2003 Ford F-150 Power Train

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50-55 MPH AND MY 4X WHEEL DRIVE KICKED ON WITHOUT ME ENGAGING IT, THEN BY ITSELF AGAIN IT TURNED OFF. THE NEXT NIGHT I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND IT DID IT AGAIN, IT WENT ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. MY BOYFRIEND DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND THEN AN HOUR LATER HE WAS DRIVING AND I DID IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT THE DEALER DAYS LATER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS . THEY SAID THEY TRIED TO PROVOKE IT BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHY AND HOW IT WAS HAPPENING. *JB

ON AN AVERAGE OF ONCE A MONTH, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK AND THE TRUCK HAS TO BE PUSHED FROM THE FRONT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO RELEASE. *NM

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

TRANSMISSION LINE CRACKED ON MY 2003 FORD 150 SUPER CREW. TRASMISSSION BEGAN TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY LEADING TO TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT AROUND 36,000 MILES.*AK

THE WHEEL DRIVE QUITS WORKING WHILE TRAVLING DOWN THE ROAD. IT ALSO WILL NOT LOCK IN WHEN SITTING. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH INDICATES THAT THE HUBS ARE LOCKED IN BUT ITS NOT WORKING. I CURRENTLY HAVE IT A THE FORD DEALER GETTING IT FIXED AND IT IS NOT UNDER WARRENTY. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THERE IS A PROBKLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND HAS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT WILL NOT COVER THE COST. THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD LOCK IN THE HUBS OFTEN TO KEEP THE SEALS LUBERCATD AND THAT ITS THE OWNERS PROBLEM FO RNOT DOING THIS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE OF THEM TO TELL ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THAT THIS WAS REQURIED TO BE DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY OTHER FORD TRUCKS.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F150 PICKUP, V6, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES AND MY CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED AT 37,000 MILES. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP AND TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKING THEM IF THEY WOULD COVER THE PART SINCE IT HAD FAILED PREMATURELY, AND THEY ANSWERED "NO". I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE SHOP AND HAD THE SLAVE CYLINDER REPLACED. THE DAY AFTER I GOT IT BACK I PERIODICALLY HEARD STRANGE NOISES COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT BACK INTO THE SHOP THAT REPLACED MY SLAVE CYLINDER. UPON OBSERVATION THEY FOUND NOTHING. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR TWO MORE DAYS THE PROBLEM WAS EXTREMELY EVIDENT BY THE NOISES THAT WERE CONSTANT WHENEVER I SHIFTED AS WELL AS IN NEUTRAL. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND TOLD THE SHOP THAT I WANTED TO BE THERE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPENED UP. I WAS PRESENT WHEN THEY OPENED UP THE TRANSMISSION. AS THEY PULLED THE TRANSMISSION APART, THEY FOUND MANGLED THIN METAL DEBRIS, SOME PIECES AS LARGE AS MY THUMBNAIL. AFTER TAKING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION APART AND INSPECTING ALL BEARINGS AND ALL OTHER PARTS, THEY FOUND THAT THE PIECES WERE A FOREIGN MATERIAL TO THE TRANSMISSION. THEY DID NOT COME FROM ANY PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. ONE OF THESE PIECES FOUND ITS WAY BETWEEN THE GEARS ON THE COUNTER SHAFT AND BROKE ONE OF THE TEETH, EXPLAINING THE NOISE. SO, IN SHORT, WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF $1800.00 ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

2003 FORD F-150 4X4. AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS IN 4X4 MODE, TRUCK NO LONGER ENGAGES INTO 4X4 MODE, CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITION AS PEOPLE EXPECT THIS TO WORK AND TRUCK IS VERY PRONE TO GETTING STUCK IN ROAD OR LEAVING THE ROAD WITHOUT THIS FEATURE (AS ALL SUCH TRUCKS ARE RELATIVELY VERY LIGHT IN THE REAR). OWNERS OF 4X4 VEHICLES EXPECT THIS FEATURE TO WORK AS ADVERTISED AND FAILURE CAN CREATE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. FROM SHORT INVESTIGATION - SPEAKING TO FORD MECHANICS AND VISITING FORD-TRUCKS.COM, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR REASONS GIVEN ABOVE - AFTER PERSONALLY GETTING STUCK IN A PUBLIC ROAD, AND VERY NEARLY SEVERAL TIMES, THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER USED WHENEVER THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF SNOWY CONDITIONS (I AM IN THE NORTH-EAST). I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT - THE FORK WHICH ENGAGES THE FRONT AXLES HAS A PLASTIC END WHICH BREAKS OR FALLS OFF AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I REQUEST THAT THIS BE INVESTIGATED AND IF FOUND TO BE A DESIGN RELATED ISSUE, WHICH I BELIEVE IT CLEARLY IS, THAT FORD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THESE VEHICLES WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER AND PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE. ALSO NOTE THAT I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO 2 FORD DEALERS WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS, BOTH QUOTED 6-7 HOURS OF LABOR WHEN IT CLEARLY TAKES HALF OR LESS OF THIS TIME (AGAIN, PLEASE SEE THE FORD-TRUCKS.COM/FORUM). I BELIEVE FORD IS USING THIS KNOWN ISSUE TO PURPOSELY OVER CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F150 MY 4WHEELDRIVE STOPPED WORKING , BUT THE DASH INDICATOR SAID IT WAS INGAGED. THIS MAKES FOR A VERY UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. BECAUSE YOU DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE SAME IF THE 4X4 IS WORKING.I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED IT . THIS APPARENTLY WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE PART# F75Z*3N139*KT WHICH COST$133.98 AND THE LABOR WAS $302.00. THIS PART IS VERY CHEAPLY MADE AND WILL PROBABLY BREAK AGAIN. THE TECH TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS PART IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. I HAVE LOOKED ON FORD LINKS AND WEBSITES AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMMENTS OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP ME, IT WOULD BE APPRICIATED. I KEPT THE OLD PARTS, THE MATERIAL THEY USE ON THE FORK WON`T HOLD UP TO THE CONDITIONS IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. *AK

I HAVE A FORD TAURUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 41,900 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHUDDERING AND SKIPPING BADLY AT TIMES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE AUTO NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I ASKED FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT IS EXTREMELY ODD THAT AT 41,900 MILES ANY VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD QUALIFY AS A DEFECT. BUT FORD SAID SINCE THE AUTO WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WERE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ASSIST. *AK

WITH ONLY 23000 MILES ON MY 2003 F150 SUPERCREW 4X4, MY TRANSMISSION HAD WHAT THEY CALLED AN "INTERNAL FAILURE"... TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. *NM

AS NOTED BY ANOTHER COMPLAINT: HOWLING NOISE IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED ONCE. NOISE CONTINUES. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ONLY AFFECTS CERTAIN VEHICLES BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. I ASKED...WHEN COULD I EXPECT IT TO BE SOLVED. THE ANSWER WAS...IT MIGHT NEVER BE SOLVED. THEY REPLACED SOME GEARS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. THEY REFUSE TO PUT IN A NEW DIFFERENTIAL SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE "COST PROHIBITIVE".*AK

2003 FORD 150 EXT CAB 4X4 TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH A LIGHT LOAD. AS THE TRUCK WAS SHIFTED FROM 3RD TO 4TH THE DRIVE LINE BROKEN IN HALF AND BEGAN POUNDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGING THE FUEL TANK AND EXHAUST SYTEM. THE DRIVER CLAIMS THE CLUTCH WAS NON RESPONSIVE AND THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNED CLUTCH HAS THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. FORD REP IS CLAIMING DAMAGE IS THE RESULT OF ABUSE AND/OR PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE DRIVELINE BASED ON PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED BY DEALERSHIP (THE FORD REP DID NOT PHYSICALLY INSPECT). THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO OPINION OF WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND HAS CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A FAILURE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THERE IS DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT FORD'S POSITION AND THEY ARE SIMPLY ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A WARRANTY CLAIM. OF EVEN DEEPER CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER F150'S COULD EXPERIANCE THE SAME FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES AND/OR LOSS OF LIFE. *AK

COMPLAINED OF DASHBOARD VIBRATION AT TIME VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED. FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DRIVE SHAFT IS BEING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 16,500 MILES. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED ALIGNMENT. I AM CURIOUS IF THE DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM AND THE VIBRATION CONTRIBUTED TO THE TIRES BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *JB

2003 FORD F-150 SUPER CREW, HOWLING/WHINING NOISE FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL DURING ACCELLERATION. NOISE ONLY OCCURRES BETWEEN THE SPEED OF 40MPH AND 60MPH, MOST NOTICABLE AT 50 MPH.*AK SO FAR DEFECT HAS NOT CAUSED OPERATIONAL FAILURE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO ATTENTION OF THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD ME THE TRUCK. FIRST ATTEMPT TO REPAIR RESULTED IN NO WORK PERFORMED, NOISE CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE BY FORD SPECS. SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT (AFTER WRITING TO DEALERSHIP) RESLULTED IN SERVICE MANAGER DIAGNOSING A RING AND PINION GEAR PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE RING AND PINION GEAR 3/30/2004. PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER 4 WEEKS, ADDITIONAL ATTEMPT TO REPAIR RESULTED IN ORIGINIAL CONCLUSION THAT NOISE WAS ACCEPTABLE PER FORD SPECS. INCONSISTENT PATTERN OF REPAIR WITH PROBLEM STILL EXISTING.

