Model year record
2003 Ford F-Super Duty recalls & problems
The 2003 Ford F-Super Duty has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 27 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine (9 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Ford F-Super Duty.
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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 115,000 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Diesel; Engine | 4 | — |
| Fuel system, diesel | 3 | 98,623 mi |
| SteeringGear box (other than rack and pinion) | 2 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 2 | — |
| Suspension | 2 | — |
| Electrical systemWiring | 2 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | — |
| Wheels | 2 | — |
| VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, otherStorage › Fuel gauge system | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Equipment
THOR MOTORCOACH. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO KIDDIE PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO AN UNKNOWN PERSON(S);THEREFORE, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE. *JS
- Service brakes
THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS AT STOPS. I'VE HAD SERVICE TECHNICIANS CHECK THE SYSTEMS, TWO MASTERCYLINDERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THAT DID'NT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE ABS VALVE IS THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT FAIL ON A HARD BRAKE.. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SAFE SITUATION AND AM WONDERING WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON IT
- Engine
MY TRUCK HAS 101K MILES ON IT AND IT JUST STARTED STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING( ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS), ALSO WHILE JUST IDLING IT STALLS(STATIONARY). I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD FOR THEM TO HOOK IT UP ON THEIR COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. AFTER HOURS THERE AND IT STALLING OUT AND NOT RESTARTING THEY COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND CHARGED ME $125. AS I WAS LEAVING THEY SAID CHANGE YOUR MAF SENSOR AND #8 COIL AND IT'LL BE FINE. SO, I DID JUST THAT IN THE PARKING LOT AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. IT STALLED OUT MANY TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. I THOUGHT BY TAKING IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP (THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS) I WOULD GET IT FIXED. AND MAKE MY…
- Electrical system
TRUCK STALLS AND OR MISFIRES WHEN INTERMITTENT WIPERS ARE ON WHEN SITTING IN STOPPED POSITION TRUCK WILL STALL AND WHEN IN MOTION IT WILL MISFIRE AND STUMBLE ONLY WHEN WIPERS ARE ON AND NOT ANY OTHER TIME
- Wheels
F-350 CREW CAB 4X4, DUALLY TRUCK WITH FORD FACTORY ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTING LEAKING AIR AND WHEN CHECKED, A CRACK BEGINNING AT THE VALVE STEM WAS PROPAGATING TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL AND CRACKS WERE ALSO DEVELOPING ALONG THE BASE OF THE SPOKES, CIRCUMSCRIBING SEVERAL SPOKES. TOOK THE LEFT SIDE FRONT WHEEL OFF AND OBSERVED THE SAME CIRCUMSCRIBING CRACKS DEVELOPING AT THE BASE OF THE SPOKES. POTENTIALLY SEPARATING THE WHEEL CENTER FROM THE TIRE. THE LEAKING TIRE/WHEEL HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE OTHER CRACKED WHEEL IS STILL ON THE TRUCK, ONLY HAVE ONE SPARE AVAILABLE.
- Engine
MY TRUCK HAS SPIT OUT TWO SPARK PLUGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THESE PLUGS HAD TO BE REPAIRED WITH A HELL-COIL AND THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX. IT COST ME $400 TO REPAIR BOTH. MY TRUCK HAS OVER 100,000 MILES AND SPIT OUT THE FIRST AT 120,000.
