FaultScore

2003 Ford F-350 SD engine problems

56 of the 164 complaints about the 2003 Ford F-350 SD are about the engine — 34% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 29,900 miles.

D

56

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Diesel 18 32.1%
Engine 13 23.2%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 13 23.2%
Engine 4 7.1%
Exhaust System 3 5.4%
Cooling System 2 3.6%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 1 1.8%
Emission Control 1 1.8%
Turbo/Supercharger 1 1.8%

Engine & Cooling across every Ford F-350 SD year

1999 33 5.8%
2000 43 7.5%
2001 41 7.2%
2002 44 7.7%
2003 56 9.8%
2004 50 8.7%
2005 60 10.5%
2006 25 4.4%
2008 33 5.8%
2010 10 1.7%
2011 15 2.6%
2012 12 2.1%
2015 40 7.0%
2016 25 4.4%
2017 24 4.2%
2019 20 3.5%
2020 14 2.4%
2021 15 2.6%
2022 12 2.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 56,000 miles Pavilion, NY

ENGINE

WHILE PREPARING FOR A CAMPING TRIP THIS PASS SUMMER, I WENT TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. WHEN I WENT TO REMOVE THE OIL DIPSTICK, THE DIPSTICK TUBE BROKE, DUE TO CORROSION. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY 25 YEARS OF OWNING A VEHICLE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. IT WOULD BE ALRIGHT, BUT IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE TUBE, IT IS REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO PROPERLY REPLACE IT. IN TURN IT COST MORE MONEY TO REPLACE A PRODUCT THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK. I WAS FUELING MY TRUCK AND WANTED TO CHECK ALL MY FLUIDS.

NHTSA complaint #11141798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norwood, MA

ENGINE

I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON MY 2003 FORD F350 SD. SC. 4X4 5.4 ENG. WITH THE PROBLEM WITH BOTH EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ROTTING AWAY & THE STUDS & NUTS ROTTING , THEY TOLD ME WE WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE . I WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR HELP TO MAKE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FIX THIS PROBLEMS FOR FREE BECAUSE I TALKED TO MANY FORD DEALERS THEY ARE REPLACING THIS SAME PROBLEMS ON ALL 5.4 ENG. ON FORD TRUCKS AND HAVE TO CHARGE FOR THESE PROBLEMS . PLEASE INVESTAGATE THIS PROBLEMS BEFORE ALL THESE TRUCKS WILL CATCH ON FIRE AND PEOPLE WILL BE INJURY OR FATALITY WILL HAPPEN . PLEASE HELP ME AND MANY PEOPLE CAN GET THESE PROBLEMS FIX FOR FREE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #10598413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,300 miles Harsens Island, MI Fire

ENGINE

ON 05/31/2013 AFTER DRIVING APROX 50 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND A SMALL FIRE STARTED DUE TO LEAKING OIL ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM A RUSTED OIL PAN. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE IT CONSUMED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THE COST TO REPAIR 1500.00 TO 2000.00 WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. I AM DISABLED AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY WITH A VERY FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. FROM LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER POSTS AND LIVING IN MICHIGAN WITH WINTER SALT, FORD HAS RECALLED MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS THAT COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT OR DEATH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE 7.3 LITER DIESEL ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND UNDRIVEABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10523043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 107,000 miles Airway Heights, WA

ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING ONTO ON-RAMP TO INTERSTATE 90 WEST BOUND AT PINES ROAD IN SPOKANE VALLEY WA. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THEIR WAS A LOUD BANG AND NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT OFF. MY WIFE CALLED ME AND I CAME TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I TURNED THE ENGINE OVER AND DETERMINED IT WAS NOT AN EXHAUST LEAK BUT THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG FROM THE FRONT ON MY V-10 GAS ENGINE. I LOCATED THE BENT SPARK PLUG AT THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER THAN BEING BENT THE THREADS ON THE PLUG WERE INTACT AND DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CROSS THREADED. I HAD THE PLUGS REPLACED AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL. I CHECKED WITH THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP I USED, (AAFES AUTO HOBBY SHOP ON FAIRCHILD AFB), AND INFORMED THEM OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT FORD HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VERY SUBJECT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THAT REPLACING SPARK PLUGS SHOULD NOT LEAD TO AN EXPLOSIVE EVENT STRONG ENOUGH TO DENT MY HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. I AM NOW EXPECTING TO HAVE 9 MORE LITTLE TIME BOMBS JUST WAITING TO GO OFF UNDER THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE HADN'T YET GOTTEN UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 60MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10488604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,708 miles Knightdale, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

