Ford F-150 Complaints (2003)
423 consumer complaints on file.
- #10246221October 21, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN APRIL 2008 THE BATTERY WAS DEAD ON THE TRUCK. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND TRUCK STILL WOULD NOT START. AFTER WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STARTED IT WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED FOR 2-3 WEEKS. SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE CLUSTER ($700.00) WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. (WE HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER MECHANICS, IF THE CLUSTER WAS BAD WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO START THE TRUCK, SO WHY WAS IT REPLACED.) THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT BACK HOME AND THE NEXT TIME IT RAINED THE BATTERY WAS AGAIN DEAD. AGAIN TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS TIME THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS LEAKING AROUND THE WINDOW GASKET ($100) AND REPLACED THIS. 2 MONTHS LATER ANOTHER RAIN AND AGAIN A DEAD VEHICLE. TRUCK WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED ANOTHER 2 WEEKS. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND COMPLAINTS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND NEEDED TO CALL THE MAIN TECHNICIANS. WE STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND KEEP IT IN THE GARAGE. TRUCK CAN'T BE DRIVEN IF THERE IS ANY HINT OF RAIN BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO END UP STRANDED. WE LIVE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY AND THIS IS THE SECOND TRUCK, SAME MODEL AND YEAR, THAT WE KNOW OF IN OUR AREA THAT IS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THESE VEHICLES AS IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE LIMITED TO A FEW. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 37, 000 MILES ON IT AND IS A COMPLETE WASTE TO HAVE UNLESS WE LIVED IN THE DESERT. I THINK ALL FORD OWNERS NEED TO BAN TOGETHER AND SUE FORD FOR AGGRAVATION AND NON FUNCTIONAL VEHICLES. NEVER AGAIN WILL I WASTE MY TIME BUYING A FORD VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10245240October 13, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 10/1/08 I WAS COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. LOSS OF POWER AND RAN ROUGH . IT WAS ALMOST DARK SO I COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS WRONG SO I DROVE IT THE TWO MILES HOME, ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NEXT MORNING I TOOK THE TRUCK TO HOLDER FORD IN LAKEPORT, CALIFORNIA AND THEY SAID I HAD BLOWN OUT THE REAR PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THEY REPAIRED IT FOR $715.00 AND I GOT IT BACK ON MONDAY 10/6/08. AGAIN ON 10/11/08 SATURDAY THE SAME PLUG BLEW OUT. THIS TIME I WAS IN THE FAST LANE OF THE FREEWAY IN SAN RAFAEL HEADING FOR SAN FRANCISCO. THE TRUCK LOST POWER AND EVERY TIME I BACKED OFF THE GAS THE ENGINE DIED. I FOUGHT WITH THE TRUCK TO GET IT STARTED AND KEEP IT RUNNING TO GET IT ACROSS THREE LANES OF BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC TO AN OFF RAMP. WHEN I STOPPED AND RAISED THE HOOD I SAW IT WAS THE SAME PLUG THAT WAS JUST REPAIRED. I CALLED HOLDER FORD AND THEY SAID SERVICE WAS CLOSED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME UNTIL MONDAY. I DROVE THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER ONLY TO FIND THE FORD DEALER HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS THERE SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND RENTED A CAR. I WAS 150 MILES FROM HOLDER FORD AND MY TOWING WOULD ONLY ALLOW 100 MILES. BESIDES THIS BLOWN SPARK PLUG ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IT COST ME $400.00 FOR THE TOW AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FOR A RENTAL CAR. NOW I FIND OUT THERE ARE ONLY THREE THREADS IN THE HEAD TO HOLD THE PLUGS IN, AND THE HEADS ARE ALUMINUM. THE TRUCK IS A 2003 FORD F150 LIGHTNING 5.4 TRITON V8 WITH 70,000 MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241426September 9, 2008STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. RUST WAS FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL FOUR DOORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241036September 5, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
CNG REGULATOR LEAKING COMPRESSSED NATUAL GAS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241043September 5, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
CNG REGULATOR WAS LEAKING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241046September 5, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
CNG REGULATOR LEAKING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10240722September 3, 2008SUSPENSION, AIR BAGS
TRAVELING AT 40MPH. HIT AT THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER. SHEARING OFF TIRE AT BALL JOINTS... CAUSING TRUCK TO SLAM DOWN ON THE GROUND AND SLIDE AT LEAST 75 FEET ON THE FRAME.. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS INJURED AND THINK IF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE COME OUT MAYBE MY INJURIES WOULDN'T HAVE OCCURRED. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10237788August 12, 2008POWER TRAIN
