2003 Ford F-350 SD complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED OIL SPOTS ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,800.

TRUCK BEGAN STARTING A LITTLE HARD ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. AT ABOUT 60-70 MPH, TRUCK LOST POWER, ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE BUCKED, AND CONTINUED TO COME TO A STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. TURNED OFF VEHICLE, WOULD NOT RESTART. BROUGHT TO DEALER, FUEL INJECTORS WERE BAD. $700.00 BILL LATER, TRUCK LEAVES THE DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, AND THE TRUCK IS BEGINNING TO START HARD AGAIN WHEN COLD, WILL NOT RESTART WHEN HOT. *TR

FORD MOTOR COMPANY PUT OUT DEFECTIVE COOLANTS ON THEIR 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES. I HAVE/HAD 2003 F350 KING RANCH TRUCK WITH 67,000 MILES. FORD WARRANTIES DIESEL ENGINES TO 5 YEAR 100,000. ON JUNE 24, 2008, I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY TRUCK OVERHEATED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED FORD NORTH SCOTTSDALE. THEY SAID THAT THE EJR COOLANTS ARE NOT GOOD ON THOSE TRUCKS AND MOST LIKELY IT GAVE OUT. THEY TOLD ME TO GET IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I DROPPED THE TRUCK OFF AT BELL FORD IN ARIZONA ON TUESDAY JUNE 24 TO LEARN THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY 28, 2008. I GOT DIAGNOSTICS DONE AND THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. BELL FORD SAID THEY BLEW BECAUSE THE COOLANT WENT OUT AND BLEW OUT THE WATER, WHICH OVERHEATED THE COOLANTS. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAD 2 CST (MARK & STEVE) "RESOLVE" THE DISPUTE AND SAY THEY CANT HELP US. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED, THAT WHY WOULD THEY NOT RECALL A PART THEY KNOW IS NOT EFFICIENT? THEY DID NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 6.0L. I AM LOOKING AT $4300 JUST FOR THE HEAD GASKETS AND THEN PLENTY MORE IN LABOR CHARGES. THIS DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE GETTING THE COOLANT FIXED. WILL I EVER BUY FORD AGAIN? MOST LIKELY NOT. THEY CANT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR HELP THEIR CUSTOMER. THIS IS A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN BABIED AND UP TO DATE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE. AND NOW ITS DESTROYED. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN NOVEMBER 2004 WITH 42,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 67,000 MILES AND BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 28 MAY 2008 AND I DID NOT RENEW BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND IT HAS SUCH LOW MILEAGE. ON 24 JUNE 2008 THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED WHILE HAULING A HORSE TRAILER. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AND THE COST WILL BE IN EXCESS OF 4,000 DOLLARS. EVIDENTLY, THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ABOUT EGR COOLERS LEAKING WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AT A REPUTABLE DEALER THROUGH THE 3.5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. IS THERE ANY HELP THAT I CAN GET OR ADDRESSES WHERE THIS COMPLAINT MAY BE SENT? I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN, AND THAT IS SAD. *TR

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE SURGING AT IDLE, MAKING THE VEHICLE JUMP FORWARD, ROUGH ACCELERATION, AND COMPLETE STALLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE ICP SENSOR, AND THE ICP WIRING HARNESS (WHICH WAS BURNT AND SHORTING OUT), AND CLEANED INJECTORS = $1348.00 THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT FORD RECALL NO. 05S34 ADDRESSES ON THE SAME TRUCK, SAME ENGINE (6.0), BUT ONE YEAR NEWER. FORD DID NOT RETURN OLD PARTS TO ME AND I FAILED TO ASK FOR THEM. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE SHORTING OUT OF THE ICP HARNESS, LIKE THE PROBLEM IN #05S34, CAUSED THE SENSOR TO FAIL. *TR

I ALONG WITH OTHERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT AND FAILING ON FORD TRUCKS. MY REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AT THE POINTS WHERE THE LINES ARE CONNECTED TO THE FRAME. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS AND AM HEARING SIMILAR STORIES. I OWN A 2003 FORD F-350 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITH A V-10 GAS ENGINE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE 2 BRAKE LINES RUST OUT ON A TRUCK THAT IS ONLY 5.5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 55K MILES ON IT. MY BRAKES FAILED EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY TRUCK BEFORE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THE CONNECTOR USED TO HOLD THE BRAKE LINE TO THE FRAME SCRATCHED OFF A PROTECTIVE COATING THAT KEEPS THE BRAKE LINES FROM RUSTING THUS I ONLY HAD RUST IN THE AREAS WHERE THE CLIPS WHERE. I HAD TO PAY 767.76 DOLLARS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED WITH ONLY A GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 5 OR 6 YEARS. *TR

