2003 Ford F-250 SD fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS HANGING DOWN. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS FRACTURED AND THE FUEL GAUGE WAS DAMAGED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA complaint #11230742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON A STATE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11150844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 OF THE TANK STRAPS BUSTED OFF AND THE TANK BEGAN SAGGING AND ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND, THUS CAUSING A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10716410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN TO DRIVE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,919.

NHTSA complaint #10652834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SEVERELY.THE CONTACT PERFORMED A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE FRONT STRAP WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE SECOND STRAP WAS PARTIALLY HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #10480130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 80 MPH WHEN THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE STEEL FUEL LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,780.

NHTSA complaint #10460796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

2003 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4 DOOR 4X4 WITH 6.0 TURBO DIESEL WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INJECTION SYSTEM CONSISTING OF OUR HAVING TO REPLACE SOME INJECTORS, GLOW PLUGS, AND FINALLY NOW THE FICM (FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE) AND THE #8 FUEL INJECTOR . THE VEHICLE RUNS SLUGGISH, HESITANT, MISS FIRING, SEVERE VIBRATION. WE HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AND RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR $1878.00 TO FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF TALK ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAVINGA RECALL BUT WHEN I CONTACTED MY DEALER THEY SAID THERE WERE NO CURRENT OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA complaint #10402233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FORD 2003 F250 SPARK PLUG EJECTED CYLINDER #7 TRITON 5.4L OCCURRED TWICE. FIRST REPAIR (HELI-COIL INSERT) FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10344986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F250 W 7.3 DIESEL. LAST YEAR IT BROKE DOWN,JUST QUIT, FINALLY STARTED, NEED A NEW IN TANK PUMP, WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALER IT HAD ?!@#$% IN THE TANK, SPENT $1000. 2 WEEKS AGO IT START MESSING UP AGAIN. FORD SAID IT NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER,3 DAYS AFTER REPAIRED IT STARTED BUCKING AGAIN.FORD COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL INQUIRES, I FIND FORD HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE COATING COMING OFF INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND WREAKING PUMPS, FILTERS INJECTORS ETC. ALSO THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING. SINCE THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, QUITTING AT ANY TIME, I HOPE NHTSA WILL MAKE FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM OR ADVISE WHERE TO JOIN A CLASS ACTION SUIT, SINCE IM TIRED OG SPENDING MONEY AND NOT ABLE TO FINALLY FIX THIS PROBLEM AND DEPEND ON MY TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10276347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO START AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE, BUT HE BELIEVES THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NHTSA complaint #10267369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL LEAK. A METAL FUEL LINE WAS CLAMPED TO THE SIDE OF THE FUEL FILTER BRACKET. THIS FUEL LINE BEGAN LEAKING THE THAT POINT. THERE WAS METAL TO METAL CONTACT AT THIS POINT. THE FUEL LINE SHOWS ONLY MINOR CORROSION AT THIS POINT, SO IT MIGHT BE CRACKED RATHER THAN CORRODED THROUGH.

NHTSA complaint #10216622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS - FUEL REGULATOR, OXYGEN SENSOR. WATER PUMP FAILED 06/23/07.

NHTSA complaint #10194240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

2003 SD F250 4X2 REG CAB 5.4L EFI V-8 IS ONLY GETTING 11 TO 12 MILES TO THE GALLON. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE GETTING SOMETHING LIKE 16 TO 18 MPG. DEALER HAS NO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10110089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON GOING PROBLEMS WILL STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN'T PULL ACROSS INTERSECTION LOSS OF POWER TRANS WILL SHIFT OR NOT STEERING ALL OVER ROAD SMOKES BADDLY WHEN STARTED

NHTSA complaint #10069106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAVE HAD ROUGH IDLE PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. THIS WAS THE FIRST DIESEL VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED SO IN THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL, BUT IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN APRIL 2003. I HAVE HAD HARD SHIFTING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. WHEN I BACK THE TRUCK UP AND THEN SHIFT INTO DRIVE IT WILL SLAM INTO GEAR AS A VEHICLE WITH NO TRANSMISSION FLUID REACTS. THERE WAS A DANGEROUS HESITATION WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC AND SOMETIMES THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE A 3-5 SECOND STALL. IT HAS BLOWN WHITE SMOKE MORE RECENTLY AND WOULD NOT KICK DOWN INTO PASSING GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO FIX AT THAT TIME. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER AND SHE TELLS ME THAT THE FIX WILL RAISE THE NOISE LEVEL UP 5 DECIBELS. THIS WILL MAKE THE TRUCK LOUDER THAN IT WAS WHEN IT WAS SOLD TO ME. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK BECAUSE OF THE POWER AND HOW QUIET IT WAS. NOW IT WILL GET LOUDER? I REQUESTED THAT FORD BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AND THEY WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM FIRST! EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE LOUDER. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I HAVE MY RECEIPTS BUT DIDN'T FIND OUT HOW MUCH THE REPAIRS HAVE COST ALL TOGETHER, BUT FORD HAS NOT CHARGED ME ANYTHING... YET

NHTSA complaint #10071003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

I OWN A 2003 FORD F250 7.3L DIESEL. SINCE JAN. 2004 THE VEHICLE BEGAN "HICCUPING" OR "MISSING" JUST FOR A SPLIT SECOND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE IN FEB. & THE DEALER SAID THERE WERE "NO CODES, NO FAILURES". TRUCK CONTINUES TO MISS & THEN THE CONDITION WORSENED BY STALLING WHILE DRIVING & I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I AM ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE & GO ABOUT MY WAY, ALL THE WHILE WORRYING WHEN & WHERE I WILL BE WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I HAVE STARTED TO LOG ALL OF THE "MISSES" & "STALLS" SINCE THE 2ND VISIT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE "COMPUTER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG & UNLESS IT HAPPENS TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME." MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAS A FRIEND THAT OWNS THE SAME TRUCK & APPARENTLY HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT HE EVENTUALLY ENDED-UP BREAKING DOWN. HE TELLS ME THAT HIS PROBLEM WAS THE CAM TIMING CENSOR. I PHONED THE DEALER & ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS, BUT HE STILL SAID THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO FOR ME SINCE THE VEHICLE STILL PASSES ALL OF THEIR TESTS. I AM FRUSTRATED TO KNOW THAT I COULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT DEPENDING ON WHEN & WHERE I AM WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLS. IT STILL STALLS ALMOST ONCE A DAY.

NHTSA complaint #10064479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

EXTREMELY POOR FUEL ECONOMY ON FORD 7.3 L DIESEL ENGINE. BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW APPROX 1 YEAR AGO, VEHICLE WAS GETTING 18 MILES PER GALLON UNTIL DEC. 2003. AS OF JAN. 2004 THE VEHICLE MILEAGE HAS BEEN 9 MILES BE GALLON. VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF POWER AND HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD DIAGNOSTIC SAY THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. IF ANYTHING, A DIESEL ENGINE SHOULD GET BETTER MILEAGE AS IT IS BROKEN IN. CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE IS APPROX. 25500 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED, OIL CHANGE, FILTER, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER EVERY 3000 TO 4000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT TWO TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT CORRECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10063760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2003 F250 6.0 GAS MILEAGE IS ONLY 10 TO 11 MILES TO THE GALLON. THERE IS SOMETHING NOT RIGHT IT SHOULD GET 16 18 MILES TO THE GALLON. DEALER HAS NO FIX. THE 2004'S ARE GETTING 16 18 MILES TO THE GALLON WHAT WAS CHANGED IN 2004 6.0 ??

NHTSA complaint #10060022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

VEHICLE SOMETIMES SURGES AT A STOP LIGHT BY 250-300 RPM. VEHICLE STALLS ON ROAD AND BUCKS AT 55 AND 70 MILE AREA BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. ONE DAY VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE ALL THE LIFTERS WERE STUCK. SOUNDED LIKE METAL PARTS FLYING TOGETHER COMING FROM ENGINE. ROUGH IDLE AND SMOKES AT TIMES. GAS GAUGE SOMETIMES STICKS ON FULL FOR 50-60 MILES THEN FALLS TO 3/4 OR LESS. SOMETIMES NO POWER AND THEN AT TIMES WITH POWER. MILEAGE FELL FROM 16.9 CITY TO 12.5 TO 13.2. RPM NEEDLE 1,500 TO 2,500 WITHOUT ENGINE SURGING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES WITH ONLY 5,000 MILES. ENGINEER DROVE IT 50 MILES AND SAID "NO PROBLEMS."

NHTSA complaint #10043178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

WE PURCHASED A 2003 F250 SUPER DUTY 6.0 DIESEL WITH 15,000 MILES ON IT ON FRIDAY. WE LEFT FOR VACATION ON SATURDAY TRAVELING 10 HOURS AWAY TO TENNESSEE.TRUCK WAS GREAT AT FIRST. TOWED OUR CAMPER FINE. BUT THEN ON WEDNESDAY EVENING WE WERE SIGHT SEEING ON SOME TWISTY WINDING ROADS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF TENNESSEE WHEN IT SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING! I WAS ON A STEEP INCLINE WITH 5 TEENAGERS IN THE VEHICLE. NO POWER STEERING! GOT IT STARTED ON GOT TO A PULL OFF A FEW FEET UP THE ROAD WHEN IT STALLED AGAIN. LUCKILY, FAMILY MEMBERS WHERE IN FRONT OF ME AND CAME BACK TO HELP. WE CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY CAME AND HOUR AND A HALF LATER AND TOWED THE TRUCK TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER ABOUT 45 MINUTES AWAY. THURSDAY I CALLED THEM, SORRY, DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT YET. WE WERE TO START HEADING HOME THURSDAY! FRIDAY A.M. PACKED UP CAMPER AND HAD FAMILY MEMBER PULL IT TO THE FORD DEALER. JUST GOT TO LOOK AT IT AT LUNCH TIME. FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD A HISTORY OF INJECTOR PROBLEMS WITH THE DIESEL GETTING IN THE OIL. HAD BEEN WORKED ON A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE FOR SIMILAR CONDITION. DECIDED THAT WE COULD HAVE FORD CHANGE THE OIL AT $115.00 AND HEAD HOME. STOPPED HALF WAY HOME AND HAD OIL CHANGED AGAIN $74.00. FORD DEALER HAD THE TRUCK FROM 9-10 DAYS. REPLACED 8 FUEL INJECTORS. PICKED IT UP LAST NIGHT DROVE ABOUT 60 MILES AND TODAY DURING ACCELERATION MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE LIKE SOMETHING BLEW UP UNDER PRESSURE. HAD MINIMAL ACCELERATION. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND US! GOT IT HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE BACK YARD. CALLING ROLL BACK TOMORROW. HAVEN'T EVEN MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT YET!!!!! WISH I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING THIS VEHICLE WITH THE 6.0 AND ALL OF IT'S PROBLEMS THAT I AM FINDING ABOUT NOW!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10033337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY CREW CAB WITH 6.0 DIESEL IN LATE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OREGON. I PULLED INTO THE FORD HOUSE IN COOS BAY ON SATURDAY. THEY COULDN'T WORK ON IT UNTIL MONDAY. TUESDAY THEY SAID IT WAS AN INJECTOR SEAL PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY DRAINED 28 QUARTS OF FLUID FROM THE CRANKCASE, WHICH HAD A 15 QT CAPACITY. THE REST, THEY SAID, WAS DIESEL BLOW-BY. THEY REPLACED 3 SENSORS AND 1 INJECTOR AND INSTALLED A NEW COMPUTER UPDATE. WE PICKED UP THE TRUCK AND LEFT TOWN THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY. ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN THE TURBO INTAKE HOSE BLEW OFF. WE RETURNED AND HAD IT FIXED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER WE WERE IN TEXAS WHEN THE TURBO EXHAUST HOSE BLEW OFF. THAT, TOO WAS REPAIRED. AT HOME, THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED FROM 20 MPG TO 13 MPG. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED 2 OTHER INJECTORS AND INSTALLED ANOTHER COMPUTER UPDATE. THIS PAST WEEK THE TRUCK WAS AGAIN RUNNING ROUGH AND THE FUEL MILEAGE WAS DOWN. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR AND INSTALLED YET ANOTHER DOWNLOAD. THIS IS NOT WHAT I BARGAINED FOR WHEN I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10020563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

I BOUGHT A 2003 F-250 6.0 DIESEL. THIS IS A NEW ENGINE THIS YEAR, I OHAVE HAD THE TRUCK ONLY 5 DAYS BEFORE THE MOTOR STARTS SHAKING A 50 MPH AND WHILE IM AT A STOP LIGHT IT SHAKES VERY BAD W/ NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND ITS BEEN THERE LONGER THEN IVE OWNED THE TRUCK FOR.. I ALSO PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I NOTICED THE TRUCK DID NOT MOVE, AND 1 SEC AFTER I LET GO OF THE GAS PEDAL THE TRUCK TOOK OFF BY ITS SELF... WHATS GOING ON W? THIS TRUCK???THIS TRUCK SHOULD BE STOPPED FROM BEING SOLD AND CAUSING THE OWNERS W/ HEART ACHES..

NHTSA complaint #10016885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

WE WERE RETURNING HOME FROM A TRIP TO CHARLOTTE, NC YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WHEN WE WERE STOPPED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST AT THE INTERSECTION OF SOUTH COLLEGE ROAD AND CAROLINA BEACH ROAD IN WILMINGTON. THE DRIVER HAD BEEN FOLLOWING US FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE AND HIS TRUCK WAS COVERED WITH DIESEL FUEL FROM OUR NEW FORD F250. APPARENTLY THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD STARTED LEAKING. HE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND ADVISED US TO PULL OFF AS SOON AS THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL ALLOWED US TO MOVE. THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF DIESEL FUEL UNDER THE TRUCK SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE REAR TIRES TO SLIP. WE PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND NOTED THE REAR AND UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK WERE COATED WITH DIESEL FUEL. FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK UNTIL WE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. APPARENTLY THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO CAPE FEAR FORD IN WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

NHTSA complaint #10010446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.