Problems · by component
2003 Ford F-150 engine and engine cooling problems
74 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford F-150 cite engine and engine cooling, 16% of all 464 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
74
16% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ANOTHER CRACKED PASSENGER SIDE MANIFOLD ON REGULARLY SERVICED VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD ISSUE RECALL OR PROVIDE "GOODWILL" BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FAILED COMPONENTS BEING REPORTED BY FORD OWNERS. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST FUMES WERE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
“MY 2003, FORD F-150 BLEW A SPARK PLUG FOR THE FOURTH TIME YESTERDAY. EACH TIME A DIFFERENT PLUG. I WAS HEADING TO CHURCH AND "POP". WE WERE JUST GETTING ON THE ON RAMP WHEN IT HAPPEN. FOUR TIME NOW AND EACH TIME I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. RIGHT NOW I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND IT'S SITTING IN MY YARD... *TR”
“2003 FORD F150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE CAME TO A STOP, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. ALSO, THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARD A VIBRATING NOISE FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT A CLAMP HOLDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD RUSTED AND HAD BECAME PARTIALLY DETACHED. THE CONTACT PERSONALLY REPLACED THE CLAMP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.”
“SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD OF THE ENGINE, WHICH I HEAR IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN IS THE RECALL COMING OUT? IF THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM, I PERSONALY KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHOM THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO AND ITS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THEN FORD NEEDS TO TAKE SOME INITIATIVE AND FIX IT! WE CONSUMERS ARE WHAT MAKES FORD THEIR MONEY AND IF THIS IS NOT FIXED FOR US I WILL NO LONGER BE A FORD CONSUMER. I AM SURE OTHERS FEEL THE SAME WAY. FORD MADE A MISTAKE, WE ALL DO, NOW FIX IT. *TR”
Showing 6 of 74 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.