Print this page

1.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
91,143 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Ford F-350 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Ford F-350:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2003 Ford F-350 Owner Comments

problem #7

Sep 162021

F-350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The wires for the camshaft position sensor are failing just like they have in others models of the f series and cause the truck to suddenly die while driving. There was already a recall in place but it doesn't cover this vin and so I would like to request the recall be extended to this trucks vin

- Lexington, OR, USA

problem #6

Jun 102018

F-350

  • 110,000 miles
As I am sure you must be aware of this issue: I purchased used a 2003 Ford -F350. I had many issues and had worked most of them out. There were many issues that were possible I was clearly unaware of. One being of utmost safety to myself and others. My high pressure oil pump located inside the engine of my 2003 Ford F-350 6.0 diesel failed. When that happens the engine stops. The high pressure oil pump provides needed pressure to the injectors in order to have a running engine. Being parked and the hpop failing is one thing however driving 55mph on a 2 lane highway against oncoming traffic on a turn is a very bad situation. I am fortunate that I am still very strong at the age of 54. My hpop failed going 55mph on a long left hand turn. As the engine shuts down by brakes are limited to a small amount of storage and then they fail. The steering however fails immediately. I was heading strait head on I to a tracktor trailer rig. It took every ounce of strength to attempt to steer this vehicle out of the other land and brake getting it off the road asap. If the big rig had not made an attempt to miss me, I wouldnt be sending this letter. I wonder how many other people had not the strength to steer out of a situation or have time to stop and were killed. The report most likely said" driver fell asleep." Or something to that affect. There is no way this engine should be allowed to continue operation on the road period. Ford should honor all current owners of this vehicle with a very reasonable settlement not to mention having a formal investigation into this matter. I know of no other vehicles on the road that have such an issue. Complete failure of steering and brakes due to an unforeseen internal mechanical issue is a very poor design. Running out of fuel is one thing, however running out of control is absurd. Had I know who to write too sooner I would have.

- Burney, CA, USA

problem #5

Oct 302019

F-350

  • 160,000 miles
Just driving on highway 41 and it just stopped. Engine went dead. Pulled over to side of road and tried starting again and it wouldnt start. Had to get it towed. Its been in shop for 20 days. Needs a new fuel tank because the inner lining is peeling and particles are going through engine! need help I purchased this truck in 2015 and its been in shop 7 different times.

- Selma, CA, USA

problem #4

Sep 262016

F-350

  • 133,003 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving along loud noise pulled over to find a spark plug blew out of the engine block taking the threads with it. No fire thank goodness!

- Newbury Park, CA, USA

problem #3

May 182015

F-350

  • 105,000 miles
I was driving down the road and I heard a loud pop. The engine had a very abrupt loss in power and began shaking as I tried to accelerate. I was on a 2 lane road and had no choice but to try and maintain my speed to prevent causing an accident from being rear ended. After driving several miles to a place I could safely stop, I checked under the hood an a spark plug had been shot from the engine. After reviewing this on the web, there are many complaints like mine where spark plugs were shot out of engines. NHTSA needs to evaluate this as review. Had the engine caught fire I would not have known and I had no where to pull off the road. This is a result of an cylinder head with inadequate threads for spark plugs to thread into and take hold over time the aluminum weakens and this happens. If this wasn't a problem why did Ford redesign cylinder heads after these model engines to accommodate more threading to hold the spark plugs in the engine?

- Frankfort, KY, USA

problem #2

Jul 062010

F-350 8-cyl

  • miles
I called Ford Motor Company my 2003 Ford F350 sd. SC. 4X4 5.4 eng. With the problem with both exhaust manifolds rotting away & the studs & nuts that hold the exhaust manifolds to engine heads that they were all rotting away, they told me we won't fix the problems for free. I would like for to investigate this problem before many people will get injury or many fatality will happen when the exhaust manifolds fall off and catch on fire & burn up because fire comes out of the engine to the exhaust manifolds. I talked to many Ford dealers they told me that they have replaced many of these exhaust manifolds with the same problems I have & had to charge the owner of these trucks & many other years of these Ford trucks. Please help me & many other owners of these Ford trucks to make Ford Motor Company recall this problems before people will die & fix this problem for free. Thanks

- Norwood, MA, USA

problem #1

Sep 012013

F-350

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the engine coolant level was found to be prematurely low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, who advised the contact that the head gasket head bolts were defective. The manufacture was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 130,000.

- Ravensdale, WA, USA

Not what you are looking for?