2003 Ford F Super Duty

Routine

Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine9
021
Fuel System, Diesel3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
000
Wheels1
000
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior1
000
Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Power Train1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Equipment
Filed Feb 28, 2018AL

THOR MOTORCOACH. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO KIDDIE PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO AN UNKNOWN PERSON(S);THEREFORE, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE. *JS

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 18, 201770,000 milesVA

THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS AT STOPS. I'VE HAD SERVICE TECHNICIANS CHECK THE SYSTEMS, TWO MASTERCYLINDERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THAT DID'NT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE ABS VALVE IS THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT FAIL ON A HARD BRAKE.. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SAFE SITUATION AND AM WONDERING WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON IT

Engine
Filed Apr 30, 2017FL

MY TRUCK HAS 101K MILES ON IT AND IT JUST STARTED STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING( ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS), ALSO WHILE JUST IDLING IT STALLS(STATIONARY). I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD FOR THEM TO HOOK IT UP ON THEIR COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. AFTER HOURS THERE AND IT STALLING OUT AND NOT RESTARTING THEY COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND CHARGED ME $125. AS I WAS LEAVING THEY SAID CHANGE YOUR MAF SENSOR AND #8 COIL AND IT'LL BE FINE. SO, I DID JUST THAT IN THE PARKING LOT AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. IT STALLED OUT MANY TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. I THOUGHT BY TAKING IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP (THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS) I WOULD GET IT FIXED. AND MAKE MY TRUCK SAFE AGAIN. I WAS WRONG. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS. THANKS

Electrical System
Filed Jan 20, 2017SC

TRUCK STALLS AND OR MISFIRES WHEN INTERMITTENT WIPERS ARE ON WHEN SITTING IN STOPPED POSITION TRUCK WILL STALL AND WHEN IN MOTION IT WILL MISFIRE AND STUMBLE ONLY WHEN WIPERS ARE ON AND NOT ANY OTHER TIME

Wheels
Filed Sep 18, 2016148,000 milesNM

F-350 CREW CAB 4X4, DUALLY TRUCK WITH FORD FACTORY ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTING LEAKING AIR AND WHEN CHECKED, A CRACK BEGINNING AT THE VALVE STEM WAS PROPAGATING TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL AND CRACKS WERE ALSO DEVELOPING ALONG THE BASE OF THE SPOKES, CIRCUMSCRIBING SEVERAL SPOKES. TOOK THE LEFT SIDE FRONT WHEEL OFF AND OBSERVED THE SAME CIRCUMSCRIBING CRACKS DEVELOPING AT THE BASE OF THE SPOKES. POTENTIALLY SEPARATING THE WHEEL CENTER FROM THE TIRE. THE LEAKING TIRE/WHEEL HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE OTHER CRACKED WHEEL IS STILL ON THE TRUCK, ONLY HAVE ONE SPARE AVAILABLE.

Engine
Filed Apr 8, 2016120,000 milesTX

MY TRUCK HAS SPIT OUT TWO SPARK PLUGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THESE PLUGS HAD TO BE REPAIRED WITH A HELL-COIL AND THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX. IT COST ME $400 TO REPAIR BOTH. MY TRUCK HAS OVER 100,000 MILES AND SPIT OUT THE FIRST AT 120,000.

Engine1 injured
Filed Mar 19, 2016CA

SPARK PLUG SHOOT OUT OF ENGINE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY 4 THREADS TO SCREW INTO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS TRUCK TWO TIMES WHEN IT WAS YOUR WITH THE FACTORY PLUGS. AND NOW WITH OTHERS THAT WERE THAT WERE DO TO SPECS BY FORD. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE THAT STICK THEIR HAND IT THERE WHEN THEY SEE A FLOPPY COIL AND DON'T KNOW THEY CAN BE SHOCKED. PLEASE DO SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS TO ME WHEN DRIVING, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE AND THEN IT STARTS RUNNING DIFFERENT ANSWERS SOUNDS LIKE A LAWNMOWER WITHOUT A MUFFLER. IT IS SCARY AND CAUSED ME A PANIC ATTACK AS I HAD TO FIND MY WAY OFF THE HIGHWAY WONDERING IF IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE. IT NOR FIXED BECAUSE IT COST TO MUCH AND MY HAND IT TWITCHY FROM THE SHOCK IT GAVE ME.

