Ford F-150 Complaints (2003)
423 consumer complaints on file.
- #10288661October 16, 2009TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10286585October 6, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD A SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT ON MY 03 F150.....WHICH AT FIRST SOUNDED LIKE A NOISY LIFTER. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS AT THE FORD DEALER AND IT COST ME $1180.00 TO INSTALL A HELI COIL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10284539September 18, 2009POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE INDICATOR FOR THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE BRIEFLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH INCREASED HIS RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,792.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10282258August 29, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE SPARK PLUG IN ME FORD F-150 5.4LTR ENGINE BLEW OUT OF THE #2 CYLINDER. ALL ENGINE REBUILDING SHOPS AND REPAIR CENTERS SAY THIS IS COMMON IN FORDS. THEY FINISHED MY SENTENCE WHEN DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ENACT A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. AS I READ THIS IS AN ISSUE. COST ME 500.00 DOLLARS TO FIX AND I WORRY ABOUT THE OTHER 7 PLUGS...$3,500 TO REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10281780August 26, 2009SEAT BELTS
A WRECK ON CONSTITUTION AVE WASHINGTON D.C. , HAS CAUSED THE HARD , STIFF PLASTIC OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE CLIP THAT FASTENS INTO THE LOCK TO KEEP YOU BUCKLED IN TO GO INTO MY RIGHT FRONT HIP . IT'S POSITION SEEMS TO BE WRONG TO ME . AND TO THE GREAT CAUSE OF SUCH PAIN IN MY LIFE TO THE SUFFERING OF MY WHOLE LIFE .I HAVE SHARP SEVERE PAIN FROM IT'S CONTACT AREA ON MY HIP . MY SPINE AND BACK HAVE THIS SEVER DISABILITY THAT LEAVES ME FEELING LIKE I'M TEARING INTO TWO PARTS IN MY BACK .SHOCK OF PAIN SEVERITY IS REAL. THIS PAIN WAS CAUSED BY THROWN AGAINST THIS HARD PLASTIC BUCKLE WHEN THE DRIVER DROVE INTO MY VEHICLE AT 20 MPH OR MORE . WHICH TWISTED ME IN THE SEAT AND ALIGNED THE BUCKLE ON MY HIP BONE WHICH SMASHED THAT AREA HARD AND LEFT ME SEVERELY INJURED AND OUT OF WORK FOR A LONG TIME AND STILL SUFFERING FIVE YEARS LATER AND DISTURBED BY LAWYERS AND INSURANCE SETTLEMENTS PROCESS TO HANDLE THIS MATTER . MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD F-150 CREW CAB. THE SEAT BUCKLE ENGAGING LOCK STICKS UP OUT OF THE SEAT AND STICKS UP IN THE AIR . AND THIS LEAVES THE VERY HARD PLASTIC ALSO OF CLIP THERE UP IN THE AIR AND DEPENDING ON HOW YOUR ARE WRECKED AND SITTING IN THE SEAT AT THAT MOMENT DEPENDS ON HOW YOUR BODY HITS THAT SEAT BELT BUCKLE CLIP AND LOCK. I GOT WELL ENOUGH TO GET BACK TO SOME NORMALCY . AND DID CALL FORD MOTOR CO. WHICH SAID SORRY TO HEAR THAT AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME FURTHER WITH ANY INJURY CLAIM AND SAID I NEEDED TO CONTACT ANOTHER LAWYER . I FEEL I NEED TO FILE BECAUSE MY CASE CAN'T GET TO THIS ISSUE FAST ENOUGH TO HELP PUBLIC WARNED OF IT'S HAZARD . *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10281452August 23, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2003 F150 V8 5.4 L AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HEARD A POP, AND I CHECKED MY ENGINE AND NOTICED THE IGNITION COIL WAS LOOSE AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS ATTACHED TO THE IGNITION COIL, SO NOW THE THREADS IN THE HEAD ARE STRIPPED AND I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE!! THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THIS IS NOT RECALL ISSUE IT SHOULD BE!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275929July 6, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE TRAVELING @ 65 MILES PER HOUR DOWN A HIGHWAY, THE NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG & COIL BLEW OUT FROM THE HEAD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COIL & SPARK PLUG ITSELF. OUR 2003 FORD F150 SUPERCREW LARIOT PICK-UP TRUCK, WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED A QUICK FIX OF A SPARK PLUG INSERT AFTER THE PLUG HOLE WAS RETAPPED WHILE STATING SEVERAL TIMES THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD WORK. ANOTHER OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADS COSTING APPROXIMATELY $2500. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO ADVISED US THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM & HAS SEEN IT HAPPEN ON A VARIETY OF FORD VEHICLES. WE'RE EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT OUR VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE, AS THE COIL THAT BLEW HIT THE FUEL RAIL, WHICH IS HELD IN PLACE BY TWO 8MM BOLTS. THIS EXPERIENCE IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING & CONCERNING TO US AS IF WE SPEND MONEY GOING THE ROUTE OF THE INSERT, IT MAY LAST FOR ONE TRIP DOWN THE ROAD & GIVE OUT. IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT FORD ISN'T STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT & FIXING IT APPROPRIATELY. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT BRINGS WITH IT SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES. WE WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A FORD VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10274669June 22, 2009SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT ON THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELTS INTO THE LOCKING MECHANISM, BUT IT FAILED TO PROVIDE RESTRAINT. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT OPERATE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 57,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10272471May 31, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE SPARK PLUG ON MY 2003 FORD F-150 WAS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE TRUCK HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS A HUGE BANG FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE GAS VAPORS FLOODED THE CAB. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND MY FAMILY WAS NOT INJURED. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WELL-DOCUMENTED ONLINE, AND I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP TO SEE WHERE THE NHTSA IS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267753May 5, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUGS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10263771March 31, 2009EQUIPMENT
