The 2003 Ford F-150 should last around 250,000 miles, and can run you as low as $1,887 for a basic XL from a private seller to $8,329 for a King Ranch from a licensed dealer. You’ll want to keep your expectations realistic, but the truck has held up surprisingly well over the years.
Is the 2003 Ford F-150 a Good Used Truck?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – You don’t want to depend on a 2003 F-Series as your daily-driver, but if you’re buying an older truck for the occasional lumber haul, this is about as good as it gets in this price range.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – It’s a full-size Ford. It’s one of the roomiest trucks on the market no matter the model year. We’re only taking a couple points off because the ride may be a bit rough in a twenty-year-old work truck.
- Reliability 6/10 – If we’re grading on a curve, the 2003 F-Series gets a ten. But because of its age a breakdown is almost inevitable.
- Safety 6/10 – If you’re going to get into an accident, the frame is solid and secure. But you won’t find any of the modern safety features that make newer F-150s such great family vehicles.
- Gas Mileage 5/10 – The lightest model gets just 17/20 miles to the gallon, city/highway, roughly two-thirds what you’d be getting in a comparable 2021 model.
- Value 7/10 – If you shop around, you can have a 2003 F-150 for a song. That’s excellent value as long as you’re realistic about how many miles you can get out of a twenty year old pickup.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Ford F-150?
- Consumer Reports praise the truck’s versatility and roomy interior, noting that the tradeoff is that it can feel a little unwieldy on the road, and the truck is a bit of a rough ride.
- Edmunds didn’t much care for the 2003 F-Series’ weak crash test ratings, but had good things to say about the broad selection of trims and configurations, and the Built-Ford-Tough powertrain.
- Kelley Blue Book users were generally impressed when it came to reliability, but typically share the view that it’s not the easiest truck to drive around narrow city streets.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Ford F-150 Have?
The 2003 Ford F-Series has had some recurring issues in the fuel system, with recalls in place for tank strap corrosion and fire hazards. Electrical problems are a close second, with 57 complaints on file. But, the truck is around twenty years old now. The biggest issue you’re going to have is simple wear and tear.
There have been two fuel system recalls for the 2003 F-Series, one for a potential leak in the tubing, and another for a corroded tank strap. Either of these issues could lead to an engine fire.
A handful of complaints have been registered for parts shortages pertaining to the above-mentioned fuel system recalls. That is: drivers were getting the recall notice, and then being put on a waiting list for new parts to ship.
Electrical issues like windshield wiper failure and radios clicking off for no apparent reason may have to do with corrosion over time, though you might want to check for bite marks in the soy-based wire coating.
Twelve recalls and 450 complaints would be a lot for a brand new vehicle, but it’s not so bad for a twenty year old full-size. The biggest concern here is age, so just make sure to run a thorough test drive before you hand any money over.
How Long Will the 2003 Ford F-150 Last?
A 2003 F-150 will average around $788 in annual maintenance costs, according to RepairPal, with a once-every-ten-years catalytic converter replacement usually being the most expensive repair, starting in the $1,500 range.
The chassis and body are so durable that you could theoretically keep an F-150 on the road for centuries. But, once the transmission passes 200,000 miles, you’ll probably want to retire it to part-time duty.
Not and right now it still runs good and all no oil leaks or and other problems and its not running hot
No it doesn't have any problems and yes it is reliable. It still works to take us places. I wouldn't trade it for anything
It is very reliable. The only problems that these models have is the tendency to develop rust issue on the lower body parts
Very reliable. Only problems I have is I'm hitting 120,000 miles and having to do small maintenance such as water pump and fuel pump..plugs..wires
Yes it is very reliable. Sometimes the engine does stall, but other than that it has had no problems. Overall it is much better than expected for the year.
Very reliable. No issues other than routine maintenance. After 200k it is still running strong and I hope to get another 200k out of it
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is pretty basic. We’re talking about a twenty year old work truck here. The 2003 F-Series was released before they started adding more SUV-like features to full-size pickups. AM/FM radio and a tape player are pretty much all you get.
The onboard safety tech is outdated by now, but you get all the basics like anti-lock brakes and full airbags. Just don’t hold your breath looking for one with lane-keep assist and cross-traffic alert.
Is the 2003 Ford F-150 a Good Value?
The 2003 F-Series is a good value if you’re being realistic about what you can expect of a twenty year old full-size truck. Private seller pricing starts as low as $1,887 for a basic XL, which isn’t bad for something that you’ll mostly be using for the occasional furniture haul. A King Ranch from a licensed seller can go up to around $8,329.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Ford F-150?
There are 7 trim options in total, including four standard trims, and three special editions. Note that the 2003 model predates the Raptor by seven years, so start with the 2010 lineup if you’re looking for an off-road beast.
