Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. 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. 17 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
UNKNOWN - however there were NO warning lights or any other indication of malfunction or to service the truck. I took the truck to an independent service center & they did a full inspection & I did receive an estimate for repairs.
TRANS WENT OUT A MONTH AFTER INTAKE CRACK HAD TO BE REPLACE ALMOST $1,650 TOGETHER ALSO BALL JOINTS AND TIEROD ENDS NO GOOD SHOCK NO GOOD BRAKE ARE FALLING AND REAR END IS GRINDING THIS TRUCK SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD HELP AND THERE'S "MORE".
DROVE TO OUR CABIN IN UPPER WISCONSIN AND THE PSF TIRE THE MIDDLE OF IT BLOW OUT. IT HAD PROBABLE A 4 INCH CUT FROM WHEN IT BLUE. THE TIRES ARE LESS THEN A YEAR OLD WITH 3,600 MILES ON THEM. THE TIRES WON'T CHEAP BUT THERE JUNK AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I BUY GOOD YEAR OF ANY TYPE.
I WAS TRAVELING 285-WEST IN DECATUR, GA., AROUND 3:30 PM EASTERN TIME, WHEN I WAS IN A A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE GRASS, WHEN A DODGE RAM FOUR DOOR TRUCK HIT MY F-150 SUPER CREW CAB 2003. THE DRIVER HIT MY DRIVER SIDE BACKDOOR, AND THEN HE HIT ME AGAIN ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BUMPER, AND SPUN ME OFF THE ROAD INTO A WOODED AREA WITH LARGE TREES AND A RAVINE. I THEN HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A LARGE TREE. I CALLED ON THE NAME JESUS THREE TIMES, THEN MY TRUCK TURNED 180 DEGREES AND THAT TURNED ME AROUND GOING INTO THE RAVINE BACKWARDS. I FELT MYSELF COME OUT OF MY SEAT WITH MY SEAT BELT ON. MY BENCH SEAT WENT INTO RECLINE, THEN MY HEAD WENT BACKWARDS, THEN FORWARD. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID RESEARCH, WHEN I NOTICED A WEBSITE CALLED "WEKEEPITSAFE". THE DATABASE SHOWS 144,000 FORD F-150 2003'S RECALLED FOR FAILURE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I CALLED FORD'S MOTOR HEAD QUARTERS. THE FIRST NUMBER WAS (313)323-9100, THEN I WAS TRANSFERRED TO 1-866-436-7332. I SPOKE WITH A REP BY THE NAME OF MEL, AND HE GAVE ME A CHOICE OF MONETARY COMPENSATION OR A TRUCK. I DECLINED, DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS HEAVILY MEDICATED WITH HYDROCODONE FOR HEAD, NECK, AND SHOULDER PAIN. I SUFFER FROM EXCRUCIATING HEAD ACHES, STABBING PAIN IN MY EAR, AND NUMBNESS/TINGLING/AND PAIN IN MY BACK AND LEGS. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALIST, BECAUSE MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN IS UNABLE TO ASSIST. MY CASE NUMBER IS: #CAS10200415. I AM FOND OF FORD PICKUP SUPER CREW CABS. I HAVE A PICTURE SHOWING THE AIRBAG.AND THE PICTURE PROVES THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT IT IS WORKING, IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER CORNER OTHER PICTURE BY THE GEAR SHIFT. I SPOKE WITH MEL AT 11:24 AM EASTERN TIME.
RIMS ARE RUSTING AT THE BEAD BECAUSE WATER SITS IN THERE WHEN IT RAINS. THE METAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND AIR BUBBLES OCCUR WHEN WATER IS IN THERE. THREE OF FOUR RIMS ARE "BUBBLING" FROM THIS FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LUG NUTS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE CORRODED WHICH PREVENTED THE SOCKET AND THE WRENCH TO REMOVE THE LUG NUTS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
SEPT 17TH 2011. SAT. NIGHT ABOUT 10:00PM I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD F-150 TRUCK EAST. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45-50MPH ON A STRAIGHT COUNTRY ROAD WHEN A LOUD SOUND WENT OFF AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD AS IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I AND A PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS FULL OF SMOKE AND THE HORN WAS BLARING , WE OPENED THE HOOD AND DISABLED THE HORN PUT ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE. COULDN'T GET IT IN OR OUT OF GEAR, ITS A STANDARD. I CALLED MY INSURANCE CO. AND WE HAD MY TRUCK TOWED FROM THERE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE. BOTH OF US WERE PRETTY SHAKENED AND HAD HURT NECKS AND BACKS AND I HURT MY HAND. MY FRIEND GOT HURT THE WORST AND IS STILL SEEING DOCTORS FOR HIS NECK INJURIES. I AM OKAY BUT SORE AND HAVEN'T GONE TO THE DOCTORS. MY INSURANCE WON'T COVER THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED INSIDE THE CAB OR HAVE AIRBAGS RE-INSTALLED. I HAVE FULL COVERAGE! THE AIR BAGS JUST DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. OUT OF THE BLUE. GIVES ME A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE ABOUT AIR BAGS,THEY MAY SAVE YOUR LIVE OR TAKE YOUR LIFE! THEY ARE SCARY, SMELL BAD, RUIN YOUR CAR AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A BRAIN BEFORE THE TRUCK WILL RUN. THE TRUCK IS STILL DISABLED TODAY. I FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SENSORS OR THE AIRBAGS THEMSELVES! AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY EITHER MY INSURANCE OR THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY ONE OF THE TWO! I HAD THE TRUCK FOR 4 YEARS AND NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED LIKE THAT BEFORE. ITS NEVER BEEN HIT IN THE FRONT AND I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG. ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AND BOOM. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. IT WAS TRAUMATIZING TO SAY THE LEAST! *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE SOCKET WRENCH. THE WRENCH WAS EQUIPPED WITHIN THE VEHICLE TO ASSIST WITH TIRE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO SMALL TO LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS THAT SECURED THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO CHECK THE AIR PRESSURE LEVEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 04/24/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY SPINDLE SNAPPED AND THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $5,200. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED WITH A USED HUB ASSEMBLY PER HIS INSURANCE COMPANY'S REQUEST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