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260780March 5, 2009POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DIFFERENTIAL REAR END FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258848February 16, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS NOT ENGAGING WHEN I TURN IT ON USING THE SWITCH ON THE DASH. MY INDEPENDENT EXCELLENT MECHANIC (I WOULD NEVER USE THE FORD DEALER HERE) FOUND THAT A WIRE ON THE TRANSMISSION CASE HAD BEEN SIMPLY DISCONNECTED. HE RECONNECTED IT - NO CHARGE. WORKS FINE. P.S. I TEST THE OPERATION EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW TO MAKE SURE IT IS WORKING JUST IN CASE I NEED IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10257550February 5, 2009POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WORKED SPORADICALLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VACUUM SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM DIAPHRAGM MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SHIFTING FORK CONTROL. AFTER THE REPAIR, THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10257362February 3, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT HEARD A SIZZLING NOISE EVERY TIME THE INDICATOR WAS USED. SHE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A CUP OF TEA AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10252682December 23, 2008POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM THE SHIFTING FORK ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL BROKE DISENGAGING THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I HAVE FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW AND THAT FORD HAS REDESIGNED THIS SHIFTING FORK. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN NEXT TO ME WHEN THE FORK BROKE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10251088December 8, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2003 FORD F-150 WITH 5.4 TRITON ENGINE SPIT OUT THE NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE SAME PLUG. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS REFUSED TO EVEN DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH ME, SAYING THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH ITS PRODUCT! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10250179November 30, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 FORD F150 TRUCK HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THAT IT CONTINUOUSLY BLOWS A CERTAIN 5 AMP FUSE. I WAS TOLD BY A TECHNICIAN AT THE FORD AUTHORIZED SERVICE WHERE I HAVE MY SERVICE WORK DONE THAT HE HAS SEEN ABOUT 10 OF THESE CASES. THE PROBLEM IS A COWL LEAK THAT ALLOWS WATER ON AN ELECTRONIC MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE DASH. THE FUSE WILL BLOW PREDICTABLY 2 TO 3 DAYS AFTER A RAIN OR WASH. THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES ARE: 1. THE BLOWN FUSE DISABLES THE FEATURE THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON THE HEADLIGHTS & TAILLIGHTS THEREBY BECOMING AN ACCIDENT RISK PARTICULARLY WHEN THE DRIVER HAS BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF THE LIGHTS; 2. THE BLOWN FUSE DISABLES THE FEATURE THAT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS ALL OF THE VEHICLES DOORS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE THEREBY EXPOSING THE OCCUPANTS TO CARJACKING AND OTHER PERSONAL DANGERS; 3. THE BLOWN FUSE DISABLES THE PUSHBUTTON CONTROL FOR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHICH COULD POSE A HAZARD IN SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS OR DRIVING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. BASED ON THESE INDISPUTABLE SAFETY HAZARDS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CONDITION AND REPAIR/REPLACE AS NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THESE HAZARDS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10247341October 31, 2008SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE - FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WHILE BRAKING A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH WHEN A CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD STARTED TO PULL ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ONLY ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR SO I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES - IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO STOP PULLING OUT SO I LET GO OF THE BRAKES FOR A SECOND BUT THEN THE OTHER DRIVE DID PULL RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. ONLY BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS A COLLISION AVOIDED. THE LIGHT NEVER TURNED OFF, AND THE BRAKES BEHAVE ERRATICALLY. A FRIEND IS A MECHANIC WHO USED A SNAP-ON SOLUS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL WHICH SHOWS THE ABS DHCU SEES THE CAR MOVING AT 3-4 MPH WHILE PARKED, THE SYSTEM OFF, BUT WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR IT APPLIES THE ABS SYSTEM WHILE SLOWING BELOW ABOUT 5MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING (LIKE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT) INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE CONSIDERABLY. THE MODULE DOES NOT RESPOND TO RESET ATTEMPTS, AND REPAIR IS BY REPLACEMENT ONLY. THE CAR IS A SPECIAL PRODUCTION FORD F150 LIGHTNING, WITH A DHCU SPECIFIC TO THE LIGHTNING EDITION. REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE IS ABOUT $700 PLUS LABOR. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 16,000 MILES ON IT, ABOUT 15,500 WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10246591October 24, 2008STRUCTURE
I BOUGHT A USED 2003 FORD F150 IN AUGUST 2007. WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS THE GEM MODULE WAS REPLACED AS THERE EXISTS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SEATING OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE SEAL. AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A RAINY DAY, THE BLOWER FAN IS GOING, THE WINDOWS ARE GOING UP AND DOWN, AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE ALL FREAKING OUT. AS I PULL OVER AND REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE TRUCK, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT STOP. AND NOW THE TRUCK WON'T RESTART. AGAIN, THE GEM MODULE. WHICH FORD WILL NOT REPLACE ALONG WITH THE LEAKY WINDSHIELD SEAL. BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THERE EXISTS NO PROBLEM OF THE BEHALF OF THE MANUFACTURER. SEE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/FORD-F-150/TAA9DVMDG7RO706EI#LASTPOST. I AM AFRAID THAT EVEN IF I WERE TO PAY TO HAVE THE GEM MODULE REPLACED (AGAIN) AND THE WINDSHIELD RESEALED (AGAIN) THAT I WILL BE DRIVING ALL OF MY CHILDREN DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK JUST DECIDES TO ELECTRONICALLY FAIL IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PERHAPS THIS DESIGN FLAW SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR IMMEDIATE RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0