2003 Ford F-150 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
GAS PEDAL IS STICKING. TRUCK SPEEDS UP, ONLY WAY TO STOP IS SHIFT TO NEUTRAL.HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HIT PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET BACK TO IDLE
CPSC:I HAVE A 2003 FORD 6 CYLINDER TRUCK AND IT HAS NEARLY GOTTEN US KILLED A NUMBER OF TIMES!I'VE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND CAN'T FIND ONE AND I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN COVINGTON LOUISIANA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I SENT EMAILS TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEVER GET A RESPONSE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE RAPIDLY AND UNINTENTIONALLY. IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THE DRIVER HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, WHICH WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 08/31/2017*JS
SEPTEMBER 05, 2017 3:49PM WHEN APPROCHING THE CAPE COD MA BRIDGE, MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS FORD F-150 SUDDENELY ACCERELATED WHEN THE CRUSE CONTROL WAS OFF. SHE REACHED SPEEDS EXCEDING 80MPH AND THE BRAKES WHERE USELESS. SHE HAD TO SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILLE WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC TO REGAIN CONTROL. HAD SHE BEEN IN ANY HEAVER TRAFFIC OR ON THE BRIDGE SHE AND MAYBE OTHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SEVERLY INJURED!!! THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN ISSUE YET FORD AND MY LOCAL FORD DEALER KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT (STRANGE) THE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE JUST IS NOT FOR HER F-150. WHEN I SPOKE TO BOTH FORD AND MY LOCAL DEALER. THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE. (CRICKETTS FROM FORD)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NOT SEIZED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. 06/01/17UPDATED *LJ *AS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PENDING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,381.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A SHORT AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO FILED A COMPLAINT AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 270,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND CONTINUED TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
2003 FORD F-150. CLAIMS ADJUSTER SENT CORRESPONDENCE ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER WHO LOST HIS VEHICLE DUE TO A FIRE IN WHICH AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE CRUISE DEACTIVATION SWITCH *TGW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD UNTIL SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC COVER USED TO PROTECT THE THROTTLE WAS JAMMED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE PLASTIC COVER WAS REMOVED AND THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. .UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF THE CONSUMERS SON WAS ABLE TO THROW THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE ENGINE STILL ACCELERATING. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL IN THE ACCELERATED POSITION. THE CONSUMER PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR HARD A COUPLE OF TIMES AND MANAGED TO STOP IT FROM ACCELERATING. UPON INSPECTION, THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD COME LOOSE AND WEDGED ITSELF IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE THROTTLE COULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. UPDATED 09/30/11*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE FIVE MINUTES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PART OF THE UTILITY BUILDING, THE CARPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN, ALL OF ITS CONTENTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 11/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 11/19/10.*LJ UPDATED 11/26/10
MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE THROTTLE STUCK, THE BRAKES DID NOTHING. HE HAD TO THROW THE VEHICLE IN PARK. *TR
1.CRUISE CONTROL USE. 2.OCCURS INTERMITTANTLY 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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INJURED HER RIGHT FOOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE LOCKED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PEDAL UNLOCKED ITSELF AFTER 10 MINUTES AND MADE A PINGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON PART OF THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. THIS CAN CAUSE AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE AND NEEDS A REPLACEMENT PART/FUSE INSTALLED. THE PART WILL NOT BE IN UNTIL MARCH 2008! *TR
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND FIXED AT A COST OF 1479.67 PAID BY THE OWNER (ANGELA MORGAN). VEHICLE REQUIRED SERVICING AS IT BEGAN STALLING WHILE IN TRAFFIC (ATLANTA). CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS CAUSED OTHER ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND AS THIS CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS EXTEND BEYOND THE FORD 2002 MODELS; I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER 2003. PLEASE CONTACT ME ANGELA MORGAN *TR
ON OCCASIONS WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PETAL, THE ENGINE WILL SPEED UP WIDE OPEN CAUSING THE BACK WHEEL TO ACTUALLY TO SPIN THE BACK TIRES WHILE HOLDING THE BREAK PETAL DOWN HARD! VERY DANGEROUS!! FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN THE TRUCK WAS ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS OLD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASION OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN BUT NOT AS SERIOUS UNTIL ONLY RECENTLY! LAST TIME I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER, MAY 14, 2007, I LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR A WEEK. I WENT BACK AND PICKED UP THE TRUCK, AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THE WRONG. I TOOK THE TRUCK AND IN ONE AND ONE HALF WEEK LATER THE FAST ACCELERATION HAPPEN AGAIN!!! *TR SEE ALSO ODI 10205846 *DSY.
FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL ON 2003 FORD F150. SITUATION: DRIVING AT STEADY STATE; PRESS CRUISE-CONTROL 'ON' SWITCH; HORN CHIRPS; CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES WITH-OUT PRESSING THE 'SET' BUTTON AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE. BRAKE PEDAL DE-ACTIVATION SWITCH DIS-ENGAGES CRUISE CONTROL ONLY TEMPORARILY. CRUISE CONTROL RE-ACTIVATES ON IT'S OWN WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE PEDAL, AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE 'OFF' SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL SUCCESSFULLY DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED ~MARCH 2007, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AT THE DEALER. PROBLEM RE-SURFACED ON 8/5/07, AND SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT NOW. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THIS POINT; NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE. *JB
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE 2003 FORD F150 WITH 15000 FAILURE MILEAGE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE HE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH AND STRUCK A TREE. THE DRIVER THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUT IT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
ON 11-21-06, ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AND REALIZED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE ON HIS 2003 FORD F150 WAS STUCK. HE HAD TO PUT THE F150 IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO SAFELY STOP (THE ENGINE WAS RACING UNTIL HE TURNED IT OFF). HE FOUND THAT THERE IS A PLASTIC, TWO-PIECE COVER AROUND THE THROTTLE LINKAGE THAT HAD COME UNSNAPPED ON ITS UNDERSIDE AND HAD APPARENTLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM. HE REPLACED THE COVER. THIS PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A SEVERE, PERHAPS FATAL, DEFECT. *JB
10/10/06 7:20 PM I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY DAUGHTER IN MY FORD F150 2003 TRUCK, WHEN IT BEGAN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, AND PUSHED THE BRAKE DOWN AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO TO TRY AND HOLD THE TRUCK IN PLACE. I COULD FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL JUMPING UNDER MY FEET AS THE TRUCK WAS TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD. I DIDN'T THINK THE BRAKES WERE GOING TO HOLD THE TRUCK IN PLACE. I COULD HEAR THE TRUCKS MOTOR RACING LOUDER AND LOUDER FROM INSIDE THE CAB WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP. THE TRUCKS RPM REGISTERED A 5. KEEPING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I FEEL VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I CALLED THE FORD HOUSE IN THE NEAREST TOWN AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED ME THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A REPORT OF THIS NATURE REGARDING FORD VEHICLES. I HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THEIR VEHICLES APPEAR TO BE IN LITIGATION IN WHICH FORD HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE DOCUMENTS THAT REVEAL THE BREADTH OF THE PROBLEM. (DEFECTS IN THE DESIGN OF THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL ("CRUISE CONTROL"). "THE REPORT I READ STATES ALMOST NO FORD VEHICLE IS EXEMPT!" IN ADDITION THERE ARE PRIOR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2003 FORD F150 IN REGARDS TO THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK, BUT THE EXPERIENCES APPEAR TO BE THE SAME. I PLAN TO FOLLOW UP BY TAKING MY TRUCK TO THE FORD HOUSE I CALLED WITH MY COMPLAINT ALONG WITH COPIES OF THE REPORT I FOUND, "FORD: SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION & STUCK THROTTLES, AND RECENT FILED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. HOPEFUL SOMEONE WILL LISTEN. *JB
WHILE DRIVING F-150 4X4, ACCELERATOR/THROTTLE STUCK AND CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND EVEN AFTER CRASH, WAS STILL STUCK AND KEPT TRYING TO GO WIDE OPEN. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON DRY FREEWAY ROADS, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN IT WAS PRESSED. THE ENGINE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE ROSE, BUT THE VEHICLE SPEED DID NOT GO BEYOND 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FIVE TIMES, EACH TIME WITH A DIFFERENT PART BEING REPLACED TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS NOT MANAGED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.
IN LIGHT OF THE RECALL OF THE 2000 MODEL OF THE FORD F-150 PICKUPS FOR ENGINE FIRES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT NHTSA AND FORD TO LOOK AT A POSSIBLE SIMULAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 MODEL OF F-150'S. A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON AND AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH CLUSTER. WHEN I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE OFF BUTTON THE LIGHT WENT OUT. I HAD THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN CONROE CHECK IT OUT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT OR FIND A PROBLEM. NOW I AM VERY CONCERN THAT MY F-150 MAY ALSO CATCH ON FIRE LIKE THE 2000 YR MODELS.*AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *NLM *CB *JB EA04006 HAS IFS
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Quick Summary
The 2003 Ford F-150 has 27 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.