2003 Ford F-450 SD

Defect. FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Risk. NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Defect. FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Risk. A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy. FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

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.

Defect. CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

Risk. IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Risk. OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)

Defect. ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES, THE ENGINE GROUND STUD THAT ATTACHES THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL EYELET TO THE ENGINE BLOCK MAY BE LOOSE.

Risk. IF THE GROUND WIRE IS LOOSE, ELECTRICAL CURRENT MAY FLOW TO THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP CAUSING IT TO HEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT OR IGNITE ADJACENT COMPONENTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE GROUND STUD AND THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER, EVENTUALLY NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO STAY RUNNING. THE MECHANIC UPON REVIEW FOUND THE TANK LINER HAD DELAMINATED FROM INSIDE FUEL TANK AND HAD PLUGGED UP FUEL SENDER. BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $2800, FORD DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *TR

THE EGR, FICM, AND INJECTORS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE CAUSED TRAFFIC HAZARDS. WE CAN NOT PULL OUT WITHOUT THE ENGINE SPITTING AND SPUTTERING. WE HAVE REPLACE ALL OF THE ABOVE, SOME MORE THAN ONCE. LAST TIME IN TO THE FORD DEALER THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE USE A THINNER OIL TO LUBRICATE THE INJECTORS BETTER. THIS ALSO DOESN'T WORK. WE HAVE READ MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DIESEL ENGINES SO WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST OURS. WE PAID $8,000.00 TO REPAIR AND NOTHING IS BETTER. FORD REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP THOSE OF US THAT ARE STUCK WITH THESE TRUCKS. THE DATES OF INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN ONGOING. *TR

TRUCK HAS NO POWER WHEN FIRST STARTING AND THE FRONT END SHIMMIES SOMETHING TERRIBLE. HARD TO CONTROL. *TR

THE COATING ON THE INTERIOR OF FORD DIESEL FUEL TANKS CORRODES AND COLLECTS AS SEDIMENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE SEDIMENT, COLLECTS AT THE BOTTON OF THE FUEL TANK AND IS SUCKED INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL LINES BECOME FOULED, THE FUEL PUMPS BECOME CLOGGED AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. AS THE COATING CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE, THE ONLY RECOURSE IT TO CHANGE THE FUEL TANK, THE SENSORS, AND ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD 3 FORD VEHICLES F SERIES EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. THE AVERAGE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $2180 PER VEHICLE. WE ARE REPORTING THIS AS IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN ALL THE FORD DIESEL FUEL SYSTEMS. AS THE FUEL SYSTEMS BECOME CLOGGED, THE VEHICLES LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE AND DRIVING HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR BUT OTHER MOTORISTS.

THE LINING OF THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN FLAKING OFF INTO MY FUEL LINES, WHICH IS RESTRICTING MY FUEL FILTERS. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUEL, 2 FUEL INJECTORS WENT BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AND THE TURBO WAS OVER COMPENSATING FOR THE LACK OF POWER, DUE TO FUEL SHORTAGE, SO THE TURBO HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. NOW THAT WE HAVE FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP HAS TO BE REPLACED AS TOO. INTO THIS FOR $5000 ALREADY WITHOUT REPLACING THE TANK AND PUMP. NEED SOME HELP. *TR

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL WITH LOTS OF TURNS. THE TRUCK STALLED (SHUT OFF) ALL OF THE SUDDEN RIGHT BEFORE A TURN. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD AND RESTART THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL. TOOK TRUCK STRAIGHT TO HANSEL FORD ASKED THEM TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. THEY CHECKED THE COMPUTER IN THE TRUCK, AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL ME. *TR

THE LINING OF THE DIESEL FUEL TANK FLAKED OFF WHICH CLOGGED THE FUEL FILTERS, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F450 SUPER DUTY. THE VEHICLE HAS DOUBLE COIN RADIAL TIRES, SIZE 225/70/19.5 (NA). THE TIRES WERE SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE MECHANIC AND TREAD SEPARATION WAS DISCOVERED IN SIX TIRES. THERE WERE FIVE TIRES WITH THE SAME DOT NUMBER. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,773 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,343. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ THE TIRES WERE PRORATED. UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F450 SUPER DUTY. THE VEHICLE HAS DOUBLE COIN RADIAL TIRES, SIZE 225/70/19.5 (NA). THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO ODI NUMBER 10239016 REGARDING THE OTHER FIVE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE MECHANIC AND TREAD SEPARATION WAS DISCOVERED IN SIX TIRES. THERE WAS ONE TIRE WITH A DIFFERENT DOT NUMBER. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,773 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,343. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: TRUCK WAS PURCHASED ON 12-19-03 1.) ON 1-19-04 TRUCK HAD NO POWER, DEALER FOUND 2,3 INJECTOR SHORTED, DEALER REPLACED INJECTORS AND CHECKED BORE IN CYL HEAD PER HOTLINE. 2.)1-21-04 ENGINE WAS MISSING IN FIRE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH INJECTORS PER HOTLINE. O-RINGS BLOWN APART AND INJECTOR WONT SEAT, HOTLINE SUGGEST LOOKING AT BORE AND FOUND BURR IN BORE NOT ALLOWING INJECTOR TO SEAT . 3.) 2-23-04 ENGINE LOCKED UP ON HWY, FUEL COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. DEALER FOUND EXCESSIVE FUEL IN CYLINDERS AND TURBO, DEALER REMOVED ENGINE AND DISASSEMBLED. NO. 3 INJECTOR DAMAGED AND COPPER WASHER IN PIECES O-RING BLOWN APART. DEALER CHECKED DECK HEIGHT, REMOVED RODS AND PISTONS TO CHECK FOR BEING BENT, DEALER REPLACED NO. 3 PISTON AND ROD AND TURBO BEARINGS, WASHED OUT AND TESTED. 4.)10-26-04 STEERING FEELS FUNNY WHEN DRIVING DOWN HWY. DEALER INSPECTING STEERING AND STEERING STABILIZER LEAKING FLUID. DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED STABILIZER SHOCK. 5.)2-03-05 STEERING WHEEL BINDS UP WHILE TURNING. DEALER CHECKED AND VERIFIED CONDITION FLOW , PITMAN ARM SEIZED FLUSH SYSTEM METAL IN FLUID. 6.) 7-19-05 ENGINE HARD TO START. WHISTLE NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN RPMS REV HIGH. DEALER PERFORM COMPLETE ENGINE DIAG. REMOVED TURBO AND REPLACED EBP SENSOR PER SSM AND VERIFIED REPAIR. 7.)11-02-05 ENGINE HARD TO START, MUST PLUG BLOCK HEATER IN TO START. DEALER CHECKED AND CYL. 5 MISSED. DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED NO.5 INJECTOR,TURBO CHARGER. DEALER FOUND OIL CONTAMINATED DUE TO INJE

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE HARDER THE BRAKE IS PRESSED THE HARDER IT IS TO TURN THE WHEEL UNTIL THE STEERING IS LOCKED UP. EVENTUALLY THE STEERING GEAR STARTED LEAKING, LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING GEAR. THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE SITTING ON THE SCENE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WITH ENGINE IDLING, THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND THEM WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START(LOCKED UP)

THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF OIL BETWEEN THE BLOCK WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT MOTOR, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, BOTH REAR WHEEL LUGS NUTS CAME OFF THE TIRES, CAUSING THE TIRES TO DETACH FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH THE ATTACK SETUP. MR THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP IN A SAFE WAY. AND THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS TOWING. SCC. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. TWO TIRES WERE ALSO RUINED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *NLM