Paint/Trim
Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), loose interior and exterior trim or moldings, rust.
What Owners Say
"Paint fades down to the base coat. Side Mirrors are not adjustable. Oil leaks with no apparent leaks on the ground."
Rayford G., LA (2003 Ford F-150 Lariat 5.4-L V8)"Paint cracking, fading, & scaling. Paint on the roof has faded badly and are starting show signs of rust. Will need a new paint soon."
Anonymous, CA (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 5.4-L V8)"Paint on hood began peeling 2 years ago. Don't know why, but would be very expensive to repaint."
Anonymous, AZ (2003 Ford F-150 Lariat 5.4-L V8)"Upon purchasing used 2003 Ford Pickup truck, I inherited a good used vehicle, but it had some some peeling issues on the engine hood area about 4 inches in diameter. Had bids of $300 to $400 to re-paint entire hood in same white color, but have not had it painted as its a low priority to me last few years."
Anonymous, OR (2003 Ford F-150 XL 4.2-L V6)"Hood paint began chipping, but not from any kind of contact. Looks like poor painting; had same problem previously with the cab top"
Craig H., AZ (2003 Ford F-150 Lariat 5.4-L V8)"Left front door paint started to blister"
Lloyd S., NS (2003 Ford F-150 King Ranch 5.4-L V8)"The black paint on the side step rails is peeling off"
Larry D., IN (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 5.4-L V8)"Over the years, in the Florida sun the Red paint has completely faded on the roof"
Robert R., FL (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.2-L V6)"Extrior paint fades in certain areas"
Rayford G., LA (2003 Ford F-150 Lariat 5.4-L V8)"Paint peeling at rusty places"
Anonymous, QC (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.5-L V8)"Top of truck totally faded & covered with rust"
Diana W., AL (2003 Ford F-150 Lariat 4.5-L V8)"Left rear quarter panel, directly behind tire. Surface rust from under the paint. Metal in that area is formed from two pieces. When dust gets between the pieces of metal, the s gets wet rust firms from the inside out. Molding and paint was removed and metal treated. Good metal below paint. Sanded, painted and replaced molding. Within one day bubbles formed and surface rust reappeared. Pocket area between metal in the area will have to be cut out and replaced to cure rust. Downtime and expense will go up."
David L., NY (2003 Ford F-150 Lariat 5.4-L V8)"Rust at driver side wheel well of truck bed, the base of all four cab doors, hood, and truck bed door."
Thierry P., OH (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.2-L V6)"DUE TO THE ROOF DESIGN THIS MODEL HAS CONCAVE CHANNELS WHICH COLLECT MOISTURE AND DEBRIS. DESPITE VIGILENCE IN KEEPING THEM CLEAN TWO PLACES RUSTED THROUGH BENEATH THE PAINT ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE CAB."
Anonymous, TX (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.5-L V8)"It's a 16 year old truck in New York state. What more can I say?"
Anonymous, NY (2003 Ford F-150 XL 4.2-L V6)"We had this truck undercoated Dimond trimmed and the bed liner put in when we bought the truck. we noticed how bad areas started to rust about the 6th year in along the running boards and the fender wells. Was very disappointed in Ford from that respect I wrote them and nothing was ever done. I see now 15 years latter that I was not the only one as there are a lot of customer complaints from this year"
Donald W., IN (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.2-L V6)"There is a lot of body rust which seems to be common on this year F-150. The truck was Zbarded Diamond Coated and has been well maintained and has a bed liner but rusting under around the bed and tailgate. We found that water had ran down on the gas tank then the muffler and had caused rust to eat through both so i had to heave the gas tank and exhaust both replaced."
Anonymous, IN (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.2-L V6)"Body rust under the doors, metal is slowly rusting away. Have cleaned and sprayed with rust inhibitor after a hole opened up in the panel."
Anonymous, MD (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 5.4-L V8)"The rocker panels are rusting out"
Anonymous, MI (2003 Ford F-150 XL 5.4-L V8)"The rocker panel, the rear fender and the tailgate are all showing thru rust. The paint on the roof and in other areas is flaking"
Anonymous, IN (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.5-L V8)"Sills on both sides are rusted out with holes and frame is starting to rust"
Anonymous, CT (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 5.4-L V8)"Rust everywhere"
Anonymous, ON (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.5-L V8)"Truck rocker panels have rusted through, rust is also around the wheel wells on the bed, the frame is badly rusted"
Anonymous, AL (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.2-L V6)"I'm getting rust along the lower rear quarter panels"
Larry D., IN (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 5.4-L V8)"The entire body has rust problems. We've had it repaired twice already, and it still needs more work. Very disappointing"
Susan P., NH (2003 Ford F-150)"Rust shows in many places"
Anonymous, QC (2003 Ford F-150 XLT 4.5-L V8)
"My truck colors are black over dark gray .All the black paint is cracking and peeling."
Madeline S., KY (2003 Ford F-150)