Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Apr 1, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Ford Ford Truck, most frequently naming the airbags, interior & seats and transmission categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 2 in Aug 2005. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Ford Truck
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Nov 2002
1
1
Dec 2003
1
2
Mar 2005
1
3
Jun 2005
1
4
Jul 2005
1
5
Aug 2005
2
7
Oct 2005
2
9
Jan 2008
2
11
Apr 2021
1
12
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Airbags215.4%
Interior & seats215.4%
Transmission215.4%
Heating & air conditioning17.7%
Engine17.7%
Fuel system17.7%
Tires & wheels17.7%
Other / unspecified17.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER TIRES, TIRE LINE: DISCOVER AT3, TIRE SIZE: 275/65/R18, DOT NUMBER: UTYJIM62518. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED, HE NOTICED A 2-INCH BLISTER ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
11405941
Incident
Mar 15, 2021
Mileage
140,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2008
2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW THE SPARK PLUG AND COIL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10215115
Incident
Jan 15, 2008
Mileage
75,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 12, 2008
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER THAT LIKE SO MANY OTHERS HAS A CRACK(S) ON THE BACK TAILGATE RIGHT BELOW THE BACK GLASS. FORD MOTOR HAS TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT EXTEND A RECALL ON IT. ISN'T THERE A SAFETY CONCERN THAT IF THE CRACKS KEEP GETTING LARGER (WHICH THEY WILL) THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THE BACK GLASS BREAKING OR THE TAILGATE SPLITTING INTO? I, LIKE MANY OTHERS NEED SOME HELP FROM SOMEBODY IN ORDER TO MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEFECTS AND CORRECT THEM. THANKS *TR
NHTSA ID
10214596
Incident
Jun 10, 2006
Mileage
52,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 21, 2005
1 injury reported
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION TO MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, SEPT 30, 2005, AT 8 AM. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED, HIT, OR IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO SUDDENLY & UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. FORD HAS TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY. IN FACT, CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS NOT YET CALLED US BACK (AFTER THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD CALL IN 2 DAY, THEN 7 DAYS, BUT NO RESPONSE YET.) THE FORD DEALERSHIP (WHO HAS THE TRUCK) HAS NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION EITHER. THE "REP" HAS STILL NOT SHOWN UP FROM MEMPHIS. FORD WILL NOT PROVIDE US A RENTAL CAR, DEMO, LOANER, ETC. WE ARE PAYING FOR THAT OUT OF POCKET. I ALSO PAID FOR MEDICAL BILLS OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE MY ARM WAS BURNED & BRUISED. FORD HAS BEEN TERRIBLE TO WORK WITH. THEY WILL NOT RESPOND, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS SITTING IN ONE OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS. *NM
NHTSA ID
10140401
Incident
Sep 30, 2005
Mileage
38,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 19, 2005
WATER LEAK WITNESSED BY SVC MGR & SERVICE WRITER, BUT THEY SAID THEIR SERVICE DEPT CANNOT FIND LEAK, THEREFORE THEY CANNOT REPAIR. $41K TRUCK IS BARELY 2 YRS OLD AND THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I BROUGHT TRUCK THERE BECAUSE OF LEAK. IN THE 2 YRS I OWNED IT, I'VE HAD 4 OTHER REPAIRS MADE ON OTHER ITEMS WHICH "WENT". THE A/C HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, ALTHOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIR 3 TIMES. *JB
NHTSA ID
10140288
Incident
Oct 19, 2005
Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 2005
WITH LESS THAN 23,000 MILES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $500.00. MY BRAKES HAD RECENTLY BEGUN THE INFAMOUS SQUEALING SOUND, SO I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A LOOK. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT COURTESY FORD IN LITTLETON, COLORADO WOULD ONLY SAY THAT IT SEEMED KIND OF "EARLY" TO HAVE TO PERFORM THIS DEGREE OF MAINTENANCE ON MY BRAKE SYSTEM. HE WOULD ADMIT NO TREND WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR FORD EXPEDITIONS. HOWEVER, I HAVE SINCE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT INCLUDED HER TELLING ME THAT SHE HAD A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT NEEDED THE SAME SERVICE AT 15,000 MILES. I JUST BELIEVE THAT, AS WITNESSED BY THE LEVEL OF BRAKE DUST THAT THIS MODEL RELEASES ON AN ONGOING BASIS, SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY VERY SUSPICIOUS. I DO HOPE THAT NO ONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE, ETC. AND, BECAUSE I REMEMBER WELL FORD'S ACTIONS (OR LACK THEREOF) MANY YEARS AGO REGARDING THE FORD PINTO, I THOUGHT I'D BETTER DO MY BEST TO CREATE A RECORD OF MY CONCERN. *NM
NHTSA ID
10134960
Incident
Aug 29, 2005
Mileage
22,802 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 22, 2005
Crash reported3 injuries reported
ON JULY 30, 2005,WE WERE TOTALLY STOPPED, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A DRIVER GOING ABOUT 50 MPH (IN A 30 MPH ZONE). WE WERE IN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR SPORT VAN WITH QUAD-CAPTIAN SEATS. OUR FRONT SEATS BOTH COLLAPSED BACKWARD AND MINE ON THE PASSENGER STRUCK OUR 9-YR OLD SON WHO WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. HE IS SMALL FOR HIS AGE. HE HAD A BUMP ON HIS FOREHEAD, AND HIS KNEE, AND STILL HAS MUSCLE PAIN IN THE THIGH OF THIS LEG. IF THERE HAD BEEN A FULL-SIZE ADULT SITTING BEHIND EITHER FRONT SEAT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS INJURIES. AS IT IS, WE ALL THREE HAVE WHIPLASH AND ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PAIN. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS NO GOOD SINCE THE SEATS COLLAPSED. AND, OF COURSE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SEAT-BELTED, OUR SHOULDER STRAP WAS STILL IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN WE WERE IN A PRONE POSITION WITH THE STOMACH PORTION OF THE STRAP STILL ACROSS US. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT ONLY SAID SHE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, AND THAT THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY BE SENDING THEM A REPORT SINCE THEY ARE FIXING IT.
NHTSA ID
10133793
Incident
Jul 30, 2005
Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 2005
Crash reported
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND HIT A BUILDING. IT DAMAGED THE BUILDING AND THE VEHICLE(YET TO BE DETERMINED IN AMOUNT). TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. CALLED THE FORD SATISFACTION LINE AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT. THE TRUCK SHOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AN INCLINE IN PARK. I WATCHED THE VEHICLE ROLL. I REFUSE TO PLACE MY 3 CHILDREN BACK IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE FIXED. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT IT WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL.
NHTSA ID
10129388
Incident
Jul 11, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
16901
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WATER IN FUEL (WIF) LAMP THAT DOES NOT TURN OFF AFTER WATER HAS BEEN DRAINED FROM THE HORIZONTAL FUEL CONDITIONING MODULE (HFCM) DUE TO SEDIMENT BUILD UP IN THE WATER RESERVOIR. 2003 SUPER DUTY/EXCURSION WITH A 6.0L POWERSTROKE. *TT
16788
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VEHICLES WITH THE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK (CAN) MAY EXHIBIT A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) NON-COMMUNICATION EVENT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN UNNECESSARY PCM REPLACEMENT USING NORMAL DIAGNOSTICS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE 2003 SUPER DUTY. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.