2003 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 2003 F 150 AND HEARD A KIND OF TAPPING NOISE AND STRONG VIBRATIONS COMING FROM ENGINE.. PULLED OVER AND HAD TRUCK TOWED TO MY HOUSE... AS A FRIEND OF MINE IS A MECHANIC HE CAME OVER AND HAD ME START THE TRUCK... AS I DID SO THE #3 SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF THE ENGINE AND BOUNCED OFF THE HOOD.... I STARTED TO RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ABOUT THE FORD F150'S DOING THIS EXACT SAME THING AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEMS SEEM TO COME FROM THE #3 PLUG... SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE SPENT 100'S OF DOLLARS TO UPGRADE AT THE DEALERSHIPS... ONLY 3 THREAD ON MY HEAD AND ALL TRUCKS NOW HAVE 7 THREADS... WHY DID FORD CHANGE IT? MUST HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS LIL PROBLEM....*TR

LEFT DEALERSHIP AFTER LO-JACK INSTALLATION. ENTERED TRAFFIC LANE AND BEGAN LIGHTLY BRAKING FOR APPROACHING SIGNAL. I FELT TWO FORWARD SURGES AND THEN INCREASINGLY RAPID ACCELERATION. I CHECKED REAR VIEW MIRROR AND THEN PRESSED ON BRAKES WITH THE SOUND OF THE RACING TURBO CHARGED ENGINE FILLING THE CAB. I THEN MOVED THE GEAR OUT OF DRIVE AND IN MY HASTE SAW I HAD IT BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO NEUTRAL AND THEN THE SOUND SUBSIDED. THE ENTIRE ACCELERATION INCIDENT LASTED LESS THAN 10 SECONDS. THE TRUCK WAS IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEN REPORTED INCIDENT TO THE MANUFACTURER.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F 150, TRITON V8 FROM A LOCAL REPUTABLE DEALER. IT IS IN FOR REPAIRS DUE TO ENGINE CONCERNS. IN RESEARCHING THE TRITON V8 I FIND THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND THERE IS A CONCERN WITH BLOWING SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. I WANT TO DOCUMENT MY PROBLEM AT THIS POINT SO IF THE NEED TO LEGALLY SEEK REPAIRS I HAVE A PAPER TRAIL. AT THIS POINT I AM TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WILL BE $550.00, BUT IN READING OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS I SEE THAT MOST BEGAN THE SAME WAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RAISED INTO A HIGHER POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN A CRASH AFTER THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL WHILE TURNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE SIGNAL LEVER WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN WHENEVER THE COLUMN WAS SHIFTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

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 F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND EASILY TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. ONCE THE VEHICLE BEGAN STEERING TOWARDS THE LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE FAILURE CEASED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V349000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH. I HEARD A POP. THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF THE ENGINE. IT COMPLETELY RIPPED THE THREADS OUT WITH IT. UPON DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ONCE THEIR FORD HITS 100,000 MILES. MY 2003 FORD F150 V8 4.6L HAS 103,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED THROUGH LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE RENDERING THE BRAKES INOP. FORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 90,000 MILES, TO ME THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TT

I HAVE A 2003 F150 THAT HAS 135K MILES. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAVE HAD NO MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL TODAY. I AM IN THE NAVY AND WAS DRIVING INTO WORK FOR DUTY WHEN MY SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED FROM MY ENGINE. THE EXPLOSION WAS SO GREAT THAT IT BROKE THE COIL PACK IN THREE PIECES AND WHEN I PULLED OVER IN INVESTIGATE THE NOISE I TURNED ON THE ENGINE WITH THE HOOD OPEN TO SEE THE SPARK COIL ACROSS THE PORT WHERE THE PLUG HAD BEEN AND IT WAS SPARKING (IT'S A WONDER THAT IT DIDN'T CATCH THE VAPORS ON FIRE FRON THE CYLINDER) THE PLUG ALSO SEVERED ONE OF THE VACCUUME HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THE MECHANINC TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR TRUCKS OVER 100K MILES, AND THAT THEY WOULD 'START POPPING OUT LIKE POPCORN'. THIS SEEMS OUTRAGOUS! I TRIED TO FIX IT MYSELF BUT NOW AM HAVING TO CONCEDE TO LETTING FORD DO THE WORK SINCE THEY HAVE THE REPLACEMENT KIT ( "BECAUSE THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS" - THEIR OWN WORDS). THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE! PLEASE FORCE FORD TO DO A RECALL. *TR

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.

