Ford F-150 Complaints (2003)

423 consumer complaints on file.

#10111995February 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
2003 FORD F-150 4X4. AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS IN 4X4 MODE, TRUCK NO LONGER ENGAGES INTO 4X4 MODE, CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITION AS PEOPLE EXPECT THIS TO WORK AND TRUCK IS VERY PRONE TO GETTING STUCK IN ROAD OR LEAVING THE ROAD WITHOUT THIS FEATURE (AS ALL SUCH TRUCKS ARE RELATIVELY VERY LIGHT IN THE REAR). OWNERS OF 4X4 VEHICLES EXPECT THIS FEATURE TO WORK AS ADVERTISED AND FAILURE CAN CREATE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. FROM SHORT INVESTIGATION - SPEAKING TO FORD MECHANICS AND VISITING FORD-TRUCKS.COM, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR REASONS GIVEN ABOVE - AFTER PERSONALLY GETTING STUCK IN A PUBLIC ROAD, AND VERY NEARLY SEVERAL TIMES, THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER USED WHENEVER THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF SNOWY CONDITIONS (I AM IN THE NORTH-EAST). I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT - THE FORK WHICH ENGAGES THE FRONT AXLES HAS A PLASTIC END WHICH BREAKS OR FALLS OFF AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I REQUEST THAT THIS BE INVESTIGATED AND IF FOUND TO BE A DESIGN RELATED ISSUE, WHICH I BELIEVE IT CLEARLY IS, THAT FORD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THESE VEHICLES WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER AND PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE. ALSO NOTE THAT I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO 2 FORD DEALERS WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS, BOTH QUOTED 6-7 HOURS OF LABOR WHEN IT CLEARLY TAKES HALF OR LESS OF THIS TIME (AGAIN, PLEASE SEE THE FORD-TRUCKS.COM/FORUM). I BELIEVE FORD IS USING THIS KNOWN ISSUE TO PURPOSELY OVER CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111405February 11, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON IT'S OWN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108233January 30, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN LIGHT OF THE RECALL OF THE 2000 MODEL OF THE FORD F-150 PICKUPS FOR ENGINE FIRES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT NHTSA AND FORD TO LOOK AT A POSSIBLE SIMULAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 MODEL OF F-150'S. A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON AND AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH CLUSTER. WHEN I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE OFF BUTTON THE LIGHT WENT OUT. I HAD THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN CONROE CHECK IT OUT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT OR FIND A PROBLEM. NOW I AM VERY CONCERN THAT MY F-150 MAY ALSO CATCH ON FIRE LIKE THE 2000 YR MODELS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109205January 28, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105789January 5, 2005
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
IN MAY, 2004 I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE WITH MY MOTHER AND MOTHER IN LAW AND FRIEND WHEN WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT TIRES ON MY TRUCK. AFTER FINDING A GARAGE THAT WAS OPEN, WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THE LUGS: NUTS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS HAD LOOSENED TO THE POINT OF ALMOST FALLING OFF. THE GARAGE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, AND THEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. GIVING THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES I FELT LIKE SOME SORT OF RESTITUTION WAS IN ORDER FOR THE TIME AND TROUBLE I HAD UNDERGONE. AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE WHEELS REPLACED, BUT NEVER QUITE FELT SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. IN NOVEMBER, 2004, WHILE GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR CHURCH, MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO START THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP IN THIS TRUCK. IT ONLY HAD 25,500 MILES ON IT. I WAS FORCED TO UPGRADE TO A NEWER VEHICLE AND INCURRED MORE PAYMENTS WITH THIS NEWER VEHICLE. I HAVE MADE MANY COMPLAINTS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I FEEL LIKE I AM DUE SOME SORT OF RESTITUTION FOR THE VEHICLE THAT I HAD TO TRADE. I HAD MADE 15 PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND REALLY HAD NO CHOICE. THE ANSWER I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS THAT NO ONE WOULD OFFER ME A TRADE IN ON A VEHICLE WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. I DISAGREE. THE TIME AND TROUBLE THAT I HAVE HAD TO UNDERGO IS WORTH SOMETHING. TERESA LIMBAUGH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105540December 29, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL IN THE RAIN, THE REAR WHEELS SUDDENLY LOCKED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILURE WITH THE RACK AND PINION AND THE DRIVE SHAFT. RECENTLY, THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096690November 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, TIRES
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10097197October 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096920October 14, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095742October 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
AS NOTED BY ANOTHER COMPLAINT: HOWLING NOISE IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED ONCE. NOISE CONTINUES. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ONLY AFFECTS CERTAIN VEHICLES BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. I ASKED...WHEN COULD I EXPECT IT TO BE SOLVED. THE ANSWER WAS...IT MIGHT NEVER BE SOLVED. THEY REPLACED SOME GEARS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. THEY REFUSE TO PUT IN A NEW DIFFERENTIAL SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE "COST PROHIBITIVE".*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094042September 22, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELTS RETRACTED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091107September 16, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2003 F150 SUPER CREW IN DECEMBER OF 2002. IT NOW HAS 22,000 MILES ON IT AND THE BOTTOM INSIDE OF ALL FOUR DOORS ARE RUSTING AND BUBBLING OUT. WILL BRING INTO DEALER TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND HAVE IT FIXED WITH SOME GUARANTEE IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089007September 2, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
REAR ENDED WHILE DRIVING AT 48 MPH. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TWICE ALONG WITH THE CARRIER. THREE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090267August 30, 2004
TIRES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088362August 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
COMPLAINED OF DASHBOARD VIBRATION AT TIME VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED. FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DRIVE SHAFT IS BEING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 16,500 MILES. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED ALIGNMENT. I AM CURIOUS IF THE DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM AND THE VIBRATION CONTRIBUTED TO THE TIRES BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083261August 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE CONSUMER FEELS, "THAT THE POSITION OF THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH POSES A SAFETY RISK. A CHILD OR AN ANIMAL CAN ACTIVATE THE SWITCH JUST BY STICKING THEIR HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW." THE CONSUMER'S DOG WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE SWITCH AND ALMOST CRUSHED HIS HEAD IN THE WINDOW. *LA THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS DISCONTINUED IN THE 2003 MODEL. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087903August 13, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT VEHICLE WAS USING A LOT OF OIL. IT USED A QUART OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. VEHICLE HAD NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THE TIE ROD ENDS NOR ON THE STEERING. THIS MADE THEM SQUEAK. SUBSEQUENTLY WITHOUT THE GREASE FITTINGS THESE PARTS WILL DROP OUT . CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD HIM THAT IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT A COUPLE OF HOURS TO REPAIR VEHICLE. BUT WHEN CONSUMER CALLED BACK HE WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE ON BACK ORDER. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS TO GET THEM. CONSUMER INSISTED VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE, AND CONSUMER WAS AFRAID SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082319July 20, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081032July 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
2003 FORD F-150 SUPER CREW, HOWLING/WHINING NOISE FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL DURING ACCELLERATION. NOISE ONLY OCCURRES BETWEEN THE SPEED OF 40MPH AND 60MPH, MOST NOTICABLE AT 50 MPH.*AK SO FAR DEFECT HAS NOT CAUSED OPERATIONAL FAILURE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO ATTENTION OF THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD ME THE TRUCK. FIRST ATTEMPT TO REPAIR RESULTED IN NO WORK PERFORMED, NOISE CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE BY FORD SPECS. SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT (AFTER WRITING TO DEALERSHIP) RESLULTED IN SERVICE MANAGER DIAGNOSING A RING AND PINION GEAR PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE RING AND PINION GEAR 3/30/2004. PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER 4 WEEKS, ADDITIONAL ATTEMPT TO REPAIR RESULTED IN ORIGINIAL CONCLUSION THAT NOISE WAS ACCEPTABLE PER FORD SPECS. INCONSISTENT PATTERN OF REPAIR WITH PROBLEM STILL EXISTING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080522July 7, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
HOWLING NOISE IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED TWICE. NOISE CONTINUES. FORD NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR REAR DIFFERENTIAL BECAUSE OF COMPLETE OVERHAUL TWICE. FORD NOW SAYS NOISE IS "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT TRUE AS I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES WITHOUT THE NOISE. NOISE GOES AWAY AFTER REPAIRS ARE MADE FOR ABOUT 6000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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