I WAS HAULING A LOADED HORSE TRAILER AND HAD JUST MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY. AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WAS "CATCHING" AND WOULDN'T LET ME ACCELERATE PAST 35 MPH AND WAS REVVING VERY HIGH AND WOULDN'T SHIFT UP INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT FINALLY STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY ENTIRE RIG - TRUCK, TRAILER AND HORSES, HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND THEN THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. HE FOUND THE ENGINE RUNNING POORLY, AND FOUND LOW COMPRESSION ON CYLINDERS #3 AND #8. HE FOUND LOW OIL PRESSURE AND WHEN HE REMOVED THE OIL PAN FROM THE CHASSIS, HE FOUND PISTON MATERIAL IN THE OIL PUMP. HE REMOVED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THE PISTONS IN CYLINDER 3 AND 8 MELTED DOWN. HE HAD TO BORE OUT AND HONE ALL THE CYLINDERS, REPLACE ALL 4 VALVES IN CYLINDER #3 HEAD, REPLACE ALL PISTONS, REPLACE THE MAIN BEARING AND ROD BEARING, UPDATE THE OIL COOLER AND REPLACE 8 PISTONS AND 6 HEAD GASKETS. WHEN HE PUT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER AND TEST DROVE IT, HE FOUND AN EXHAUST LEAK FROM THE EBP SENSOR AND TUBE. THOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED. BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE "SKIPPING" WHEN I WAS HAULING MY HORSE TRAILER. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I WAS OVER 55 MPH AND IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I WAS HAULING. I HAD TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE MECHANIC BEFORE THE BIG BREAKDOWN (DESCRIBED ABOVE) AND HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE HE WAS NOT HAULING A TRAILER AND THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE TOTAL BILL FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS IS $6400.00 AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP ME.

NHTSA complaint #10461939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Ashford, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350 SD DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. ..UPDATED 11/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE HEADS CRACKED IT PUSHED WATER IN THE FUEL AND DESTROYED THE FUEL PUMP, INJECTORS, AND TURBO. UPDATED 11/29/12

NHTSA complaint #10452402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 139,414 miles Waukon, IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM 2003 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY ENGINE: TRITON 5.4L V8 DATE OF FAILURE: 03-10-11 MILEAGE OF TRUCK: 139414 THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ON A STATE HWY51 NEAR POSTVILLE, IA EJECTION OF SPARK PLUG FROM NUMBER 7 CYLINDER ON 5.4L V8 ENGINE. DAMAGE TO CYLINDER HEAD OF ENGINE AND SPARK PLUG COIL. THIS IS A WELL MAINTAINED 2003 F-350, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AT A FORD DEALER 01-19-09: 109156 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10392217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,000 miles Dacula, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SPARK PLUG BLEW FROM ENGINE ON 2003 FORD F-350 5.4 TRITON ON MAY 10TH 20010. ON FREEWAY APROX.65MPH. CANNOT RE-INSTALL PLUG DUE TO THREAD DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10329843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,500 miles Vancouver, WA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

FORD F350 EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE EXPERIENCED STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND/OR WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. THIS LOOKS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT AFFECTED VEHICLES IN THE 2004-2005 RECALL. ICP SENSOR LIGHT IS LIT AND MOST LIKELY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. SEPARATE OR RELATED ISSUE? : ENGINE WILL "REV-UP" WHILE DRIVING AND PRODUCE ACCELERATION WITHOUT GAS PEDAL BEING APPLIED. ENGINE WILL REV-UP AND/OR IDLE HIGH WHILE IN PARK AND WHEN STOPPED/BRAKES APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #10324699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Craig, CO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE STALLS - SURGES - RUNS ROUGH - PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE NEW - HAVE TAKEN TO FORD GARAGE AND THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED TO LAST.

