2003 Ford F-250 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Tires (13) · Electrical System (8) · Engine And Engine Cooling (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-250 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
79 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2011-07-13 · campaign 11V352000 · 26,715 vehicles
Defect: 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 EQU
Risk: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (44)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2005-02-01 · 18406 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service tips before arc welding on the frame or body of a unit. *tt
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2005-02-01 · 18397 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lack of power, surge, and/or diagnostic trouble codes p2263 or p0299. *tt
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2005-01-01 · 18376 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
a cold weather reverse engagement stall. *tt
Electrical System 2004-12-31 · 0471 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
warning indicators-parking aid-reverse sensing system (rss) and forward sensing system (fss)-false activation of warning tone-service tips. *mj update. *tt
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2004-12-13 · 042107 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
general (pcm) power train control module programming procedures. *tt
Vehicle Speed Control 2004-12-13 · 042411 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
memontary return to idle during aggressive acceleration - diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0123. *tt
Showing the 6 most recent of 44 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-30 · Unknown Or Other“the customer purchased a vehicle from metro motors on may 8, 2026, after visiting the dealership three times and speaking with multiple sales representatives. during each visit, the customer specifically stated that the vehicle would be used to tow a trailer and repeatedly asked whether it was safe and suitable for towing. the sales staff consisten…”
2025-05-01 · Engine · 171,000 mi“the contact owned a 2003 ford f-250. the contact stated that while her husband was driving home, there was black smoke coming from the exhaust, with the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was driven to the residence and turned off. the contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. the veh…”
2024-10-06 · Service Brakes · 🔥 fire“truck had no check engine light then caught on fire going down the road and burned to ground within seconds incident report 46-24-05039 08_30-74 us-30 - pa 74 30 w …”
2024-02-16 · Vehicle Speed Control · 🔥 fire“speed control sensor allows brake fluid leak through the plug connector and run down the wiring harness, allowing brake fluid to splash on the exhaust manifold and cause a fire. …”
2022-09-29 · Electrical System · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 ford f-250. the contact stated that both turn signals and the windshield wipers would intermittently fail to operate as needed. over time, the failure worsened and the components failed to operate. the dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. the con…”
2022-06-30 · Fuel/Propulsion System“fuel tank straps corrode causing fuel tank to fall off a recall was issued for other similar ford trucks, but this model was not included …”
2022-04-19 · Unknown Or Other“when the truck accelerates and reaches about 40-5mph the truck begins to wobble sideways. this wobbling sensation shakes the steering wheel violently and as the speed increases so does the shake. i have not had the truck over 65mph as it becomes unmanageable and is very hard to keep in its lane. the tyres are wearing funny as a result. all 4 wheels…”
2022-02-03 · Engine“i have been trying to get the exhaust manifold bolts replaced by several machine shops and did my own checking on the ford f-250 web site and everyone tells me the same thing! ford knows about the problem but is doing nothing to correct! i have finally found a shop that will fix the broken exhaust manifold blots ! but i would like to know what ford…”
2020-11-15 · Electrical System · 92,000 mi“directional signals do not work…”
2019-10-28 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i have paid over $6.000 dollars to my local ford dealer to fix my truck just to have them tell me there is no way to fix the problem, its a design flaw from ford that can not be fixed. i have been back and forth with ford motor company, i have been lied to, strong along, calls not returned and so on. the design flaw has to do with the egr. and toda…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.