2003 FORD F-150 Engine Problems

On 11/27/2022 at or around 4:30 P.M. my 2003 Ford F-150 burned almost completely, without any mechanical failures or warnings, thirty full minutes after being parked and then after only having been run for three to four miles. The fire department ended up putting it out before it was fully consumed.

TL* THE CONTACT'S BOYFRIEND OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE IGNITION COILS AND ALL SPARK PLUGS WOULD BLOW OUT INSIDE OF THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD THE IGNITION COILS AND SPARKS PLUGS REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS ALL BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO CALLED THREE SEPARATE DEALERS BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. SHE WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND FILED A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT HAD CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP (SAM PACK'S FIVE STAR FORD ADDRESS: 1635 S INTERSTATE 35E, CARROLLTON, TX 75006 PHONE: (972) 446-5027) WHO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

Mileage: 240,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CAR PORT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AS WELL AS DAMAGED THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CONTACTED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THEM OF A RECALL FOR THE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THE VIN HAD NOT SHOWN TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000. *BF *DL

Mileage: 203,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND A REPAIR APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART COULD HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A FIRE WHICH WAS STATED IN THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HIS GIRLFRIEND PARKED THE VEHICLE, ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT AND CANCELED A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

Mileage: 196,000

REQUESTNG FORD BE MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR EXHAUST MANIFOLD HOLES AND CRACKING ISSUES. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN AND THE ARE MULTIPLE FORUMS ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THIS ISSUE. WHEN THE MANIFOLD LEAKS, THE RISK IS THERE THAT EXHAUST FUMES CAN GET INTO THE DRIVING COMPARTMENT AND ASPHYXIATE THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR AN ISSUE FOR SHOULD HAVE RESOLVED LONG AGO.

Mileage: 150,000

AFTER A RAINSTORM AND WHILE DRIVING, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, MY RADIO/CD PLAYER STARTED TURNING OFF AND ON, MY PANEL LIGHT DIMMED, AND I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE UNDER MY DRIVER SIDE DASH BOARD. THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE STATIONARY AND KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, I NOTICED WATER ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR, AND WHEN I LOOKED UNDER I COULD SEE DROPS OF WATER SLIDING OFF I BELIEVE MY EMERGENCY BAKE AND BRAKE PEDAL, AND AN ONGOING CLICKING SOUND UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. I LEFT MY TRUCK IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT, AND THE NEXT MORNING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. I HAD AAA TOW COME AND REPLACE BATTERY THAT AFTERNOON. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. AAA CAME AND CHECKED THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR, ALL WERE FINE. AS THEY RECHARGED BATTERY THERE WAS A WEIRD NOISE HEARD IN THE ENGINE AREA. I DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC WITH FORD TRUCK EXPERIENCE. HE STATED THE GEM AND FUSE BOX WERE WET AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO WATER LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WEATHER STRIPPING TRIM WHICH WAS COMMON IN FORDS VEHICLES. HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING GEM, FUSE BOX, AND WINDSHIELD TRIM. THIS WATER/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AFTER A RAINSTORM. I NEVER THOUGHT A VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION COULD HAVE OUTSIDE WATER LEAKS GETTING INSIDE AND ONTO THE FUSE BOX AND GEM MODULE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT CAN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE GEM AND FUSE BOX TO FAIL BECAUSE IT CONTROLS EVERYTHING IN THE TRUCK. THE GEM AND FUSE BOX SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM OUTSIDE ELEMENTS. WHEN WATER IS INTRODUCED TO THESE MODULES, IT MAKES THE WHOLE SYSTEM GO WACKY AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. FORD NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND FIX AND/OR REIMBURSE US CONSUMERS ON THE COST OF FIXING IT

Mileage: 95,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFTERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC EVEN SIGNED OFF FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE ABNORMAL SOUND RETURNED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 247,000.

Mileage: 247,000

TRANS WENT OUT A MONTH AFTER INTAKE CRACK HAD TO BE REPLACE ALMOST $1,650 TOGETHER ALSO BALL JOINTS AND TIEROD ENDS NO GOOD SHOCK NO GOOD BRAKE ARE FALLING AND REAR END IS GRINDING THIS TRUCK SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD HELP AND THERE'S "MORE".

THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM MY ENGINE AND CYLINDER HEAD. AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD TRUCK ENGINES. SEEMS TO ME IT SHOULD BE A DEFECT OR A RECALL. THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. I THOUGHT MY VEHICLES ENGINE HAD EXPLODED. AND THE COST OF THIS COULD BE OUTRAGEOUS.

Mileage: 111,000

SPARK PLUG 2ND CLOSEST TO THE PASSENGER BLEW OUT.

WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 35 MPH GOING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET. A SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE HEAD. THIS COULD CREATE A FIRE HAZARD.

Mileage: 130,000

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. HAD NOT BEEN RUN IN OVER A WEEK. COMPLETELY BURNED UP AND CAUSED DAMAGED HOME. VEHICLE BURNED HAD SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS AND BURNED AT A HIGH TEMP UNTIL IT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE FIGHTERS.

