2003 Ford E-Series

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield wiper/washer › motor. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System1
002

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel07V553000
Filed Dec 5, 20071,176,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Structure03V094000
Filed Mar 7, 20033,674 vehiclesSouthern Comfort Conversions

Defect. CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Risk. THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 6, 2015121,000 milesFL

MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED SHUT OFF DEAD!!!! IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO RESTAR IT AND IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE CLOSEST MECHANIC SHOP.I PAID $49.95 FEE AND THEY SCANNED THE ENGINE. TOLD ME IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LOOSE WIRE, THAT THEY TOOK CARE OF IT AND GO AHEAD AND DRIVE IT. "BRING IT BACK, IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN" EASIER SAID THAN DONE. YES IT IS STILL HAPPENING. I LOVE MY CAR AND IT IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I HAVE. I AM 69 3/4 YEARS OLD AND DRIVE AROUND WITH MY 92 YEAR OLD MOTHER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System2 injured
Filed Feb 2, 200870,000 milesNM

I HAVE A FORD E350 4X4 VAN 2003. THERE HAS BEEN FUMES ACCUMULATING IN THE VAN WHEN DRIVING. I GET HEADACHES AND MY EYES TEAR AND MY FEEL SICK. I NOTICED THE FUMES INTENSELY ON 1.25.08 WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY MILES IN COLD WEATHER AT A DISTANCE OF 2.5 HOURS AND 132 MILES ONE WAY AND 264 ROUND TRIP. THE FUMES BUILD UP WHEN DRIVING. I OPEN MY PASSENGER WINDOW WHILE STILL DRIVING AND IT SEEMS LIKE I GET MORE FUMES. IN ADDITION WHEN I PUT ON THE HEATER IT ALSO FILL UP THE VAN. ON 2.1.08 I DID ANOTHER TRIP LIKE THE ONE THAT WAS MENTION ABOVE. MY WIFE AN I EXPERIENCE THE SAME AFFECT WHICH WERE HEADACHES AND NAUSEOUS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Jun 26, 200777,000 milesVI

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AND STARTED TO LOOSE POWER, EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE MAY 21, 2007. THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE THEN AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL BECOME AVAILABLE ON JUNE 26, 2007. NOW AS OF TODAY JUNE 26, 2007, IT WAS PUSHED BACK TO AUGUST 25, 2007, BECAUSE IT'S AN ENGINEER PROBLEM. I AM OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEALER OR FORD IS NOT ASSISTING ME IN MUCH OF ANYTHING RIGHT NOW!*AK

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Jan 16, 200747,187 milesGA

GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR END WHILE BACKING OR MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. PER 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY DOCUMENTED BOTH HERE AND IN ONLINE FORUMS. IT REQUIRES A $1000.00 REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WILL PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. *NM

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Oct 22, 2004CO

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20085000Routine
20070200Routine
20060600Routine
200510600Routine
20042000Routine
2003 — this page5200Routine
20026200Routine
20016200Routine
20006200Routine
19994100Routine
199813100Routine
199716110Routine
19951000Routine
19942100Routine
19933010Routine
19920100Routine
19901010Routine

Compare every E-Series year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 5, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.