2003 Ford F-250 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-250 years
- Fewer complaints than other years 15th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford F-250. That ranks 15th out of 24 F-250 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (24 complaints, 21%), typically at around 12,550 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 8 fires, 4 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 116owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Ford F-250 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 | 24 | 21% | 12,550 | — | — |
| Tires | 20 | 17% | 131,681 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 13 | 11% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 13 | 11% | 112,688 | — | — |
| Power Train | 12 | 10% | 32,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 11 | 9% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 7% | 157,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 7% | 138,596 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 6% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 5% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 4% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 4% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 3% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 3% | 33,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2% | 192,778 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 2% | 5,810 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 300,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Ford F-250 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights; exterior lighting:tail lights
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.
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery
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.
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.
- Engine stalling (PE04070) — opened Oct 7, 2004, closed Feb 15, 2005.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The customer purchased a vehicle from Metro Motors on May 8, 2026, after visiting the dealership three times and speaking with multiple sales representatives. During each visit, the customer specifically stated that the vehicle would be used to tow a trailer and repeatedly asked whether it was safe…
The contact owned a 2003 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while her husband was driving home, there was black smoke coming from the exhaust, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence and turned off. The contact stated that while attempting to…
Truck had no check engine light then caught on fire going down the road and burned to ground within seconds Incident report 46-24-05039 08_30-74 US-30 - PA 74 30 W
Speed control sensor allows brake fluid leak through the plug connector and run down the wiring harness, allowing brake fluid to splash on the exhaust manifold and cause a fire.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-250. The contact stated that both turn signals and the windshield wipers would intermittently fail to operate as needed. Over time, the failure worsened and the components failed to operate. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed him…
Other Ford F-250 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 F-250 | 142 | 0 |
| 2013 F-250 | 95 | 0 |
| 2012 F-250 | 266 | 1 |
| 2011 F-250 | 248 | 2 |
| 2010 F-250 | 73 | 0 |
| 2009 F-250 | 54 | 0 |
| 2008 F-250 | 196 | 7 |
| 2007 F-250 | 60 | 4 |
| 2006 F-250 | 221 | 4 |
| 2005 F-250 | 144 | 3 |
| 2004 F-250 | 154 | 2 |
| 2003 | 116 | 2 |
| 2002 F-250 | 156 | 2 |
| 2001 F-250 | 220 | 4 |
| 2000 F-250 | 326 | 5 |
| 1999 F-250 | 581 | 14 |
| 1998 F-250 | 56 | 6 |
| 1997 F-250 | 304 | 10 |
| 1996 F-250 | 176 | 4 |
| 1995 F-250 | 184 | 3 |
See all Ford F-250 problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford F-250?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, tires, electrical system problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 24 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford F-250?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Ford F-250 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-250 model years, the 2003 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.