- The problem
- Ford is recalling certain 1997 through 2003 model year ford f-150, 2004 model year ford f-150 heritage, 1997 through 1999 model year f-250 less than 8,500 lbs. Gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), and 2002 and 2003 lincoln blackwood vehicles manufactured from june 20, 1995, through august 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle.
- The risk
- As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps may fail allowing the fuel lines to separate from the tank, or in some cases, causing the tank to contact the ground. Either scenario may result in a fuel leak presenting a fire hazard.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a ford or lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection. Early in this campaign, if replacement straps are not available, dealers may install a cable support under the strap as an interim repair or a steel reinforcement over the existing strap as a permanent repair. Any repairs will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 11s21
Vehicle safety record
2003 Ford F-150 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 465 complaints about the 2003 Ford F-150 with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (102) and the transmission & drivetrain (71). Those complaints describe 45 crashes, 39 fires, 39 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 11 recalls, the latest in July 2011 for the mounting. For comparison, the 2002 has 955 and the 2004 has 2,036.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical F-150 year, for its age
#30 most complained-about 2003 vehicle
- Complaints
- 465
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes
- 45
- Fires
- 39
- Injuries
- 39
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 2003 Ford F-150 problems
Share of all 465 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2003 Ford F-150 recalls 11
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
- The problem
- Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
- The problem
- K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility may be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact k2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.
- The problem
- Certain cequent 90 degree 7-way right angle adaptors sold by distributors in tow packages for aftermarket sales to tow 5th wheel rv travel trailers. Due to incorrect wiring of the harness, the trailer lights may not operate properly.
- The risk
- If the trailer lights are not working properly, a vehicle crash can occur.
- The fix
- All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
- The risk
- Overheating could result in smoke, burn, or an underhood fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on march 12, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (Note: also see recalls 05v017, 05v388, and 06v286)
- The problem
- Certain maxzone headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 331-1129L-asn and 331-1129r-asn, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the photometric requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Maxzone will notify owners and offer reimbursement for any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on july 28, 2006. Owners may contact maxzone at 909-822-3288.
- The problem
- Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n f65277, shipped from january 16 through june 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect design, the quick connectors may not fully seat with the tube interface, even though the person making the connection may believe that the quick connector is fully attached.
- The risk
- Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
- The fix
- Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters usa at 800-230-5876.
- The problem
- Certain eagle eyes headlamps, p/nos. Fr208-b101r, fr208-b101l, fr208-b001r, and fr208-b001l, sold for use as replacement equipment for the passenger vehicles listed above. These headlamps fail to conform to the photometric requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Sabry lee will notify owners and offer full credit for any noncompliant headlamp. The recall is expected to begin on june 14, 2006. Owners may contact sabry lee account executive at 1-866-467-2279.
- The problem
- On certain pickup trucks, the pitman arm to steering gear retaining nut was not fully tightened to the required specification.
- The risk
- If the pitman arm to gearbox attachment nut loosens, a noise and a loose feel in the steering could occur. If the condition progressed and service was not sought, the nut could back off completely and the pitman arm could separate from the gear causing a loss of steering. If the warning is not heeded and steering is lost, a crash may result.
- The fix
- Dealers will tighten the pitman arm retaining nut to specifications. Owner notification began on october 1, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners say
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465 complaints about the 2003 Ford F-150
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 19.
Add start-to-end labels and hose sizes to the green vacuum hose assortment image Show the EVAP purge solenoid image installed on the intake with its hoses connected Add a cutaway view showing one-way flow to the brake booster check valve image
I moved my vehicle from driveway to park on the street so my husband could park in the driveway. I then turned my vehicle off and roughly 2 hours later, a lady came screaming "fire fire fire!" I went to see where she was talking about and my truck was smoking under the hood, I then called the fire department and they came to extinguish the fire. I was unaware of any recalls as I am the 3rd owner of this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Firestone, Tire Size: 265/70/R17, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, there was a burning rubber odor coming from the outside of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle to inspect the tires and became aware that the tread of the tires was loose. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 277,144.
