2003 Ford F-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
423 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 327 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 423 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 48 | 11.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 35 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 26 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 32 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 |
| Engine | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 23 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
Electrical System: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling: 32; Vehicle Speed Control: 29; Engine: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 23; Air Bags: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20; Unknown Or Other: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 78 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 48 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 52 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 48 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 51 |
| 150,000 and above | 50 |
Under 25,000: 78; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 48; 100,000 to 149,999: 51; 150,000 and above: 50
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (78). 96 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2004 | 49 |
| 2005 | 36 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 34 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2002: 1; 2003: 48; 2004: 49; 2005: 36; 2006: 19; 2007: 25; 2008: 30; 2009: 21; 2010: 26; 2011: 34; 2012: 16; 2013: 12; 2014: 19; 2015: 14; 2016: 21; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 14; 2020: 7; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 35 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 26 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 10003377 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
WE PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F150 SUPERCREW FX4 IN OCTOBER OF 2002. ON DECEMBER 2,2002 THIS VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF IT'S BRAKES AND ACCELERATION PEDAL. IT WAS PICKED UP THAT DAY AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. IT IS STILL TO THIS DAY AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE NOT HAD POSSESSION OF IT SINCE. THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY TRIED TO FIX IT BUT WE UNABLE, UNTIL 01-22-03 WHEN WE WERE TOLD IT WAS FIXED. BUT EVEN SO WE ARE NOT GIVEN A GUARANTEE BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS. THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH IT ON THE ROAD ALSO. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ACTIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,694 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004608 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD GET STUCK THE VEHICLE WOULD PICK UP SPEED.CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE PEDAL ALSO DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068298 · 2004-05-04 (May 4, 2004)
ODOR OF GASOLINE, CAUGHT ON FIRE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HAD IGNITED FROM GASOLINE VAPORS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL HAD CRACKED, CAUSING THE FUEL LEAK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075151 · 2004-06-10 (June 10, 2004)
2003 FORD 150 EXT CAB 4X4 TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH A LIGHT LOAD. AS THE TRUCK WAS SHIFTED FROM 3RD TO 4TH THE DRIVE LINE BROKEN IN HALF AND BEGAN POUNDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGING THE FUEL TANK AND EXHAUST SYTEM. THE DRIVER CLAIMS THE CLUTCH WAS NON RESPONSIVE AND THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNED CLUTCH HAS THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. FORD REP IS CLAIMING DAMAGE IS THE RESULT OF ABUSE AND/OR PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE DRIVELINE BASED ON PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED BY DEALERSHIP (THE FORD REP DID NOT PHYSICALLY INSP…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,783 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030776 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
I HAVE A 2003 SUPERCHARGED HARLEY TRUCK,THE CONCERN IS THAT ALL EIGHT SPARK PLUGS WERE DARK RED IN COLOR AND VEHICLE WAS MISSING HORRIBLY UNDER A LOAD WITH THE A/C ON OR OFF.THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,AND VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY DIPPED TO 11MPG ON HIGHWAY.IT ALMOST FELT LIKE A TORQUE CONVERTER GOING SOUTH.THE VEHICLE GETS SUNOCO ULTRA 94 ONLY AND IS BABIED.THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7K ON IT.P.S IAM ALSO THE FOREMAN AT A LARGE FORD DEALER.I HAE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE,UNLESS HIGH OCTANE ADDITIVES WERE USED.WHAT CAUSED THIS.NO ONE AT FORD KNOWS. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023774 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
MY FRIEND BOUGHT A 2003 F-150 SUPER-CREW AND AFTER 4 MONTH THE DOME LIGHT FUSE BLEW. HE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHAT THEY DID TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM WAS" PUT A NEW FUSE IN IT AND SAID TRY THIS AND COME BACK IF THE FUSE BLOWS AGAIN." WELL THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN AND IS AT THE DEALER AGAIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057560 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. INSIDE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OUT ONCE THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. ALARM SYSTEM DID NOT WORK, AND SIDE REFLECTOR LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 20 TO 25 MINUTES BEFORE THEY GO OFF. DOORS WON'T LOCK WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. DEALER SAID THAT THEY CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM WITH INSIDE LIGHTS. HOWEVER, DEALER MADE REPAIR ON HORN AND REPLACED FUSE FOR ALARM HORN. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043802 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL SHAFT BEARINGS WERE LOOSE, AND HAD BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045693 · 2003-11-07 (November 7, 2003)
2003 F-150 SUPERCREW XLT 4WD NOISE PRESENT IN FRONT-END. ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY SOUNDS LIKE AN IDLER ARM OR STEERING LINKAGE (TIE RODS) ALSO NOISE IN STEERING GEAR/PITMAN ARM. RESULT IS LOOSE STEERING ESPCIALLY WHILE AT HIGH SPEEDS. LOOSE STEERING IS PRESENT EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS AND VEHICLE TRACKS ROAD IN AN UNUSUAL FASHION. HAVE DISCUSSED WITH FORD SERVICE DEPT ON 4 OCCASIONS. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THEY TELL ME ITS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097197 · 2004-10-19 (October 19, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245240 · 2008-10-13 (October 13, 2008)
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 RAFAE…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,583 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245240 at NHTSA ↗