Ford F-150 Complaints (2003)

423 consumer complaints on file.

#10198560August 5, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL ON 2003 FORD F150. SITUATION: DRIVING AT STEADY STATE; PRESS CRUISE-CONTROL 'ON' SWITCH; HORN CHIRPS; CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES WITH-OUT PRESSING THE 'SET' BUTTON AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE. BRAKE PEDAL DE-ACTIVATION SWITCH DIS-ENGAGES CRUISE CONTROL ONLY TEMPORARILY. CRUISE CONTROL RE-ACTIVATES ON IT'S OWN WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE PEDAL, AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE 'OFF' SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL SUCCESSFULLY DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED ~MARCH 2007, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AT THE DEALER. PROBLEM RE-SURFACED ON 8/5/07, AND SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT NOW. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THIS POINT; NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198182August 1, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. FORD AGREED TO TEST HIS AIR BAGS TO DETERMINE IF THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACTS WIFE SUSTAINED MUSCLE TRAUMA AND BRUISING TO HER BACK, NECK, STERNUM, AND LEGS FROM THE SEAT BELTS AND IMPACT OF THE CRASH. SHE ALSO SUFFERED HEMORRHAGING STRIKING HER LEGS BELOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DOORS AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKED COMPLETELY OFF THE MOTOR MOUNT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED MULTIPLE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER IS INVESTIGATION WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND TEST THEM AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER STATED WIFE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THE WOULD TEST THE AIR BAGS BUT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AT THEIR EXPENSE TO A LOCATION AND THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED IS STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 08/23/07 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10192039May 30, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON OCCASIONS WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PETAL, THE ENGINE WILL SPEED UP WIDE OPEN CAUSING THE BACK WHEEL TO ACTUALLY TO SPIN THE BACK TIRES WHILE HOLDING THE BREAK PETAL DOWN HARD! VERY DANGEROUS!! FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN THE TRUCK WAS ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS OLD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASION OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN BUT NOT AS SERIOUS UNTIL ONLY RECENTLY! LAST TIME I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER, MAY 14, 2007, I LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR A WEEK. I WENT BACK AND PICKED UP THE TRUCK, AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THE WRONG. I TOOK THE TRUCK AND IN ONE AND ONE HALF WEEK LATER THE FAST ACCELERATION HAPPEN AGAIN!!! *TR SEE ALSO ODI 10205846 *DSY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191525May 23, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006, THE VEHICLE'S COIL PACK FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE IT FAILED, THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN DECEMBER OF 2006, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN, A SECOND COIL PACK FAILED, AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE CV BOOT. THE SECOND COIL PACK WAS REPLACED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE CV BOOT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. UPON RETURNING HOME, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE CV BOOT HAD ONLY BEEN TURNED ON THE OTHER SIDE AND WAS NOT REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST CV BOOT NOT BEING REPAIRED, THE OTHER AXLE BOOT HAS DETACHED COMPLETELY OFF THE SHAFT. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186988April 4, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10186147March 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON, INTAKE MNANIFOLD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON A 2003 V6 4.2L ENGINE IN A FORD F150. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185385March 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185396March 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 F-150 WITH 38,000 MILES ON IT APROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO. I STARTED NOTICING AN OIL LEAK IN DECEMBER BUT COULD NOT LOCATE WHERE IT CAME FROM. AFTER TRYING TO ADD STOP LEAK TO SEAL IT, I FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT, THE FRONT GASKET AND LEFT HEAD GASKET WERE BAD. THIS SEEMS A LITTLE PREMATURE FOR A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183486February 26, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE 2003 FORD F150 WITH 15000 FAILURE MILEAGE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE HE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH AND STRUCK A TREE. THE DRIVER THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUT IT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182194February 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 F150 XL. I AWOKE THIS MORNING TO FIND THE CAB OF MY TRUCK FULL OF SMOKE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I NOTICED A TRAIL OF SMOKE ORIGINATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND REMOVED THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. I FOUND EXPOSED WIRING AND MELTED COMPONENTS LEADING INTO THE HIGH-BEAM SELECTOR LEVER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177199December 28, 2006
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE JERKS AS IF THE ABS ENGAGES AND RELEASES CONTINUOUSLY THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE BROKE COMPLETE OFF, CABLE AND COVERING. AFTER REPLACING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE I STEPPED ON EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN I PARKED, HEARD A POP AND LATER WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE REAR LEFT WHEEL WOULD GRAB MAKING A GRINDING SOUND AND SLOWING THE VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GARAGE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PADS HAD BROKEN OFF AND WERE BINDING THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175458December 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING I BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT BUT WAS UNABLE. THE STICK WAS REAL LOOSE AND I COULD NOT FIND THE GEARS. THE ANALOGY (IT WAS LIKE A BROKEN ARM IT JUST WOBBLED) THIS WAS SCARY NOT KNOWING HOW TO GET MY TRUCK (FORD EXPLORER,SPORT TRAC) IN GEAR. I MANIPULATED THE SHIFT AND FINALLY GOT IT TO FIRST AND PARKED IT. THE SHIFT HAD TO BE MOVED WAY RIGHT OR WAY LEFT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PROCESS OF GEAR CHANGING. GUESSING WHAT GEAR YOUR IN IS NOT WHAT I WANT WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO THE PATTCHETTS FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE SHIFT IN PLACE HAD WORKED THERE WAY LOOSE AND THAT ."IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE"RONNIE, SERVICE MANAGER STATED. RONNIE STATED THAT WAS ALSO COMMON FOR THE SHORT STICK MUSTANGS. THIS IS REAL UNSAFE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPEN TO THEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175466December 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION
THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURANCE THAT I HAVE HAD A OIL SEAL OR GASKET ON THE ENGINE AFTER DRIVING 80 +MILE PER HOUR. I HAD MY TRUCK LESS THAN THREE YEARS. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED IT VIBRATE WHEN REACHING THE SPEED MENTIONED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174066November 22, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 11-21-06, ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AND REALIZED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE ON HIS 2003 FORD F150 WAS STUCK. HE HAD TO PUT THE F150 IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO SAFELY STOP (THE ENGINE WAS RACING UNTIL HE TURNED IT OFF). HE FOUND THAT THERE IS A PLASTIC, TWO-PIECE COVER AROUND THE THROTTLE LINKAGE THAT HAD COME UNSNAPPED ON ITS UNDERSIDE AND HAD APPARENTLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM. HE REPLACED THE COVER. THIS PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A SEVERE, PERHAPS FATAL, DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171615October 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY F-150, 5.4 LITER ENGINE BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG. THE REPAIR COST IS IN EXCESS OF $4000. THE AFFECTED ALUMINUM CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE DOES NOT COVER THE ROUTINE TIGHTENING / INSPECTION OF SPARK PLUGS DURING THE PERIODIC 30K, 60K SERVICES EVEN THOUGH THEY (THE DEALER) KNOWS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THE DESIGN PROBLEM STEMS FROM A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF THREADS TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUG IN PLACE. THE 5.4 LITER ENGINE IS A POWERFUL ENGINE THAT NECESSITATES A THICKER AND LONGER WELL TO TORQUE AND HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS IN PLACE. THE INTERNET IS FILLED COMPLAINTS MADE BY FORD CONSUMERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS ON FORD ENGINES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170508October 11, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10/10/06 7:20 PM I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY DAUGHTER IN MY FORD F150 2003 TRUCK, WHEN IT BEGAN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, AND PUSHED THE BRAKE DOWN AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO TO TRY AND HOLD THE TRUCK IN PLACE. I COULD FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL JUMPING UNDER MY FEET AS THE TRUCK WAS TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD. I DIDN'T THINK THE BRAKES WERE GOING TO HOLD THE TRUCK IN PLACE. I COULD HEAR THE TRUCKS MOTOR RACING LOUDER AND LOUDER FROM INSIDE THE CAB WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP. THE TRUCKS RPM REGISTERED A 5. KEEPING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I FEEL VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I CALLED THE FORD HOUSE IN THE NEAREST TOWN AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED ME THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A REPORT OF THIS NATURE REGARDING FORD VEHICLES. I HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THEIR VEHICLES APPEAR TO BE IN LITIGATION IN WHICH FORD HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE DOCUMENTS THAT REVEAL THE BREADTH OF THE PROBLEM. (DEFECTS IN THE DESIGN OF THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL ("CRUISE CONTROL"). "THE REPORT I READ STATES ALMOST NO FORD VEHICLE IS EXEMPT!" IN ADDITION THERE ARE PRIOR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2003 FORD F150 IN REGARDS TO THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK, BUT THE EXPERIENCES APPEAR TO BE THE SAME. I PLAN TO FOLLOW UP BY TAKING MY TRUCK TO THE FORD HOUSE I CALLED WITH MY COMPLAINT ALONG WITH COPIES OF THE REPORT I FOUND, "FORD: SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION & STUCK THROTTLES, AND RECENT FILED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. HOPEFUL SOMEONE WILL LISTEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169695October 1, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
ON SEPT 31 ALL WAS WELL. THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED DOWN TO 40+ DEGREE'S THAT NIGHT. WELL MUCH TO MY SURPRISE I WENT TO GET IN MY 03 F150 TO GO TO THE STORE, AND THE REAR GLASS WAS ALL SHATTERED. NOTHING HIT, NOTHING AROUND IT. THE TEMP ONLY GOT UP TO 78 TODAY OCT.1-2006. WE HAVE HAD STRANGER WEATHER THEN THIS WHY WOULD THE GLASS JUST SHATTER LIKE THAT. THERE HAS TO BE SOME DEFECT IN THE GLASS TO DO THAT?I LIVE OFF A BUDGET AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR REPLACING THE GLASS. SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP ME REPLACE THE REAR GLASS,I SURE CAN'T DRIVE TO WORK WITH NO REAR GLASS. MY 03 F150 IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. SO PLEASE HELP ME REPLACE THE GLASS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168614September 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DROVE MY TRUCK HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY AND AT 30 MPH MY ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $3000+. I RESEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN DEARBORN, MI AND THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE COSTS OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167225September 1, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING F-150 4X4, ACCELERATOR/THROTTLE STUCK AND CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND EVEN AFTER CRASH, WAS STILL STUCK AND KEPT TRYING TO GO WIDE OPEN. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10166477August 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
JUST HAD MY 2003 F150 5.4L FIXED AFTER THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. NEW PLUGS AND HEADS COST ME $4000.00. THE HEADS ARE THE UPDATED VERSION FORD NOW HAS. THE ORIGINAL WERE 3 THREADS, ALLOWING FOR THE PLUGS TO BLOW OUT BEFORE THE 100,000 PLUG REPLACEMENT. THEY NOW HAVE 7 THREADS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPAY US. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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