Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Ford F-150 drivetrain & axles problems

Owners reported drivetrain & axles problems in 49 complaints for the 2003 Ford F-150, 9% of the complaints on file. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
49 9% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
42,000 miles 34 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
5 and 1
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When drivetrain & axles problems show up

Drivetrain & axles complaints by mileage, 2003 Ford F-150 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 42,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 10 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 12 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 4 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 42,000 miles
Based on 34 complaints that include mileage. 76% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles10
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles12
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles4
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 34 drivetrain & axles complaints that report mileage, the median is about 42,000 miles, and 76% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries.

What owners wrote

While driving at 45 MPH, suddenly the right rear axle broke and snapped off. This resulted in the right rear tire flying off followed by the driver losing control of the truck and impacting a ditch . The driver sustained minor bruises. The engineer stated that the axle flew off on impact even though the tire flew off prior to impact.

Reported at 20,808 miles, October 2004 CrashInjury

I have a 2003 ford f150 my 4wheeldrive stopped working , but the dash indicator said it was ingaged. This makes for a very unsafe operating condition. Because you do not drive the vehicle the same if the 4x4 is working.I brought it to the local ford dealer and they repaired it . This apparently was a common problem. The part# f75z*3n139 which cost$133.98 and the labor was $302.00. This part is very cheaply made and will probably break again. The tech told me there is no way to prevent this from happening again.

Reported at 45,959 miles, February 2005

Other problems reported for the 2003 Ford F-150

Drivetrain & axles problems in other years

Drivetrain & axles problems across all Ford models