2003 Ford F-150 Tires & wheels Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Firestone, Tire Size: 265/70/R17, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, there was a burning rubber odor coming from the outside of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle to inspect the tires and became aware that the tread of the tires was loose. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 277,144.

NHTSA ID

11754716

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Mileage

277,144 mi

ONE GENERAL GRABBER STX, FROM WALMART, ON FRONT OF F150 BASE MODEL TRUCK SHREDDED ON HIGHWAY. FOLLOWING DAY THE OTHER FRONT TIRE OF SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF TIRE SHREDDED. THEY SHREDDED AT 49,189 MIES, 3YRS OF USE, STILL UNDER TIRE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. DOT: A30KHM580816 AND A30KHM581316. I SUSPECT THE MODEL OF TIRE CAN'T HANDLE THE LOAD OF THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. WHEREAS THE EXACT SAME MODELS OF TIRES AND SAME DOT NUMBERS ON THE REAR ARE STILL RUNNING ON THE TRUCK WITH 2900 MILES MORE. THE SET OF THESE FOUR TIRES WERE ALL INSTALLED ON THE SAME DATE.

NHTSA ID

11277645

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

ONE GENERAL GRABBER STX, FROM WALMART, ON FRONT OF F150 BASE MODEL TRUCK SHREDDED ON HIGHWAY. FOLLOWING DAY THE OTHER FRONT TIRE OF SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF TIRE SHREDDED. THEY SHREDDED AT 49,189 MIES, 3YRS OF USE, STILL UNDER TIRE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. DOT: A30KHM580816 AND A30KHM581316. I SUSPECT THE MODEL OF TIRE CAN'T HANDLE THE LOAD OF THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. WHEREAS THE EXACT SAME MODELS OF TIRES AND SAME DOT NUMBERS ON THE REAR ARE STILL RUNNING ON THE TRUCK WITH 2900 MILES MORE. THE SET OF THESE FOUR TIRES WERE ALL INSTALLED ON THE SAME DATE.

NHTSA ID

11277644

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

I HAD A CATOSTROPHIC SIDEWALL FAILURE OF A GOODYEAR WRANGLER DURATRAC TIRE (MDW8 B11V 4110) THAT HAD ONLY 2140 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE FAILED AT 35 MPH BUT HAD TO BE DRIVEN ABOUT 100 FEET TO REMOVE IT SAFELY FROM THE ROADWAY. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE RESULT IF NEEDED. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT.

NHTSA ID

11193920

Incident

Dec 10, 2018

Mileage

92,206 mi

VERY BAD TREAD WEAR ON FRONT OUTSIDE EDGE. LOOKED LIKE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM SINCE TIRES STILL HAVE 80% OF TREAD. TECH AT ALIGNMENT SHOP SAID THE ALIGNMENT WAS OK AND SHOWED ME WHERE THE TREAD HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE CASING. TECH ADVISED TO REPLACE TIRES VERY SOON. TIRE SIZE NOT ON RECALL LIST SO IT LOOKS LIKE I AM STUCK WITH REPLACING A BUM SET OF TIRES

NHTSA ID

10783852

Incident

Oct 20, 2014

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150 EQUIPPED WITH CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC II TIRES, SIZE: 255/70R16. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE TREAD FROM BOTH FRONT TIRES SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM BOTH FRONT TIRES AND THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14T013000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10693377

Incident

Feb 26, 2015

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH LONG TRAIL T/A TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD SEVERE CRACKS AND WERE DRY ROTTED IN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALLS. THE STORE AT WHICH THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 38,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10504170

Incident

Mar 21, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

DRIVING ON I-95 IN FLORIDA, WHEN I EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK SWERVED SIDE TO SIDE ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK AND BRING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DISCOVERED THAT MY DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. IT WAS COOPER TIRE DISCOVERER H/T 265/70R17. SO FAR, COOPER TOOK MY INFORMATION AND IS GOING TO SEND PAPERWORK ON THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396649

Incident

Apr 14, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FWD ENGAGEMENT GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PLACE WHEN DRIVING IN ICY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR FOR THE GEAR SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 05/06/11

NHTSA ID

10372086

Incident

Dec 10, 2010

Mileage

51,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150 4WD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE OVER SNOW AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE ACCELERATED AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BUT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,200.

