Model year record

2003 Ford F-150

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 540 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V385000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 1,100,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2011-07-29
Owners notified: 2011-09-12

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V336000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 3,600,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-08-03
Owners notified: 2007-08-13

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V078000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 155,584
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-03-06
Owners notified: 2007-03-12

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Safety risk

OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

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)

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V349000

Steering: gear box: shaft pitman

Component: Steering: gear box: shaft pitman
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 300
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-09-22
Owners notified: 2003-10-01

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE PITMAN ARM TO STEERING GEAR RETAINING NUT WAS NOT FULLY TIGHTENED TO THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATION.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Electrical system	36	80,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	32	93,000 mi
Engine	29	136,713 mi
Vehicle speed control	29	125,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	23	93,456 mi
Air bags	22	100,000 mi
Unknown or other	21	56,700 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	20	130,000 mi
Structure: body	18	79,280 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	17	105,000 mi
Power train	17	69,300 mi
Tires	15	58,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	11	15,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	10	23,000 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	10	50,000 mi
Seat belts	10	57,000 mi
Service brakes	10	77,250 mi
Wheels	10	65,000 mi
Structure	8	60,000 mi
Structure: body: door	8	41,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly	7	2,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	7	64,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	6	3,500 mi
Steering	6	94,000 mi
Suspension	6	30,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	5	54,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	5	80,000 mi
Fuel system, other	5	44,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	5	75,000 mi
Equipment	4	500 mi
Power train: driveline	4	16,783 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit	4	6,640 mi
Steering: gear box: shaft pitman	4	57,719 mi
Visibility	4	74,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	4	95,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	3	72,000 mi
Exterior lighting	3	112,000 mi
Interior lighting	3	3 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft	3	10,000 mi
Seat belts: front	3	3,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	16,000 mi
Suspension: rear	3	18,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs	3	25,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	2	31,264 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	2	7,200 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	6 mi
Electrical system: ignition: coil: spark plugs	2	—
Electrical system: wiring	2	38,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	2	7,200 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	2	5,628 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	2	168,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	2	—
Power train: axle hubs	2	36,001 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	2	31,950 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	2	16,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	2	1,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion	2	19,612 mi
Suspension: front	2	325 mi
Tires: sidewall	2	33,210 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	2	50,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	5,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module	1	34,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	3,400 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	247,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	3,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)	1	2,694 mi
Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices	1	15,000 mi
Exterior lighting: fog lights	1	44,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	7,200 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	1	7,200 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal	1	48,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch	1	48,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	22,850 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail	1	10,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting	1	189,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	—
Parking brake: conventional	1	35,000 mi
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable	1	44,888 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	40,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift	1	—
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft	1	49,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	37,700 mi
Power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly	1	60,804 mi
Seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly	1	15,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor	1	—
Seat belts: rear/other	1	500 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	50,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid	1	12,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	1	16,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	1	16,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	19,100 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages	1	2,100 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar	1	2,000 mi
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)	1	—
Steering: rack and pinion: rack	1	35,500 mi
Structure: body: bumpers	1	—
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	1	—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint	1	40,000 mi
Suspension: front: hub	1	46,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	16,416 mi
Vehicle speed control: cables	1	78,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window	1	3,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	1	55,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: switch/wiring	1	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	—
Wheels: hubcap/cover	1	68,000 mi

The 2002 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.