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2003 Ford F-250 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

116 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

75,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 116 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2118.1%
Engine operation1210.3%
Steering behavior108.6%
Fuel system concerns97.8%
Electrical and battery issues65.2%
Transmission and shifting43.4%

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.

Tires
14
Engine
13
Electrical System
11
Engine And Engine Cooling
10
Service Brakes
8
Steering
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
5
Suspension
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Tires14
Engine13
Electrical System11
Engine And Engine Cooling10
Service Brakes8
Steering6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission5
Suspension5

Tires: 14; Engine: 13; Electrical System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Service Brakes: 8; Steering: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Suspension: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
22
25,000 to 49,999
10
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
19
150,000 and above
13
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00022
25,000 to 49,99910
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,99919
150,000 and above13

Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 13

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 37 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.

2002
1
2003
15
2004
17
2005
11
2006
4
2007
6
2008
4
2009
2
2010
2
2011
6
2012
2
2013
3
2014
4
2015
7
2016
4
2017
8
2018
6
2019
5
2020
1
2022
4
2024
2
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20021
200315
200417
200511
20064
20076
20084
20092
20102
20116
20122
20133
20144
20157
20164
20178
20186
20195
20201
20224
20242
20251
20261

2002: 1; 2003: 15; 2004: 17; 2005: 11; 2006: 4; 2007: 6; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 6; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 7; 2016: 4; 2017: 8; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2022: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 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 10032185 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)

THE CONSUMER STATED NO MATTER HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED THE PEDAL AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED TERRIBLY. PIONEER FORD HAD BEEN INFORMED, BUT STATED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE MACHINED, AND WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032185 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10092726 · 2004-10-19 (October 19, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WILL NOT START RIGHT UP AGAIN. ONE HOUR INTO DRIVING THE PROBLEM STARTED. ENGINE MADE A WHISTLING SOUND. OTHER THEN THAT THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. *AK POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SHUT DOWN AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092726 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015995 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)

THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015995 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021940 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021940 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004180 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING COLUMN HAS A LOT OF PLAY INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004180 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050008 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE FUEL INJECTORS OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE RUBBER GASKETS. WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN REPAIR SHOP DEALERSHIP ONLY REPAIRED TWO FUEL INJECTORS AT A TIME. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050008 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10514720 · 2013-06-02 (June 2, 2013)

COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING CAPABILITIES OF THE TRUCK. REAR MAIN BRAKE LINE ABOVE FUEL TANK BURST. BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ALL OVER GROUND. PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO FLOOR. HAD TO PUMP MANY TIME TO GET TRUCK TO STOP, COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DEADLY ACCIDENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514720 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10119233 · 2005-04-27 (April 27, 2005)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR ABOUT 15 HOURS WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A CHECK UP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER, IT SEEMED TO BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119233 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126835 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)

DT: AT 9 PM VEHICLE PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD SAT FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS PARKED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS FROM MECHANICS UPON REGULAR INSPECTION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BEFORE AND NO MODIFICATIONS. A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON CONSUMER'S DOOR AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE HOOD AS WELL. BY THE TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WINDOWS WERE GONE, INSIDE DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CUT TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126835 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032305 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAN CLUTCH FAILED. DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS AND REPLACED THE FAN CLUTCH. THE SAME DAY FAN CLUTCH BROKE AGAIN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032305 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10094069 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)

WHEN TAKING OFF FROM EITHER A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD PROPERLY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME. ITS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES IN 1 1/2 YEARS, AND WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT PROBLEM WAS LOW RPM POWER, WHICH WAS POOR TORQUE, AND AN IMPROPER GEAR RATIO IN TRANSMISSION.*AK THE CONSUMERS FOOT CONTACTS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HANGER WHEN ATTEMPTINGTO DEPRESS THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE 750 RPM CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIV…

Owner-reported narrative. 289 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094069 at NHTSA ↗