NHTSA complaint #10295213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Bowling Green, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WE WERE USING OUR FORD F350 DIESEL (6.0 MOTOR) WITH 63,000. WE WERE GOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE PULLING A LOADED 5 HORSE TRAILER WHEN THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, 15 SECONDS LATER ENGINE CUT OFF. WE WERE IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAD NO POWER TO STEER OFF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT COME TO A FAST STOP BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OF HORSE TRAILER. WE HAD TO COAST APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AND PULL OFF ON THE LEFT SIDE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS TOO HEAVY AND GOING TO FAST TO LET US OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE. TRUCK WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD TO BE TOWED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND HOME. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $7500 TO $10000. I CHECKED ON WARRANTY AND BECAUSE IT IS A 2003 IT IS EXPIRED. CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT WERE IS NOT SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10284128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa FE, NM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

2003 FORD F350 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS, TRANSMISSION AND AN OIL LEAK. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE. HE ALSO NOTICED A DELAY OF ENGAGEMENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND THE FUEL GAUGE WAS STUCK. THE NUMBER 8 INJECTOR HAD FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A NEW PART AND THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDED A NEW SENSOR. IN THE FALL OF 2008, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ICP SENSOR (INJECTOR CONTROL PRESSURE) WAS THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH 2009, WHILE TOWING A TRACTOR, THE TRUCK LOST POWER AND AGAIN IT EMITTED SMOKE AND THERE WAS A HARSH JERK. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. THE NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 3 INJECTOR HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS A NEW OIL LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10270288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,300 miles Aberdeen, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I SMELLED HINT OF RAW FUEL WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM FOR 1-2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM. 3-4 WEEKS PRIOR TO PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST FOR 1-2 MINUTES. THIS SMOKE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH ROUGH IDLING THAT WHEN AWAY COMPLETELY UNTIL THE NEXT COLD START UP. THE PRECIPITATING EVENT FOR PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION WAS RAW FUEL SPRAYING ONTO THE TRAILER THAT WAS BEING PULLED. INSPECTION REVEALED RAW FUEL POOLED ON THE HORIZONTAL ENGINE SURFACES AND RAW FUEL IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY MANUFACTURER'S DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND TO BE A LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR CUP. IT WILL REQUIRE CHANGING ALL THE FUEL INJECTOR CUPS. THE DEALER SERVICE AGENT REPORTED THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THESE PARTICULAR MODELS. IT IS USUALLY A WARRANTY ITEM. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET AS THIS VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BY TIME LIMIT BUT NOT MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DENIED ANY OBLIGATION TO HELP RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO SAFE OPERATION GIVEN THAT IT SEEMS TO RUN UNIMPAIRED FROM A PERFORMANCE STANDPOINT.

NHTSA complaint #10258280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Naperville, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2003 FORD F-350 V10 EJECTED A SPARK PLUG FROM THE #3 CYLINDER.

NHTSA complaint #10254147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Coxs Creek, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I'M SURE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HEARD A TICKING NOISE ALSO, THEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO MISS UNDER LOAD. UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHICH CYLINDER IS THE PROBLEM, SOUNDS LIKE ALL MY BE BAD AT SOME TIME. FORD HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, NOT TAKING THE BLAME IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THEY RUN THEIR BUSINESS. OOOHHHH WAIT THEY ARE GETTING READY TO GO UNDER. WONDER WHY????

NHTSA complaint #10252038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Huachuca Ciity, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2003 FORD F350. DIESEL 6.0 LITER. HARD TO START EVEN WHEN WARM OUT, NOW IS NOT STARTING AT ALL, HAVE HAD THE SAME OIL LEAKS, AT SPEED OF 55 TO 60 JERKS HARD AND HAS EVEN STALLED WHILE DRIVING. JUST A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS AND WE KEEP SPENDING MONEY TO HAVE FIXED AND THEY JUST RECUR AGAIN. BEEN READING PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS US. FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10247457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,942 miles Murrieta, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F350 KING RANCH WITH A 6.0L DIESEL MOTOR. THE TRUCK HAS HAD A VARIETY OF SOFTWARE FAILURES WITH RESPECT TO THE PCM FOR THE MOTOR WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE MOTOR COMPLETELY AND INSTANTANEOUSLY SHUTTING DOWN OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER RESULTING IN THE TURBO OVER BOOSTING AND BLOWING UP THE INTERCOOLER OR NO PSI OUT OF THE TURBO LEAVING ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED TWICE IN THE MOUNTAINS PULLING A FULL TWO HORSE TRAILER (6,500 POUNDS). VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO BAKERSFIELD FORD, VISALIA FORD, RANCHO FORD FOR SERVICE. PCM SYSTEM WAS ALWAYS REFLASHED AND REPAIRS MADE UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL THE MOST RECENT TURBOCHARGER FAILURE 09-28-2008. THE VEHICLE WAS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS FAILURE COST ME $2,700. TODAY 10-6-2008 THE PCM LOST ALL ITS MEMORY AND I AGAIN LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OFF THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS FIVE DAYS AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK BACK FROM FORD. A PROCESS WAS WENT THROUGH AT FORD TO RE-LEARN THE "TURBO STRATEGY" AND THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO ME WORKING FINE.

