2003 Ford E550: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
33,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 65 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 15.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 10.8% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 10.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.6% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 9; Electrical System: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Tires: 4; Air Bags: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 16 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 8 |
2003: 14; 2004: 14; 2005: 18; 2006: 11; 2007: 8
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006963 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DID NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO SEE TRAFFIC.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015580 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021433 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
FAILURE OF THE CAM POSITIONING SENSOR ON A 2001 F250 7.3 DIESEL PICKUP WITH 35,00 MILES. THE TRUCK STARTED DYING AT STOPS. AND SLOW SPEED. HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART 8 TIMES. LEFT THE TRUCK WITH FORD DEALER FOR 2 DAYS(THEY DROVE IT HOME AND PUT 150 MILES ON TRUCK) NOTHING. PAID $140 FOR 2 HOURS LABOR. NEXT DAY PAID $256 TO GET A NEW CPS INSTALLED AND ONE WEEK LATER NO PROBLEM. THE FORD DIESEL FORUM ON THE INTERNET HAS HUNDRED OF TRUCK OWNERS IN THE SAME BOAT. WE ALL PAY $100 OR MORE AND CARRY A SPARE CPS. NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023319 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)
NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, THE US HAD REGULATIONS CONCERNING RELATIVE HEIGHT OF AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS AND HEADLIGHTS. TODAY WE HAVE AUTOMOBILES (SUV'S) WHOSE BUMPERS MATCH THE TOP OF MY TRUNK LID (2003 JAGUAR) AND WHOSE LIGHTS SHINE DIRECTLY INTO THE BACK WINDOW OF ALL MY CARS. AT NIGHT WHEN ONE OF THESE SUV'S COMES UP BEHIND ME, I WILL STOP TO LET THEM BY SO I TOO CAN DRIVE AT NIGHT. HOW COME? ARNIE BRANDON, BELLEVUE, WA. 98006. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023319 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030589 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
ON 6-17-03 PURCHASED 2003 F350, SUPER DUTY, 6.1 D ON 7-22-03, 2000 MILES EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE, RESULTS: ROCKER ASSEMLBY BROKEN.*AK ON 7-30-03, ALL DASH GAGES, RADIO, WINDOWS NOT WORKING, RESULTS: ELECTRICAL SHORT NUMBER 35 FUSE BLOWN ON 7-31-03 AFTER 200 MILES, ALL DASH GAGES, RADIO, WINDOW NOT WORKING: WHILE DRIVING YOU HAVE NO SPEED, OIL PRESURE OR FUEL READINGS.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,573 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030822 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
WAS TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR A FUEL SMELL THAT WAS INTERMITENT ON 7-30-03 TO RICART FORD WHEN I THREW IN THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT AND LOST HTE CLUTCH IT WENT TO THE FLOOR SO I PROCEED TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALER SHIP WAS 1/2 MILE AWAY AND IN SIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND CALLED 911 THEN THE DEALER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031141 · 2003-08-09 (August 9, 2003)
SINCE MAY 2ND, 2003 HAVE HAD FARM TRUCK, F550 6.0 LITER DIESEL 4X4 CAB & CHASSIS, INTO DEALER SIX (6) TIMES FOR A PROBLEM WITH 6.0 LITER DIESEL MOTOR, HAVE ASKED TWICE TO FIX LEAKING TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE AND HAVE COMPLAINED ONCE ABOUT SEVERE FRONT END SHAKE (TO WHICH NO RESPONCE WAS MADE AND AFTER DISCOVERING FORD HAD INSTALLED DRIVE POSITION ONLY TIRES ON FRONT AXLE, REPLACEMENT WAS MADE WITH PROPER STEERING TIRES). TRUCK USED FOR LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORTATION OF HAY, STRAW, CATTLE AND MACHINERY. ENGINE SINCE HAVING 2,000 MILES HAS ROUGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033410 · 2003-08-24 (August 24, 2003)
VIN NUMBER [XXX] THIS IS AN 03 FORD F350 4X4 CREWCAB , AUTOMATIC WITH THE 6.0 POWER STROKE DIESEL. IN JUNE OR THERE ABOUTS THIS VEHICLE RECEIVED THE RECALL WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ICP AND FLASHED THE COMPUTER. THE TRUCK NOW EXHIBITS EXTREMELY LOW POWER BELOW 1800 RPM MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A 4 TO 5 SECOND DELAY FROM STEPPING ON THE GAS TO WHERE THERE IS ADEQUATE POWER TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES TO THE SITUATION. WHEN TO POWER DOES COME ON IT IS SUDDENLY AND CAN CAUSE THE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033410 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.