I PURCHASED AN 2003 F-150 STX 4X4 IN JULY OF 2003. LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD TO BE REPLACED. STOPPED WORKING WITH NO NOTICABLE PROBLEMS. IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS THE GEAR BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARDER THAN USUAL. TOOK IT IN AND THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT CONTINUED, AND LESS THAN 6 MONTHS GOES BY AND I AM SITTING AT A RED LIGHT DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE KY AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE TRUCK GOES BACKWARDS! THANK GOD NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME! AFTER 15 MINUTES I FINALLY GET THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND CALL FORD ROADSIDE ASSTISTANCE. THAT WAS A JOKE IN ITSELF. FINALLY 4 HOURS LATER THE TRUCK IS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CALL THE NEXT DAY AND SAY IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. DUH! I TOLD THEM THAT MONTHS AGO. THEY "FIX" IT AND IT STILL IS NOT RIGHT. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND I HAVE CONTACTED FORD. THE SECOND DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, SO FAR ALL I GET IS, YES, IT DOES SHIFT REALLY HARD BUT WE CAN'T GET A CODE TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT! I AM STILL PAYING FOR THE TRUCK AND IT IS NOW UNDER THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" THIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG! NO ONE SHOULD PAY $36000 FOR A TRUCK AND HAVE THIS MUCH GO WRONG WITH IT! ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
IN MAY, 2004 I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE WITH MY MOTHER AND MOTHER IN LAW AND FRIEND WHEN WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT TIRES ON MY TRUCK. AFTER FINDING A GARAGE THAT WAS OPEN, WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THE LUGS: NUTS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS HAD LOOSENED TO THE POINT OF ALMOST FALLING OFF. THE GARAGE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, AND THEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. GIVING THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES I FELT LIKE SOME SORT OF RESTITUTION WAS IN ORDER FOR THE TIME AND TROUBLE I HAD UNDERGONE. AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE WHEELS REPLACED, BUT NEVER QUITE FELT SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. IN NOVEMBER, 2004, WHILE GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR CHURCH, MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO START THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP IN THIS TRUCK. IT ONLY HAD 25,500 MILES ON IT. I WAS FORCED TO UPGRADE TO A NEWER VEHICLE AND INCURRED MORE PAYMENTS WITH THIS NEWER VEHICLE. I HAVE MADE MANY COMPLAINTS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I FEEL LIKE I AM DUE SOME SORT OF RESTITUTION FOR THE VEHICLE THAT I HAD TO TRADE. I HAD MADE 15 PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND REALLY HAD NO CHOICE. THE ANSWER I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS THAT NO ONE WOULD OFFER ME A TRADE IN ON A VEHICLE WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. I DISAGREE. THE TIME AND TROUBLE THAT I HAVE HAD TO UNDERGO IS WORTH SOMETHING. TERESA LIMBAUGH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD BACKED OFF OF THE SCREWS. THE DEALER CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MALFUNCTION. *NM
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH REAR-SEAT SEATBELT EXTENDERS. THE EXTENDER PROVIDED BY OUR DEALER IS NUMBER F58Z-16611C22-A. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE RECEPTACLE ON THE EXTENDER WILL NOT LATCH ONTO THE SEAT BELT UNLESS THE EXTENDER RECEPTACLE IS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE OR ABOVE. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE PARTS AND SERVICE FOLKS AT FRIENDLY FORD OF MONROE, MICHIGAN CLAIM THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THERE IS NO OTHER EXTENDER AVAILABLE. THEY HAVE REORDERED THE EXTENDERS SEVERAL TIMES, THINKING THAT MAYBE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE TO WARM UP THE EXTENDERS IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO WORK, AND EVEN THEN THEY WILL NOT LATCH 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD ME THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *LA
BRAND NEW FORD F150 CREW CAB LARIAT BOUGHT AND AT 2000 MILES AND 2 WEEKS ALL LUGS AND NUTS LOOSE WITH WHEELS WOBBLING AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF. *LA
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL FELL OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. DRIVER MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. *AK
THE VEHICLES LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE TO THE GROUND AND RUN INTO A WALL. *NLM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .