2003 Ford F-550 SD: complaints, problems and recalls

NAR 9-8-03. INOPERABLE THROTTLE PROBLEM, SEVERAL TIMES THE ENGINE DROPPED TO PERMANENT IDLE IN TRAFFIC. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 909 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039876 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109477 at NHTSA ↗

2003 F550 4X4 60,000 MILES, FUEL TANK HAS 4 STRESS CRACKS, LEAKS OVER 2 GALLONS DIESEL FUEL DAILY. FAULT CAUSED BY MANUFACTURING DEFECT, FORD STATES NO RECALL. TANK WAS SOLDERED, WOULD NOT HOLD, REPLACED WITH NEW TANK. DEFECTIVE TANK AVAILABLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116567 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AROUND HIS CHEST LIMITING MOVEMENT TO THE POINT OF CAUSING SLIGHT WHIPLASH. THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET A DIET PEPSI POSITIONED IN A CUP HOLDER TRAY. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS RESTRICTED, HE HAD BECOME INFURIATED WITH THE PROBLEM AND TRIED TO GET THE SEAT BELT OFF AND IT HAD GOTTEN TOO CLOSE TO A NARROW BRIDGE GUARD RAIL AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A $500,000 ACCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT WAS PLACED ON THE CONSUMERS DRIVING RECORD, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A MA…

Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138150 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65-70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STOPPED. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND EACH DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 17 TIMES. HOWEVER, AFTER EACH REPLACEMENT THE PROBLEM RETURNS AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 128 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148190 at NHTSA ↗

COMPLAINT: THE FRONT AXLE TRAVERSE ROD MOUNTING PLATE THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRONT AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKING AND HAS IN SOME CASES COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. CAUSE: UNKNOWN CORRECTION: REPLACE ENTIRE FRONT AXLE. RE-USE ALL HUBS AND PARTS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 22,143 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162670 at NHTSA ↗

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2003 FORD F550 WITH A TRAILER ATTACHED (FAILURE MILEAGE 61000) AT 60 MPH, THE TRACK ROD HANGER BRACKETS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE TRAILER BRAKES TO GAIN CONTROL IN ORDER TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER WHO DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO THE FONTAINE MODIFICATION COMPANY. THE FONTAINE MODIFICATION COMPANY SUPPLIED THE HANGER BRACKET REPLACEMENT PARTS FREE OF CHARGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179032 at NHTSA ↗

FUEL INJECTORS FAIL CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 28,798 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183512 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES, THE ENGINE GROUND STUD THAT ATTACHES THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL EYELET TO THE ENGINE BLOCK MAY BE LOOSE.

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.

Reported: 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)

Reported: 2007-12-05 (December 5, 2007)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 2011-07-13 (July 13, 2011)

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

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.