13 of the 527 complaints about the 2003 Ford F-150 are about the wheels — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 45,250 miles.
13
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
WHEELS
UNKNOWN - however there were NO warning lights or any other indication of malfunction or to service the truck. I took the truck to an independent service center & they did a full inspection & I did receive an estimate for repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11742957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
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".
NHTSA complaint #10936142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
DROVE TO OUR CABIN IN UPPER WISCONSIN AND THE PSF TIRE THE MIDDLE OF IT BLOW OUT. IT HAD PROBABLE A 4 INCH CUT FROM WHEN IT BLUE. THE TIRES ARE LESS THEN A YEAR OLD WITH 3,600 MILES ON THEM. THE TIRES WON'T CHEAP BUT THERE JUNK AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I BUY GOOD YEAR OF ANY TYPE.
NHTSA complaint #10905179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
I WAS TRAVELING 285-WEST IN DECATUR, GA., AROUND 3:30 PM EASTERN TIME, WHEN I WAS IN A A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE GRASS, WHEN A DODGE RAM FOUR DOOR TRUCK HIT MY F-150 SUPER CREW CAB 2003. THE DRIVER HIT MY DRIVER SIDE BACKDOOR, AND THEN HE HIT ME AGAIN ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BUMPER, AND SPUN ME OFF THE ROAD INTO A WOODED AREA WITH LARGE TREES AND A RAVINE. I THEN HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A LARGE TREE. I CALLED ON THE NAME JESUS THREE TIMES, THEN MY TRUCK TURNED 180 DEGREES AND THAT TURNED ME AROUND GOING INTO THE RAVINE BACKWARDS. I FELT MYSELF COME OUT OF MY SEAT WITH MY SEAT BELT ON. MY BENCH SEAT WENT INTO RECLINE, THEN MY HEAD WENT BACKWARDS, THEN FORWARD. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID RESEARCH, WHEN I NOTICED A WEBSITE CALLED "WEKEEPITSAFE". THE DATABASE SHOWS 144,000 FORD F-150 2003'S RECALLED FOR FAILURE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I CALLED FORD'S MOTOR HEAD QUARTERS. THE FIRST NUMBER WAS (313)323-9100, THEN I WAS TRANSFERRED TO 1-866-436-7332. I SPOKE WITH A REP BY THE NAME OF MEL, AND HE GAVE ME A CHOICE OF MONETARY COMPENSATION OR A TRUCK. I DECLINED, DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS HEAVILY MEDICATED WITH HYDROCODONE FOR HEAD, NECK, AND SHOULDER PAIN. I SUFFER FROM EXCRUCIATING HEAD ACHES, STABBING PAIN IN MY EAR, AND NUMBNESS/TINGLING/AND PAIN IN MY BACK AND LEGS. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALIST, BECAUSE MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN IS UNABLE TO ASSIST. MY CASE NUMBER IS: #CAS10200415. I AM FOND OF FORD PICKUP SUPER CREW CABS. I HAVE A PICTURE SHOWING THE AIRBAG.AND THE PICTURE PROVES THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT IT IS WORKING, IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER CORNER OTHER PICTURE BY THE GEAR SHIFT. I SPOKE WITH MEL AT 11:24 AM EASTERN TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10893205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
RIMS ARE RUSTING AT THE BEAD BECAUSE WATER SITS IN THERE WHEN IT RAINS. THE METAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND AIR BUBBLES OCCUR WHEN WATER IS IN THERE. THREE OF FOUR RIMS ARE "BUBBLING" FROM THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10510353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LUG NUTS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE CORRODED WHICH PREVENTED THE SOCKET AND THE WRENCH TO REMOVE THE LUG NUTS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
NHTSA complaint #10474456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY SPINDLE SNAPPED AND THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $5,200. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED WITH A USED HUB ASSEMBLY PER HIS INSURANCE COMPANY'S REQUEST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #10202100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
IN MAY, 2004 I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE WITH MY MOTHER AND MOTHER IN LAW AND FRIEND WHEN WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT TIRES ON MY TRUCK. AFTER FINDING A GARAGE THAT WAS OPEN, WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THE LUGS: NUTS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS HAD LOOSENED TO THE POINT OF ALMOST FALLING OFF. THE GARAGE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, AND THEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. GIVING THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES I FELT LIKE SOME SORT OF RESTITUTION WAS IN ORDER FOR THE TIME AND TROUBLE I HAD UNDERGONE. AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE WHEELS REPLACED, BUT NEVER QUITE FELT SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. IN NOVEMBER, 2004, WHILE GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR CHURCH, MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO START THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP IN THIS TRUCK. IT ONLY HAD 25,500 MILES ON IT. I WAS FORCED TO UPGRADE TO A NEWER VEHICLE AND INCURRED MORE PAYMENTS WITH THIS NEWER VEHICLE. I HAVE MADE MANY COMPLAINTS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I FEEL LIKE I AM DUE SOME SORT OF RESTITUTION FOR THE VEHICLE THAT I HAD TO TRADE. I HAD MADE 15 PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND REALLY HAD NO CHOICE. THE ANSWER I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS THAT NO ONE WOULD OFFER ME A TRADE IN ON A VEHICLE WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. I DISAGREE. THE TIME AND TROUBLE THAT I HAVE HAD TO UNDERGO IS WORTH SOMETHING. TERESA LIMBAUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10105789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD BACKED OFF OF THE SCREWS. THE DEALER CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #10080268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
BRAND NEW FORD F150 CREW CAB LARIAT BOUGHT AND AT 2000 MILES AND 2 WEEKS ALL LUGS AND NUTS LOOSE WITH WHEELS WOBBLING AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10043181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL FELL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10026809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. DRIVER MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10024329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
THE VEHICLES LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE TO THE GROUND AND RUN INTO A WALL. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.