NHTSA complaint #10244582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,800 miles Norton, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED OIL SPOTS ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,800.

NHTSA complaint #10236611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Cave Creek, AZ 2 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FORD MOTOR COMPANY PUT OUT DEFECTIVE COOLANTS ON THEIR 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES. I HAVE/HAD 2003 F350 KING RANCH TRUCK WITH 67,000 MILES. FORD WARRANTIES DIESEL ENGINES TO 5 YEAR 100,000. ON JUNE 24, 2008, I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY TRUCK OVERHEATED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED FORD NORTH SCOTTSDALE. THEY SAID THAT THE EJR COOLANTS ARE NOT GOOD ON THOSE TRUCKS AND MOST LIKELY IT GAVE OUT. THEY TOLD ME TO GET IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I DROPPED THE TRUCK OFF AT BELL FORD IN ARIZONA ON TUESDAY JUNE 24 TO LEARN THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY 28, 2008. I GOT DIAGNOSTICS DONE AND THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. BELL FORD SAID THEY BLEW BECAUSE THE COOLANT WENT OUT AND BLEW OUT THE WATER, WHICH OVERHEATED THE COOLANTS. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAD 2 CST (MARK & STEVE) "RESOLVE" THE DISPUTE AND SAY THEY CANT HELP US. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED, THAT WHY WOULD THEY NOT RECALL A PART THEY KNOW IS NOT EFFICIENT? THEY DID NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 6.0L. I AM LOOKING AT $4300 JUST FOR THE HEAD GASKETS AND THEN PLENTY MORE IN LABOR CHARGES. THIS DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE GETTING THE COOLANT FIXED. WILL I EVER BUY FORD AGAIN? MOST LIKELY NOT. THEY CANT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR HELP THEIR CUSTOMER. THIS IS A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN BABIED AND UP TO DATE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE. AND NOW ITS DESTROYED.

NHTSA complaint #10233199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Cave Creek, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN NOVEMBER 2004 WITH 42,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 67,000 MILES AND BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 28 MAY 2008 AND I DID NOT RENEW BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND IT HAS SUCH LOW MILEAGE. ON 24 JUNE 2008 THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED WHILE HAULING A HORSE TRAILER. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AND THE COST WILL BE IN EXCESS OF 4,000 DOLLARS. EVIDENTLY, THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ABOUT EGR COOLERS LEAKING WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AT A REPUTABLE DEALER THROUGH THE 3.5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. IS THERE ANY HELP THAT I CAN GET OR ADDRESSES WHERE THIS COMPLAINT MAY BE SENT? I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN, AND THAT IS SAD.

NHTSA complaint #10232916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Beach City, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE SURGING AT IDLE, MAKING THE VEHICLE JUMP FORWARD, ROUGH ACCELERATION, AND COMPLETE STALLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE ICP SENSOR, AND THE ICP WIRING HARNESS (WHICH WAS BURNT AND SHORTING OUT), AND CLEANED INJECTORS = $1348.00 THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT FORD RECALL NO. 05S34 ADDRESSES ON THE SAME TRUCK, SAME ENGINE (6.0), BUT ONE YEAR NEWER. FORD DID NOT RETURN OLD PARTS TO ME AND I FAILED TO ASK FOR THEM. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE SHORTING OUT OF THE ICP HARNESS, LIKE THE PROBLEM IN #05S34, CAUSED THE SENSOR TO FAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10228590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Panama City Beach, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE TRUCK (2003 F-350SD) LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE DEAL REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 6.0L D MOTORS. THE EGR VALVE WILL STOP UP AND NOT ALLOW THE EXHAUST TO ESCAPE.