THE TRUCK (2003 F-350SD) LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE DEAL REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 6.0L D MOTORS. THE EGR VALVE WILL STOP UP AND NOT ALLOW THE EXHAUST TO ESCAPE. *TR

THE SEAT BELT LATCH IN THE REAR OF MY 2003 FORD F350 4DR QUIT WORKING APPROX 1 YEAR AGO. THE BUTTON STAYS IN SO IT WILL NOT LATCH. I THOUGHT THE SEAT BELTS HAD A LONGER WARRANTY, SO I WASN'T TO CONCERNED TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY. I GOT A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD FOR THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (7.3L DIESEL), SO WHILE IT WAS IN, I ASKED ABOUT THE SEATBELT. THEY SAID MY WARRANTY WAS OUT BY LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AND COULD NOT HELP ME. I EVEN CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AGAIN NO HELP. I HAVE AN 88 CHEVY TRUCK AND A 95 GMC AND HAVE HAD NO SEATBELT ISSUES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BELTS SHOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS, AND THE FACT THAT IT WENT BAD AT AROUND 4 YEARS IS EVEN WORSE. *TR

I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPT. 07 TO FIX AND OR REPLACE MY " I N 5 MONTHS ) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. AS I DRIVE THIS VEHICLLE ALL THE TIME I CAN EITHER DO WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL OR TAKE A CHANCE ON A FIRE. JUSTWONDERINGIF YOU CAN HELP??*CN

OUR COMPANY HAS PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F350 IN JULY 2003 IT HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD 3 TURBO'S INSTALLED IS RUNS ROUGH LACKS POWER AND CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WE DO NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK OFTEN BUT IS RUN DAILY. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PROBLEMS WE WOULD HAVE IF DRIVEN 500 MILES A WEEK . MY CONCERNS ARE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT AND I NEED TO PAY 1500 FOR A TURBO OR NEW ENGINE OR INJECTORS. *TR

2003 F-350 TIRE BLOW OUT CAUSING DAMAGE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. CUSTOMER STATES THE INTERNET DESCRIBES A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED. *KB *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD IN MARCH OF 2006 REGARDING EMISSION. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE DEFECT IS COMPUTER RELATED. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A NEW RE- FLASH TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE DEFECT. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

I PURCHASED MY FORD F350 ON JANUARY 16, 2007 FROM JOHN BLEAKLY FORD, IN GEORGIA MY FUEL INJECTORS HAVE GONE BAD SINCE THEN. ON 7/22/07 MY TRUCK SUDDENLY LOST POWER IT WOULD TURN BUT WON'T REV AND AFTER A WHILE WILL NOT EVEN TURN. IT WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY INJECTORS. I HAVE A $27,000 TRUCK LOAN AND HAVE ONLY PAID 4 MONTHS ON THIS TRUCK. I AM A SOLE PROPRIETOR AND HAVE A FAMILY TO SUPPORT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THERE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR FUEL INJECTORS IN THE 6.0 LITER ENGINE. AFTER MANY HOURS OF RESEARCH, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A FIRST MASSIVE RECALL IN APRIL, 2003 FOR 66,720 TRUCKS FORD SOLD WITH THE 6.0 LITER DIESEL ENGINE TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE SENSOR. IVE ALSO LEARNED THERE WERE NEARLY 500 BUYBACKS OF TRUCKS WITH ENGINES SO BADLY FLAWED THAT THEY COULDN'T BE FIXED. APPARENTLY, A BATCH OF FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED SO MUCH DIESEL FUEL THAT FUEL FILLED THE CRANKCASE, CAUSING ENGINES TO SEIZE. THERE WERE ALSO GLITCHES WITH THE TURBOCHARGER AND ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE. MY RESEARCH HAS ALSO REVEALED THAT MANY DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINES FOR CUSTOMERS AND THAT FORD HAS BOUGHT BACK TRUCKS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GENERAL AMERI-TRAC TIRE. THE TIRE IS A FACTORY TIRE WITH ONLY 29,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 29,130 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

