2003 Ford F-150

▲ Better than typical
2003 Ford F-150
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford F-150 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1990: 21 complaints 1991: 304 complaints 1992: 470 complaints 1992 1993: 586 complaints 1994: 676 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1996: 324 complaints 1997: 2758 complaints 1997 1998: 1381 complaints 1999: 1044 complaints 2000: 1074 complaints 2001: 1236 complaints 2002: 820 complaints 2002 2003: 421 complaints 2003 2004: 2027 complaints 2005: 1112 complaints 2006: 584 complaints 2007: 487 complaints 2007 2008: 368 complaints 2009: 324 complaints 2010: 840 complaints 2011: 2179 complaints 2012: 1771 complaints 2012 2013: 2956 complaints 2014: 1497 complaints 2015: 1638 complaints 2016: 1976 complaints 2017: 1379 complaints 2017 2018: 2218 complaints 2019: 1270 complaints 2020: 677 complaints 2021: 934 complaints 2022: 554 complaints 2022 2023: 382 complaints 2024: 178 complaints 2025: 97 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
2003: 421 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19842
19872
198914
199021
1991304
1992470
1993586
1994676
1995626
1996324
19972758
19981381
19991044
20001074
20011236
2002820
2003421
20042027
20051112
2006584
2007487
2008368
2009324
2010840
20112179
20121771
20132956
20141497
20151638
20161976
20171379
20182218
20191270
2020677
2021934
2022554
2023382
2024178
202597
20263

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: electrical system — 34 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

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, 20230914

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, 20190726

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%

8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 32 distinct reports on file.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7%

7% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 29 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
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, 20121017

ENGINE 6%

6% of complaints: engine — 27 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER UPON ROUTINE VEHICLE STARTING. VEHICLE WAS WARM WHEN STARTED. ONCE THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE AND SMOKE. A SMALL FIRE WAS EASILY EXTINGUISHED HOWEVER COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20120821

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5%

5% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 23 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20031001 — steering

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.

Campaign 03V349000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20050922 — DP (closed 20060104)

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

R 20060614 — exterior lighting

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 CON

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.

Campaign 06E052000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060728 — exterior lighting

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 CONFOR

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.

Campaign 06E067000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060804 — fuel system, gasoline

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

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.

Campaign 06E056000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070312 — vehicle speed control

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 05V017

Campaign 07V078000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070813 — vehicle speed control

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, S

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

Campaign 07V336000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070905 — equipment

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 TRAILE

Remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.

Campaign 07E066000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20081031 — PE (closed 20090227)

CNG REGULATOR LEAK

R 20081217 — exterior lighting

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

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.

Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20110504 — EA (closed 20110819)

Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion

R 20110912 — fuel system, gasoline

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

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 11V385000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 Ford F-150 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (34 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (32 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (29 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 03V349000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E052000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E067000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E056000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V078000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V336000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E066000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V385000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2025 ▲ 2024 ▲ 1991

WORST YEARS

■ 2013 ■ 1997 ■ 2018

See all years ranked →

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 electrical system, accounting for 8% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Ford F-150 have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.