Engine problems of the 2003 Ford F-150

13 problems related to engine have been reported for the 2003 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford F-150 based on all problems reported for the 2003 F-150.

1 Engine problem

Failure Date: 05/22/2010

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.

2 Engine problem

Failure Date: 05/13/2010

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.

3 Engine problem

Failure Date: 03/22/2010

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.

4 Engine problem

Failure Date: 05/29/2009

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.

5 Engine problem

Failure Date: 04/20/2009

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.

6 Engine problem

Failure Date: 01/18/2009

Blowing out spark plugs.

7 Engine problem

Failure Date: 12/19/2008

1. Normal operation, no indication of problem 2. Spark plug blew out of the engine as my wife parked the vehicle in our driveway; 1st of 2 occurrences; repaired with helicoiled plug. Approx $400 repair expense. I'm now told that a bulletin was issued advising not to use this repair method. Having trouble verifying if that is fact or fiction.

8 Engine problem

Failure Date: 12/06/2008

My 2003 Ford F-150 with 5. 4 triton engine spit out the number 3 spark plug. This is the second time this has happened to the same plug. Ford customer relations refused to even discuss the matter with me, saying there was no problem with its product!.

9 Engine problem

Failure Date: 03/22/2007

Engine light turns on, intake mnanifold gasket needs to be replaced on a 2003 v6 4. 2l engine in a Ford f150.

10 Engine problem

Failure Date: 09/18/2006

Drove my truck home from work yesterday and at 30 mph my engine blew a spark plug. The estimate for repair is $3000+. I researched on line and found out this is a known problem. I contacted Ford at their customer service department in dearborn, mi and they refuse to pay for the costs of this known issue.

11 Engine problem

Failure Date: 07/19/2006

My spark plug blew out of my 2003 Ford f150 5. 4 l this week. Ford wants 3800. 00 to repair the problem. The head and plugs. I hear alot of this happening. Why has it not been recalled. I cant afford to have my truck fixed. Now what? who looks out for the little guy now?.

12 Engine problem

Failure Date: 10/19/2005

While driving to work, my F-150, 5. 4 liter engine blew out a spark plug. The repair cost is in excess of $4000. The affected aluminum cylinder needs to be replaced. The manufacture does not cover the routine tightening / inspection of spark plugs during the periodic 30k, 60k services even though they (the dealer) knows that there is a design problem with this particular engine. The design problem stems from a minimum amount of threads to hold the spark plug in place. The 5. 4 liter engine is a powerful engine that necessitates a thicker and longer well to torque and hold the spark plugs in place. The internet is filled complaints made by Ford consumers that have experienced this same type of problems on Ford engines.

13 Engine problem

Failure Date: 06/10/2005

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked in his garage. The vehicle had been driven approximately 10 hours earlier. The insurance investigator was unable to determine where the fire originated or locate any defective parts that may have caused the failure. The engine compartment was damaged, however, the most extensive damage was on the driver side of the vehicle. Ford was notified and refused to take responsibility for the fire. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 12,000. Updated 3/5/08 the consumer stated all 3 investigators stated the fire was a defect in the truck. Fire dept and insurance report. Updated 03/04/08.



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F-150 Defect Investigations