Model year record

2003 Ford F-250 SD

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 229 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V352000

Exterior lighting: tail lights

Component: Exterior lighting: tail lights
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 26,715
Reported to NHTSA: 2011-07-13
Owners notified: 2011-08-15

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Safety risk

NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V399000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 4,500,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2009-10-13
Owners notified: 2009-10-27

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Safety risk

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V553000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel

Component: Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 1,176,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-12-05
Owners notified: 2007-12-29

Defect description

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V078000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 155,584
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-03-06
Owners notified: 2007-03-12

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Safety risk

OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel	27	1,740 mi
Engine and engine cooling	21	77,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	14	55,238 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	12	45,000 mi
Tires	12	38,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel	9	16,000 mi
Steering	8	47,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	6	68,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	6	113,000 mi
Power train	6	4,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	6	59,000 mi
Electrical system	5	18,000 mi
Suspension: front	5	47,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	5	60,000 mi
Unknown or other	5	98,000 mi
Equipment	4	84,920 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	4	1,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	4	2,865 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	3	75,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system	3	8,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump	3	47,235 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	53,000 mi
Electrical system: starter assembly	2	6,500 mi
Electrical system: wiring	2	50,000 mi
Engine	2	102,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	5,918 mi
Equipment: electrical	2	500 mi
Service brakes	2	24,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	2	32,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	2	14,296 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	2	11,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	2	45,000 mi
Structure	2	30,000 mi
Suspension	2	170,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint	2	32,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint	2	32,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables	1	—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	—
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	1	14,296 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)	1	1,249 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	53,197 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger	1	35,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger	1	297 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	75,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	—
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	26,200 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	14,296 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	1	89,919 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	17,500 mi
Parking brake	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	1	—
Power train: driveline	1	72,000 mi
Seats: mid/rear assembly	1	14,296 mi
Service brakes, air: disc	1	3,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	1	15,225 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	18,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	—
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	5 mi
Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection	1	11,088 mi
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm	1	11,088 mi
Structure: body	1	88,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	1	600 mi
Suspension: rear	1	600 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	1	35,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	1	88,154 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior	1	—
Wheels	1	120,000 mi

The 2002 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2004 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.