2003 Ford F-150 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 32about this part
- Share
- 8%of 423 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2003 Ford F-150, 8% of the 423 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 5 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Pulling into a parking space in front of a medical clinic, going maybe 5 -8 MPH and I had the brake depressed and suddenly the vehicle lunged forward at full throttle and hit a building--you can see the skid mark in the first picture. I ended up hitting a building and when it got stopped the tires just kept spinning until I shut it off. The air bags did not deploy, myself and my grandchildren were hurt. Major building damage as well. Mileage at time this happened 140,000”
NHTSA complaint #10863668, filed 2016-05, 143,000 miles“September 05, 2017 3:49pm when approching the cape cod ma bridge, my 20 year old daughters Ford F-150 suddenely accerelated when the cruse control was off. She reached speeds exceding 80mph and the brakes where useless. She had to shift out of drive and shut the engine off whille weaving in and out of traffic to regain control. Had she been in any heaver traffic or on the bridge she and maybe others would have been very severly injured!!! This seems to be a well known issue yet Ford and my local Ford dealer know nothing about it (strange) the recall for this issue just is not for her F-150. …”
NHTSA complaint #11021723, filed 2017-09, 218,050 miles“The vehicle began accelerating on its own (> 75 MPH). Cruise control was not on. The break was effective at mitigating increasing speed until the vehicle could be stopped safely on the side of hwy 85s. Distance traveled with uncontrollable acceleration was approximately 2.5 miles. Prior to stopping and turning the engine off, an attempt to put the engine in neutral while speeding was fruitless -- the engine raced to maximum RPM when put in neutral. For fear I would blow the engine, I put the transmission back into drive and continued tamping on my breaks to control my speed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10389328, filed 2011-03, 82,400 miles“In light of the recall of the 2000 model of the Ford F-150 pickups for engine fires associated with the cruise control switch, I would like to ask that NHTSA and Ford to look at a possible simular problem with the 2003 model of F-150's. A few months ago I had my cruise control on and after about 15 min the brake light illuminated in the dash cluster. When I disengaged the cruise control with the off button the light went out. I had the Ford dealership in conroe check it out and they could not duplicate it or find a problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10108233, filed 2005-01, 26,000 miles“On occasions when pressing brake petal, the engine will speed up wide open causing the back wheel to actually to spin the back tires while holding the break petal down hard! Very dangerous!! First time this happen the truck was only a couple months old. I took the truck back to dealer, and they reprogrammed the computer. I have had several occasion of it happening again but not as serious until only recently! Last time I took the truck back to the dealer, may 14, 2007, I left it with them for a week. I went back and picked up the truck, and the dealer said they could not find any the wrong. …”
NHTSA complaint #10192039, filed 2007-05, 28,980 milesRelated recalls
- 07V336000Aug 3, 2007On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain…Covers: Ford F-150 1993, 2003–2004, E-150 1992–1993, 1997–2003, E-350 1992–1993, 1997–2003 +18 more
- 07V078000Mar 6, 2007On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.Covers: Ford F-150 2003, E550 2002–2003, F-250 SD 2003 +5 more
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% |
| 2025 | 11 | 10% |
| 2024 | 8 | 4% |
| 2023 | 18 | 4% |
| 2022 | 16 | 3% |
| 2021 | 21 | 2% |
| 2020 | 17 | 2% |
| 2019 | 44 | 3% |
| 2018 | 73 | 3% |
| 2017 | 66 | 5% |
| 2016 | 102 | 5% |
| 2015 | 146 | 8% |
| 2014 | 102 | 7% |
| 2013 | 304 | 10% |
| 2012 | 194 | 11% |
| 2011 | 213 | 10% |
| 2010 | 39 | 5% |
| 2009 | 54 | 17% |
| 2008 | 41 | 11% |
| 2007 | 54 | 11% |
| 2006 | 31 | 5% |
| 2005 | 57 | 5% |
| 2004 | 70 | 3% |
| 2003 | 32 | 8% |
| 2002 | 86 | 10% |
| 2001 | 180 | 15% |
| 2000 | 188 | 17% |
| 1999 | 79 | 8% |
| 1998 | 116 | 8% |
| 1997 | 223 | 8% |
| 1996 | 36 | 11% |
| 1995 | 76 | 12% |
| 1994 | 76 | 11% |
| 1993 | 40 | 7% |
| 1992 | 13 | 3% |
| 1991 | 10 | 3% |
| 1990 | 5 | 2% |
| 1989 | 13 | 6% |
| 1988 | 4 | 3% |
| 1987 | 4 | 4% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 1 | 4% |
| 1984 | 2 | 13% |
| 1983 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2003 Ford F-150
69 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
62 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsFuel system
46 complaintsBody and structure
32 complaintsAir bags
29 complaintsBrakes
28 complaintsEngine
28 complaintsTires
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsSeat belts
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology