U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Ford F SUPER DUTY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

27 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

96,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 27 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Engine operation	7	25.9%
Fuel system concerns	7	25.9%
Braking behavior	2	7.4%
Steering behavior	2	7.4%
Transmission and shifting	1	3.7%
Electrical and battery issues	1	3.7%

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.

Engine

Fuel System, Diesel

Engine And Engine Cooling

Fuel/Propulsion System

Suspension

Wheels

Electrical System

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine: 9; Fuel System, Diesel: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Suspension: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 7 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

2004

2005

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10125222 · 2005-06-14 (June 14, 2005)

THE TRUCK STARTED TO HESTITATE ON EXCELERATION AND BEGAN TO BOG DOWN AND LOSE POWER UNTILL THE ENGINE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. STALLED ON BUSY OAKLAND PARK BLVD. AT 10 PM. WAITED ONE HOUR TO BE TOWED TO HOME AND HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY TO DEALER. THE REPAIR STATED WIRE REPAIR TO FUEL PUMP.

Owner-reported narrative. 43,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125222 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10128770 · 2005-07-14 (July 14, 2005)

ON 7/8/05 AS MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, MY FORD F250 DEISEL LARIET STALLED. SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF THEN TRIED TO START IT. THE LIGHT INDICATING THE GLOW PLUGS HAD WARMED UP SUFFICIENTLY WOULD NOT GO OFF SO SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THIS TIME THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT INDICATOR WENT OFF AND THE ENGINE STARTED FINE, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO CHANGE GEARS. SHE DROVE IT SLOWLY FOR A BLOCK THEN DECIDED TO BRING IT BACK TO SAY IT WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY BUT WHEN SHE GOT BACK IT SEEMED …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10128770 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10086810 · 2004-08-13 (August 13, 2004)

9501 MILES. I FILLED THE FUEL TANK THE FUEL GUAGE WENT TO FULL WHEN I TURNED THE KEY ON THEN A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE NEEDLE WENT DOWN PAST EMPTY AND STAYED THERE UNTIL ABOUT HALF A TANK OF FUEL WAS USED THEN THE NEEDLE CAME BACK UP. I TOOK THE PICKUP TO FENTON FORD IN MCALASTER OK. THEY RESET THE COMPUTER, THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE PICKUP TO FUTURE FORD IN CLOVIS CA WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND THEY COULD NOT REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER DUE TO FORD NOT HAVING THE COMPUTER UPDATE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. AT APROX. 16500 MILES I TOOK …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086810 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005104 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)

TRUCK PULLING HARD -VERY HARD TO RIGHT WHILE BRAKING TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING BACK INTO OVER DRIVE WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL TRANS WILL NOT SHIFT UN LESS YOU HIT DECEL OR HIT BRAKES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005104 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11024050 · 2017-09-18 (September 18, 2017)

THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS AT STOPS. I'VE HAD SERVICE TECHNICIANS CHECK THE SYSTEMS, TWO MASTERCYLINDERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THAT DID'NT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE ABS VALVE IS THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT FAIL ON A HARD BRAKE.. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SAFE SITUATION AND AM WONDERING WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON IT

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024050 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003126 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)

EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING, LOSS OF CONTROL. THERE IS APPROX. TWO INCHES OF PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL AND I AM HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE TH VEHICLE AND FORD SAYS THIS IS OK.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003126 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10629874 · 2014-09-01 (September 1, 2014)

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL LOSING POWER STEERING. STEERED INTO THE MOUNTAIN SIDE TO PREVENT HEAD ON COLLISION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ENGINE FIRES DUE TO PLUG BLOWING OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD AND FUEL NOT PROPERLY BURNING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629874 at NHTSA ↗