NHTSA complaint #10228034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,289 miles Owings Mills, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

OUR COMPANY HAS PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F350 IN JULY 2003 IT HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD 3 TURBO'S INSTALLED IS RUNS ROUGH LACKS POWER AND CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WE DO NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK OFTEN BUT IS RUN DAILY. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PROBLEMS WE WOULD HAVE IF DRIVEN 500 MILES A WEEK . MY CONCERNS ARE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT AND I NEED TO PAY 1500 FOR A TURBO OR NEW ENGINE OR INJECTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10214738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Reno, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD IN MARCH OF 2006 REGARDING EMISSION. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE DEFECT IS COMPUTER RELATED. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A NEW RE- FLASH TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE DEFECT. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA complaint #10198194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Ringwood, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, TRUCK STARTED CUTTING OUT COULD BARELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SWAPPED IN MY SPARE CPS AND TRUCK STARTED RIGHT UP AND I DROVE AWAY WITH NO PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10189152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Warren, OR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE OPERATING AT A REDUCED SPEED. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION FOR A MOMENT, THE ENGINE RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE STALLING PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10168536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 144,000 miles Longview, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

THE ENGINE OF A 2003 FORD WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ENGINE BY THE FORD DEALER SHIP. A FEW DAYS AFTER WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK IT WAS DRIVEN APPROX. 600 MILES, PULLING A TRAILER, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO BACK FIRE AND SPUTTER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE TRUCK WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED FOR ANY VISUAL PROBLEMS AND THEN STARTED AGAIN. AFTER IT WAS RESTARTED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO PICK UP RPM. AT THAT POINT THE EGNITION WAS SHUT OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN! THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IT'S RPM UNTIL I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW UP. I TOLD MY GRANDWON WHO WAS TRAVELING WITH ME TO HIT THE DITCH AND I TRIED TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLES. I FINALLY HAD TO LEAVE FOR FEAR THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW UP IN MY FACE. THE ENGINE DID BLOW BUT NO FIRE WAS STARTED. I TOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY THE TURBO THAT WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. WE ARE NOT HAVING IT FIXED AND IT HAS NOT AS YET BEEN DETERMINED IF THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY RUINED. IF IT IS, THE TURBO CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WE ARE BEEING TOLD THAT THE WARRENTY ON THE NEW ENGINE WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE. THE CONCERN IS THE RUN AWAY ENGINE. SHOULD THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT ALWAYS SHUT OFF THE ENGINE? WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD BEEN IN GEAR AND THE TRUCK, PULLING A TRAILER, HAD BEEN RUNNING DOWN A CROUDED INTERSTATE? THE DEALERSHIP IS TREATING US FAIRLY ON THE TRADE IN BUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE WHEN A TRUCK IS OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10163051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Galion, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

MY 2003 F 350 W/6.0 DIESEL FORD IS VERY UNSAFE STALLING SOME TIME NO POWER.

NHTSA complaint #10160216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,700 miles Asheville, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

2003 FORD F350 CREW CAB TRUCK WITH 6.0 DIESEL POWERED ENGINE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CAUSE: FUSE #22 BLOWS AND THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A NINE MONTH PERIOD - LAST INCIDENT WAS ON DATE BELOW. TRUCK PURCHASED JUNE 30, 2003 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10155862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,450 miles Brick, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN RTE 37W IN TOMS RIVER NJ WHEN A LOUD "BOOM" OCCURRED IN MY ENGINE FOLLOWED BY A CONTINUOUS LOUD "TICKING" SOUND. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED (2003 FORD F-350) TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION. AFTER SPEAKING WITH LEAD TECHNICIANS AT FORD, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD MOTORS AND THEY ARE SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD DUE TO LACK OF THREADING WITHIN THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS WILL COST APPROX $4000.00 TO REPAIR THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY CANNOT ASSIST ME WITH THIS REPAIR AND DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORD MOTORS. I STARTED DOING MY OWN RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE VIA INTERNET AND HAVE COME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF CASES AND COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING WITH FORD ENGINES. THERE IS EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT IS IN THE WORKS OUT OF CALIFORNIA. SOME OF THE LINKS CONTAINING THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML HTTP://WWW.TWOGUYSGARAGE.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-7423.HTML HTTP://WWW.JASPERENGINES.COM/PDF/4.6_&_5.4_STRIPPED_THREADS.PDF THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THIS IS ALSO VERY COMMON AMONGST FORD TRUCK MOTORS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINKS I HAVE PROVIDED ABOVE OR EVEN DO A SEARCH ON SPARK PLUG PROBLEMS WITH FORD VEHICLES, YOU WILL SEE HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS BUT FORD FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10155567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Ford F-350 SD problems

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