Total Complaints
14 filings
FORD FORD TRUCK · model year
14 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003FORDFORD TRUCK carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 7 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 FORD TRUCK is power train:manual transmission with 1 filings, followed by structure:body:bumpers (1) and wheels:rim (1). 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.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 FORD TRUCK. 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.
Total Complaints
14 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS | 1 |
| WHEELS:RIM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER TIRES, TIRE LINE: DISCOVER AT3, TIRE SIZE: 275/65/R18, DOT NUMBER: UTYJIM62518. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED, HE NOTICED A 2-INCH BLISTER ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 140,000
2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW THE SPARK PLUG AND COIL. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER THAT LIKE SO MANY OTHERS HAS A CRACK(S) ON THE BACK TAILGATE RIGHT BELOW THE BACK GLASS. FORD MOTOR HAS TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT EXTEND A RECALL ON IT. ISN'T THERE A SAFETY CONCERN THAT IF THE CRACKS KEEP GETTING LARGER (WHICH THEY WILL) THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THE BACK GLASS BREAKING OR THE TAILGATE SPLITTING INTO? I, LIKE MANY OTHERS NEED SOME HELP FROM SOMEBODY IN ORDER TO MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEFECTS AND CORRECT THEM. THANKS *TR
Mileage: 52,000
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION TO MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, SEPT 30, 2005, AT 8 AM. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED, HIT, OR IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO SUDDENLY & UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. FORD HAS TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY. IN FACT, CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS NOT YET CALLED US BACK (AFTER THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD CALL IN 2 DAY, THEN 7 DAYS, BUT NO RESPONSE YET.) THE FORD DEALERSHIP (WHO HAS THE TRUCK) HAS NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION EITHER. THE "REP" HAS STILL NOT SHOWN UP FROM MEMPHIS. FORD WILL NOT PROVIDE US A RENTAL CAR, DEMO, LOANER, ETC. WE ARE PAYING FOR THAT OUT OF POCKET. I ALSO PAID FOR MEDICAL BILLS OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE MY ARM WAS BURNED & BRUISED. FORD HAS BEEN TERRIBLE TO WORK WITH. THEY WILL NOT RESPOND, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS SITTING IN ONE OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS. *NM
Mileage: 38,000
WATER LEAK WITNESSED BY SVC MGR & SERVICE WRITER, BUT THEY SAID THEIR SERVICE DEPT CANNOT FIND LEAK, THEREFORE THEY CANNOT REPAIR. $41K TRUCK IS BARELY 2 YRS OLD AND THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I BROUGHT TRUCK THERE BECAUSE OF LEAK. IN THE 2 YRS I OWNED IT, I'VE HAD 4 OTHER REPAIRS MADE ON OTHER ITEMS WHICH "WENT". THE A/C HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, ALTHOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIR 3 TIMES. *JB
WATER LEAK WITNESSED BY SVC MGR & SERVICE WRITER, BUT THEY SAID THEIR SERVICE DEPT CANNOT FIND LEAK, THEREFORE THEY CANNOT REPAIR. $41K TRUCK IS BARELY 2 YRS OLD AND THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I BROUGHT TRUCK THERE BECAUSE OF LEAK. IN THE 2 YRS I OWNED IT, I'VE HAD 4 OTHER REPAIRS MADE ON OTHER ITEMS WHICH "WENT". THE A/C HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, ALTHOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIR 3 TIMES. *JB
WITH LESS THAN 23,000 MILES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $500.00. MY BRAKES HAD RECENTLY BEGUN THE INFAMOUS SQUEALING SOUND, SO I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A LOOK. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT COURTESY FORD IN LITTLETON, COLORADO WOULD ONLY SAY THAT IT SEEMED KIND OF "EARLY" TO HAVE TO PERFORM THIS DEGREE OF MAINTENANCE ON MY BRAKE SYSTEM. HE WOULD ADMIT NO TREND WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR FORD EXPEDITIONS. HOWEVER, I HAVE SINCE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT INCLUDED HER TELLING ME THAT SHE HAD A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT NEEDED THE SAME SERVICE AT 15,000 MILES. I JUST BELIEVE THAT, AS WITNESSED BY THE LEVEL OF BRAKE DUST THAT THIS MODEL RELEASES ON AN ONGOING BASIS, SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY VERY SUSPICIOUS. I DO HOPE THAT NO ONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE, ETC. AND, BECAUSE I REMEMBER WELL FORD'S ACTIONS (OR LACK THEREOF) MANY YEARS AGO REGARDING THE FORD PINTO, I THOUGHT I'D BETTER DO MY BEST TO
Mileage: 22,802