XL is the entry-level model, featuring:
- Cloth bench seats
- Manual air conditioning
- Vinyl door trim
- Chrome headlights
- Dual black manual exterior mirrors
- Chrome bumpers
XLT is the next step up, adding:
- Power door locks
- Power windows
- CD player
Lariat is the mid-range model, which adds:
- Remote keyless entry
- Power driver seat
- Leather split-bench seating
- Body color headlights with gray mesh insert
- Power exterior mirrors
King Ranch is the top-of-the-line, featuring:
- Optional King Ranch Castano leather captain chairs
- Heated seating in the front
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Simulated wood grain trim
Lightning is a unique limited-edition, with:
- Lightning-exclusive cloth/leather front split bench seat
- Power windows, locks, and driver seat
- Supercharged V8 Triton engine
The XLT Heritage edition is just an XLT with some extra style, including some flashy 100th Anniversary badges.
There’s also a Harley-Davidson model. Earlier Harley-Davidson F-150s featured a supercharged engine, but for the 2003 model it’s more of a visual mod for the Lariat, with the bike manufacturer’s iconic logo featured throughout the interior trim.
What Engines Come In the 2003 Ford F-150?
- The base engine, available in the XL and XLT, is a 4.2L V6 paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine will crank out 202 horsepower and 252 lb.-ft. of torque, with a towing capacity of up to 5,800 pounds.
- Next up for the XL and XLT is a 4.6L SOHC Triton V8. This one’s paired to a 4-speed automatic, delivering 231 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque, with towing capacity going up to 7,200 pounds.
- For the Lariat and King Ranch, you get a 5.4L version of the V8 Triton, which gets us 260 horsepower, 500 lb.-ft. of torque, and up to 8,000 pounds of towing capacity.
- The Lightning edition comes with a supercharged variant of the 5.4L V8 Triton, which brings the horsepower up to 380, with 450 lb.-ft. of torque and up to 10,000 pounds of towing power.
What Colors Does the 2003 Ford F-150 Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Ford F-150?
Seating is comfortable in the 2003 F-150, but things can get bumpy, especially with the age of the shock absorbers. Hit some gravel roads when you take it on the test drive and make sure you like how it rides.
It’s plenty roomy, that is if you’re going with the SuperCab or SuperCrew, which can each comfortably seat four adults. The Regular cab is a one-row three-seater, which is good for two adults and a kid, but it can get cramped with a whole work crew up front.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Ford F-150 Have?
The Ford F-Series has plenty of storage space, having offered the same three bed options for decades. These are the 5-foot-6-inch Short bed, the 6-foot-6-inch Standard, and the 8-foot Long bed. No surprises here.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 Ford F-Series was the second-to-last year of the 10th Generation, starting with the 1997 redesign and being replaced by the 11th Generation for the 2005 lineup.
1997: The first major redesign for the truck since 1979, the 1997 edition modernized the design, introducing the SuperCab and the Standard and Long beds. The 1997 F-Series was Ford’s first major attempt at blending car-like comfort with truck-like performance.
1998: The 1998 F-Series was basically the same as the 1997, but with a 50th Anniversary decal.
1999: Ford introduced the four-door version of the SuperCab in the 1999 model.
2000: A supercharged Harley-Davidson edition debuted in 2000, as did the four-door SuperCrew cab.
2001: This year saw the introduction of the iconic King Ranch.
2002: Ford retuned the suspension for 2002, lowering the truck by about an inch.
2003: Ford introduced the sporty STX trim for 2003, with flashy chrome step rails and wheels, plus a Z828 Kenwood stereo system.
2004: The final model year for the 10th Generation saw Ford switching to a rack-and-pinion steering system and redesigning the exterior, most noticeable in the quad-circle headlights.
How Does the 2003 Ford F-150 Compare to the Competition?
The 2003 Ford F-Series is one of the better used pickups in its price range, given its strong ratings for reliability and its sheer towing power, but it’s not the only game in town.
Comparing the F-Series to the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, Chevy comes up short thanks to a long list of recalls and complaints. There are more than 2,110 reports on file covering everything from electrical hiccups to more than 500 complaints for braking problems.
The 2003 Ram 1500 likewise turned out to be a bit of a clunker with 291 structure complaints on file with the NHTSA at present. Many drivers are reporting that their chassis is rusted to the point you could just about poke a screwdriver all the way through it.
Some years it’s neck-and-neck, but after twenty years on the road, Ford has clearly won the contest for most reliable 2003 full-size.
Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Ford F-150?
Very good and it has a lot of room for me and my kids to take trips and for use just to ride dirt roads
Yes it is red and it has 6 seats in it. We had it for a few years and it is still working good. I recommend this vehicle
It is a very good vehicle. Spacious, comfortable, and powerful and surprisingly reliable. I've never had a problem with mine
Very good vehicle. Lots of room. Drives smooth. Good gas mileage. Can tow stuff. Haul stuff in the bed.
Yes, the 2003 ford F-150 is a very good vehicle. It is reliable and has never broken down. It occasionally stalls but, for its age, it has held up extremely well.
The best truck I have ever owned. It is reliable, good on gas, and easy to drive. The vehicle has almost took on the odometer with minimal maintenance required. I have used and abused it without any fear of it ot working.
