2003 Ford F-250 SD Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2003 Ford F-250 SD, 40% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 55,238 miles. The words owners use most often: “spark plug” (21% of reports).
- 72engine and engine cooling complaints
- 55,238median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 58%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Spark plug: mentioned in 15 of 72 complaints (21%)
- Super duty: mentioned in 12 of 72 complaints (17%)
- Position sensor: mentioned in 5 of 72 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 63 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 72 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford F-250 SD engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 F-250 SD | 1 | 3% | 9,000 |
| 2023 F-250 SD | 1 | 2% | 400 |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 2 | 2% | 56,227 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 3 | 2% | 74,122 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 101,500 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 2 | 0% | 110,000 |
| 2018 F-250 SD | 1 | 0% | 73,785 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 3 | 0% | 55,000 |
| 2016 F-250 SD | 7 | 2% | 105,269 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 25,150 |
| 2014 F-250 SD | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 1 | 5% | 45,000 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 7 | 12% | 54,236 |
| 2011 F-250 SD | 4 | 3% | 14,700 |
| 2010 F-250 SD | 11 | 34% | 15,268 |
| 2009 F-250 SD | 5 | 22% | 25,000 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 33 | 23% | 30,000 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 4 | 7% | 14,050 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 18 | 7% | 77,403 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 37 | 13% | 45,550 |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 101 | 40% | 30,750 |
| 2003 F-250 SD | 72 | 40% | 55,238 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 101 | 41% | 82,116 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 91 | 32% | 92,338 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 69 | 30% | 99,450 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 95 | 38% | 111,912 |
| 1997 F-250 SD | 11 | 28% | 89,000 |
| 1996 F-250 SD | 4 | 36% | 93,538 |
| 1995 F-250 SD | 2 | 22% | 157,605 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-250 sd. While driving approximately 60 mph, the contact noticed smoke from the rear of the vehicle and there was a loud popping noise. The vehicle was completely surrounded by smoke resulting in a fire. The vehicle stalled. The fire was extinguished independently…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f-250 superduty. The contact was driving 40 mph when the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford f250 super duty. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The dealer advised that the right rear spark plug had blown…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Ford F-250 SDs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 72 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2003 Ford F-250 SD (40% of the 178 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford F-250 SD engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 55,238 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2003 Ford F-250 SD?
The most frequent phrase is “spark plug”, in 15 of 72 complaints, followed by “super duty” (12).
See all 2003 Ford F-250 SD problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all F-250 SD years.