UPON LEAVING THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH, I PROCEEDED UP THE EXIT RAMP TO A STOP LIGHT. I BRAKED TO SLOW AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL CREEPING FORWARD AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. I SLAMMED THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC GEARSHIFT INTO PARK AS THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. THE ENGINE ONLY THEN RETURNED TO A NORMAL IDLE. IF ANYONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM OR CONTINUED INTO THE INTERSECTION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALER BUT THEY HAVE YET TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, TRUCK STARTED CUTTING OUT COULD BARELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SWAPPED IN MY SPARE CPS AND TRUCK STARTED RIGHT UP AND I DROVE AWAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

SALES OF A VEHICLE WITH SUPPORTING VIN DATA NOT MATCHED TO ACTUAL EQUIPMENT RECEIVED. THIS MISMATCHED DATA HAS CAUSED THE WRONGFUL ORDERING AND INSTALLING OF A REPLACEMENT REAR GEAR RATIO THAT DOES NOT MATCH UP WITH THE FRONT RATIO WHILE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THIS MISMATCH CAUSES A BIND ON THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH COULD EXPLODE AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. OF COURSE THIS MIGHT BE A ONE TIME PROBLEM, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY UNDER MODERN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES THERE COULD BE AN ENTIRE SERIES OF TRUCK PRODUCED. *JB

BACKGROUND: ORIGINAL GENERAL TIRES ON 2003 F350 DUAL-TIRE TRUCK, APPROX 30,000 MILES. TIRE SIZE IS LT235/85R16. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT, ALL TIRES WERE ROTATED, BALANCED AND PRESSURE WAS PER MANUFACTURE SPECS AT LOCAL TIRE STORE. FAILURE: AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 1 MILE FROM HOME, LEFT-OUTER REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM BELTS DAMAGING LIGHT WIRING, AND DESTROYING FENDER WELL. (PICTURES CAN BE SENT IF DESIRED). TIRE WAS SENT TO MANUFACTURER. TIRE DID RETAIN AIR AND DID NOT BLOW SINCE IT WAS A DOUBLE TIRE AREA. TIRE WAS REMOVED BY OWNER AFTER REDUCING TIRE PRESSURE AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. SINCE WE WERE UNSURE IF ANOTHER TIRE SEPARATION WAS UPCOMING , WE HAVE REMOVED ALL 6 TIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITH ANOTHER BRAND. ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE FENDER WELL AND WIRING. LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE HIT BY THE FLYING DEBRIS, NOR WERE ANY INJURIES INCURRED. *NM

MY 2003 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCK SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUICK WORKING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT TOOK MONTHS TO GET A REPLACEMENT UNIT FROM FORD BECAUSE (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER) THE UNITS WERE SO BACK-ORDERED DUE TO THE HIGH RATE OF FAILURE OF THIS PARTICULAR ASSEMBLY. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT UNIT. DURING THE MONTHS I DROVE WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER, THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE HOW FAST I WAS DRIVING NOR ANY ACCURATE MEANS OF KEEPING TRACK OF THE ACTUAL MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER KEPT THE FAULTY UNIT. A VEHICLE WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER SHOULD BE OUTLAWED. A VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY METHOD OF DETERMINING THE ACTUAL MILEAGE BY WHICH TO MONITOR EPA COMPLIANCE SHOULD ALSO BE OUTLAWED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MANY FORD TRUCKS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE OPERATING AT A REDUCED SPEED. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION FOR A MOMENT, THE ENGINE RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE STALLING PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