MY 2003 FORD F150 SUPERCREWCAB FX4 4X4, WAS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AS I PROCEEDED TO ENTER HIGHWAY 39 FROM MY DRIVE. THE VEHICLE KICKED OUT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH THE ROADS BEING WET WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK'S BACK TIRES TO SPIN OUT. MY TRUCK THEN FISHTAILED AS IT THREW ITSELF INTO A DITCH. THE PROBLEM WITH IT POPPING IN AND OUT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THAT I USE IT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALER YET, BUT HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE THAT TALK ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10235398July 22, 2008VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10233564July 8, 2008AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS IN HER VEHICLE DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY; HOWEVER, AS IT DEFLATED ALL OF THE PARTICLES INSIDE THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. THE DRIVER WAS STARTLED BY THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE RISK INVOLVED DURING THE AIR BAG EXPLOSION. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/22/08. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10232046June 23, 2008TIRES:SIDEWALL
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10231816June 20, 2008TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10231305June 17, 2008SUSPENSION:REAR
I OWN A 2003 FORD F-150 FX4 WITH AN OFF ROAD PACKAGE. I HAVE RARELY TAKEN THIS VEHICLE OFF ROAD. LEAF SPRINGS BANDS WERE MOVING OFF OF LEAF SPRINGS. THEY WERE REPLACED ONCE, THE BANDS CONTINUED TO MOVE, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO NEED FOR CONCERN. AT THIS TIME MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IN FOR REPAIR THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, BECAUSE THE BANDS HOLDING THEM TOGETHER HAD COME OFF COMPLETELY. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NO LONGER A WARRANTY ITEM AND THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR REPAIR. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ITEM, MY LEAF SPRINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING. THE PIN HOLDING THE LEAF SPRINGS TOGETHER WERE MADE OF PLASTIC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10228656May 22, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 5/5/2005, WE PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F150 HERITAGE EDITION 4X4. IT HAD ONLY 10,000 MILES ON IT. ON JUNE 5, 2005, JUST ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE, I RETURNED HOME FROM MY AUNT'S HOUSE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND RELEASED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. AT THE TIME, WE WERE TOLD 2003 FORDS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND NOW THEY ARE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10228518May 21, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY WIFE HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE ENGINE, FORTUNATELY THE 2003 FORD F150 SUPERCREW PICKUP TRUCK DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE, I DROVE THE VEHICLE ANOTHER 15 MILES TO THE MECHANIC NOT KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG , I THOUGHT THE IT WAS JUST A BAD EXHAUST LEAK BUT I FOUND OUT THE NEXT MORNING THE GRIM NEWS THAT IN FACT THE SPARK PLUG WAS THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THE REPAIR WOULD RUN BETWEEN 700.00 TO 2,000.00, SHOCKED BY THE COST OF REPAIR AND THE PROBLEM OF WHICH I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK IT OUT. TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FORD TRITON ENGINES, SO I THOUGHT FORD WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING I CALLED FORD AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND FORD WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, IN FACT IF YOU DO ANY RESEARCH ONLINE YOU WILL SEE THAT HUNDREDS AND PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, THANKS IN ADVANCE TIM WALSH *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10226420May 1, 2008VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10225949April 28, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WATER LEAKED INTO THE CAB TROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND SHORTED OUT THE GEM MODULE AND CORRODED THE FUSE BOX. NO LEAK WAS EVIDENT BEFORE THE SHORT OUT OF VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10224500April 14, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2003 F150 4,2 ENGINE, UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FAILURE, STARTED LEAKING AT 75,200 MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10221073March 13, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE AND NOTICED IT DRIPPING FROM THE FUEL LINE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT MENTION THE GASOLINE RECALL FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,875 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,850. THE FUEL LINE/HOSE WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10219963March 3, 2008EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD F-150 HARLEY DAVIDSON IS FAULTY. IT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. IT AFFECTS THE HAZARD FLASHERS AS WELL. IT WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN FAILS AGAIN. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS AND THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY ABOUT 48,000 MILES WHEN THE FAILURE STARTED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0