2003 Ford F-150 Body & Structure Problems

On the day of Monday February 20 2023 I was in my front driveway preforming some maintenance on my 2003 Ford F-150 Xlt SuperCrew truck a gear shift cable and a heater core replacement. Once I finished the repairs I ran my truck for a few minutes then shut it off and was headed inside when I noticed a flickering light coming from the passenger side of the vehicle I walked to the truck and opened the door and I saw small flames dripping down coming from the ( glove box area ) I then grabbed the water hose and put it out . Once the small fire was out I proceeded to go in the house when I noticed black smoke coming ( from the engine bay from the vents in front of the windshield) the smoke got thicker as I sprayed it with water I then called to my spouse to call the local Fire Department. The vehicle was a total loss nothing was left interior wise no ( steering wheel,no console,no dashboard or anything.

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 OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN PROMPTED. CLONINGER FORD (511 JAKE ALEXANDER BLVD S, SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA 28147) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000. *TT *TR

BOTH REAR DOOR LATCHES HAVE FAILED TO OPERATE. CANNOT OPEN EITHER REAR DOOR. THIS HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE I LIVE. I AM HANDY CAPED AND CANNOT GET ACCESS TO MY ROLATER WHICH IN THE BACK SEAT AREA. I NEED THIS EQUIPMENT TO HELP ME WALK. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS MALFUNCTION? IS THIS A RECALL ITEM? WILL FORD MFG REPAIR THIS DEFECT?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN7/2003. REAR SMALL DOOR (SO CALLED "SUICIDE DOOR") ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE IN 11/2012. WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. HAD TWO LATCHES REPLACED AT WALKER FORD IN CLEARWATER, FL ALSO IN 11/2012 AT A COST OF $615.59. SAME DOOR BROKE AGAIN IN 9/2015. TOOK TRUCK BACK TO WALKER FORD . THEY OFFERED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN FOR ABOUT $500 AND STATED THE LATCHES THEY REPLACED IN 11/2012 HAD "DETERIORATED FROM NON-USE"!. I DECLINED THE REPAIR OFFER AS IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE LATCHES ARE INADEQUATE AND/OR OF DEFECTED MANUFACTURE. IT IS MY POSITION THAT THESE REAR DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS ARE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE IS A SITUATION OF WATER IMMERSION, FIRE, SMOKE, FUMES, ETC. IN SUCH AN EVENT, ANY REAR SEAT PASSENGER WOULD BE TRAPPED. I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER AN IMMEDIATE RECALL TO REPLACE THESE LATCHES.

GAS TANK STRAPS CORRODED/BROKE CAUSING THE TANK TO DROP AND LEAK. EXCESSIVE RUST AT BOTTOMS OF ALL FOUR DOORS. *TR

2003 FORD F-150 LARIAT SUPERCAB IT WAS RAINING, I GOT IN THE TRUCK, WATER WAS DRIPPING INSIDE THROUGH THE CENTER AREA IN THE CEILING WHERE THE COMPASS IS. THERE ARE WIRES UP THERE, SO WATER IS NOT GOOD. I CLIMBED UP AND LOOKED AT THE ROOF OUTSIDE, AND DISCOVERED RUST ON EVERY ONE OF THE CHANNELS ON THE ROOF, ONE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE REST PARTIALLY RUSTED THROUGH. ASIDE FROM THE NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE APPEARANCE, THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE: 1. WATER DRIPPING INTO THE WIRING COULD CAUSE A SHORT WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE 2. RUST-THROUGH ON THE ROOF COULD CAUSE THE METAL TO BREAK OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND INJURE SOMEONE 3. DECREASED STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ROOF COULD DECREASE SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER 4. RUST IN THE AREA ATTACHING THE WINDSHIELD COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO FAIL OR FLY OFF 5. WATER LEAKING INTO THE ROOF CAUSED MOLD, WHICH IS A BREATHING HAZARD THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN - THE CHANNELS COLLECTED WATER WITH NO WAY FOR IT TO DRAIN, SO THE WATER POOLED AND CAUSED RUST, BOTH IN THE ENDS OF THE CHANNELS AND ALONG THE RIM OF THE WINDSHIELDS. THE OLDER MODELS WERE SMOOTH ON TOP SO THE PROBLEM DIDN'T EXIST. NEWER MODELS HAVE FINS STICKING UP RATHER THAN INDENTATIONS, SO FORD CLEARLY REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND CHANGED THE DESIGN. FORD DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THIS. *TR

I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL DECEMBER 2013 WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT I COULD NOT OPEN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR DOOR. IN NOVEMBER 2014 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE LEFT REAR DOOR. I OBTAINED A REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $700.00 PER DOOR TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. (BROKEN CABLES INSIDE DOOR) THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD A 2004 F-150 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE. I ALSO SPOKE TO TWO (2) OTHER PERSONS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WIT THEIR 2003 F-150'S. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT I THINK THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE DEATHS SINCE ANY PASSENGERS RIDING IN THE REAR SEATS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THROUGH THE REAR DOORS. I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

HOOD PAINT BUBBLING AS THOUGH THERE IS RUST. HOOD IS ALUMINUM! REPAINT IS NECESSARY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED WHEN IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING, SHACKLE AND MOUNT WERE RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT AND MIGHT ASSIST WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000. UPDATED 7/12/12 *CN UPDATED 07/18/12

2003 F150 PAINT ON THE HOOD IS SHOWING ALUMINUM RUST OXIDATION. REQUIRING A NEW HOOD.

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 FORD F150 IN AUGUST 2007. WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS THE GEM MODULE WAS REPLACED AS THERE EXISTS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SEATING OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE SEAL. AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A RAINY DAY, THE BLOWER FAN IS GOING, THE WINDOWS ARE GOING UP AND DOWN, AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE ALL FREAKING OUT. AS I PULL OVER AND REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE TRUCK, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT STOP. AND NOW THE TRUCK WON'T RESTART. AGAIN, THE GEM MODULE. WHICH FORD WILL NOT REPLACE ALONG WITH THE LEAKY WINDSHIELD SEAL. BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THERE EXISTS NO PROBLEM OF THE BEHALF OF THE MANUFACTURER. SEE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/FORD-F-150/TAA9DVMDG7RO706EI#LASTPOST. I AM AFRAID THAT EVEN IF I WERE TO PAY TO HAVE THE GEM MODULE REPLACED (AGAIN) AND THE WINDSHIELD RESEALED (AGAIN) THAT I WILL BE DRIVING ALL OF MY CHILDREN DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK JUST DECIDES TO ELECTRONICALLY FAIL IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PERHAPS THIS DESIGN FLAW SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR IMMEDIATE RECALL. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 F150 SUPERCREW WITH 39,000 MILES. WHILE WASHING THE TRUCK IN JANUARY 2008, WE NOTICED THAT ALL 4 DOORS ARE RUSTING/BUBBLING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORS. THIS TRUCK IS GARAGED AND FREQUENTLY WASHED IN THE WINTER TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. *TR

PAINT PEELING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. RUST WAS FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL FOUR DOORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB

PAINT IS SPIDER WEBBING ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. ALL OVER THE HOOD AND TOP. ALSO STARTING ON FRONT QUARTER PANELS. COLOR IS BLACK. ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. I WASH AND WAX REGULARLY. *TR

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2003 F150 SUPER CREW IN DECEMBER OF 2002. IT NOW HAS 22,000 MILES ON IT AND THE BOTTOM INSIDE OF ALL FOUR DOORS ARE RUSTING AND BUBBLING OUT. WILL BRING INTO DEALER TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND HAVE IT FIXED WITH SOME GUARANTEE IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *JB