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

2003 Ford F-550 SD

Typical pattern

2.5% of complaints about the 2003 Ford F-550 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 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is fuel system, diesel (15 complaints), typically at 7.1 yr or about 60,506 miles.

Complaints
40
Median age at failure
6.3 yr
Median mileage
61,000 n=38
Crash / fire / tow
20% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Fuel system, diesel
15 reports · 60,506 mi
7.1 yr
0%

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.

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.

04V327000 2004-07-07
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Fuel system, diesel 60,000 mi 2.6 yr in service
2003 F550 4X4 60,000 MILES, FUEL TANK HAS 4 STRESS CRACKS, LEAKS OVER 2 GALLONS DIESEL FUEL DAILY. FAULT CAUSED BY MANUFACTURING DEFECT, FORD STATES NO RECALL. TANK WAS SOLDERED, WOULD NOT HOLD, REPLACED WITH NEW TANK. DEFECTIVE TANK AVAILABLE. *AK
Fuel system, diesel 128 mi 3.3 yr in service
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65-70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STOPPED. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND EACH DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 17 TIMES. HOWEVER, AFTER EACH REPLACEMENT THE PROBLEM RETURNS AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. *NM
Fuel system, diesel 125,000 mi 6.2 yr in service
2004 FORD SUPER DUTY W 6.0 LITER DIESEL. FUEL TANK INTERNAL COATING IF FLAKING OFF. ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. MOST OF TANK HAS PEELED OFF WHICH PLUGS UP FUEL STRAINER IN TANK. TRUCK WAS TOWED AND THIS WASHED THE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL FROM THE FUEL STRAINER. NO CODES WERE DETECTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BEFORE WE CAUGHT IT. TANK AND INTERNAL PUMP WERE REPLACED AT ABOUT 120,000 MILES AT MY COST. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS. VEHICLE WILL LOOSE POWER IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Other F-550 SD model years

200620052004200320001999

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