2003 Ford Econoline Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Econoline years
- About as many complaints as other years 9th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Econoline. That ranks 9th out of 24 Econoline model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is vehicle speed control (5 complaints, 23%), typically at around 10,158 miles. Complaints mention 3 fires, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 22owner 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 Econoline 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 23% | 10,158 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 18% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 14% | 64,098 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 14% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 14% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 9% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 5% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 5% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 5% | 100,969 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 5% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% | 35,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Ford Econoline recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:cruise control
Problem: Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that is not compatible with the vehicle circuit polarity.
Risk: As a result, the fuse is located in the output circuit rather than in the intended input power feed circuit, and may not offer the intended protection in the event of an electrical short to ground.
Fix: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on february 18, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Problem: On certain cutaway chassis cab with the school bus option, two brackets and two outrigger members are missing in the area of the fuel tank.
Risk: The brackets and outrigger members are intended to enhance crash performance.
Fix: Ford will send technicians to the owner's location to inspect and add the brackets and outriggers as required. Owner notification began on september 3, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
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.
Fuel tank delamination. This will be the second time i have to replace the fuel tank, sending unit and fuel pump on my e350 diesel van. Ford has had known issues for several years regarding this problem and refuses to accept any responsibility. The inside coating of the tank peels away and clogs up…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford econoline equipped with radar radial rlt-9 tires, size p245/75/r16. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the rear driver's tire blew out. The condition of the road were dry and the approximate temperature was 90 degrees fahrenheit. The failure recurred and…
No. 2 spark plug blew out of cylinder head. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford econoline e-150. The contact stated that three cooper american prospector 225/70r15 tires on the vehicle have failed. The vehicle began vibrating and the dealer confirmed that the rear driver side tire needed to be replaced. Two weeks later, the rear passenger side…
2003 ford aerostar lx van abs light and brake light on dashboard will come on and stay on one day, and maybe not the next day. Going on for months. Can't predict when this will occur. The ford dealer offer to take care of the problem for less than a $1000 dollars!?!?!? Very generous of them! *tr
Other Ford Econoline years
← 2002 Econoline · 2005 Econoline →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Econoline | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 Econoline | 3 | 1 |
| 2016 Econoline | 3 | 1 |
| 2015 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2006 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 | 22 | 2 |
| 2002 Econoline | 23 | 2 |
| 2001 Econoline | 28 | 3 |
| 2000 Econoline | 39 | 3 |
| 1999 Econoline | 84 | 5 |
| 1998 Econoline | 46 | 2 |
| 1997 Econoline | 79 | 2 |
| 1996 Econoline | 81 | 3 |
| 1995 Econoline | 73 | 4 |
See all Ford Econoline 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 Econoline?
Owners most often report vehicle speed control, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, vehicle speed control, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford Econoline?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Ford Econoline a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Econoline model years, the 2003 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.