2003 Ford E-150: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 21 owner complaints on record; most reports concern seat belts.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2015
“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”Owner report · Seat Belts · Apr 2014
“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.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2012
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“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”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · May 2010
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2009
“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”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2009
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2008
“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”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jul 2008
“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”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Mar 2008
“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”Owner report · Tires · Nov 2006
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
ON CERTAIN VANS, A DIODE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUSE IN THE ABS CIRCUIT AND INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD OVER THE ABS MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO FORD IS EXTENDING THE LIMITED WARRANTY (FOR A ONE TIME REPLACEMENT) OF THE ABS MODULE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2005.
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 CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT CREATE HOT PARTICLES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO FORD IS EXTENDING THE LIMITED WARRANTY (FOR A ONE TIME REPLACEMENT) OF THE ABS MODULE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2005.
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 INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
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 CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
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.
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 REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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.
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 SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
How other years compare
Check your exact E-150 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Ford E-150 reliable?
NHTSA has 21 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Ford E-150. The most complained-about area is seat belts.
Does the 2003 Ford E-150 have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:wiring. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.