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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Ford E-350 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

46 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

85,509 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 46 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Fuel system concerns919.6%
Braking behavior817.4%
Steering behavior715.2%
Engine operation36.5%
Electrical and battery issues24.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Diesel
7
Electrical System
6
Engine
4
Steering
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Fuel System, Gasoline
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel System, Diesel7
Electrical System6
Engine4
Steering3
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2

Fuel System, Diesel: 7; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 4; Steering: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 6

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003
5
2004
2
2005
5
2006
4
2007
2
2008
6
2009
1
2010
6
2011
3
2012
1
2013
3
2014
1
2015
4
2017
1
2018
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20035
20042
20055
20064
20072
20086
20091
20106
20113
20121
20133
20141
20154
20171
20181
20251

2003: 5; 2004: 2; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Diesel leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10241189 · 2008-09-06 (September 6, 2008)

I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND CROSSING AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF SITTING THE VEHICLE RAN FINE. LATER IN TRAFFIC IT DID IT AGAIN AND AN ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY PRO AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES AND FOUND THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK LINING IS FLAKING OFF BLOCKING THE FUEL LINES AND STALLING THE VEHICLE OUT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND UNHEARD OF PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND THE FUEL TANK INSIDE IS FLAKING BADLY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL OR FA…

Owner-reported narrative. 155,753 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10243951 · 2008-09-29 (September 29, 2008)

WHEN DRIVING MY TRUCK LAST WEEK IT STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND VIOLENTLY SHAKING. IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 30MPH ON 95. WE FOUND THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED. WE THEN REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND FOUND WHAT LOOKED TO BE SILVER PAINT CHIPS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE LINING OF THE TANK IS DELAMINATING. THIS HAS CLOGGED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TANK BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEW TANK WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND THE REPAIRS TO T…

Owner-reported narrative. 124,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243951 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10051712 · 2003-12-12 (December 12, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH AUXILIARY BATTERY, BRAKES AND STEERING. AUXILIARY BATTERY IS LOW; THEREFORE, VEHICLE WON'T START. ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. STEERING WHEEL JERKS HARD TO THE LEFT. *LA NAR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051712 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10097518 · 2004-10-22 (October 22, 2004)

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE WAS RECALLED. DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097518 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031351 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031351 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031354 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031354 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019651 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY PREPARING TO EXIT WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD "POP" AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUSED 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO THE CONSUMER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019651 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10226631 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E350 SUPER DUTY. THE VEHICLE WAS CONNECTED TO A 2004 PHOENIX CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT OPERATE ABOVE 30 MPH. A LOCAL FORD DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 30 TO 40 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AND REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT THE COST OF $304.50. THE CONTACT REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED PRIOR TO REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY LATER DENIED THE REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226631 at NHTSA ↗