2003 Ford F-150 Power Train

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MATHEWS FORD NEWARK (500 HEBRON RD, NEWARK, OH 43056, (740) 522-2181) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY UNIT WAS REPLACED BY THE SAME DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,950. *JS *JS

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150 4WD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE OVER SNOW AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE ACCELERATED AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BUT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FWD ENGAGEMENT GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PLACE WHEN DRIVING IN ICY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR FOR THE GEAR SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 05/06/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITION. IN ORDER SHIFT INTO REVERSE HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND ALLOW IT TO SLOWLY ROLL BACKWARDS. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

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.

DIFFERENTIAL REAR END FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

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

SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS NOT ENGAGING WHEN I TURN IT ON USING THE SWITCH ON THE DASH. MY INDEPENDENT EXCELLENT MECHANIC (I WOULD NEVER USE THE FORD DEALER HERE) FOUND THAT A WIRE ON THE TRANSMISSION CASE HAD BEEN SIMPLY DISCONNECTED. HE RECONNECTED IT - NO CHARGE. WORKS FINE. P.S. I TEST THE OPERATION EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW TO MAKE SURE IT IS WORKING JUST IN CASE I NEED IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM THE SHIFTING FORK ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL BROKE DISENGAGING THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I HAVE FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW AND THAT FORD HAS REDESIGNED THIS SHIFTING FORK. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN NEXT TO ME WHEN THE FORK BROKE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE SHIFT FORK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,661 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,650.

WHILE DRIVING IN A NICE ASPHALTED ROAD UP A HILL, I FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED TO SLIP. THE VEHICLE LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM SO I LOOKED FOR A SAFE PLACE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. I ENDED UP AT A SERVICE STATION WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY LOST AND THE SERVICE STATION SUFFERED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRONIC 4-WHEEL DRIVE DISENGAGED AND SHIFTED INTO 2-WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW SHIFT FORK KIT MADE WITH DIFFERENT MATERIAL. AS OF DECEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006, THE VEHICLE'S COIL PACK FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE IT FAILED, THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN DECEMBER OF 2006, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN, A SECOND COIL PACK FAILED, AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE CV BOOT. THE SECOND COIL PACK WAS REPLACED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE CV BOOT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. UPON RETURNING HOME, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE CV BOOT HAD ONLY BEEN TURNED ON THE OTHER SIDE AND WAS NOT REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST CV BOOT NOT BEING REPAIRED, THE OTHER AXLE BOOT HAS DETACHED COMPLETELY OFF THE SHAFT. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

2003 FORD F150 4X4. A HEAVY SNOW STORM HIT NORTHEAST ON 3/16/07. I HAD MY PREGNANT WIFE AND THREE YEAR OLD SON IN TRUCK COMING BACK FROM A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE. WE WERE STUCK FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON EVENT WITH THE FORDS AND THERE SHIFT ON THE FLY 4X4 SYSTEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ON GOING PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE SYSTEM AND AGAIN STATED "IT WAS MY PROBLEM!" THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED OCCURENCES YET NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED. TRUCK IS GOING IN FOR REPAIR ON FRIDAY AND MECHANIC STATED IT IS APPROX $500 TO REPAIR. THE VACUUM SOLENIOD AND VACUUM LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. FORD WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE VACUUM PROBLEM WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS WITH A FAMILY RELYING ON A 4X4 WHEN NEEDED.

MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR'S TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. IT ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS GOING DOWN A VERY BUSY ROAD AND WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS, THE ENGINE REVVED UP. THANK GOD I WAS SOMEWHERE I COULD LET THE VAN COAST OFF THE ROAD BEING I HAD 4 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VAN WITH ME. I HAVE HEARD THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD'S TRANSMISSIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE FORD OUGHT TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE PER THEIR OWN EXPENSE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLE JUST STOPS PULLING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

NO ACCIDENT, EXPENSE REPAIR $1000.00 TO REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER. 22,145 MILES. THIS HAS TO BE THE RESULTS OF FAULTY PARTS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT BUT WAS UNABLE. THE STICK WAS REAL LOOSE AND I COULD NOT FIND THE GEARS. THE ANALOGY (IT WAS LIKE A BROKEN ARM IT JUST WOBBLED) THIS WAS SCARY NOT KNOWING HOW TO GET MY TRUCK (FORD EXPLORER,SPORT TRAC) IN GEAR. I MANIPULATED THE SHIFT AND FINALLY GOT IT TO FIRST AND PARKED IT. THE SHIFT HAD TO BE MOVED WAY RIGHT OR WAY LEFT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PROCESS OF GEAR CHANGING. GUESSING WHAT GEAR YOUR IN IS NOT WHAT I WANT WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO THE PATTCHETTS FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE SHIFT IN PLACE HAD WORKED THERE WAY LOOSE AND THAT ."IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE"RONNIE, SERVICE MANAGER STATED. RONNIE STATED THAT WAS ALSO COMMON FOR THE SHORT STICK MUSTANGS. THIS IS REAL UNSAFE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPEN TO THEM. *NM

DRIVING IN MY BACK YARD, TESTING NEW SNOW TIRES, SPEED APROX. 25 MPH, HIT 10" DEEP HOLE, BROKE AXLE, DIRECTLY BEHIND BRAKE DISC, REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, PICTURES AVAILABLE. HAD TO REPLACE AXLE. *NM

MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION IS NOW ON ITS 4TH REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN 8 MONTHS. WE STARTED COMPLAINING ABOUT IT IN DEC. OF LAST YEAR AND NOW HAVE RECEIVED OUR FOURTH REPAIR, NOT COUNTING THE 3 TIMES THAT THEY DIDN'T FIX IT FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER. THE FIRST FIX LASTED TWO WEEKS AND LAST AND MOST RELIABLE LASTED 3 MONTHS. I ALSO HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING A POPPING NOISE AFTER THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER IS RUN FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, HOWEVER THAT CAN'T BE REPAIRED, NO FIX AVAILABLE. I AM FEED UP, I CONTACTED FORD CORP DIRECTLY, BUT THEY WON'T HELP ME. *JB