UNKNOWN - however there were NO warning lights or any other indication of malfunction or to service the truck. I took the truck to an independent service center & they did a full inspection & I did receive an estimate for repairs.
My husband was shoveling snow off of our vehicles and seen smoke coming from under the hood of his truck. When he opened the hood the truck was on fire on the right side. The truck was turned off when this happened. He threw snow on top of it to put the fire out and unplugged the battery to prevent further fire damage.
Well the passenger side in front seat seat belt needs replaced due to getting stuck after front airbags in dash and steering wheel after deployment from barley tapping a vehicle in front of the truck
The engine continues to shoot out the spark plugs. This is continued to happen with different cylinders. I've had it at the mechanic most of the time I've owned it.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel felt very loose and was difficult to turn. The vehicle was restarted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon attempting to enter the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver's and passenger's side rear doors failed to open after several attempts. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
I purchased this F150 in November, 2023. The only code shown was a lean code, P0171. I removed the bed first to begin my inspection. Upon removing the original fuel tank, I discovered a gash in the top of the tank,about 1/8" wide by 3" long. It should have set a code like a missing gas cap would, but there was none. The gash appeared to be several years old due to the rust pitting. I believe the gash was a result of the cross member rubbing against the tank. The previous owner did not mention the defect. Fuel would have spilled out if the tank was completely filled. I did not find any service alerts for this though they may exist. The truck currently has 225k miles.
Our truck has been great but we have a major problem. It is leaking water when it rains. Getting front floor carpet wet and now it is getting the fuse box wet and causing electrical systems to not work. Like today the odometer won't light up. Also dripping from top of windshield. We are having the windshield and seal replaced on Thursday but the glass company says they can't guarantee m of seal will stop the Problem. He said the drain system was factory installed backwards and it's not draining properly.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off for approximately an hour, they were suddenly informed that their vehicle had caught fire. When the contact arrived at the vehicle the fire department had already arrived and extinguished the fire. There was a police report was filed that stated that the fire was caused by wiring in the engine compartment. There were no injuries or medical assistance. There was damage to a nearby vehicle, fence, tree, and...
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surrounding grounds. The vehicle had been towed and deemed totaled. The contact had later learned of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control) however the vehicle had never been repaired for the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.
Ford placed a decal on the rear differential that wraps all the way around the axle. This decal holds water and has caused any area touching the decal to rust excessively. Ford has told me that this will cause they rear differential fail. When this happens it will likely be when I'm driving with my wife and two young kids. The only way to know that this issue exists is to either get under the truck and remove the decal which causes and also covers the damage, or to have the axle give out while driving. This was recently discovered while working on the vehicle. I don't currently have pictures as the vehicle is in for other repairs, but I can get pictures once I get the vehicle back.
Transmission
On the day of Monday February 20 2023 I was in my front driveway preforming some maintenance on my 2003 Ford F-150 Xlt SuperCrew truck a gear shift cable and a heater core replacement. Once I finished the repairs I ran my truck for a few minutes then shut it off and was headed inside when I noticed a flickering light coming from the passenger side of the vehicle I walked to the truck and opened the door and I saw small flames dripping down coming from the ( glove box area ) I then grabbed the water hose and put it...
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out . Once the small fire was out I proceeded to go in the house when I noticed black smoke coming ( from the engine bay from the vents in front of the windshield) the smoke got thicker as I sprayed it with water I then called to my spouse to call the local Fire Department. The vehicle was a total loss nothing was left interior wise no ( steering wheel,no console,no dashboard or anything.
On 11/27/2022 at or around 4:30 P.M. my 2003 Ford F-150 burned almost completely, without any mechanical failures or warnings, thirty full minutes after being parked and then after only having been run for three to four miles. The fire department ended up putting it out before it was fully consumed.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V385000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Front driver seat moves on its own while driving with no warning or touching controls and no problem with fuses etc. When trying to use controls they do not always work until your driving or in drive with foot on brakes.