2003 F150 PAINT ON THE HOOD IS SHOWING ALUMINUM RUST OXIDATION. REQUIRING A NEW HOOD.

I STARTED UP MY TRUCK ON LUNCH AND HEARD A BANG THAN IT SOUNDED LIKE A POPCORN MACHINE I CALL FORD IN LONDONDERRY NH TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE SPARK PLUG COMING OUT OF THE HEADS, THEY WAS COMMON IM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENED TO FRIEND HAD 7 OUT OF 8 SPARK PLUGS SHOOT OUT FOR HIS F 250. AND FOR THE SOUNDS OF IT THERE HAS BEEN ALOT MORE!! I CANT BELIEVE THAT FORD HASN'T HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. PEOPLE COULD GET HURT IF IT STARTED A FIRE UNDER A HOOD. *TR

2003 FORD F150 BURNS WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY - TOTAL LOSS - STARTS IN ENGINE. *TR

COMING HOME TO VA FROM OHIO WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND HAD TO KEEP FLOORING THE TRUCK. THE SPARK PLUGS ACTED LIKE THEY WERE FOULING AND THE TRUCK SPUTTERED HOME. WE CAME HOME AND OUR MECHANIC SAID WE BLEW OUT OR EJECTED TWO SPARK PLUGS ON OUR TRITON 4.6L 2003 PICK UP TRUCK. HE SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED BY FORD AND IT WOULD PROBABLY COST ABOUT $900. WE FOUND OUT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THE NEW NON-PLUG WIRES TRUCKS USING A SERIES OF COIL, OVER PLUG COIL CONNECTORS SPECIFICALLY ON THE TRITON FORD TRUCK MOTORS. WHY HASN'T NHTSA CONTACTED FORD. WE SMELLED GAS THE WHOLE WAY HOME; ABOUT 500 MILES AFTER IT HAPPENED. IF THE GAS FUMES IGNITED IT WOULD HAVE BURNED MY TRUCK UP BUT COULD HAVE HURT MY WIFE AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN RIDING WITH US. [XXX] I BOUGHT THE MECHANIC EIGHT SPARKPLUGS *$6.99 EACH, THEN EIGHT COILED/SLEEVES $52 EACH AND A NEW COIL UNIT $163, HE IS HAVING A COMPANY HELIARC-COILS TO REPAIR THE SPARKPLUG SEATS. THIS IS A VERY POOR DESIGN, AND HAD I KNOWN THIS WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK, WE WOULDN'T HAVE. I SENT FORD MOTOR A CUSTOMER SERVICE COMPLAINT AS WELL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD F150 WITH A 4.6L TRITON V8 ENGINE , WHILE DRIVING IT STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOISE, LIKE A MINI BACKFIRE. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY FOUND THE COIL PACK ON THE #3 CYLINDER WAS MELTED. THEY REPLACED THE COIL PACK, AND WE DROVE DOWN THE ROAD TO TEST DRIVE THE TRUCK, WITHIN 2 MILES THE POPPING NOISE RETURNED, BUT EVEN LOUDER THIS TIME. WE GOT IT LIMPED BACK TO THE SHOP, AND HAD TO LET IT COOL DOWN OVERNIGHT, SO THE MECHANIC COULD INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. HE HAD A TIME GETTING THE MELTED "BRAND NEW" COIL PACK OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG RECESS IN THE ENGINE HEAD, AND AN EQUALLY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF OUT OF THE HOLE. APPARENTLY THE PLUG HAD COME LOOSE IN THE SHORT THREADED ALUMINUM HEAD, THEN THE COIL PACK MELTED AROUND THE PLUG SEALING IT IN PLACE , AND THE ENGINE BURNT A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PENCIL RIGHT THROUGH THE ALUMINUM HEAD NEXT TO THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. THE COIL PACK WAS STILL PUTTING OUT SPARK, BUT NOT TO THE PLUG, AS THE BOOT THAT HELD IT ON THE PLUG WAS GONE, IT WAS JUST SPARKING AGAINST THE SIDES OF THE RECESS IN THE HEAD. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE EITHER CAUGHT FIRE OR BLOWN UP, I GUESS THAT IS LUCKY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME NOT SO NICE FOR ME WITH THE REPAIRS STARTING AT $2600 TO REPLACE THE HEADS ON THE SAME ENGINE, OR PUT IN A USED ENGINE IF WE CAN FIND ONE FOR $3900, OR PUT IN A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE FOR $5200, THAT HAS SUPPOSEDLY HAS ADDRESSED THE ISSUE WITH THESE FORD ENGINES BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUGS. FORD SAYS THERE ISN'T AN ISSUE, BUT THEY'VE CREATED A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST?? WHAT TO DO NOW WITH MY WORTHLESS PILE OF METAL SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY , I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX? BUILT FORD TOUGH ?? AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, SIMPLY GOOGLE "FORD TRITON SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT" , AND YOU'LL FIND THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FOLKS LIKE ME DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE , AND FORD CONTINUES TO DENY IT'S A PROBLEM, WHY? *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT. DRIVING 10-20 MPH THE FIRST TIMES AND 25-35 THE SECOND. 2 SPARK PLUGS EJECTED OUT OF THE ENGINE TWICE IN 4 DAYS 1ST TIME WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT WAS REPLACED 2ND TIME TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR

FORD F150 2003, 5.4 ENGINE. THE SPARK PLUG ISSUE HAS JUST BITTEN ME, NOW I HAVE A 10,000 DOLLAR PEICE OF STEEL IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I AM NOT PAYING 5400 AND SOME CHANGE TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED, THE PLUG GETTTING HIT BY THE PISTON OR SHOOTING OUT OF THE HOLE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BY ALLOWING FUEL TO COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL SPARK THEREFORE STARTING A FIRE, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND YET NOTHING IS DONE I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE PLACED FOR THE ISSUE. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE ON 2003(2004 BODY STYLE) F150 LARIAT. REGULATOR FAILED ON ROAD TRIP IN 95 PLUS DEGREE WEATHER IN EASTERN NC ON JUNE 26, 2010. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE. *TR

FUEL TANK FELL OFF VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF RUSTED MOUNTING IS A ONE OWNER WELL MAINTAINED FORD F150 PURCHASED NEW IN 2003 AND MILEAGE IS ONLY 100,222. NEW STRAPS WERE LOCATED AND INSTALLED 6/29/2010 AND OLD STRAPS WERE LABELED AND KEPT. *TR

I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING RUSTED OUT FUEL TANK STRAPS ON THE FORD F 150 PICKUP TRUCK, MODEL YEARS 1997 - 2001. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THE REAR STRAP FAILED ON MY 2003 F 150 LAST YEAR. I PAID TO HAVE THE STRAPS REPLACED. THE NEW STRAPS WERE FORD PARTS AND WERE STAINLESS STEEL, UNLIKE THE ORIGINALS. *TR

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

I HAD MY 2003 FORD F-150 SHOOT SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THE HEADERS I DON"T KNOW WHY BUT THIS IDS THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED AND IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO START A RECALL ON THE HEADERS TO CHANGE THEM TO A 8 THREAD INSTEAD OF 4. *TR

BLOW OUT OF SPARK PLUG ON 2003 FORD F-150 4.6L TRITON V8. *TR

2003 FORD F-150 CREW CAB , 4.6 TRITON ENGINE. SPARK PLUG BLEW WHILE ON HIGHWAY. NORMAL DRIVING WITH NO LOAD IN TRUCK. NO WARNING BEFORE FAILURE. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. *TR

FORD F-150 SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT, COMMON IN F-150'S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE IN IT WHEN THE FUEL TANK SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,807. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/31/2011 *LN

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE THROTTLE STUCK, THE BRAKES DID NOTHING. HE HAD TO THROW THE VEHICLE IN PARK. *TR

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

NORMAL DRIVING WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE MOTOR LEAVING ME AND MY KIDS STRANDED STILL TRYING TO CORRECT PROBLEM THIS IS THE SECOND TIME REPAIR BILL APPROXIMATELY $3000. *DT

THE BRAKE LINE FROM CAB AREA TO REAR WHEEL ON MY 2003 FORD F150 CORRODED AND EMPTIED THE MASTER CYCLINDER OF BRAKE FLUID. IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT NO OTHER BRAKELINES OR CONNECTIONS SHOWED SIMIILAR CORROSION- MORE LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT ON A 7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE CORROSION IS A MATERIALS PROBLEM AND MAY BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN OTHER VEHICLE OF THIS TYPE. I ALSO NOTED EXCESSIVE SCALING OF THE FRONT WHEEL HUBS AND STEARING ARMS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. THIS I BELIEVE IS THE RESULT OF INFERIOR PARTS- I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF DETERIOATION OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS LIKE THIS. WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM OR NOT I DON'T KNOW. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS INFORMATION AS A COUPLE OF DATA POINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. I JUST FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO ADVISE NHTSA OF THE SITUATION.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE. OWNER RETURNED HOME WHILE AWAY WITH HIS SON TO FIND THAT VEHICLE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE EXTENT OF FIRE WAS THE FRONT ENGINE AREA. VEHICLE WAS USED NIGHT BEFORE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT.