Power Train
Filed Aug 23, 2015320,000 milesWA

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK, IT HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER IN 02/2005. THERE IS NO FRONT END ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK. WHEEL HUB BEARINGS FAILURES, FRONT AXLE, TRUCK HAD OVER 200,000 MILES BEFORE THE FIRST WHEEL HUB BEARING FAILURE, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 7 WHEEL HUBS BEARING FAILURES ON MY (2003 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY XL 4X4 7.3 POWER STROKE DIESEL), THE TRUCK ONLY HAS ROAD MILES AND I DO NOT TAKE IT 4 WHEELING. IT IS MY WORK AND EVERY DAY DRIVING TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 320,000 MILES ON IT NOW.( I LOVE THIS TRUCK) THE LAST SET OF WHEEL HUBS WAS INSTALLED ON MY TRUCK 04/01/2015 AND I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN, SAD DAY FOR ME. 08/22/2015. THEY ONLY HAD 5,000 MILES ON THEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE FLAW IN THE HUBS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BUT MORE OVER YOU SHOULD GET MORE THAN 5,000 MILES OUT OF THESE PARTS.

Engine
Filed Aug 15, 2015115,000 milesCA

I HAVE A 2003 F350 SUPERDUTY TRUCK. IT HAS A TRITON V10 ENGINE. THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPEND 2 YEARS AGO ALSO. FORUNATELY I WAS ON SURFACE STREETS AND WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN FATAL.

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Dec 6, 201498,623 milesCA

FUEL INJECTORS PLUGGED RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE YEARS. NOW IT APPEARS TO BE DELAMINATING FUEL TANK LINER. APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. FORD WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

EngineFire
Filed Sep 9, 201496,000 milesNM

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ALUMINUM HEAD CAUSING UNBURNED FUEL TO IGNITE FROM COIL IGNITION. *TR

Engine
Filed Sep 1, 201496,000 milesNM

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL LOSING POWER STEERING. STEERED INTO THE MOUNTAIN SIDE TO PREVENT HEAD ON COLLISION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ENGINE FIRES DUE TO PLUG BLOWING OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD AND FUEL NOT PROPERLY BURNING. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 28, 2014222,820 milesVA

THE PROBLEM: 6.0L HEAD BOLTS. PROBABLY THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AND PROBLEMATIC IS THE ISSUE WITH THE FACTORY HEAD BOLTS. ESSENTIALLY, THE BOLTS STRETCH, WHICH RESULTS IN A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IS WHY THERE IS A LAWSUITE PENDING DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS WITH THIS 6.0L ENGINE. THE PROBLEM: EGR COOLER THE 6.0L DIESEL HAS A BAD REPUTATION FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND STICKING EGR (EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION) VALVE. WHILE STRETCHING HEAD BOLTS ARE PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THE HEAD GASKET ISSUE, PROGRAMMERS THAT TURN UP THE POWER IN YOUR 6.0L TRUCK ARE GUILTY CULPRITS AS WELL. SIMPLY PUT, THE STOCK EGR COOLER CANNOT KEEP UP WITH FILTERING A MODIFIED 6.0L. A FAILING EGR COOLER CAN CAUSE YOUR TRUCK TO OVERHEAT, RUN POORLY, AND ADD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE PROBLEM: VACUUM LEAK ALTHOUGH THE SUPER DUTY USES UNIT BEARINGS UP FRONT FROM THE FACTORY, THE TRUCKS ARE STILL EQUIPPED WITH SELECTABLE HUBS. MANY OF THE EARLY TRUCKS WERE EQUIPPED WITH FORD-SPECIFIC HUBS WHICH HAD AN AUTO AND ON SETTING ONLY. THESE HUBS WERE VACUUM-ASSISTED AND KNOWN TO BE PROBLEMATIC. A LEAKING OR DRY-ROTTED VACUUM LINE IS NOT UNCOMMON TO FIND, NOR IS A DAMAGED HUB ACTUATOR. PICTURED HERE IS A QUICK TRAIL FIX THAT USES A STICK TO PLUG A VACUUM LINE THAT WAS LEAKING AND NO LONGER NEEDED BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS OUTFITTED WITH AFTERMARKET HUBS. THE PROBLEM: FRONT UNIT BEARINGS BIG TIRES AND UNIT BEARINGS DON'T ALWAYS MIX WELL. EVEN IN THE FACTORY CONFIGURATION, THE NON-SERVICEA

