2003 Ford F-150 power train problems
62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2003 Ford F-150 — 15% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“UNKNOWN - however there were NO warning lights or any other indication of malfunction or to service the truck. I took the truck to an independent service center & they did a full inspection & I did receive an estimate for repairs.”
filed Jun 9, 2026
“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…”
filed May 24, 2023
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Power Train problems in other F-150 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-150 | 23 | 23% |
| 2024 F-150 | 55 | 30% |
| 2023 F-150 | 150 | 38% |
| 2022 F-150 | 155 | 27% |
| 2021 F-150 | 297 | 31% |
| 2020 F-150 | 331 | 47% |
| 2019 F-150 | 701 | 54% |
| 2018 F-150 | 964 | 43% |
| 2017 F-150 | 509 | 37% |
| 2016 F-150 | 542 | 27% |
| 2015 F-150 | 370 | 22% |
| 2014 F-150 | 412 | 27% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 Ford F-150
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.