2003 Ford E Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E Series years
- Not enough data 7th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford E Series. That ranks 7th out of 13 E Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (2 complaints, 40%), typically at around 73,500 miles. Complaints mention 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 5owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Ford E Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 40% | 73,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 20% | 47,187 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 20% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Ford E Series recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on december 29, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Structure
Problem: Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Risk: This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My vehicle suddenly stopped shut off dead!!!! In the middle of traffic. I managed to restar it and immediately drove it to the closest mechanic shop.i paid $49.95 fee and they scanned the engine. Told me it might have been a loose wire, that they took care of it and go ahead and drive it. "bring it…
I have a ford e350 4x4 van 2003. There has been fumes accumulating in the van when driving. I get headaches and my eyes tear and my feel sick. I noticed the fumes intensely on 1.25.08 when driving highway miles in cold weather at a distance of 2.5 hours and 132 miles one way and 264 round trip. The…
While driving the vehicle it started to make a loud rattling sound and started to loose power, eventually the vehicle just shut down and wouldn't start again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where i was told that the catalytic converter is bad. The vehicle has been at the dealer since may 21…
Grinding noise from the rear end while backing or making low speed turns. Per 3 different mechanics, this is a common problem with the ford explorer due to the rear differential. This problem has been repeatedly documented both here and in online forums. It requires a $1000.00 repair with no…
While driving in inclement weather windshield wiper came on and off intermittently. Consumer drove vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the windshield wiper motor needed to be replaced. *ak
Other Ford E Series years
← 2002 E Series · 2004 E Series →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 E Series | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 E Series | 0 | 2 |
| 2006 E Series | 0 | 6 |
| 2005 E Series | 10 | 6 |
| 2004 E Series | 2 | 0 |
| 2003 | 5 | 2 |
| 2002 E Series | 6 | 2 |
| 2001 E Series | 6 | 2 |
| 2000 E Series | 6 | 2 |
| 1999 E Series | 4 | 1 |
| 1998 E Series | 13 | 1 |
| 1997 E Series | 16 | 1 |
| 1995 E Series | 1 | 0 |
See all Ford E Series problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford E Series?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford E Series?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Ford E Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E Series model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.