Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off for approximately an hour, they were suddenly informed that their vehicle had caught fire. When the contact arrived at the vehicle the fire department had already arrived and extinguished the fire. There was a police report was filed that stated that the fire was caused by wiring in the engine compartment. There were no injuries or medical assistance. There was damage to a nearby vehicle, fence, tree, and surrounding grounds. The vehicle had been towed and deemed totaled. The contact had later learned of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control) however the vehicle had never been repaired for the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.
I moved my vehicle from driveway to park on the street so my husband could park in the driveway. I then turned my vehicle off and roughly 2 hours later, a lady came screaming "fire fire fire!" I went to see where she was talking about and my truck was smoking under the hood, I then called the fire department and they came to extinguish the fire. I was unaware of any recalls as I am the 3rd owner of this vehicle.
Our truck has been great but we have a major problem. It is leaking water when it rains. Getting front floor carpet wet and now it is getting the fuse box wet and causing electrical systems to not work. Like today the odometer won't light up. Also dripping from top of windshield. We are having the windshield and seal replaced on Thursday but the glass company says they can't guarantee m of seal will stop the Problem. He said the drain system was factory installed backwards and it's not draining properly.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford f-150. The contact's sister smelled smoke coming their bedroom window. The contact went outside and noticed that the vehicle caught on fire. The fire started from the driver side. The contact extinguished the fire with their water hose. No police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not totaled however the front hood and passenger side was melted. The vehicle was not drivable. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised to take the vehicle to henson Ford (581 1-45, madisonville, tx 77864). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 200,020.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and there was an abnormal odor of smoke. The contact stated that suddenly the vehicle engulfed into flames. The fire department was notified and was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Dt: on 7-9-05 the contact's son was involved in a car accident on the highway. He was driving a 2003 Ford f-150. He hit a guard rail and went into a ditch about 100 yards and hit an overpass sign post made of cement. The truck burst into flames. The coroner said that the fire caused the death of the contact's son. She said that he did not have a broken bone. The fire department and the police department. Were notified. The fire department did not have an investigation as to the cause of the fire. The contact reported that she did not know if her son had any previous problems with the truck prior to the accident. The truck was totaled.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford f-150. While driving during rainy weather conditions, the instrument panel failed intermittently. In addition, the four wheel drive and the windshield wipers activated independently. The contact stated that the battery needed to be disconnected and then reconnected in order for the vehicle to resume normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the battery and the keys were replaced, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford f150. While the vehicle was parked the contact stated the horn began to blow on its own and black smoke began to escape from the windows. The fire also began near the fuse box. The contact extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. A fire report was filed. The insurance company had not concluded there investigation regarding the cause of the fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford f-150. While driving various speeds, the wiring harness burned. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that there were un-remedied recalls on the vehicle, and the wiring harness failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
On 5/5/2005, we purchased a 2003 Ford f150 heritage edition 4x4. It had only 10,000 miles on it. On June 5, 2005, just one month after purchase, I returned home from my aunt's house. About 5 minutes later, the truck was on fire. The truck was totaled and released to the insurance company. At the time, we were told 2003 fords were not included in the recall and now they are.
Electrical complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2003 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Ford F-150, 11% of the model year's 423 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › fuses and circuit breakers (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Ford F-150 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2003 Ford F-150, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford F-150 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 16 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.