FORD E-150 · model year

2003 FORD E-150

31 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003FORDE-150 carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 E-150 is equipment:appliance:air conditioner with 2 filings, followed by seat belts (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2003 E-150, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

31
Complaints
9
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

31 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
SEAT BELTS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN1
STRUCTURE1

Recalls (6)

09V39900013/10/2009

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

04V44500013/09/2004

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 CER

04V44400013/09/2004

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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

06E05600013/06/2006

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, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE

08V05100004/02/2008

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

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

07V33600003/08/2007

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, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Recent Complaints

20160414ENGINE

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT X3 IT HAS BEGAIN TO GET VERY ANOING.

Mileage: 158,758

20160209AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN FAILED TO WORK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20160209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN FAILED TO WORK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20140428CrashSEAT BELTS

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F1-50. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE APRIL 26, 2014. THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT CURRENT MILLAGE OVER 240,00. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH IN TRAFFICE . THE CONTACT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE MANUFICATURE. LG

20120214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN. WHEN I ACCELERATED TO MOVE, I HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE AND THEN I HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. AFTER TOWING MY HANDICAPPED VAN TO THE FORD DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE IF I HAD TRIED DRIVING MUCH FURTHER. THIS IS VERY SCARY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT EQUIP THESE VANS FOR SPECIAL USE. THE MILEAGE IS 99% CITY DRIVING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE.

Mileage: 71,500

20110316ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2003 E150 FORD VAN BLEW THE #2 SPARK PLUG OUT. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT BLEW A ROD. AFTER CHECKING IT OUT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS THE SPARK PLUG. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO HIS EVENT, I COULD HEAR A SLIGHT TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED JUST TO BE SURE. THE SPARK PLUG HAS BEEN REPLACED, WITH A HELICOIL INSERTED, BUT THE WALL OF THE HEAD WAS EVEN DAMAGED. MY MECHANIC DID AN AWESOME JOB REPAIRING IT BUT EVEN SAID HE COULDN'T GUARANTEE IT WOULD LAST A 100 MILES OR 100,000 DUE TO THE HEAD DAMAGE. HE EVEN RECOMMENDED I TRADE IT IN. WITH ONLY 138,000 MILES ON IT I'M NOT READY TO LET IT GO. HOPEFULLY THE NEW PLUG WILL HOLD AND I WON'T HAVE TO TRADE IN MY VAN. *TR

Mileage: 138,628

20110316ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2003 E150 FORD VAN BLEW THE #2 SPARK PLUG OUT. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT BLEW A ROD. AFTER CHECKING IT OUT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS THE SPARK PLUG. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO HIS EVENT, I COULD HEAR A SLIGHT TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED JUST TO BE SURE. THE SPARK PLUG HAS BEEN REPLACED, WITH A HELICOIL INSERTED, BUT THE WALL OF THE HEAD WAS EVEN DAMAGED. MY MECHANIC DID AN AWESOME JOB REPAIRING IT BUT EVEN SAID HE COULDN'T GUARANTEE IT WOULD LAST A 100 MILES OR 100,000 DUE TO THE HEAD DAMAGE. HE EVEN RECOMMENDED I TRADE IT IN. WITH ONLY 138,000 MILES ON IT I'M NOT READY TO LET IT GO. HOPEFULLY THE NEW PLUG WILL HOLD AND I WON'T HAVE TO TRADE IN MY VAN. *TR

Mileage: 138,628

20100615STEERING

PROBLEM: SEVERE SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL, POSSIBLY LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL. CONDITIONS: OCCURS WHENEVER BRAKES ARE HOT AND VEHICLE SPEED IS ABOVE 45 MPH. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DESCENDING LONG & STEEP INCLINES. PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT HOT FROM HEAVY USE. TEMPORARY ABATEMENT: DRIVE AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR LESS DOWN INCLINES. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

20100615SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PROBLEM: SEVERE SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL, POSSIBLY LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL. CONDITIONS: OCCURS WHENEVER BRAKES ARE HOT AND VEHICLE SPEED IS ABOVE 45 MPH. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DESCENDING LONG & STEEP INCLINES. PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT HOT FROM HEAVY USE. TEMPORARY ABATEMENT: DRIVE AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR LESS DOWN INCLINES. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

20090423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

2003 FOCUS- MY IGNITION KEPT LOCKING ON ME. ANYWHERE I TURNED OFF THE CAR, I HAD TO SPEND A GOOD 15MIN TURNING AND TURNING THE KEY TO GET IT STARTED. MY CAR HAS ONLY 32,000.00 MILES AND IT STARTED AT 18,000.00 MILES. TODAY I HAD TO GET A LOCKSMITH TO COME IN AND FIX IT. *TR

