2003 FORD F-150 Power Train Problems

Ford placed a decal on the rear differential that wraps all the way around the axle. This decal holds water and has caused any area touching the decal to rust excessively. Ford has told me that this will cause they rear differential fail. When this happens it will likely be when I'm driving with my wife and two young kids. The only way to know that this issue exists is to either get under the truck and remove the decal which causes and also covers the damage, or to have the axle give out while driving. This was recently discovered while working on the vehicle. I don't currently have pictures as the vehicle is in for other repairs, but I can get pictures once I get the vehicle back.

Transmission

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEAR AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO PARK THEN NEUTRAL AGAIN FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AND TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,341.

TRANS WENT OUT A MONTH AFTER INTAKE CRACK HAD TO BE REPLACE ALMOST $1,650 TOGETHER ALSO BALL JOINTS AND TIEROD ENDS NO GOOD SHOCK NO GOOD BRAKE ARE FALLING AND REAR END IS GRINDING THIS TRUCK SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD HELP AND THERE'S "MORE".

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. HAD NOT BEEN RUN IN OVER A WEEK. COMPLETELY BURNED UP AND CAUSED DAMAGED HOME. VEHICLE BURNED HAD SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS AND BURNED AT A HIGH TEMP UNTIL IT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE FIGHTERS.

MY REAR DIFF IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AT 50 TO 55 MILES AN HOUR ON MY 2003 FORD 150. THE REAR DIFF IS ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE I HAVE A SALVAGE TITLE. IN NO WAY WAS MY VEHICLE DIFF COMPROMISED IN CONNECTION TO THE SALVAGE TITLE. IT IS SIMPLY DEFECTIVE AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. IM WONDERING IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE LOUD NOISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SNOW WHEN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

FORD F-150 SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT, COMMON IN F-150'S. *TR

BLOW OUT OF SPARK PLUG ON 2003 FORD F-150 4.6L TRITON V8. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE ROAD WAS SLIPPERY AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE DEALER LOCATED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRONT SHIFT FORK AND THE SUB SHIFT FORK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $ 1,009 TO HAVE THE FRONT AND SUB SHIFT FORKS REPLACED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DIDN"T TAKE A REPORT OR OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,879 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,921.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE INDICATOR FOR THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE BRIEFLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH INCREASED HIS RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,792.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WORKED SPORADICALLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VACUUM SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM DIAPHRAGM MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SHIFTING FORK CONTROL. AFTER THE REPAIR, THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB

MY 2003 FORD F150 SUPERCREWCAB FX4 4X4, WAS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AS I PROCEEDED TO ENTER HIGHWAY 39 FROM MY DRIVE. THE VEHICLE KICKED OUT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH THE ROADS BEING WET WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK'S BACK TIRES TO SPIN OUT. MY TRUCK THEN FISHTAILED AS IT THREW ITSELF INTO A DITCH. THE PROBLEM WITH IT POPPING IN AND OUT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THAT I USE IT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALER YET, BUT HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE THAT TALK ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM.

2003 FORD F150 ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE PARKED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE COLLIDING INTO A BUILDING.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION WAS OFF. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN TO TURNED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN A DRIVEWAY. DURING THIS INCIDENT A BABY WAS INJURED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM