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.
2003 Ford F-150 transmission problems
62 complaints (15% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 40,000. 6 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 62
- of this car's complaints
- 15%
- typical mileage
- 40,000
- crashes
- 6
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Transfer case (4-wheel drive)10
- Automatic transmission10
- Axle assembly7
- Driveline: differential unit4
- Driveline4
- Driveline: driveshaft3
- Clutch assembly2
- Axle hubs2
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ford F-150 transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Ford F-150 transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2003 Ford F-150 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 wife and two young kids. The only way to know that this issue exists is to either get under the truck and remove the decal which causes and also covers the damage, or to have the axle give out while driving. This was recently discovered while working on the vehicle. I don't currently have pictures as the vehicle is in for other repairs, but I can get pictures once I get the vehicle back.
Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-150. The contact stated that while the key was in the ignition switch, the vehicle failed to shift gear as designed. The contact had to shift the gear from park to neutral and back into park then neutral again for the vehicle to resume normal operation and turn on. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,341.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-150. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and the engine revved. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to mathews ford newark (500 hebron rd, newark, oh 43056, (740) 522-2181) where it was diagnosed that the clutch assembly unit failed and needed replacement. The clutch assembly was replaced, but the failure recurred five times. After each failure, the clutch assembly unit was replaced by the same dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 31,950. *js
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".
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.
My rear diff is making a loud noise at 50 to 55 miles an hour on my 2003 ford 150. The rear diff is on the recall list, but the ford dealership will not honor the recall because I have a salvage title. In no way was my vehicle diff compromised in connection to the salvage title. It is simply defective and makes a loud noise. Im wondering if it is safe to drive due to the loud noise.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-150. The contact stated that the vehicle became stuck in snow when the 4-wheel drive failed to work properly. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic and the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 24,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f150 4x4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the fwd engagement gear would not shift into place when driving in icy conditions. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that he would need to replace the actuator for the gear shift. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000. Updated 02/09/11*lj the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. Updated 05/06/11
Questions about the 2003 Ford F-150 transmission
Does the 2003 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 62 complaints about the transmission of the 2003 Ford F-150, 15% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford F-150 transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 40,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford F-150 transmission?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Ford F-150 have bad transmission?
The Ford F-150 model years with the most transmission complaints are 2013 (1,346 complaints), 2018 (1,022 complaints) and 2011 (830 complaints).
Other 2003 Ford F-150 problems
Engine 97Electrical 47Fuel system 46Acceleration 32Body 32Airbags 29Brakes 28Tires 21Visibility 20Seat belts 16Steering 15Suspension 14Wheels 13Lights 9Driver assistance 2Locks 1Seats 1
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