Tl* the contact's boyfriend owns a 2003 ford f-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the ignition coils and all spark plugs would blow out inside of the engine which would cause the vehicle to stall as the check engine light would appear on the dashboard. The contact stated that she has had the ignition coils and sparks plugs replaced on four separate occasions all by independent mechanics however, the failure persisted. The contact also called three separate dealers but was unable to reach a...
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service representative. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vin was not under recall. She was referred to nhtsa for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Fuel tank separated from vehicle while driving on highway, resulting in fuel spill.
On november 01,2020 I was involved in a vehicle rollover in my ford f150 2003 which the airbags did not deploy. Airbag light was on and seatbelt locked I was entertaining intersection and almost through it when another vehicle ran the stop light causing me to rollover one in half times. Airbag did not deploy and seat almost detached from cab.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-150. The contact stated that while the key was in the ignition switch, the vehicle failed to shift gear as designed. The contact had to shift the gear from park to neutral and back into park then neutral again for the vehicle to resume normal operation and turn on. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,341.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-150. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle from driving, the vehicle began to smoke from the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that shortly after the vehicle caught on fire under the hood on the driver's side. The fire department came to put out the fire and filed a police report. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The contact had contacted the dealership (sam pack's five star ford address: 1635 s interstate 35e, carrollton, tx 75006 phone: (972) 446-5027) who informed that there was no recall on their vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 240,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-150. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had been illuminated since the day of purchase. The contact also stated that while the vehicle was parked in the car port the vehicle suddenly caught on fire. The fire department came and put out the fire. A fire department report was made. The vehicle was deemed totaled as well as damaged the contact's residence. There were no injuries. The contact contacted a certified mechanic who informed them of a recall for the...
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year/make/model, nhtsa campaign number: 06e056000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact stated the vin had not shown to be included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 203,000. *Bf *dl
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 ford f-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was included nhtsa campaign number: 05v017000 (vehicle speed control) and a repair appointment was scheduled with the local dealer. The contact stated that he was not informed by the dealer that the defective part could have been disconnected from the vehicle to avoid a fire which was stated in the recall remedy. The contact stated after his girlfriend parked the vehicle, about four and a half hours later the vehicle unexpectedly was...
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engulfed in flames from the engine. The fire department was called and extinguished the flames. A fire department report was filed. The contact stated that two other vehicles were damaged by the fire. The dealer was notified of the incident and canceled a scheduled appointment however the manufacturer was not made aware of the incident. The fire department deemed the vehicle a total loss. The failure mileage was 196,000.
Ford F-150: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 0 | 7 | A |
| 2006 | 0 | 14 | C |
| 2005 | 0 | 14 | C |
| 2004 | 2,036 | 16 | F |
| 2003 | 465 | 11 | F |
| 2002 | 955 | 10 | F |
| 2001 | 0 | 19 | C |
| 2000 | 0 | 17 | C |
| 1999 | 0 | 18 | C |
2003 Ford F-150 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Ford F-150 | 465 | 11 | F | |
| 2003 Dodge Ram | 1,359 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Toyota Tundra | 0 | 10 | C | Compare |
| 2003 Chevrolet Silverado | 0 | 13 | C | Compare |
| 2003 GMC Sierra | 0 | 9 | F | Compare |
| 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 4 | C | Compare |
| 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 | 0 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac | 1,313 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport | 1,313 | 1 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2003 Ford F-150
Does the 2003 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2003 Ford F-150: mounting (July 2011); headlights (May 2009); exterior lighting (April 2009); headlights (August 2008) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford F-150?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (102), transmission & drivetrain (71), electrical system (60).
How many complaints has the 2003 Ford F-150 had?
465 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 13, 2002 and the latest on November 8, 2026. Of these, 45 describe a crash and 39 a fire, and together they report 39 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 2003 Ford F-150 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 2 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Ford F-150 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford F-150 years have the most complaints?
2004 (2,036), 2002 (955), 2003 (465). See every Ford F-150 year compared.
What should I do if my 2003 Ford F-150 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data