2003 FORD F-350 DIESEL STALLING. VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. CONDITION STARTED WITHIN THE FIRST 7000 MILES. DEALER SEEMED TO REMEDY AS THE CONDITION NEVER RECURRED UNTIL 37K MILES; NOW, 42K MILES. COMMENCED STALLING IN FEB 2006 AND HAS STALLED 6 TIMES FROM FEB 2006 TO AUGUST 2006. THE SECOND TIME IT STALLED, WE WERE IN FREEZING RAIN IN 4X4 DRIVING MY WIFE TO WORK (SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE IN THOSE CONDITIONS) THE VEHICLE STALLED ON TOP OF TALL BRIDGE 300 FT OVER THE WILLAMETTE RIVER IN ICE CONDITIONS. LOST STEERING, HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL MOVING AND RE-START THE VEHICLE TO RE-GAIN CONTROL. NORMALLY, THE VEHICLE SIMPLY STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND WHILE THIS IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION, I'VE MANAGED TO RE-START WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALER/FORD HAS BEEN EXCRUCIATING RELUCTANT TO REMEDY. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE RECALLED 180,000 2004-2005 VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 05V27000 7/22/05 FOR THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOM, ENGINE, VEHICLE MODEL, THEY CLAIM TO BE UNAWARE OF THE ABOVE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR NUMEROUS TIMES (6 TIMES) SINCE FEBRUARY 2006. A FLIGHT RECORDER HAS BEEN INSTALLED TWICE TO RECORD COMPUTER DATA. ONCE THEY INDICATED IT WAS AN EGR PROBLEM AND PRESUMABLY REMEDIED. STILL STALLS. GOT ANOTHER STALLING INCIDENT RECORDED ON THE FLIGHT RECORDER (TWICE NOW) BUT APPARENTLY NO GOOD READING. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (REGIONAL) THREE TIMES NOW AND THEY HAVE SEEMED TO BE MODERATELY HELPFUL, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND CUSTO

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR POSITIONER WENT DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OPEN AND MADE A LOUD SOUND. ALSO, THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE ROTORS FOR THE BRAKES FLAKED APART. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE DEALER WAS RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THESE ISSUES AT NO COST, HOWEVER THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE OFFERED TO FIX, BUT NOT FOR FREE.*AK UPDATED 11/3/2006 - WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROADWAY TO THE LEFT THEN RE-ENTERED THE ROAD THEN RAN OFF TO THE LEFT AGAIN AND ROLLED OVER RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *NM

THE ENGINE OF A 2003 FORD WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ENGINE BY THE FORD DEALER SHIP. A FEW DAYS AFTER WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK IT WAS DRIVEN APPROX. 600 MILES, PULLING A TRAILER, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO BACK FIRE AND SPUTTER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE TRUCK WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED FOR ANY VISUAL PROBLEMS AND THEN STARTED AGAIN. AFTER IT WAS RESTARTED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO PICK UP RPM. AT THAT POINT THE EGNITION WAS SHUT OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN! THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IT'S RPM UNTIL I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW UP. I TOLD MY GRANDWON WHO WAS TRAVELING WITH ME TO HIT THE DITCH AND I TRIED TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLES. I FINALLY HAD TO LEAVE FOR FEAR THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW UP IN MY FACE. THE ENGINE DID BLOW BUT NO FIRE WAS STARTED. I TOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY THE TURBO THAT WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. WE ARE NOT HAVING IT FIXED AND IT HAS NOT AS YET BEEN DETERMINED IF THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY RUINED. IF IT IS, THE TURBO CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WE ARE BEEING TOLD THAT THE WARRENTY ON THE NEW ENGINE WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE. THE CONCERN IS THE RUN AWAY ENGINE. SHOULD THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT ALWAYS SHUT OFF THE ENGINE? WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD BEEN IN GEAR AND THE TRUCK, PULLING A TRAILER, HAD BEEN RUNNING DOWN A CROUDED INTERSTATE? THE DEALERSHIP IS TREATING US FAIRLY ON THE TRADE IN BUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS I

MY 2003 F 350 W/6.0 DIESEL FORD IS VERY UNSAFE STALLING SOME TIME NO POWER. *JB

65 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE FAILURE (BLOW-OUT TREAD SEPARATION). 2003 FORD F350 DRW 4 WD PICK UP TOWING A 3 HORSE GOOSENECK HORSE TRAILER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THERE WAS A PRONOUNCED VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SHOCKS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED INSTALLING AN AFTER MARKET DAMPENING KIT TO CORRECT THE FRONT SUSPENSION VIBRATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

