2003 FORD F-150 Complaints

THE TRUCK'S SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT VISIBLE BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT COLOR USED. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. *NM

EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE WHEN WARMING UP AND COOLING DOWN SUCH AS LOUD POPPING NOISE. *JB

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

MY COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO AN ACCIDENT THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN ON JULY 29, 2003. I HAD A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR IN AN INTERSECTION. THE OTHER CAR RAN A RED LIGHT, BUT THE FACT IS, MY RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF MY BUMPER HIT HER LEFT FRONT SIDE AT HER LEFT FRONT TIRE AND DID CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. I HAVE A F150 4X4 SUPERCREW, THE OTHER CAR WAS A OLDS' 98 REGENCY FULL SIZE CAR. MY APPROXIMATE SPEED WAS BETWEEN 20 TO 25 MPH, I HAD JUST CAME FROM ANOTHER INTERSECTION AND HAD NOT REACHED THE SPEED LIMIT QUITE YET. AFTER HITTING THIS CAR MY TRUCK TRAVELED ANOTHER 20 TO 30 YARDS BEFORE HITTING A 2 PIPE HAND/GUARD RAIL. THE CORNER POST PLACED A NICE V DEAD CENTER IN MY BUMPER. THE HOOD WAS BUCKLED, BOTH FRONT QUARTER PANELS DAMAGED AND JAMMED BACK INTO THE DOORS. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID MY SEAT BELTS LOCK IN POSITION TO PREVENT MYSELF FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED BY A RELIABLE COLLISION CENTER APPROVED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, STATE FARM INSURANCE. I HAD NOTIFIED FORD OF THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT NOT WORKING AS I WAS LEAD TO BELIEVE IT SHOULD AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAVE THE SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT. DEALERSHIP TEST RESULTS SHOWED SYSTEMS ALL WORKING PROPERLY. I CONTACTED FORD AGAIN AND ASKED JUST WHAT IT TAKES TO INITIATE THESE DEVICES TO WORK. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON READ TO ME WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THESE TO WORK. I TOLD HER THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TELLING HER HAD HAPPENED IN THE WRECK. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN MY TRUCK AND WORRY THAT THEY WILL NOT WORK THE NEXT TIME IF EVER NEEDED AGAIN OR IF THEY WILL EVEN DEPLOY FOR NO REASON WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH THIS TO GAIN CONFIDENCE IN MY TRUCK. I JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN APRIL AND WILL TAKE A BAD BEATING IF I TRADE IT OFF NOW (BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED IN A CRASH) SINCE I?LL NEVER BE ABLE TO TRADE IT IN OR SELL IT.

ON A COLD START UP VEHICLE KNOCKS EVERY MORNING. HAS BEEN TO FORD DEALER 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE TOLD ME NUMEROUS THINGS, LIKE USE HEAVIER WEIGHT OIL, NO PROBLEM, WE HEAR IT BUT NOT SURE WHAT IT IS, WE HEAR IT COMMON ENGINE NOISE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN WAS 4/2003, AND VEHICLE IS AT DEALER NOW AGAIN. *CB

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICED BY SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY ALL GAVE DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT NONE OF THE SOLUTIONS RELATED TO WHAT WAS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *PH THE VEHICLE DID NOT DISENGAGE OR SHIFT OUT OF 4X4 INTO 4X2 UNDER A LOAD OR IN A BIND. THE BRAKES PUSHED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE AND A MADE NOISE, AND THE A/C DIDN'T SWITCH FROM DEFROST TO VENT DUE TO THE RADIO AND BEZEL VACUUM TO THE A/C SYSTEM. THE A/C SELECTOR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

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

A VIBRATION AT 38-42. DELAER HAS ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES TWICE IN 5600 MILES AND TOLD ME I NEED TO BALANCE AND ROTATE MORE OFTEN BECAUSE MY TIRES ARE CUPPING. THE VIBRATION HAS NOT GONE AWAY. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT I NEEDED TO GET FORD TO REPLACE MY GENERAL TIRES WITH MICHELINS. I AM STILL WAITING FOR FORD TO TELL THE DEALER WHAT TO DO.*AK

HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OR NOT CHANGING GEAR CORRECTLY. PLUS A NOISE OR VIBRATION GRINDING. DURING THIS TIME AS WELL. VERY UPSET. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BUT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE THERE. FORD SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX UNTIL DUPLICATED. I AM VERY UPSET HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER FOUR TIMES. *NLM