Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Firestone, Tire Size: 265/70/R17, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, there was a burning rubber odor coming from the outside of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle to inspect the tires and became aware that the tread of the tires was loose. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 277,144.
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.
Ameristar tires!! Are they good tires? My opinion is no, no, no! I have 16,000 miles of granny-like driving on my 2003 Ford f-150, with the original ameristar tires provided stock on my truck. We don't get that much rain in california but every time it does rain I notice that I have to drive even more cautiously than I ever have. I slide all over the place even when the tires were brand new. Well today I merged onto the freeway at approximately 55 MPH, while everyone else was passing me in there little tiny cars at 75 MPH. I hit a puddle and that's all she wrote. I slid across 4 lanes and smashed into the center divide. This is just another example of car manufacturers and just about everyone else cutting corners to save a buck and risking the lives of children, mine was in the car, and consumers. …
I was traveling 285-west in decatur, ga., around 3:30 pm eastern time, when I was in a a multi-car accident. I was in the lane closest to the grass, when a Dodge Ram four door truck hit my f-150 super crew cab 2003. The driver hit my driver side backdoor, and then he hit me again on the driver side front bumper, and spun me off the road into a wooded area with large trees and a ravine. I then had a head on collision with a large tree. I called on the name jesus three times, then my truck turned 180 degrees and that turned me around going into the ravine backwards. I felt myself come out of my seat with my seat belt on. My bench seat went into recline, then my head went backwards, then forward. My airbag did not deploy. I did research, when I noticed a website called "wekeepitsafe". …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford f-150. While driving 25 MPH, the front hub assembly snapped and caused the contact to crash into a parked vehicle. The vehicle veered to the right and the passenger side tire was found underneath the vehicle. There were no warning indicator lights present. A police report was filed. The mechanic stated that the hub assembly spindle snapped and the repair cost would be $5,200. The vehicle is currently being repaired with a used hub assembly per his insurance company's request. The current and failure mileages were 68,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford f-150 equipped with capitol precision trac ii tires, size: 255/70r16. While the vehicle was in park, the tread from both front tires separated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the tread separated from both front tires and that the tires needed to be replaced. The tires were not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The tires were included in NHTSA campaign number: 14t013000. The VIN was unavailable. The vehicle failure mileage was 119,000. The tire failure mileage was unknown.
Very bad tread wear on front outside edge. Looked like alignment problem since tires still have 80% of tread. Tech at alignment shop said the alignment was OK and showed me where the tread had started to separate from the casing. Tech advised to replace tires very soon. Tire size not on recall list so it looks like I am stuck with replacing a bum set of tires
Consumer complained about a tire defect. These tires came with the purchase of the vehicle. Ameritrac p255/70r16. The tread came completely off the tire but the tire never went flat. Vehicle began to pull to the left and spun into a wall. The vehicle was going about 50 MPH when it hit the wall and the air bags failed to deploy. Provide further details.
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.
I had a catostrophic sidewall failure of a Goodyear wrangler duratrac tire (mdw8 b11v 4110) that had only 2140 miles on it. The tire failed at 35 MPH but had to be driven about 100 feet to remove it safely from the roadway. I have a picture of the result if needed. Had this happened on the interstate the result would have been significant.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2003 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2003 Ford F-150, 8% of the model year's 423 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Ford F-150 wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires 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 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to wheels & tires 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.