DRIVING UP A HILL AT HIGHWAY SPEED I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND A CLUNK AND THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING. I WAS QUITE STARTLED. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, SHUT IT OFF, AND FOUND THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM CYLINDER NUMBER 6. NOT BEING FAR FROM HOME, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY ON LESS BUSY ROADS, BUT I HAD TO PULL OVER AGAIN WHEN I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. I WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE FUEL INJECTOR AND DRIVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY HOME, BUT I FEEL THERE WAS A DANGER OF AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC ON A HILL, AND THEN A DANGER OF A FIRE WHEN I HAD TRIED TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT WITH THE FUEL INJECTOR ACTIVE.

Mileage: 210,000

SECOND TIME SAME SPARK PLUG HOUSING HAS FAILED TO HOLD SPARK PLUG AND EJECTED IT FROM ENGINE ALONG WITH RAW FUEL ALMOST IGNITING ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Mileage: 139,652

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK WITH MY WIFE & SON, WE HEARD A LOUD POP, LIKE A GUN SHOT, THEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO RUN REAL ROUGH, I FOUND A COIL, & A SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE, BECAUSE OF THE FUEL BUILD UP & THE SPARK FROM THE TRUCK STILL RUNNING WE ARE LUCKY THAT THE TRUCK DID NOT CATCH FIRE.

Mileage: 222,050

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND EXITING ONTO MY EXIT, THE TRUCK STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND EVENTUALLY SHUT OFF. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 1HOUR FOR THE TRUCK TO COOL OFF BEFORE IT WOULD START AGAIN. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TRUCK TO COOL OFF, I CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER. TODAY, 6/3/15, I CAN START THE TRUCK UP AND LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR AND SHUT IT OFF AND IT WILL NOT START BACK. I WAIT ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR AND IT WILL START RIGHT UP. I CAN'T EFFORT TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AND PAY $50 TO $100 FOR THEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG OR HOW TO FIX IT.

Mileage: 94,000

AS WE STARTED THE TRUCK, WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. I COULD SMELL GAS BURNING NOT IN A GOOD WAY, SO WE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS GASOLINE RUNNING UNDER THE TRUCK, AND GASOLINE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. A PASSERBY INFORMED US THAT THE F-150 WITH TRITON ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR BLOWING SPARK PLUGS AND PROCEEDED TO POINT OUT WHICH SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE WHEN I ARRIVED HOME AFTER OUR TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND DISCOVERED THAT JUST ABOUT EVERY F-150 OWNER GOES THROUGH THIS. WHY IS THIS NOT A DEFECT THAT FORD IS BEING REQUIRED TO FIX? DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE A DEFECTIVE PART IS TAKEN CARE OF? *TR

Mileage: 157,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUG DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

Mileage: 148,000

A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, ANOTHER PLUG BLEW OUT 3 DAYS LATER. IT COST ALMOST $2000 TO FIX AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE REST WON'T BLOW OUT. *TR

Mileage: 118,800

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 - 70 MPH ON I-95, THE SPARK PLUG ON THE #2 CYLINDER BLEW OUT. #2 CYLINDER IS 2ND PLUG FROM FRONT OF ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. LOUD NOISE AND LOST POWER. *TR

Mileage: 86,300

MY FAMILY AND I WERE SITTING IN A DRIVE THROUGH PICKING UP A PIZZA. CAN WE WENT TO PULL FORWARD AND IT STARTED LOOKING REALLY BAD .. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FELT ALL THE PLUGS AND FOUND THAT NUMBER FOUR PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD! IT COST US 500 FOR FIX AND NOW ANOTHER ONE IS STARTING TO GO!! *TR

Mileage: 136,713

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, MY ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE & RUNNING BADLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTOR, I FOUND THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE #3 CYLINDER, BREAKING THE COIL PACK IN THE PROCESS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. I HAVE CHECKED ON-LINE TO SEE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER F-150 OWNERS, AND FOUND OUT IT IS FAIRLY COMMON. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET FORD TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM? *TR

Mileage: 97,764

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE COIL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. *TR

Mileage: 133,000

ON A RETURN TRIP FROM COLUMBUS OHIO TO NEW ORLEANS LA, A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM #3 CYLINDER, PASSENGER SIDE SECOND FROM THE FRONT. ENGINE STALLED BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. SMELL OF FUEL WAS VERY PREVALENT. NO OTHER APPARENT DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER SYSTEMS ON THE ENGINE. PLUG WAS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED PLUG AND HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED BY ANY MECHANIC SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. AFTER A $700 REPAIR BILL, THEY TRIED A HELICOIL, BUT THIS FAILED AFTER JUST 1 USE OF THE TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. . A $28,000 TRUCK SHOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP ITS SPARK PLUGS IN THE HEADS. *TR

Mileage: 107,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN ON THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AT A COST TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SECOND SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE, OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER UPON ROUTINE VEHICLE STARTING. VEHICLE WAS WARM WHEN STARTED. ONCE THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE AND SMOKE. A SMALL FIRE WAS EASILY EXTINGUISHED HOWEVER COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. *TR