ON JULY 30, 2005,WE WERE TOTALLY STOPPED, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A DRIVER GOING ABOUT 50 MPH (IN A 30 MPH ZONE). WE WERE IN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR SPORT VAN WITH QUAD-CAPTIAN SEATS. OUR FRONT SEATS BOTH COLLAPSED BACKWARD AND MINE ON THE PASSENGER STRUCK OUR 9-YR OLD SON WHO WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. HE IS SMALL FOR HIS AGE. HE HAD A BUMP ON HIS FOREHEAD, AND HIS KNEE, AND STILL HAS MUSCLE PAIN IN THE THIGH OF THIS LEG. IF THERE HAD BEEN A FULL-SIZE ADULT SITTING BEHIND EITHER FRONT SEAT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS INJURIES. AS IT IS, WE ALL THREE HAVE WHIPLASH AND ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PAIN. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS NO GOOD SINCE THE SEATS COLLAPSED. AND, OF COURSE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SEAT-BELTED, OUR SHOULDER STRAP WAS STILL IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN WE WERE IN A PRONE POSITION WITH THE STOMACH PORTION OF THE STRAP STILL ACROSS US. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT ONL
ON JULY 30, 2005,WE WERE TOTALLY STOPPED, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A DRIVER GOING ABOUT 50 MPH (IN A 30 MPH ZONE). WE WERE IN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR SPORT VAN WITH QUAD-CAPTIAN SEATS. OUR FRONT SEATS BOTH COLLAPSED BACKWARD AND MINE ON THE PASSENGER STRUCK OUR 9-YR OLD SON WHO WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. HE IS SMALL FOR HIS AGE. HE HAD A BUMP ON HIS FOREHEAD, AND HIS KNEE, AND STILL HAS MUSCLE PAIN IN THE THIGH OF THIS LEG. IF THERE HAD BEEN A FULL-SIZE ADULT SITTING BEHIND EITHER FRONT SEAT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS INJURIES. AS IT IS, WE ALL THREE HAVE WHIPLASH AND ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PAIN. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS NO GOOD SINCE THE SEATS COLLAPSED. AND, OF COURSE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SEAT-BELTED, OUR SHOULDER STRAP WAS STILL IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN WE WERE IN A PRONE POSITION WITH THE STOMACH PORTION OF THE STRAP STILL ACROSS US. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT ONL
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND HIT A BUILDING. IT DAMAGED THE BUILDING AND THE VEHICLE(YET TO BE DETERMINED IN AMOUNT). TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. CALLED THE FORD SATISFACTION LINE AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT. THE TRUCK SHOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AN INCLINE IN PARK. I WATCHED THE VEHICLE ROLL. I REFUSE TO PLACE MY 3 CHILDREN BACK IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE FIXED. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT IT WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL.
Mileage: 50,000
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL PUMP SHUT-OFF SWITCH KEPT DISCONNECTING .. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, AND EVERYTHING WENT OUT, AND VEHICLE BARLEY GOT OFF ONTO THE SIDE OF ROAD. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER CHECKED THE SWITCH, CONNECTED IT, AND IT RAN FINE. THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT IF IT WAS A FAULTY SWITCH.*AK
Mileage: 45,000
ALL 4 RIMS ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED HAD SEVERE CORROSION AROUND THE LUGS: NUTS AREA. CLEARLY A MAJOR DESIGN / QUALITY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO RIM PERFORMANCE ISSUES. FORD REPLACED THE RIMS UNDER MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRENTY, HOWEVER THE EXACT RIMS WERE PLACED BACK ON THE VEHICLE. FORD USES A NEWER RIM ON LATER MODEL EXPLORER LIMITED MODELS, CLEARLY THEY CHANGED VENDORS.*AK
AS A SAFETY MGR FOR 23 YEARS, & DEFENSIVE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, I FEEL THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MANUFACTURING TRUCKS WITH SHINY, NON TEXTURED METAL FENDERS, BUMPERS, OR MUD FLAPS. WITH MOST TRUCKS SITTING HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE CAR, THESE BUMPERS, FENDERS, AND SOME MUD FLAPS ACT LIKE MIRRORS, REFLECTING HEADLIGHTS DIRECTLY BACK INTO THE EYES OF FOLLOWING CARS, USUALLY AT DIRECT EYE LEVEL. THERE IS NO SAFE DISTANCE TO BACK AWAY SUFFICIENTLY TO STOP THIS BLINDING GLARE. THE ONLY OPTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO LET THEM GET SUFFICIENTLY FAR ENOUGH AHEAD AND PRAY ANOTHER TRUCK DOES NOT TURN IN FRONT OF YOU. I LIVE IN UTAH WHERE EVERY OTHER VEHICLE IS A TRUCK AND MANY OF THEM RAISED HIGH OFF THE GROUND. I FEEL STRONGLY THESE MIRRORED BUMPERS SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. THERE IS NO VALUE ADDED TO MIRRORING SUCH VEHICLE ACCESSORIES, HOWEVER THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL OTHER DRIVERS WHO MUST DRIVE BEHIND THESE TRUCKS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO RECALL, OR OTH
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND STRICK A GUARDRAIL (FORD DAYBRAKE 2003, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *YH
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.