NHTSA ID

10372057

Incident

Dec 18, 2010

Mileage

72,200 mi

I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND RIMS IN 05/2006. THESE TIRES AND RIMS ARE ONLY USED FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER. ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 I HAD A TIRE LOSE AIR ON THE INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE. UPON EXAMINATION I FOUND THE VALVE STEM TO BE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE,UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION I FOUND THE OTHER WHEELS HAD VALVE STEMS THAT WERE CRACKING IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE VALVE STEM THAT FAILED. I HAD THE VALVE STEMS REPLACEDIN THE THREE TIRES THAT DIDN'T FAIL BUT WAS UNABLE TO ON THE TIRE THAT WENT FLAT BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE TO THAT TIRE. AT THIS TIME I FOUND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON VALVE STEMS. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT MY VALVE STEMS ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE RECALL INVOLVES VALVE STEMS MANUFACTURED FOR DILL OR TECH INTERNATIONAL BETWEEN 07/2006 AND 11/ 2006. THE VALVE STEMS I HAVE ARE TR 413 MANUFACTURED BY ARGO WINSOONSHANGHAI. I HAVE TWO OF THE VALVE STEMS AND THE DAMAGED TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288661

Incident

Sep 26, 2009

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES, SIZE P235/70R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDEWALLS OF ALL FIVE (INCLUDING SPARE) TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THEY LOOKED AS IF SOMEONE HAD TAKEN A KNIFE AND CUT AROUND THE TIRES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TIRE ROTATION AND OIL CHANGE, WHICH IS WHEN THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE DISCOVERED. INITIALLY, THE MANUFACTURER WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE TIRES; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT SO CERTAIN AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA ID

10232046

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

61,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL SPORT LT/SUV TIRES, SIZE LT235/85R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TREAD FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE WHEEL WELL ON THE VEHICLE. THAT SAME DAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS WOBBLING. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 122,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10231816

Incident

Jun 16, 2008

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRONIC 4-WHEEL DRIVE DISENGAGED AND SHIFTED INTO 2-WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW SHIFT FORK KIT MADE WITH DIFFERENT MATERIAL. AS OF DECEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

NHTSA ID

10211833

Incident

Dec 8, 2007

Mileage

53,000 mi

TREAD CAME OFF, TOTAL FAILURE, EXPLOSIVE CONSEQUENCES: TWO FENDER BRACES RIPPED OFF, THE RIGHT REAR FENDER DAMAGED SUBSTANTIALLY, AND THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT SMASHED FROM THE TIRE TREAD HITTING THE INSIDE IF THE FENDER WELL. ANOTHER TIRE JUST AFTERWARDS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING A ...RUMP-RUMP SOUND. SUSPECT TIRE TREAD SEPARATION IN BOTH INSTANCES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205558

Incident

Jun 25, 2007

Mileage

59,000 mi

2003 FORD F150 4X4. A HEAVY SNOW STORM HIT NORTHEAST ON 3/16/07. I HAD MY PREGNANT WIFE AND THREE YEAR OLD SON IN TRUCK COMING BACK FROM A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE. WE WERE STUCK FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON EVENT WITH THE FORDS AND THERE SHIFT ON THE FLY 4X4 SYSTEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ON GOING PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE SYSTEM AND AGAIN STATED "IT WAS MY PROBLEM!" THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED OCCURENCES YET NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED. TRUCK IS GOING IN FOR REPAIR ON FRIDAY AND MECHANIC STATED IT IS APPROX $500 TO REPAIR. THE VACUUM SOLENIOD AND VACUUM LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. FORD WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE VACUUM PROBLEM WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS WITH A FAMILY RELYING ON A 4X4 WHEN NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