Engine
Filed Aug 9, 2014146,000 milesKY

WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 50MPH WITH NO LOAD AND HEARD LOAD POP UNDER HEAD AND THEN A CONSTANT BLOWING NOISE. PULLED OVER AND FOUND THAT THE THIRD SPARK PLUG ON PASSENGERS SIDE HAD BLOWN OUT AND WAS LAYING ON TOP OF MOTOR ALONG WITH COIL PACK HAD BROKE OFF. HAD TO USE A KIT TO TAP OUT HOLE AND INSTALL INSERT. PROBABLY WILL BE MORE PROBLEMS IN FUTURE BUT WE WILL SEE. JUST DON'T SEEM SAFE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WITH THE FIRE THREAT THAT COULD CAUSE. AS A LOCAL FIRE CHIEF I HAVE SCENE HOW FAST A VEHICLE FIRE CAN SPREAD. *TR

EngineFire
Filed Nov 28, 201366,000 milesNJ

OIL FROM LEAKING HEAD GASKET ,PASSENGER SIDE,DRIPPING ON TO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM .OIL COLLECTS IN BRUSH SHIELD ON EXHAUST Y-CONNECTION. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 10, 201289,750 milesNH

NOTICED GAS TANK SAGGING - INSPECTION FOUND REAR STRAP CORRODED AND BROKEN. RESEARCH FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON SEVERAL BRANDS OF FORD CARS AND F150 TRUCKS (1999-2003 MODELS) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT THE F250 IS NOT COVERED. IF THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCUR ON A DIFFERENT MODEL (E.G. F250) YOU WOULD THINK THE RECALL SHOULD APPLY. *TR

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Jan 11, 201253,152 milesCA

VEHICLE HAS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL TANK LINING COMING OFF AND CLOGGING THE PICK- UP SCREEN. THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED ON 05-22-06. THE TRUCK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND FORD REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE NEW TANK WOULD NOT COME APART BECAUSE IT HAD A NEW DESIGN. TODAY MY TRUCK HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON THE FREEWAY GOING UP A STEEP GRADE AND I ALMOST CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE TRUCK HOME I PULLED THE SENDING UNIT FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK SO I COULD LOOK INSIDE. THE LINING ON THE TANK WAS FLOATING IN THE DIESEL FUEL. FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE TRUCKS BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 22, 2011149,142 milesMT

