2003 Ford E-150: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP IN THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER'S NEIGHBOR ALERTED HIM THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES RELATING TO THE FIRE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE RESULTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066801 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE, VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN, AND DROVE BACKWARDS INTO THE GARAGE, BENDING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHICH WAS OPEN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO CLAIMED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAPPENED BUT DID NOT THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS A DEFECT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075597 at NHTSA ↗

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NOT COOLING. AIR VENT TEMPS AT CITY DRIVING IS 52 TO 65 DEGREES. FREEWAY DRIVING CAN BE 44 DEGREES IF SPEED IS CONSTANT AND OUTSIDE TEMP IS NOT ABOVE 90 DEGREES. DEALER STATES VEHICLE IS OPERATING AT FACTORY SPECS, BUT THE VEHICLE (VAN) NEVER GETS COOLED OFF ON MOST CITY DRIVING ESPECIALLY IF NOT OUTSIDE. I HAVE HAD FIVE TRIPS TO DEALER TO REPAIR BUT NO REPAIRS MADE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082412 at NHTSA ↗

THE THREADS ON THE SEAT BELTS ARE TEARING APART, CAUSING THEM TO BE INOPERABLE , WHICH IS DANGEROUS IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112846 at NHTSA ↗

THE SEAT BELTS ON ALL THREE ROWS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THE HARNESS IS SHREDDING. WHEN YOU SIT IN THE SEAT THE SHRED GETS INTO THE BUCKLE. THE DEALER STATED THE SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN ABUSED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113079 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2004-09-13 (September 13, 2004)

ON CERTAIN VANS, A DIODE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence: THE ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, OR THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN OR UNATTENDED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUSE IN THE ABS CIRCUIT AND INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD OVER THE ABS MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO FORD IS EXTENDING THE LIMITED WARRANTY (FOR A ONE TIME REPLACEMENT) OF THE ABS MODULE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2005.

Reported: 2004-09-13 (September 13, 2004)

ON CERTAIN VANS, THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT MATERIAL PROCESS RESULTED IN AN AIR FILTER PAPER ELEMENT THAT CAN SMOLDER OR BURN. THIS CHANGE IN FILTER PAPER COMPOSITION COMBINED WITH THE CONFIGURATION OF THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM, MAY ALLOW HOT CARBON PARTICLES TO CONTACT THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT DURING CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT CREATE HOT PARTICLES.

Consequence: THESE HOT PARTICLES MAY IGNITE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM DAMAGE OR UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO FORD IS EXTENDING THE LIMITED WARRANTY (FOR A ONE TIME REPLACEMENT) OF THE ABS MODULE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2005.

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.