2003 FORD F350 CREW CAB TRUCK WITH 6.0 DIESEL POWERED ENGINE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CAUSE: FUSE #22 BLOWS AND THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A NINE MONTH PERIOD - LAST INCIDENT WAS ON DATE BELOW. TRUCK PURCHASED JUNE 30, 2003 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN RTE 37W IN TOMS RIVER NJ WHEN A LOUD "BOOM" OCCURRED IN MY ENGINE FOLLOWED BY A CONTINUOUS LOUD "TICKING" SOUND. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED (2003 FORD F-350) TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION. AFTER SPEAKING WITH LEAD TECHNICIANS AT FORD, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD MOTORS AND THEY ARE SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD DUE TO LACK OF THREADING WITHIN THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS WILL COST APPROX $4000.00 TO REPAIR THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY CANNOT ASSIST ME WITH THIS REPAIR AND DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORD MOTORS. I STARTED DOING MY OWN RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE VIA INTERNET AND HAVE COME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF CASES AND COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING WITH FORD ENGINES. THERE IS EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT IS IN THE WORKS OUT OF CALIFORNIA. SOME OF THE LINKS CONTAINING THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML HTTP://WWW.TWOGUYSGARAGE.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-7423.HTML HTTP://WWW.JASPERENGINES.COM/PDF/4.6_&_5.4_STRIPPED_THREADS.PDF THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THIS IS ALSO VERY COMMON AMONGST FORD TRUCK MOTORS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINKS I HAVE PROVIDED ABOVE OR EVEN DO A SEARCH ON SPARK PLUG PROBLEMS WITH FORD VEHICLES, YOU WILL SEE HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS BUT FORD FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE HESITATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK, THERE IS A VERY LOUD CLANKING, METAL TO METAL NOISE. THERE IS A METALLIC SOUND THAT OCCURS ALL THE TIME, BUT IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. ALL THREE DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.

WIRING HARNESS MELTED, HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER AT FIRST ATTEMPTED TO SAY IT WAS A LOOSE OIL CAP THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, THEN AFTER A WEEK FOR REPAIR SIMPLY SAID THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP OVER AT 4,000 MILES, BECAUSE THE HIGH PRESSURE OIL CAP FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT LOST ALL OF ITS OIL, NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE SHOP FOR INJECTORS, FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE TRUCK. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS A FAULTY PRODUCT, IT HAS LOST ALL OF ITS OIL ONCE, ITS PARTS WERE MELTED, WHICH SAYS TO ME UNSAFE. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION ON A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE. MY FATHER WAS DRIVING IT TO THE SHOP WHEN THE RADIO WAS GOING IN AND OUT, HE THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. WHILE IT MELTED THE HARNESS IT COULD HAVE MELTED MY FATHER. THE TRUCK NO LONGER RUNS AND SITS BECAUSE IT IS TO COSTLY TO REPAIR EVERY 10,000 MILES. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT MONTH I HAVE A STACK OF REPAIR ORDERS. *JB

DT: THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING FAILED BECAUSE OF THIS. THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WAS ON 7-1-05. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND THEY REPLACED A BLOWN FUSE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ABOUT 36 MILES AFTER HE PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD HIM THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2004 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS. ALSO, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED BECAUSE OF CHAFFING OR RUBBING OF THE WIRES. SO FAR THIS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE HAD TWO GENERAL - AMERITEC TIRES LOSE THE TREADS AND BLOW OUT IN THE LAST MONTH. ONE HAD 39500 THE OTHER HAD 40000. I HAVE A TRUCK (F-350) WITH DUAL WHEELS, BOTH WERE IN BACK. THE TIRES CAME WITH THE TRUCK AND WERE NOT OVERLY WORN.

DT: CONTACT STATESDTHE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE ,CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER YET. *AK

DT: CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON OCTOBER 22, 2004, AT THAT TIME HE SPOKE WITH FRANK BORIS AND STEVE CHAN. THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, AND STEERING/ BRAKES GO OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS TRANSPORTING A 11000 POUND BOAT, THE BRAKES ON THE TRAILER ACTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE FORD HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE LAST TIME NORRIS FORD WORKED ON IT, AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEY SAID IT NEEDED 8 NEW INJECTIONS ,AND WOULD COST $2500. CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED THIS LAST TIME,HE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY WON'T START, AND HASN'T STARTED SINCE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITHIN THE LAST 5,000 MILES.*AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND THEN LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE COUPLING THAT HELD THE TIE RODS HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. *JB

WHEN THE ACCELERATE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. IT WILL JERK INTO GEAR. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE ENGINE WANTED TO STALL WITH ACCELERATION WHEN RUNNING. REPAIRS, PCM REPROGRAMMING. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER PLUGGED THE FRONT VEHICLE HEATER IN AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. LATER, THE DOG STARTED TO BARK. CONSUMER LOOKED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