WE HAVE HAD 4 SPARK PLUGS BLOW ON THE MOTOR IN 4 YEARS AND TWICE JUST THIS YEARS OF 2011. LEAVING US STRANDED TWICE, ONCE 1/2 MILE FROM HOME SO WE DROVE HOME, AND ONCE IN WYOMING(1,101 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, AT 46 BELOW ZERO SO WE HAD TO UNPLUG THE FUEL INJECTOR SO WE COULD GET TO HELP ON X-MAS DAY AFTER WE HAD DRIVING TO MY DADS FUNERAL ALREADY FOR 14 HOURS TRYING TO GET THERE, WE STILL HAD 9 MORE TO GO AND IT WAS 5:30 A.M. BUT NOW WE COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR FOR FEAR OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN. SNOW STORM AND HOLIDAY NOTHING OPEN..... SOMETIMES YOU HAVE NO CHOICE OF WHAT IS SAFE AND WHAT IS THE SMART THING TO DO, WE HAD TO KEEP MOVING DO TO THE SNOW STORM AND THE COLD. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE SPARK PLUGS..... IF THIS IS SUCH A DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN ON A FORD VEHICLE WHY IS IT NOT BEEN RECALLED AT ALL??????????????? I AM SO DISGUSTED WITH FORD NOW BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPEN AGAIN TODAY BUT IT WAS FINALLY HERE CLOSE TO HOME AND WE WERE NOT LEFT 110-1,000 MILES FROM HOME FOR ONCE.........BUT NOW WE ARE LEFT WITH EITHER ANOTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND POSSIBLY UNFIXABLE, (THIS MAY BE A REBLOW AND IF IT IS NON FIXABLE) OR OUT A TRACK AND IN OUR BUSINESS, AND WHERE WE LIVE WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. THIS ONE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW , PAID OFF 2 YEARS EARLY, FULLY INSURED, MAINTENANCE DONE FAITHFULLY AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET. *TR

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Aug 13, 2010109,720 milesFL

2003 F350 PU TRUCK 06 DIESEL ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON STARTING THE TRUCK AND THE IDLE SPEED WAS AT 600RPM THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK ACCELERATED TO 1100RPM. I HAD PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE JUST AS THE JUMP IN IDLE SPEED AND THE TRUCK LUNGED FORWARD. THE IDLE SPEED WENT BACK TO NORMAL. AS WE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE IDLE SPEED JUMPED AGAIN CAUSING THE TRUCK TO RUN ALMOST INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAD I NOT HAD THE BREAK ON, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WOULD LAST UNTIL THE MOTOR WORMED. EACH TIME, WEATHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE IDLE WOULD JUMP AND THE TRUCK WOULD LEAP, WITHOUT WARNING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY HAD REPLACED A LOT OF THE 3C3Z 9F838 INJECTOR SENSORS AND THE 37130 PIGTAIL HARNESS. THE SENSOR LEAKS OIL INTO THE CONNECTOR AND CAUSES THE CONNECTOR TO SHORT. THEY REPLACED THE ICP SENSOR AND CONNECTOR AND THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE SYSTEM CODES SCAN SHOWED P0603 AND P2285 AS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM KNOWN TO FORD FOR YEARS AND THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED IT. I CHECKED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND HOW TO CORRECT IT. I ALSO FOUND THAT FORD CHANGED THE PLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR WHEN THEY FOUND THE DESIGN FLAW, BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT ON THE EXISTING VEHICLES. I GUESS SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FRO FORD TO ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRUCKS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire1 injured
Filed Jan 8, 2009TX

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 FORD F250 P-UP W/ 5.4L ENGINE, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND SUDDENLY MY TRUCK WILL HARDLY GO AND IT CATCHES FIRE. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS A SPARK PLUG THAT BLEW OUT, WHICH I HAD NEVER CHANGED. FORD SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT, AND OTHER PEOPLE WANT $2000 TO FIX IT. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINE. I HAVE 5 KIDS AND NOW ONLY 1 VEHICLE, CAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE $2000 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT FORD CREATED. *TR

20 of 27 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200831000Routine
200527000Routine
200414000Routine
2003 — this page27030Routine
200234010Routine
200132100Routine
200063300Routine
199993321Fatalities reported
199814000Routine
199724310Routine
19968210Routine
199512130Routine
199420210Routine
19933300Routine
19928200Routine
19911200Routine
19901100Routine

Compare every F Super Duty 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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.