Model year record

2003 Ford F-350 recalls & problems

The 2003 Ford F-350 has 3 safety recalls and 90 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (19 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints90filed by owners

Crashes · fires11 · 8reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths7 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingJul 13, 2011

Brake lights

Recall 11V35200026,715 vehicles

Problem: 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 DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
Risk: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.

Components: Exterior lighting › Brake lights; Exterior lighting › Tail lights

EquipmentAug 28, 2007

Electrical

Recall 07E066000175 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
Risk: IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
Fix: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.

Electrical systemJul 7, 2004

12v/24v/48v battery

Recall 04V32700083,687 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Diesel; Engine	19	0	1	0	15,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	13	2	0	2	25,000 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Ignition	11	0	5	1	16,000 mi
TiresTread/belt	7	0	0	0	63,800 mi
Engine	7	0	0	0	130,000 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Pump; Column	6	2	0	0	36,620 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	6	1	0	0	8,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system; Fuel injection system › Injectors	4	0	0	0	17,250 mi
Air bagsFrontal	4	4	0	3	74,500 mi
Unknown or other	4	1	0	2	95,000 mi
Power trainDriveline › Differential unit	4	0	0	0	47,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel	3	0	1	0	97,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
When the 03 Ford F350 dually, is placed in Park, it will just roll away!
Jul 24, 2026
Electrical system1 injury
I was under the truck working on it and the truck was on I had the emergency brake on and the truck went into reverse and ran me over
Jun 29, 2026
Electrical system
The wires for the camshaft position sensor are failing just like they have in others models of the f series and cause the truck to suddenly die while driving. There was already a recall in place but it doesn't cover this vin and so I would like to request the recall be extended to this trucks vin
Sep 16, 2021
Service brakes
AS I AM SURE YOU MUST BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE: I PURCHASED USED A 2003 FORD -F350. I HAD MANY ISSUES AND HAD WORKED MOST OF THEM OUT. THERE WERE MANY ISSUES THAT WERE POSSIBLE I WAS CLEARLY UNAWARE OF. ONE BEING OF UTMOST SAFETY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. MY HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 FORD F-350 6.0 DIESEL FAILED. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE ENGINE STOPS. THE HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP PROVIDES NEEDED PRESSURE TO THE INJECTORS IN ORDER TO HAVE A RUNNING ENGINE. BEING PARKED AND THE HPOP FAILING IS ONE THING HOWEVER DRIVING 55MPH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AGAINST ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A TURN IS A VERY BAD SITUATION. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I AM STILL VERY STRONG AT THE AGE OF 54. MY…
Jun 10, 2018 · 110,000 miles
Engine
JUST DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 41 AND IT JUST STOPPED. ENGINE WENT DEAD. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TRIED STARTING AGAIN AND IT WOULDNT START. HAD TO GET IT TOWED. ITS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 20 DAYS. NEEDS A NEW FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE INNER LINING IS PEELING AND PARTICLES ARE GOING THROUGH ENGINE! NEED HELP I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 2015 AND ITS BEEN IN SHOP 7 DIFFERENT TIMES.
Oct 30, 2019 · 160,000 miles
Exterior lighting
MY DOME AND RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS ON MY 2003 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY, 4 DOOR TRUCK, STAY ON WHEN I AM DRIVING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND LOCKED. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, THE DASH VEHICLE LIGHT IS RED SHOWING THAT ALL 4 DOORS ARE OPEN. ICAN BE PARKED OR MOVING, THE LIGHTS STAY ON. BOTH MY BATTERIES DRAIN. SO I HAV TO CARRY JUMPER CABLES.
Jun 15, 2018 · 123,000 miles
Tires
I AM INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A TIRES MADE IN 2014. I BOUGHT A SET OF FOUR LT 265/75-16 LRE FOR MY F350 ON 31 MAY, 2014. THEY CAME WITH A 6 YEAR/50K MILE WARRANTY. I HAD TIRES ROTATED PER WARRANTY. ON 11 APRIL, 2019, I EXPERIENCED A DRIVERS REAR TIRE FAILURE ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE (WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET @ 77MPH) CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID "ROAD HAZARD" NOT COVERED. CONTACTED BFG WHO REQUESTED TIRE REMAINS BE SENT FOR ANALYSIS (TO PROVE ROAD HAZARD). ON 10 MAY DEPARTED FROM HOME TO GO TO VIRGINIA. 150 MILES UP I75 HAD TIRE VIBRATION AGAIN. PULLED OVER IN TIFTON, GA AND CHECKED TIRE TIME WITH IR GUN. ALL TIRES RUNNING BETWEEN 95-108 F.…
Apr 11, 2019 · 63,800 miles
Unknown or other
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE SOCKET
Oct 3, 2017 · 250,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADClosed
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 CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY…
DP05005 · opened Sep 22, 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
ENGINE STALLINGClosed
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 REPORTS (CQIS).FORD REVIEWED THE COMPLAINTS AND CATEGORIZED THEM.THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS SHOWN ABOVE REPRESENT A COUNT OF UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT FORD CATEGORIZED AS ALLEGEDLY STALLING DUE TO A SUBJECT ENGINE COMPONENT ('A' CATEGORY, SEE FORD'S IR RESPONSE LETTER FOR FURTHER DETAIL); SOME OF THESE VEHICLES RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS.ODI HAS NOT YET CONFIRMED FORD'S CATEGORIZATION OF THESE REPORTS, NOR HAS ODI CONFIRMED FORD'S CATEGORIZATION OF THE REMAINING REPORTS (WHICH FORD STATES DO NOT PERTAIN…
PE04070 · opened Oct 7, 2004 · closed Feb 15, 2005