2003 Ford F-350 SD problems & reliability

Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.

Most reported problems

Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.

Common symptoms owners describe

Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.

Mileage when problems occurred

Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 50,000 miles (middle 50% between 23,336 and 90,250 miles), based on 103 complaints that included mileage.

Complaints by incident year

What owners report

• “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…”

  Unknown OR Other · filed Oct 22, 2018

• “I purchased lt265/75/16 bf goodrich rugged terrain t/a tires for my truck exactly 5 years and just over 21k miles later I had 2 separate tire failures less than a few hundred miles apart. First tire a belt slipped. Had a giant bulge in the tread. I put my spare on and inspected the other tires. All ok. No cracks no…”

  Wheels · filed Jul 17, 2017

• “Tire failure. Destroyed my outer fender on 2003 f350 dually damaged included, outer fender, inner fender, damage to the bed of the truck, and damage to the support brackets. Bought this truck used about a month ago. Not sure when the tires were purchased. Mileage on tires is an assumption”

  Tires · filed Jun 16, 2016

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.

Federal defect investigations

• ENGINE STALLING

  Engineering Analysis EA06012 · opened Jun 22, 2006 · closed Dec 7, 2007 · led to recall 07V553000

• SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

  Defect Petition DP05005 · opened Sep 22, 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2006

• ENGINE STALLING

  Engineering Analysis EA05003 · opened Feb 15, 2005 · closed Nov 2, 2005 · led to recall 05V270000

• ENGINE STALLING

  Preliminary Evaluation PE04070 · opened Oct 7, 2004 · closed Feb 15, 2005

• ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR (ETC)

  Engineering Analysis EA04006 · opened Feb 23, 2004 · closed Feb 10, 2005

Technical service bulletins

87 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2003 Ford F-350 SD. The 10 most recent:

• When performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV has replaced all versions of MERCON SP and can be used going forward. Mixing MERCON LV and MERCON SP in the same transmission is…

  SSM 51909 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 7, 2023

• This SKU is a Transmission Line. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the connector. The transmission line connector may have an incorrect thread size, which will prevent it from…

  RFI20210210_624- · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 10, 2021

• This SKU is a Spare Tire Hoist. Test results identified that the pull force parameter was not within specification, as a precautionary measure unsold inventory was requested to be returned for testing and containment…

  DOR-U2J7Y-02 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 13, 2020

• This SKU is a Spare Tire Hoist. Test results identified that the pull force parameter was not within specification, as a precautionary measure unsold inventory was requested to be returned for testing and containment…

  DOR-C2C6H-02 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 13, 2020

• Some 2002-2008 F-Super Duty, F-150 and Mark LT vehicles may exhibit concern during or after programing the VSM. The programming may fail or vehicle symptoms such as inoperative door locks, dome lamps, door ajar…

  SSM 48157 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 2, 2019

• This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the…

  DOR-B8H4Z-11 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 2, 2018

• Ford: when shifting between park, reverse and/or during 2-3 shift, an intermittent clunk occurs with a torqshift transmission. Model 2003-2014 f-super duty, e series, excursion, f-53 motorhome chassis, low cab forward…

  ASI-44534 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2014

• Ford: the restraint control module (rcm) when using vcm ii, would have an error code 35 and diagnostic trouble code (dtc) b1035, and difficulty attempting programmable module installation (pmi). Model 2001-2004 f-super…

  ASI-44408 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 1, 2014

• Ford: on some trucks, there is a no crank situation and if voltage on transmission range sensor at pin 21, is less than 5 volts, disconnect the engine cooling fan clutch, electronically, and recheck voltage. Model…

  ASI-44404 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 1, 2014

• Ford trucks service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Vehicles have experienced severe steering wheel and front wheel vibrations and oscillations after traveling over a bump or dip in the road…

  LP-09L02 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 1, 2013

TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.

Safety recalls

The 2003 Ford F-350 SD has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.