What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Ford F-250 SD

No clear pattern

19.7% of complaints about the 2003 Ford F-250 SD arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2003 vehicle, but with only 223 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is engine cooling (76 complaints), typically at 3.0 yr or about 59,885 miles.

Complaints
223
Median age at failure
3.6 yr
Median mileage
47,000 n=200
Crash / fire / tow
9.9% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine cooling
76 reports · 59,885 mi
3.0 yr
3.9%
Power train
19 reports · 50,000 mi
2.9 yr
5.3%
Tires
19 reports · 54,000 mi
5.9 yr
0%
Steering
16 reports · 45,000 mi
3.8 yr
6.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

11V352000 2011-07-13
Exterior lighting:tail lights

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 DE

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

09V399000 2009-10-13
Speed control

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.

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

07E106000 2007-12-17
Wheels:hub

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07V553000 2007-12-05
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel

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.

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

07V078000 2007-03-06
Speed control

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

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

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Steering 4,000 mi 1.1 yr in service
ON GOING PROBLEMS WILL STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN'T PULL ACROSS INTERSECTION LOSS OF POWER TRANS WILL SHIFT OR NOT STEERING ALL OVER ROAD SMOKES BADDLY WHEN STARTED
Steering 5 mi 5 mo in service
THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE POWER STEERING WOULD RETURN AFTER LETTING OFF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER CHANGED VARIOUS PARTS AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE HYDRO BOOST WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND THE ENGINE HAD AN OIL LEAK DUE TO THE GLOW PLUG BOSS BAR ORINGS. *SC *JB
Steering mileage not reported 2.5 yr in service
2003 F-250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 GAS. 46,000 MILES. FOUND 2 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE. WHILE INVESTIGATING EXHAUST LEAK ALSO FOUND 2 FRONT BALL JOINTS BAD. FORD STATES THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN 3 YEARS AGO. MOST OF THE MILES ARE TRAVELING BETWEEN TEXAS AND PA. THIS IS A 3/4 TON SUPER DUTY TRUCK. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *AK
Power train mileage not reported 7 mo in service
MY 2003 F250 FORD WILL MOVE FORWARD WHEN YOU START THE ENGINE AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK. IT DOES NOT DO THIS EVERY TIME BUT IT HAS DONE IT AROUND TEN TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. THE TRUCK WILL MOVE FORWARD , SOMETIMES ABOUT FOUR TO SIX INCHES. THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING WHEN IT WILL DO THIS. I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID FORD TOLD THEM THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Other F-250 SD model years

20222021202020192018201720162015201220112008200720062005200420032002200120001999

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