I OWN A FORD F150 WITH A TRITON V8 ENGINE. ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE ON 2/25/10 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. AFTER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM THEY SENT ME TO A FORD DEALER. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME IT IS A $1000 FIX AND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO THE PERSON WHO REPLACED THE PLUGS FOR ME. *TR

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. 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.

2003 FORD F150 5.4L #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE'S HEAD AND STRIPPED OUT ALL THREADS. INSERT WAS PUT IN TO REPLACE DAMAGED THREADS AT A COST OF $500 FROM FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING AND ENTERING ONTO INTERSTATE 80 AT A SPEED OF 50MPH I HEARD A LOUD POP AND LOST POWER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT WITH A GREAT LOSS OF POWER. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT A MODERATE SPEED UNTIL I COULD GET TO A MONROE SERVICE CENTER APPROX. 20 MILES. THE #7 PLUG FOR THE SECOND TIME BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. THE REPAIR COST THIS TIME WAS $294.38 AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. IT'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS SINCE I HAD IT REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME. THE #7 CYLINDER IS NOW MISFIRING EVEN THOUGH THE PLUG HAS BEEN REPLACED. MILEAGE TO DATE IS 200,892. *TR

I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY TRUCK FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE SPARK PLUG BLEW. I GOT MY TRUCK TO START UP AND DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE THIS OCCURRED AGAIN. THIS REPEATED UNTIL I MANAGED TO GET TO MY HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED. THEN I CALLED VENUS, A TOWING AND REPAIR SHOP, TO HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED FROM MY HOUSE TO THEIR SHOP. THE TOWING SERVICE COST $80.00. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED. THEY FIXED MY TRUCK AND CHARGED $250.00. *TR

WINDSHIELD LEAKS AND IS FRYING MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2003 F150. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ARTICLES ON FORD NEEDING TO FIX THESE ISSUES. *TR

1. NORMAL OPERATION 2. SPARK PLUGS ARE BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD; THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE; ENGINE FAILURE. HAD THE OCCURRENCE BEEN 200 MILES EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF PEAK TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON I405 NEAR BELLVUE WASHINGTON STATE, HEAVY RAIN WITH POOR VISIBILITY - CONSEQUENCES WOULD HAVE BEEN DIRE. 3. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A "TON" OF THESE REPAIR JOBS. AT $400+ PER OCCURRENCE, I QUESTION WHY THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER? WHY NO NOTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM. I'M TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN SERVICE ADVISORY'S ISSUED, BUT SHOPS AND SERVICE COUNTERS SHARE NONE OF THIS WITH ME. NOW THAT MY VEHICLE IS 5 YRS OLD WITH 129K MILES, WHAT WILL THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM BE. AS THE F150 FLEET AGES, HOW MANY MORE OCCURRENCE WILL THERE BE PRIOR TO FOOD ISSUING A SOLUTION? I'M TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS THAT THE SPARK PLUG SEAT ONLY CONSISTS OF A FEW THREAD TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUG IN. PLUGS DO NOT HAVE A SEAT RING (COMPRESSION RING) TO ASSIST IN THE PLUG TO STAY SEATED. AS THE PLUG LOOSENS, BLOW BY OCCURS AND EVENTUALLY BLOWING THE PLUG OUT THROUGH THE TREADS IN THE ENGINE HEAD. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM, LET ALONE HAVING THIS OCCUR TO MY TWICE. PARTS HOUSES HAD CONCURRED THAT THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT AND THEY LAUGH ABOUT IT. WHO IS GOING TO LAUGH WHEN THIS KNOWN UNSAFE ENGINEERING FLAW CAUSES DEATH OR INJURY? THEIR REPAIR HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, NOR DID THEY GIVE UP THIS INFORMATION WITHOUT ME FIRST SEEKING FACTUAL INFORMATION. THE PUBLIC IS BEING DECEIVED! *TR

I HAD A SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT ON MY 03 F150.....WHICH AT FIRST SOUNDED LIKE A NOISY LIFTER. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS AT THE FORD DEALER AND IT COST ME $1180.00 TO INSTALL A HELI COIL. *TR