20090111FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2003 FORD E150 VAN WITH TRITON 5.4 ENGINE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON (2) SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SPARK PLUG BLOWS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE LAST BLOW OUT HAPPENED ON JAN 8TH 2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE NY STATE THRUWAY DURING SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. THE INCIDENT CAUSED IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER TO MY ENGINE AND AN INABILITY TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE SAFELY. AN ACCIDENT NEARLY OCCURRED, HOWEVER I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT OFF THE HI-WAY WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY. HOWEVER, I WAS STRANDED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN FORD MANUFACTURING AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 138,362

20080819POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

I OWN A 2003 FORD F150 SUPER CREW FOUR WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP. WHEN ENGAGING THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM MOST OF THE TIME THE FRONT WHEELS WILL NOT ENGAGE. THE TRANSFER CASE ENGAGES EVERY TIME, BUT I WOULD ESTIMATE THE FRONT WHEELS ENGAGE ABOUT TWENTY PERCENT OF THE TIME. THE SYSTEM IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND YOU CAN NOT COUNT ON IT WORKING WHEN YOU NEED IT. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT FOR ME YET, BUT I HAVE BEEN STUCK SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE POORLY DESIGNED SYSTEM. *TR

20080726VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

E-150 1.CRUISE CONTROL USE. 2.OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. 3. FORD REFUSED. MY SYMPTOM, MODEL, AND YEAR OF VEHICLE IS INCLUDED ON FORD RECALL UPDATE OF 6/26/08 AS FIRE HAZARD BUT BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT LISTED FORD REFUSES EVEN TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. HTTP://WWW.FORD.COM/DYNAMIC/METATAGS/ARTICLE-DETAIL/223_IMPORTANT_NOTICE_VOLUNTARY_RECALL_UPDATE. *TR

20080304VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V33600 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. HIS WIFE IS DISABLED AND CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THE SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,200. UPDATED 03/26/08. *LJ

20061121TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. AFTER A VISUAL INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. AFTER 500 MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE DISTRIBUTOR WAS CONTACTED WITHOUT A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE TIRES WERE SOLD WITH 60000 MILES TROUBLE FREE GUARANTEE. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS SAFETY RISK INVOLVED IN BOTH INCIDENTS. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 86,214

20061019SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES THE LEFT FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP...NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON... BRAKE PADS BURNT TO A CRISP...WARPED ROTORS AND CALIPERS...HAD TO GET WORK DONE BY OTHER THAN FORD...2006..OR COULD DRIVE IT !!!! FORD FAILED TO PAY UNDER THEIR WARRANTY... HAVE HAD HOWLING IN REAR END ??? SINCE NEW...FORD CAN'T REPAIR, THEY TRIED THREE TIMES... THEN SAID THEY WOULD HAVE A DISTRICT FORD REP LOOK AT IT...FAILED TO DO SO UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT... UNABLE TO USE THE ESP WARRANTY ANYWHERE BUT A FORD DEALERSHIP... LIKE I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SAME PEOPLE THAT CAN'T FIX IT !!!! *NM

Mileage: 16,354

20061019POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES THE LEFT FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP...NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON... BRAKE PADS BURNT TO A CRISP...WARPED ROTORS AND CALIPERS...HAD TO GET WORK DONE BY OTHER THAN FORD...2006..OR COULD DRIVE IT !!!! FORD FAILED TO PAY UNDER THEIR WARRANTY... HAVE HAD HOWLING IN REAR END ??? SINCE NEW...FORD CAN'T REPAIR, THEY TRIED THREE TIMES... THEN SAID THEY WOULD HAVE A DISTRICT FORD REP LOOK AT IT...FAILED TO DO SO UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT... UNABLE TO USE THE ESP WARRANTY ANYWHERE BUT A FORD DEALERSHIP... LIKE I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SAME PEOPLE THAT CAN'T FIX IT !!!! *NM

Mileage: 16,354

20060411CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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

Mileage: 2,519

20060411CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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

Mileage: 2,519

20060411CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

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

Mileage: 2,519

Compare 2003FORDE-150 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 FORD E-150 have?
The 2003 FORD E-150 has 31 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 FORD E-150?
Yes, the 2003 FORD E-150 has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 FORD E-150?
The most-complained component for the 2003 FORD E-150 is EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2003 FORD E-150 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.