- Engine1 injury
SPARK PLUG SHOOT OUT OF ENGINE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY 4 THREADS TO SCREW INTO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS TRUCK TWO TIMES WHEN IT WAS YOUR WITH THE FACTORY PLUGS. AND NOW WITH OTHERS THAT WERE THAT WERE DO TO SPECS BY FORD. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE THAT STICK THEIR HAND IT THERE WHEN THEY SEE A FLOPPY COIL AND DON'T KNOW THEY CAN BE SHOCKED. PLEASE DO SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS TO ME WHEN DRIVING, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE AND THEN IT STARTS RUNNING DIFFERENT ANSWERS SOUNDS LIKE A LAWNMOWER WITHOUT A MUFFLER. IT IS SCARY AND CAUSED ME A PANIC ATTACK AS I HAD TO FIND MY WAY OFF THE HIGHWAY WONDERING IF IT IS GOING…
- Power train
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK, IT HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER IN 02/2005. THERE IS NO FRONT END ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK. WHEEL HUB BEARINGS FAILURES, FRONT AXLE, TRUCK HAD OVER 200,000 MILES BEFORE THE FIRST WHEEL HUB BEARING FAILURE, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 7 WHEEL HUBS BEARING FAILURES ON MY (2003 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY XL 4X4 7.3 POWER STROKE DIESEL), THE TRUCK ONLY HAS ROAD MILES AND I DO NOT TAKE IT 4 WHEELING. IT IS MY WORK AND EVERY DAY DRIVING TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 320,000 MILES ON IT NOW.( I LOVE THIS TRUCK) THE LAST SET OF WHEEL HUBS WAS INSTALLED ON MY TRUCK 04/01/2015 AND I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN, SAD DAY FOR…
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
- ENGINE STALLINGClosedLed to recall 07V553000
IN A DECEMBER 3, 2007 LETTER, FORD ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) IN APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLING.A NEW DESIGN CPS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY WILL BE INSTALLED AS A REMEDY.OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER 2007. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DURABLE, FULL-SIZED, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, RESCUE/EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND COMMERCIAL OR RECREATIONAL TOWING.CPS FAILURE IS COMPARABLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY TURNING THE KEY OFF SINCE THE SIGNAL IT PRODUCES IS VITAL TO THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM.CPS SIGNAL LOSS TERMINATES FUEL INJECTION RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.ONCE STALLED, THE ENGINE MAY RESTART RIGHT AWAY, OR MAY RESTART AFTER A DELAY (TYPICALLY 5 TO 10 MINUTES), OR MAY NOT RESTART AT ALL.IN ADDITION TO EXPOSING THE DRIVER AND…
- 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…
- ENGINE STALLINGClosedLed to recall 05V270000
IN A JUNE 7, 2005 LETTER, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WOULD BE CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 180,000 FORD F-SUPER DUTY, EXCURSION AND E-SERIES VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES TO CORRECT TWO WIRING RELATED CONDITIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-270, FORD NO. 05S34).THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2003 AND MAY 31, 2004.ACCORDING TO FORD, VEHICLES WITH THE CONDITIONS MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART.FORD WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS OF VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROL MODULE WIRE HARNESS UPGRADED OR REPLACED AND OR HAVE A NEW INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTOR INSTALLED.DURING A MAY 2005 PRESENTATION TO ODI, FORD IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL FAILURE MECHANISMS THAT COULD AFFECT ENGINE PERFORMANCE IN VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF THE…
- 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…
- ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR (ETC)Closed
FAILURE COUNTS FROM ODI?S ANALYSIS ARE STATED ABOVE; SEE THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM EXPERIENCE DISCUSSION IN THE SUMMARY REPORT.FORD DATA CONTAINED DUPLICATIVE REPORTS FOR 4 ODI COMPLAINTS AND 1 CRASH.THREE CRASHES WERE ALLEGEDLY DUE TO INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) PEDAL, ONE CRASH OCCURRED WHEN AN ETC DISABLED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER MOTORIST, ONE REPORT CONTAINED NO DETAIL.THE INJURIES WERE MINOR.AN ISSUE INVOLVING FIXED ETC PEDALS WAS INVESTIGATED ALSO, HOWEVER FAILURE REPORTS AND POPULATIONS ARE NOT SHOWN ABOVE; SEE SUMMARY REPORT FOR DETAIL.ALTHOUGH FORD HAS USED ETC BASED THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR MANY YEARS, THE PAP FEATURE WAS NEW FOR MY 2002.THE SUBJECT ETC SENSOR PRODUCES TWO OUTPUT SIGNALS WHICH THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) UTILIZES TO:1) DETERMINE FUELING REQUIREMENTS; AND 2) PERFORM SENSOR DIAGNOSTICS.ONE SIGNAL IS LINEARLY…
- ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR FAILURE (ETC)Closed
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 EXCURSION AND F SUPER DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES AND AN OPTIONAL POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDAL (PAP) FEATURE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES UTILIZE AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) SYSTEM TO CONTROL ENGINE SPEED AND POWER.THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR OF THE ETC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED UNDER FORD'S FIELD SERVICE ACTION (FSA) 03B03 (ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY 2003) DUE TO CONCERNS THAT IT MAY NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED AND AS A RESULT, MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO IDLE OR UNEXPECTEDLY SLOW WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED.CERTAIN COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY INFORMATION RELATED TO THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN FSA 03B03 HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY FORD, AS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL IN FORD'S RESPONSE LETTER (DATED DECEMBER 2, 2003) TO ODI'S PRELIMINARY EVALUATION INFORMATION REQUEST.THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WHICH IS…