2003 Ford F SUPER DUTY: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 27 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 10041384 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
A BRAND NEW FORD F-250 DIESEL, HAS OCCURRENCES OF ITS ACCELERATOR NOT RESPONDING. WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044659 · 2003-11-25 (November 25, 2003)
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR PROJECTED ONCOMING VEHICLE'S ALOT FURTHER THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE. THE CONSUMER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COVERED THE MIRROR WITH A STANDARD MIRROR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044659 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 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 10254212 · 2009-01-08 (January 8, 2009)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 FORD F250 P-UP W/ 5.4L ENGINE, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND SUDDENLY MY TRUCK WILL HARDLY GO AND IT CATCHES FIRE. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS A SPARK PLUG THAT BLEW OUT, WHICH I HAD NEVER CHANGED. FORD SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT, AND OTHER PEOPLE WANT $2000 TO FIX IT. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINE. I HAVE 5 KIDS AND NOW ONLY 1 VEHICLE, CAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE $2000 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT FORD CREATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10254212 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.