2003 Ford F-250 Problems and Recalls (106 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2003 Ford F-250 is Engine (27% of 106 owner reports). There are 7 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 106 complaints · 7 recalls

What problems show up on the 2003 Ford F-250?

29 of 106 filings named Engine (27% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Fuel system (13 reports).

There are 7 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2002 has 145 reports on file; this year has 106. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2003 Ford F-250

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 7 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  4. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 29 complaints · 27.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 5
  • Fires 8
  • Injuries 3
  • Deaths 1
All Ford F-250 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 29 of 106 owner complaints (27.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 29 complaints, 27.4% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 29 · 27.4% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 13 complaints, 12.3% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 13 · 12.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 10 complaints, 9.4% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 fire reports 10 · 9.4% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 9 complaints, 8.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 fire reports 9 · 8.5% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 9 complaints, 8.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 9 · 8.5% Tires (TIRES): 9 complaints, 8.5% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 crash reports 9 · 8.5% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 7 complaints, 6.6% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 fire reports 7 · 6.6% Steering (STEERING): 6 complaints, 5.7% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 crash reports 6 · 5.7% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 5 complaints, 4.7% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 · 4.7% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 50 complaints, 47.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 50 · 47.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 29 27.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 13 12.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 10 9.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 9 8.5% 0 crashes · 3 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 9 8.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 9 8.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 7 6.6% 0 crashes · 4 fires
Steering (STEERING) 6 5.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 4.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 50 47.2% 2 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2002; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2004. 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2004-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2002 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 04V327000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V327000 Recall campaign 06E049000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E049000 Recall campaign 06E052000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E052000 Recall campaign 07E066000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E066000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 11V352000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V352000 Investigation PE04070 ● Investigation PE04070 Investigation DP05005 ● Investigation DP05005
  • Campaign 04V327000 was reported 404 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E066000 was reported 1,747 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 3
2003-Q2 Owner reports 5
2003-Q3 Owner reports 4
2003-Q4 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 4
2004-Q2 Owner reports 5
2004-Q3 Owner reports 6
2004-Q4 Owner reports 2
2005-Q1 Owner reports 4
2005-Q2 Owner reports 5
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2011-Q3 Owner reports 4
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 2
2016-Q4 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 2
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 3
2018-Q2 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 2
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q2 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 04V327000
Recall campaign 1 06E049000
Recall campaign 1 06E052000
Recall campaign 1 07E066000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 11V352000
Defect investigation 1 PE04070
Defect investigation 1 DP05005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (7)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical and Lights.

  1. Recall campaign 04V327000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06E049000

    Safety recall 06E049000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 06E052000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABRY LEE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER FULL CREDIT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLAMP. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JUNE 14, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABRY LEE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT 1-866-467-2279.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 07E066000

    Safety recall 07E066000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 09E012000

    Safety recall 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 09E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 11V352000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 7 of 106 complaints · page 1 of 5
2026-06-30Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11747388
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 and suitable for towing. The sales staff consistently represented that the vehicle was in good working condition, had low mileage, showed no significant issues on the Carfax report, and would be an excellent vehicle for towing. The customer was discouraged from test driving the vehicle because it was low on fuel, and sales staff stated that the only reason it had not sold was the snowplow attached to the front. Immediately after taking possession of the vehicle on May 8, the customer experienced a serious issue with the electronic parking brake repeatedly engaging while driving. The customer contacted Metro Motors on the next business day and was instructed by the manager, Nate, to bring the vehicle back. Metro Motors later determined that the parking brake cable was broken and that the brakes were in poor condition. After discussions, the dealership agreed to perform repairs if the customer paid for the parts. After the repairs were completed, the customer noticed smoke coming from the wheels and immediately returned the vehicle to Metro Motors. The dealership retained the vehicle but failed to communicate the nature of the problem or any repair costs until notifying the customer that the vehicle was ready for pickup on June 6, 2026. Before taking possession of the vehicle again, the customer arranged for an independent mechanic to inspect it. Although the dealership manager was initially hesitant to allow the inspection, he ultimately permitted it. The mechanic determined that the vehicle's frame was broken and that it was unsafe to operate, particularly for towing, which was the purpose repeatedly disclosed to Metro Motors before purchase.
2025-05-01Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11658268
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 171,000.
2024-10-06Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11618329
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
2024-02-16Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11572268
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2022-09-29Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11487100
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 that there were no recalls on the vehicle. the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
2022-06-30Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11471677
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Fuel tank straps corrode causing fuel tank to fall off A recall was issued for other similar ford trucks, but this model was not included
2022-04-19Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11461337
CrashFireInjuryDeath
When the truck accelerates and reaches about 40-5mph the truck begins to wobble sideways. This wobbling sensation shakes the steering wheel violently and as the speed increases so does the shake. I have not had the truck over 65mph as it becomes unmanageable and is very hard to keep in its lane. The tyres are wearing funny as a result. All 4 wheels are wearing a band around both the inside and outside of the tyres.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2003 Ford F-250?

Owners named Engine most often — 29 of 106 reports (27%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Ford F-250?

NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2003 Ford F-250?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources