALER KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT (STRANGE) THE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE JUST IS NOT FOR HER F-150. WHEN I SPOKE TO BOTH FORD AND MY LOCAL DEALER. THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE. (CRICKETTS FROM FORD)
CPSC:I HAVE A 2003 FORD 6 CYLINDER TRUCK AND IT HAS NEARLY GOTTEN US KILLED A NUMBER OF TIMES!I'VE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND CAN'T FIND ONE AND I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN COVINGTON LOUISIANA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I SENT EMAILS TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEVER GET A RESPONSE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE RAPIDLY AND UNINTENTIONALLY. IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THE DRIVER HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, WHICH WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 08/31/2017*JS
HORN CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING STARTED WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN TOWN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NOT SEIZED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. 06/01/17UPDATED *LJ *AS
PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A MEDICAL CLINIC, GOING MAYBE 5 -8 MPH AND I HAD THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE AND HIT A BUILDING--YOU CAN SEE THE SKID MARK IN THE FIRST PICTURE. I ENDED UP HITTING A BUILDING AND WHEN IT GOT STOPPED THE TIRES JUST KEPT SPINNING UNTIL I SHUT IT OFF. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, MYSELF AND MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE HURT. MAJOR BUILDING DAMAGE AS WELL. MILEAGE AT TIME THIS HAPPENED 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT 50 MPH AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A MEDIAN WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND EYE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PENDING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,381.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND CONTINUED TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A SHORT AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO FILED A COMPLAINT AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 270,000.
2003 FORD F-150. CLAIMS ADJUSTER SENT CORRESPONDENCE ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER WHO LOST HIS VEHICLE DUE TO A FIRE IN WHICH AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE CRUISE DEACTIVATION SWITCH *TGW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD UNTIL SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC COVER USED TO PROTECT THE THROTTLE WAS JAMMED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE PLASTIC COVER WAS REMOVED AND THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. .UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF THE CONSUMERS SON WAS ABLE TO THROW THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE ENGINE STILL ACCELERATING. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL IN THE ACCELERATED POSITION. THE CONSUMER PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR HARD A COUPLE OF TIMES AND MANAGED TO STOP IT FROM ACCELERATING. UPON INSPECTION, THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD COME LOOSE AND WEDGED ITSELF IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE THROTTLE COULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. UPDATED 09/30/11*JB
THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN (> 75 MPH). CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. THE BREAK WAS EFFECTIVE AT MITIGATING INCREASING SPEED UNTIL THE VEHICLE COULD BE STOPPED SAFELY ON THE SIDE OF HWY 85S. DISTANCE TRAVELED WITH UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILES. PRIOR TO STOPPING AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, AN ATTEMPT TO PUT THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL WHILE SPEEDING WAS FRUITLESS -- THE ENGINE RACED TO MAXIMUM RPM WHEN PUT IN NEUTRAL. FOR FEAR I WOULD BLOW THE ENGINE, I PUT THE TRANSMISSION BACK INTO "DRIVE" AND CONTINUED TAMPING ON MY BREAKS TO CONTROL MY SPEED. HEAVY BREAKING WAS UTILIZED ONCE I WAS IN SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I ATTEMPTED TO RE-START THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES, EACH TIME WITH THE SAME RESULT - - THE ENGINE RED-LINED AT MAXIMUM RPMS. I CONTACTED AAA FOR ROADSIDE SERVICE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A RALEIGH FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE RED-LINED AT MAXIMUM RPMS. THEY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE. THEY FOUND A PLASTIC COVER FOR THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED ITSELF IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PUT TENSION ON THE THROTTLE CABLE/LEVER. A SAFETY CLIP THAT HOLDS THE COVER IN PLACE WAS MISSING. THEY RE-SECURED THE COVER WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SAFETY CONNECTOR, AND THEN RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS NORMAL. THE FORD DEALER REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE ON A MUSTANG, BUT NOT OF F-150. THE FORD DEALER REPRESENTATIVE TRIED TO DOWN-PLAY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INCIDENT -- AS IF IT WAS "NO BIG DEAL". THEY DID NOT OPEN A SERVICE WORK ORDER TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE OR REPAIR. THE TOLD ME THERE WAS "NO CHARGE" FOR THE SERVICE.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE. OWNER RETURNED HOME WHILE AWAY WITH HIS SON TO FIND THAT VEHICLE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE EXTENT OF FIRE WAS THE FRONT ENGINE AREA. VEHICLE WAS USED NIGHT BEFORE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE FIVE MINUTES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PART OF THE UTILITY BUILDING, THE CARPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN, ALL OF ITS CONTENTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 11/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 11/19/10.*LJ UPDATED 11/26/10
MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE THROTTLE STUCK, THE BRAKES DID NOTHING. HE HAD TO THROW THE VEHICLE IN PARK. *TR
1.CRUISE CONTROL USE. 2.OCCURS INTERMITTANTLY WHILE DRIVING. 3. FORD REFUSED. MY SYMPTOM, MODEL, AND YEAR OF VEHICLE IS INCLUDED ON FORD RECALL UPDATE OF 6/26/08 AS FIRE HAZARD BUT BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT LISTED FORD REFUSES EVEN TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. HTTP://WWW.FORD.COM/DYNAMIC/METATAGS/ARTICLE-DETAIL/223_IMPORTANT_NOTICE_VOLUNTARY_RECALL_UPDATE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INJURED HER RIGHT FOOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE LOCKED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PEDAL UNLOCKED ITSELF AFTER 10 MINUTES AND MADE A PINGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON PART OF THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. THIS CAN CAUSE AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE AND NEEDS A REPLACEMENT PART/FUSE INSTALLED. THE PART WILL NOT BE IN UNTIL MARCH 2008! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HIS GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 10 HOURS EARLIER. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED OR LOCATE ANY DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DAMAGED, HOWEVER, THE MOST EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED ALL 3 INVESTIGATORS STATED THE FIRE WAS A DEFECT IN THE TRUCK. FIRE DEPT AND INSURANCE REPORT. UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR
FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL ON 2003 FORD F150. SITUATION: DRIVING AT STEADY STATE; PRESS CRUISE-CONTROL 'ON' SWITCH; HORN CHIRPS; CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES WITH-OUT PRESSING THE 'SET' BUTTON AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE. BRAKE PEDAL DE-ACTIVATION SWITCH DIS-ENGAGES CRUISE CONTROL ONLY TEMPORARILY. CRUISE CONTROL RE-ACTIVATES ON IT'S OWN WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE PEDAL, AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE 'OFF' SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL SUCCESSFULLY DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED ~MARCH 2007, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AT THE DEALER. PROBLEM RE-SURFACED ON 8/5/07, AND SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT NOW. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THIS POINT; NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE. *JB
ON OCCASIONS WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PETAL, THE ENGINE WILL SPEED UP WIDE OPEN CAUSING THE BACK WHEEL TO ACTUALLY TO SPIN THE BACK TIRES WHILE HOLDING THE BREAK PETAL DOWN HARD! VERY DANGEROUS!! FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN THE TRUCK WAS ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS OLD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASION OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN BUT NOT AS SERIOUS UNTIL ONLY RECENTLY! LAST TIME I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER, MAY 14, 2007, I LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR A WEEK. I WENT BACK AND PICKED UP THE TRUCK, AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THE WRONG. I TOOK THE TRUCK AND IN ONE AND ONE HALF WEEK LATER THE FAST ACCELERATION HAPPEN AGAIN!!! *TR SEE ALSO ODI 10205846 *DSY.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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