10185385

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

AMERISTAR TIRES!! ARE THEY GOOD TIRES? MY OPINION IS NO, NO, NO! I HAVE 16,000 MILES OF GRANNY-LIKE DRIVING ON MY 2003 FORD F-150, WITH THE ORIGINAL AMERISTAR TIRES PROVIDED STOCK ON MY TRUCK. WE DON'T GET THAT MUCH RAIN IN CALIFORNIA BUT EVERY TIME IT DOES RAIN I NOTICE THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE EVEN MORE CAUTIOUSLY THAN I EVER HAVE. I SLIDE ALL OVER THE PLACE EVEN WHEN THE TIRES WERE BRAND NEW. WELL TODAY I MERGED ONTO THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, WHILE EVERYONE ELSE WAS PASSING ME IN THERE LITTLE TINY CARS AT 75 MPH. I HIT A PUDDLE AND THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE. I SLID ACROSS 4 LANES AND SMASHED INTO THE CENTER DIVIDE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CAR MANUFACTURERS AND JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE CUTTING CORNERS TO SAVE A BUCK AND RISKING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, MINE WAS IN THE CAR, AND CONSUMERS. I HAVE ALREADY READ THAT AMERISTAR TIRES ARE FALLING APART ANYWAY AND FORD SHOULD RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND REPLACE THOSE GARBAGE TIRES WITH SOMETHING BETTER. NOW, AFTER I HAVE JUST ABOUT KILLED MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER, I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP!!! I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE DONE TO MY TRUCK AND MY HIGHER INSURANCE RATES BECAUSE OF A CHEAP PRODUCT. "AW HE'S PROBABLY A BAD DRIVER." YOU SAY, WELL I HAVE DRIVEN THOUSANDS OF MILES IN TRUCKS IN RAINY, SNOWY WEATHER AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH HYDROPLANING. GET RID OF YOUR AMERISTAR TIRES RIGHT AWAY IF YOU LIVE IN RAINY AREAS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146740

Incident

Jan 2, 2006

Mileage

15,600 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50-55 MPH AND MY 4X WHEEL DRIVE KICKED ON WITHOUT ME ENGAGING IT, THEN BY ITSELF AGAIN IT TURNED OFF. THE NEXT NIGHT I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND IT DID IT AGAIN, IT WENT ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. MY BOYFRIEND DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND THEN AN HOUR LATER HE WAS DRIVING AND I DID IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT THE DEALER DAYS LATER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS . THEY SAID THEY TRIED TO PROVOKE IT BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHY AND HOW IT WAS HAPPENING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136614

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

DT: WHILE DRIVING THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH REAR PASSENGER TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. HAD A BIG BUBBLE AND IT BLEW OUT THE SIDE. THE TIRE WAS SO HOT ONE COULDN'T TOUCH IT. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 92 DEGREES. TIRE WAS JUST ROTATED AT 32,800 MILES AT FORD. THE ACTUAL MILEAGE ON TIRE WAS 33,210. *AK

NHTSA ID

10124888

Incident

Jun 7, 2005

Mileage

33,210 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIRE DEFECT. THESE TIRES CAME WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. AMERITRAC P255/70R16. THE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE NEVER WENT FLAT. VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND SPUN INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT HIT THE WALL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID

10117489

Incident

Mar 25, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE FRONT HUBS LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DISENGAGED OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115285

Incident

Mar 14, 2005

Mileage

46,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F150 MY 4WHEELDRIVE STOPPED WORKING , BUT THE DASH INDICATOR SAID IT WAS INGAGED. THIS MAKES FOR A VERY UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. BECAUSE YOU DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE SAME IF THE 4X4 IS WORKING.I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED IT . THIS APPARENTLY WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE PART# F75Z*3N139*KT WHICH COST$133.98 AND THE LABOR WAS $302.00. THIS PART IS VERY CHEAPLY MADE AND WILL PROBABLY BREAK AGAIN. THE TECH TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS PART IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. I HAVE LOOKED ON FORD LINKS AND WEBSITES AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMMENTS OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP ME, IT WOULD BE APPRICIATED. I KEPT THE OLD PARTS, THE MATERIAL THEY USE ON THE FORK WON`T HOLD UP TO THE CONDITIONS IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112403

Incident

Feb 22, 2005

Mileage

45,959 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, SUDDENLY THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE AND SNAPPED OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FLYING OFF FOLLOWED BY THE DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND IMPACTING A DITCH . THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES. *JB THE ENGINEER STATED THAT THE AXLE FLEW OFF ON IMPACT EVEN THOUGH THE TIRE FLEW OFF PRIOR TO IMPACT. *SC

NHTSA ID

10096690

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

Mileage

20,808 mi

2003 FORD F150. THE CONSUMER HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT WITH BF GOODRICH TIRE EQUIPMENT. *MR THERE WAS A BLOWOUT ON THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE REAR. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10090267

Incident

Jul 2, 2004

Mileage

31,300 mi

TIRES WERE SHOWING WEAR ON OUTER EDGES AT 4,000 MILES. I ROTATED AT THAT TIME. THEY CONTINUED TO SHOW WEAR. HAD TRUCK ALIGNED AT 12,000 BUT IT REALLY WASN'T OUT OF ALIGNMENT. FORD SAYS THAT IS NORMAL AND WE ARE TURNING TOO MUCH AND THAT IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE WEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10082319

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

Mileage

4,003 mi