I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND RIMS IN 05/2006. THESE TIRES AND RIMS ARE ONLY USED FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER. ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 I HAD A TIRE LOSE AIR ON THE INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE. UPON EXAMINATION I FOUND THE VALVE STEM TO BE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE,UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION I FOUND THE OTHER WHEELS HAD VALVE STEMS THAT WERE CRACKING IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE VALVE STEM THAT FAILED. I HAD THE VALVE STEMS REPLACEDIN THE THREE TIRES THAT DIDN'T FAIL BUT WAS UNABLE TO ON THE TIRE THAT WENT FLAT BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE TO THAT TIRE. AT THIS TIME I FOUND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON VALVE STEMS. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT MY VALVE STEMS ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE RECALL INVOLVES VALVE STEMS MANUFACTURED FOR DILL OR TECH INTERNATIONAL BETWEEN 07/2006 AND 11/ 2006. THE VALVE STEMS I HAVE ARE TR 413 MANUFACTURED BY ARGO WINSOONSHANGHAI. I HAVE TWO OF THE VALVE STEMS AND THE DAMAGED TIRE. *TR

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.

I HAVE A 2003 F150 V8 5.4 L AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HEARD A POP, AND I CHECKED MY ENGINE AND NOTICED THE IGNITION COIL WAS LOOSE AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS ATTACHED TO THE IGNITION COIL, SO NOW THE THREADS IN THE HEAD ARE STRIPPED AND I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE!! THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THIS IS NOT RECALL ISSUE IT SHOULD BE!!! *TR

THE SPARK PLUG IN ME FORD F-150 5.4LTR ENGINE BLEW OUT OF THE #2 CYLINDER. ALL ENGINE REBUILDING SHOPS AND REPAIR CENTERS SAY THIS IS COMMON IN FORDS. THEY FINISHED MY SENTENCE WHEN DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ENACT A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. AS I READ THIS IS AN ISSUE. COST ME 500.00 DOLLARS TO FIX AND I WORRY ABOUT THE OTHER 7 PLUGS...$3,500 TO REPAIR. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING @ 65 MILES PER HOUR DOWN A HIGHWAY, THE NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG & COIL BLEW OUT FROM THE HEAD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COIL & SPARK PLUG ITSELF. OUR 2003 FORD F150 SUPERCREW LARIOT PICK-UP TRUCK, WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED A QUICK FIX OF A SPARK PLUG INSERT AFTER THE PLUG HOLE WAS RETAPPED WHILE STATING SEVERAL TIMES THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD WORK. ANOTHER OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADS COSTING APPROXIMATELY $2500. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO ADVISED US THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM & HAS SEEN IT HAPPEN ON A VARIETY OF FORD VEHICLES. WE'RE EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT OUR VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE, AS THE COIL THAT BLEW HIT THE FUEL RAIL, WHICH IS HELD IN PLACE BY TWO 8MM BOLTS. THIS EXPERIENCE IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING & CONCERNING TO US AS IF WE SPEND MONEY GOING THE ROUTE OF THE INSERT, IT MAY LAST FOR ONE TRIP DOWN THE ROAD & GIVE OUT. IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT FORD ISN'T STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT & FIXING IT APPROPRIATELY. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT BRINGS WITH IT SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES. WE WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A FORD VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE.

THE SPARK PLUG ON MY 2003 FORD F-150 WAS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE TRUCK HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS A HUGE BANG FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE GAS VAPORS FLOODED THE CAB. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND MY FAMILY WAS NOT INJURED. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WELL-DOCUMENTED ONLINE, AND I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP TO SEE WHERE THE NHTSA IS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

ON APRIL 20, 2009, SPARK PLUG #7 BLOWOUT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. APPROX. SPEED 25 TO 35 MPH. ENGINE LOST COMPRESSION, DAMAGED THE IGNITION COIL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A FIRESTONE REPAIR GARAGE WITHIN 10 MILES. THE SPARK PLUG #7 WAS REPLACED WITH THE HELI COIL AND THE IGNITION COIL DAMAGE WAS ALSO REPLACED. TOTAL COST OF LABOR AND PARTS WAS $352.81. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE SOCKET WRENCH. THE WRENCH WAS EQUIPPED WITHIN THE VEHICLE TO ASSIST WITH TIRE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO SMALL TO LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS THAT SECURED THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO CHECK THE AIR PRESSURE LEVEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 04/24/09.*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