MYRModel Year Report

2003 Ford F-150

▲ Better than typical
2003 Ford F-150
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
423
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

17% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1990: 21 complaints 1991: 306 complaints 1992: 479 complaints 1992 1993: 588 complaints 1994: 700 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1996: 324 complaints 1997: 2,758 complaints 1997 1998: 1,381 complaints 1999: 1,044 complaints 2000: 1,076 complaints 2001: 1,236 complaints 2002: 821 complaints 2003: 423 complaints 2003 423 2004: 2,029 complaints 2005: 1,112 complaints 2006: 585 complaints 2007: 488 complaints 2008: 369 complaints 2009: 324 complaints 2010: 843 complaints 2011: 2,188 complaints 2012: 1,781 complaints 2012 2013: 2,987 complaints 2014: 1,532 complaints 2015: 1,711 complaints 2016: 2,054 complaints 2017: 1,438 complaints 2017 2018: 2,307 complaints 2019: 1,325 complaints 2020: 732 complaints 2021: 1,014 complaints 2022: 592 complaints 2022 2023: 408 complaints 2024: 191 complaints 2025: 105 complaints 2026: 10 complaints 2027: 0 complaints 2027
1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1990: 21 complaints 1990 1991: 306 complaints 1992: 479 complaints 1993: 588 complaints 1993 1994: 700 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1996: 324 complaints 1996 1997: 2,758 complaints 1998: 1,381 complaints 1999: 1,044 complaints 1999 2000: 1,076 complaints 2001: 1,236 complaints 2002: 821 complaints 2003: 423 complaints 2003 423 2004: 2,029 complaints 2005: 1,112 complaints 2006: 585 complaints 2007: 488 complaints 2008: 369 complaints 2008 2009: 324 complaints 2010: 843 complaints 2011: 2,188 complaints 2011 2012: 1,781 complaints 2013: 2,987 complaints 2014: 1,532 complaints 2014 2015: 1,711 complaints 2016: 2,054 complaints 2017: 1,438 complaints 2017 2018: 2,307 complaints 2019: 1,325 complaints 2020: 732 complaints 2020 2021: 1,014 complaints 2022: 592 complaints 2023: 408 complaints 2023 2024: 191 complaints 2025: 105 complaints 2026: 10 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints
1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1989 1990: 21 complaints 1991: 306 complaints 1991 1992: 479 complaints 1993: 588 complaints 1993 1994: 700 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1995 1996: 324 complaints 1997: 2,758 complaints 1997 1998: 1,381 complaints 1999: 1,044 complaints 1999 2000: 1,076 complaints 2001: 1,236 complaints 2001 2002: 821 complaints 2003: 423 complaints 2003 423 2004: 2,029 complaints 2005: 1,112 complaints 2005 2006: 585 complaints 2007: 488 complaints 2007 2008: 369 complaints 2009: 324 complaints 2009 2010: 843 complaints 2011: 2,188 complaints 2011 2012: 1,781 complaints 2013: 2,987 complaints 2013 2014: 1,532 complaints 2015: 1,711 complaints 2015 2016: 2,054 complaints 2017: 1,438 complaints 2017 2018: 2,307 complaints 2019: 1,325 complaints 2019 2020: 732 complaints 2021: 1,014 complaints 2021 2022: 592 complaints 2023: 408 complaints 2023 2024: 191 complaints 2025: 105 complaints 2025 2026: 10 complaints 2027: 0 complaints 2027

2003: 423 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19842
19872
198914
199021
1991306
1992479
1993588
1994700
1995626
1996324
19972,758
19981,381
19991,044
20001,076
20011,236
2002821
2003423
20042,029
20051,112
2006585
2007488
2008369
2009324
2010843
20112,188
20121,781
20132,987
20141,532
20151,711
20162,054
20171,438
20182,307
20191,325
2020732
20211,014
2022592
2023408
2024191
2025105
202610
20270

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

17% · 71 reports

Most commonly citing engine and manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe.

FIRE

Power train

15% · 63 reports

Most commonly citing transfer case (4-wheel drive) and automatic transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Purchased new Ford harley pickup. Loud noise in rear, shop could not identify. Rear axle broke in curve and rear wheel on driver side was several yards from where truck finally ran off road and overturned. Total loss.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-05-22

Electrical system

11% · 48 reports

Most commonly citing interior/under dash and fuses and circuit breakers.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

I moved my vehicle from driveway to park on the street so my husband could park in the driveway.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-08-18

Also filed under Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-09-14

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact's sister smelled smoke coming their bedroom window. The contact went outside and noticed that the vehicle caught on fire. The fire started from the driver side.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-07-26

Structure

8% · 35 reports

Most commonly citing body and door.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Vehicle speed control

8% · 32 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and cables.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that according to the fire department the cruise control malfunctioned causing a short and the vehicle was completely burned. No injuries were reported.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-10-17

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2003-10-01Steering03V349000 On certain pickup trucks, the pitman arm to steering gear retaining nut was not fully tightened to the required specification.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    2005-09-22Defect petitionClosed 2006-01-04 Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
  3. R
    2006-06-14Exterior lighting06E052000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2006-07-28Exterior lighting06E067000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2006-08-04Fuel system, gasoline06E056000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2007-03-12Vehicle speed control07V078000 On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2007-08-13Vehicle speed control07V336000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2007-09-05Equipment07E066000 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…

    Remedy: All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2008-10-31Preliminary evaluationClosed 2009-02-27 Cng regulator leak
  10. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2011-05-04Engineering analysisClosed 2011-08-19 Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion
  14. R
    2011-09-12Fuel system, gasoline11V385000 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)…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Ford F-150 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 71 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 63 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 48 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 03V349000 · Steering
  • Recall 06E052000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E067000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E056000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 07V078000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 07V336000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 07E066000 · Equipment
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 11V385000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Ford F-150 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Ford F-150 is rated "better than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford F-150?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 17% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Ford F-150 have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.