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

2003 Ford F-350 SD

Typical pattern

16.1% of complaints about the 2003 Ford F-350 SD came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine cooling (51 complaints), typically at 2.3 yr or about 28,330 miles.

Complaints
161
Median age at failure
3.8 yr
Median mileage
45,000 n=135
Crash / fire / tow
6.2% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine cooling
51 reports · 28,330 mi
2.3 yr
2%
Fuel system, diesel
16 reports · 82,217 mi
6.4 yr
0%
Electrical system
15 reports · 75,000 mi
3.4 yr
13.3%

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.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 6 mo in service
I HAD A BRAND NEW 6.0 POWERSTROKE SUPERCHARGER BLOW UP ON ME AND IT ONLY HAD 244 MILES ON IT. SO THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A NEW TRUCK. THEN THE NEW TRUCK HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT 8,000 MILES AND IT WAS THE SUPERCHARGER TO BUT IT ALSO BURNT AN INJECTOR OUT AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND FORD WAS NOT GOING TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD AN AFTER MARKET PART ON IT, EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE FIRST TRUCK ,BUT FIRST TRUCK DID NOT HAVE THE AFTERMARKET PART ON IT . SO I SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR IT. *NLM
Engine cooling 3,500 mi 6 mo in service
VEHICLE LOST POWER (AND NEVER RETURNED) WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 20 MILES OF DRIVING UNDER THE LOST POWER CONDITION. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. THIS HAPPENED AT ONLY 3500 MILES. I WISH FORD WOULD TEST THEIR VEHICLES INSTEAD OF HAVING THE CONSUMER TEST THEM FOR THEM ON THE HIGHWAYS. *NLM
Engine cooling mileage not reported 7 mo in service
CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY LOOSE THE BRAKE. NO POWER STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Electrical system 75,000 mi 2.2 yr in service crash / fire / tow
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

Other F-350 SD model years

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