2003 FORD F-350 6.0L DIESEL. VEHICLE RAN ROUGH LOST POWER. 3 INJECTORS BAD THE FIRST TIME, 2 BAD INJECTORS TWO OTHER TIMES BEFORE ENGINE BLEW AT 41000 MILES. HAS HAD NUMERUS INJECTORS CHANGED, AND MANY OTHER EQUIPMENT FAILURES. WAS AT THE DEALER SHIP FOR OVER 5 WEEKS GETTING ENGINE REPLACED. WE JUST PREVIUSLY HAD THE TRUCK AT A DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 15 DAYS AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOS THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING OF LOSS OF POWER.*AK

TOOK TRUCK IN TO GET COMPUTER UPDATES (132000 MI). DEALER DISCOVERED 12 QUARTS OF FUEL IN CRANKCASE. HAD TO GET INJECTOR SEALS REPLACED ($1200). I KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IN AUGUST 2004 HAD TO HAVE FRONT END REBUILT EVEN THOUGH I HAD DONE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ($450)VEHICLE LOST POWER (12/20/04)(182000 MI). STOPPED TO CHECK FOR PROBLEM. ENGINE RESTARTED. I SHUT IT OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART. IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. THEY HAD 20 DIFFERENT CODES COME UP ON COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC. AS OF 12/28/04 IT STILL WILL NOT START AND DEALER STILL HAS NO IDEA WHY. MOST RECENT ESTIMATE FOR THIS REPAIR AT LEAST $1200 AN HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK SINCE BREAKDOWN. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 F-350 SRW 6.0L PSD FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING WHEN I STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 45MPH WHEN THE TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF AND DUE TO NO POWER STEERING I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALSO THE TEMP AT THE TIME WAS AROUND 20 DEGREES F. AFTER MANY ATTEMPS TO RESTART THE ENGINE I WAS HELPED TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT SAT FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND AFTER A FINAL ATTEMPT IT STARTED AS NORMAL AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE SINCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THINKING THAT IT MAY STALL AGAIN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A CRASH.*AK

SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THREAD SEPARATION WITH GENERAL TIRES. *AK

2003 F350 SUPER DUTY 6.0 DIESEL REPEATED INSTANCES OF FAILURE TO ACCELLERATE CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. WE'VE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE CONDITION WITH THE DEALER STARTING IN 2/04 AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT.*AK

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TREAD SEPARATION GENERAL TYRE OEM ON FORD F350. *JB

WHEN TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND A BUY BACK WAS OFFERED. COMPLAINT ALLEGED THAT PROBLEM DESCRIBED WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A ROLLOVER CRASH THAT OCCURRED ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE ON DECEMBER 26, 2003. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OCCURRED. *AK

CAR ACCIDENT, MY TRUCK'S BACK END STARTED TO SKID, I SIDE SWIPED THE JERSEY BARRIERS AND WENT BACK ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND WENT THROUGH THE GUARD RAILS. THE TRUCK WENT DOWN THE RAVINE AND FLIPPED OVER END OVER END LANDING ON ITS ROOF.

REAR BRAKES DID NOT APPLY SUFFICIENTLY. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS OVERLOADED, AND REFUSED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO EXAMINE IT. CONSUMER LOADED THE VEHICLE TO TEST IT HIMSELF, AND VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP LIKE IT SHOULD. FRONT ROTORS WARPED. *TC

7344 MILES, THERE IS A CLANK SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE PICKUP. IT HAPPENS ON OCCASION STILL. FREEDOM FORD WAS UNABLE TO DETECTN A PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS A FEW TIMES A MONTH JUST AFTER STARTING.*AK

VERY ROUGH IDLE. *AK

EXCESSIVE BLACK SMOKE AND LACK OF POWER ON ACCELERATION. FUEL ECONOMY IS WAY DOWN. I TOOK THE PICKUP TO SIERRA FORD IN BISHOP CA. THEY KEPT THE PICKUP FOR TWO DAYS AND DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PICKUP, IN FACT THEY HAD TO TAKE PARTS OFF A DIFFERENT PICKUP AND PUT THEM ON MINE FOR ME TO GET HOME TO FRESNO CA.I TOOK THE PICKUP TO FREEDOM FORD TO BE FIXED WHEN I GOT HOME . BOTH DEALERS SAID THE TURBO WAS BAD.*AK