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2003 Ford E-150 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

21 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

16,354 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 21 complaints (9.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior314.3%
Steering behavior29.5%
Engine operation14.8%
Fuel system concerns14.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
Seat Belts
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Air Bags
1
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner2
Seat Belts2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Air Bags1
Electrical System:Ignition1

Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004
3
2005
3
2006
4
2008
3
2009
2
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2014
1
2016
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20043
20053
20064
20083
20092
20101
20111
20121
20141
20162

2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10129763 · 2005-07-22 (July 22, 2005)

DT: CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT AND WARPED ALL THE TIME. THEY WERE EATING THE BRAKE PADS UP. THE ROTORS WARPED WITHIN THE FIRST 5, 000 MILES OF USAGE. THEY WERE CHANGED, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL PAD FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT HE COULD NOT GET ANY OF THESE PADS. DEALER INSPECTED THE FRONT BRAKES, AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE ROTORS HAD TO BE CHANGED TWICE, AND WERE TURNED ONCE, BUT THEY WARPED AGAIN. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE V…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129763 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10171348 · 2006-10-19 (October 19, 2006)

WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES THE LEFT FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP...NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON... BRAKE PADS BURNT TO A CRISP...WARPED ROTORS AND CALIPERS...HAD TO GET WORK DONE BY OTHER THAN FORD...2006..OR COULD DRIVE IT !!!! FORD FAILED TO PAY UNDER THEIR WARRANTY... HAVE HAD HOWLING IN REAR END ??? SINCE NEW...FORD CAN'T REPAIR, THEY TRIED THREE TIMES... THEN SAID THEY WOULD HAVE A DISTRICT FORD REP LOOK AT IT...FAILED TO DO SO UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT... UNABLE TO USE THE ESP WARRANTY ANYWHERE BUT A FORD DEALERSHIP... LIKE I WANT TO TA…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171348 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10147410 · 2006-01-11 (January 11, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATEED CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE ENGINEWAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147410 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10336391 · 2010-06-15 (June 15, 2010)

PROBLEM: SEVERE SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL, POSSIBLY LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL. CONDITIONS: OCCURS WHENEVER BRAKES ARE HOT AND VEHICLE SPEED IS ABOVE 45 MPH. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DESCENDING LONG & STEEP INCLINES. PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT HOT FROM HEAVY USE. TEMPORARY ABATEMENT: DRIVE AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR LESS DOWN INCLINES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336391 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10254628 · 2009-01-11 (January 11, 2009)

2003 FORD E150 VAN WITH TRITON 5.4 ENGINE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON (2) SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SPARK PLUG BLOWS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE LAST BLOW OUT HAPPENED ON JAN 8TH 2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE NY STATE THRUWAY DURING SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. THE INCIDENT CAUSED IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER TO MY ENGINE AND AN INABILITY TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE SAFELY. AN ACCIDENT NEARLY OCCURRED, HOWEVER I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT OFF THE HI-WAY WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY. HOWEVER, I WAS STRANDED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN FORD MANUFAC…

Owner-reported narrative. 138,362 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254628 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10155207 · 2006-04-06 (April 6, 2006)

2003 E150 CONVERSION VAN GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK 3 TIMES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE REAR CARGO DOOR WAS REPAIRED, THE FAN CLUTCH WAS REPLACED. THE RUNNING BOARD DID NOT FIT CORRECTLY. AIR CONDITIONER BLOWN WARM AIR. THE EXHAUST WAS BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE. THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE GAS TANK WAS NOT COMPLETELY FULL EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUMER FILLED UP THE TANK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,519 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155207 at NHTSA ↗