The Used Car Index

2003 Ford F-250 problems

NHTSA lists 116 complaints for the 2003 Ford F-250, 6 of them mention a crash and 8 mention a fire. 4 complaints mention an injury, with 4 injuries and 1 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD F-250.

At a glance

Complaints
116
With crash
6
With fire
8
With injury (complaints)
4
Injuries
4
Deaths
1
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
83,687
Investigations
2
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
44

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The required sales year is missing.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2420.7%
TIRES2017.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1311.2%
ENGINE1311.2%
POWER TRAIN1210.3%
STEERING119.5%
SERVICE BRAKES86.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL86.9%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC76.0%
SUSPENSION65.2%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM6
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
TIRESTREAD/BELT5
STRUCTUREBODY4
STEERINGLINKAGES3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRUISE CONTROL3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINESTORAGE2
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS2

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

11V352000

Date: 2011-07-13. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

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 REQUIREME (excerpt)

Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V327000

Date: 2004-07-07. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

2 investigations; 0 open.

DP05005

Opened: 2005-09-22. Closed: 2006-01-04.

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CY

Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE04070

Opened: 2004-10-07. Closed: 2005-02-15.

ENGINE STALLING

TWENTY FIVE OF THE ODI FAILURE REPORTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD COMPLAINTS.TWENTY ODI REPORTS DO NOT CONTAIN A VIN (AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD REPORTS).THE 14 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 2 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE ALL MINOR.SUBMITTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-070, FORD'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER CONTAINED ABOUT 5,000 CONSUMER REPORTS (MORS) AND 8,700 FIELD R

Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

44 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
POWER TRAIN8
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER2
STRUCTURE2
AIR BAGS1
EQUIPMENT1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1

10012958

Date: 2005-02-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

LACK OF POWER, SURGE, AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P2263 OR P0299. *TT

10012965

Date: 2005-02-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

SERVICE TIPS BEFORE ARC WELDING ON THE FRAME OR BODY OF A UNIT. *TT

10013316

Date: 2005-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

A COLD WEATHER REVERSE ENGAGEMENT STALL. *TT

10008201

Date: 2004-12-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

WARNING INDICATORS-PARKING AID-REVERSE SENSING SYSTEM (RSS) AND FORWARD SENSING SYSTEM (FSS)-FALSE ACTIVATION OF WARNING TONE-SERVICE TIPS. *MJ UPDATE. *TT

10014083

Date: 2004-12-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

MEMONTARY RETURN TO IDLE DURING AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0123. *TT

10014086

Date: 2004-12-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

10013413

Date: 2004-11-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.

VEHICLE LEAN SAG WHEN OBSERVED FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *EH

10013369

Date: 2004-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

10010731

Date: 2004-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.

MULTIPLE VEHICLES - FUEL LEVEL INDICATION CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, EXPLORER, MOUNTAINEER AND AVIATOR. *TT

10010734

Date: 2004-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

VACUUM PUMP INOPERATIVE OR RUNS CONTINUOUSLY - CLIMATE CONTROL DEFAULTS TO DEFROST. OASIS. TO ALSO INCLUDE 2005 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES, EXCURSION, AND F650/750. *TT

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
F-250116

Same model, other years

All model years | All Ford models

Other Ford models, 2003

Sources

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