Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Ford F-150
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Ford F-150 has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 423 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V385000 FUEL TANK STRAP CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E066000 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS/TOW ASSEMBLIE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V336000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V078000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/SUPPLEMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E067000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E056000 FUEL LEAK/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E052000 FMVSS 108/INSUFFICIENT LIGHTING VISIBILITY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V349000 FORD/PITMAN ARM TO STEERING GEAR RETAINING NUT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 69 complaints
- Power Train 62 complaints
- Electrical System 47 complaints
- Structure 32 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 32 complaints
- Air Bags 29 complaints
Of the 423 complaints on file, 43 report a crash and 37 a fire; across all 423 complaints, owners report 36 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,500–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Ford F-150 has an average reliability rating due to several common issues, particularly in the engine, power train, and electrical systems. The high number of complaints and significant recalls related to fuel systems and vehicle speed control contribute to its mixed performance expectations over five years.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 100,000–150,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| transmission | 100,000–140,000 miles | $1,800–$4,000 | occasional |
| fuel tank mounting | 80,000–120,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| electrical system | 90,000–130,000 miles | $250–$1,000 | occasional |
| speed control | 80,000–110,000 miles | $100–$500 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil change every 5,000 miles
- replace air filter annually
- brake fluid exchange every 2 years
- coolant flush every 5 years
- transmission fluid check annually
- align wheels annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- engine misfires or rough idling
- transmission slipping
- fuel odors around vehicle
- speed control malfunction
- electronic component failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Ford F-150 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.