HOWLING NOISE IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED TWICE. NOISE CONTINUES. FORD NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR REAR DIFFERENTIAL BECAUSE OF COMPLETE OVERHAUL TWICE. FORD NOW SAYS NOISE IS "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT TRUE AS I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES WITHOUT THE NOISE. NOISE GOES AWAY AFTER REPAIRS ARE MADE FOR ABOUT 6000 MILES. *AK

DRIVE TRAIN WINE BETWEEN 47 MPH AND 55 MPH IN MY 2003 F-150 SUPPER CREW. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. DEALER CALLED FORD AND FORD SAID BECAUSE I HAVE A SLIDING REAR WINDOW, TONNEAU COVER AND 3.73 REAR END GEARING THESE ITEMS ARE CAUSING THE WINE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT IF TRIED TO RUN THIS PROBLEM THROUGH WARRANTY AGAIN FORD WOULD DENY IT. THE DEALER ALSO SAID I SHOULD TAKE THIS PROBLEM TO ANOTHER DEALER.*AK

PURCHASED THE 2003 F-150USED FROM HERTZ RENTAL AT 22,00O MILES. WITHIN 2000 MILES, A GRATING SOUND BEGAN TO OCCUR PERIODICALLY. BASICALLY, AFTER YOU ARE AT A STOP OR COMPLETE A TURN, THE TRUCK WILL MAKE THIS GRINDING SOUND AS YOU ACCELERATE. IT LASTS FOR A SECOND OR SO AND SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE YOU RAN OVER A CATTLE GUARD. IT DOES IT SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. ALSO, THE TRUCK WILL SOMETIMES DROP ITS IDLE TO 100 WHILE STOPPED AND ALMOST DIE. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONING MAKES A LOUD GROANING TYPE WHILE WHEN YOU FIRST TURN IT ON. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON TO MAKE IT STOP. IVE HAD THE VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AND ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THEY CANT FIND A PROBLEM. I DONT BELEIVE THIS CONSIDERING THERES MANY OTHERS ON HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. IVE CALLED CUSTOMER ASSITANCE AND THEY JUST SAY GO TO THE DEALER. ITS GOT 30,000 MILES ON IT. MY WARRANTY TIME IS RUNNING OUT. I CANT SELL IT BECAUSE ID HAVE TO TAKE A LOSS ON IT. FORD HAS HUNG ME OUT TO DRY. PLEASE PLEASE HELP. MY WIFE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THIS KIND OF FINANCIAL HIT. I DONT EXPECT A NEW TRUCK, I JUST WANT MY TRUCK FIXED SO I CAN TRUST IT.*AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAME OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED DOWN THE HILL INTO A DITCH. *AK

REAR AXLE WHINE NOISE AT 45 TO 50MPH & 67 TO 72 MPH. LOUD & GETTING LOUDER. FORD DEALERS ALL OVER THE AREA SAID FORD KNOWS OF NOISE BUT HAS NO FIX. SAID THEY WERE TOLD FORD WOULD NOT SPEND MONEY TO FIX BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MAKING MUCH AS A COMPANY NOW. TWO REPARS ON REAR END & STILL NOISY, ENGINEER HAD DEALER PUT 125 WT GREASE IN REAR AXLE TO TRY & QUIET NOISE DOWN. NO GOOD> LOST FUEL ECONOMY ALSO. I NEED HELP GETTING REPAIRED OR GETTING A BUY BACK FROM FORD.

WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS IN MY 2003 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW (ONLY 42,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK), THE TRUCK HAS A VIBRATION. WENT TO A FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN, AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THEY SUGGESTED TO RE-PACK THE CLUTCH PACKS, WHICH WAS DONE. VIBRATION STILL OCCURING 1 WEEK LATER. ACCORDING TO OTHER'S WHO ALSO OWN FORD VEHICLES, THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM THAT FORD STATES IS NORMAL WEAR AND STATING ITS A PROBLEM WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH. *AK

THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER THAT REPLACED THE PARTS WITH PARTS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR. THOSE PARTS FAILED THE SAME DAY OF REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

1 BOUGHT A 2003 F150 EXTENDED CAB. THE TRANSMISSION IS ALWAYS LOUD, SLUGGISH WHEN IT DOES SHIFT AND SLIPS ALL TOGETHER. *LA

WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF PURCHASE, WE BEGAN NOTICING A SPORADIC GRATING NOISE FROM THE REAR END. MORE DISTUBING IS THE HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS THAT IS ALSO SPORADIC. THE SHIFTING PROBLEM HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS OF 150 MILES OR MORE. IT WILL USUALLY HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE A DAY BUT OF COURSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN. THE GRATING NOISE IS LESS FREQUENT AND CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. OUR VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FOURTH VISIT FOR THESE PROBLEMS. FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE GRATING AND HARD SHIFTING WHICH MAKES SENSE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT PROVIDED NEW TRUCK PERFORMANCE. SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT, IT WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE ONCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE CONSIDERED SELLING IT BUT THAT WOULD BE UNETHICAL SINCE THE NEXT PERSON WOULD EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS ONE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT IN THE DATA BASE. *LA

AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE GOES INTO LOW 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

HEARD UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR-END OF MY 2003 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW THE NOISE STARTS AT 90 MPH. IS THIS AN ON GOING PROBLEM? PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. *AK