RoadVitals

2003 Ford E350 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Apr 13, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 46 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford E350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 13, 2015

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705391
Incident
Apr 10, 2015
Mileage
136,398 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 13, 2015

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705390
Incident
Sep 15, 2014
Mileage
108,458 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 13, 2015

SPARK PLUGBLOWNOUT OF HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705382
Incident
Jul 8, 2014
Mileage
106,120 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 13, 2015

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705380
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
101,604 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-350. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED A BOLT SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS DEFECT ALSO CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,895 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,395.

NHTSA ID
10427566
Incident
Aug 25, 2011
Mileage
39,895 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2010

HAVE A 2003 FORD E-350 VAN CNG GAS CONVERSION. AT 97,000 MILES A SPARK PLUG BLEW COMPLETELY OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND BROKE OFF THE IGNITION COIL THAT WAS BOLTED TO THE HEAD. THE CNG GAS COULD HAVE POSSIBLY IGNITED AND CAUSED A FIRE SINCE THE FUEL WAS STILL BEING SENT TO THAT PARTICULAR CYLINDER AND THE SPARK WAS STILL SPARKING EVENTHOUGH IT WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE HOLE. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE UNTIL I RESEARCHED IT AFTER IT OCCURRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON IN FORD ENGINES THAT ARE 5.4 LITER. THE REPAIR IS AROUND $2500. TO PULL THE ENGINE AND REPAIR THE HEAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF WE HAD CONTINUE DRIVING THE VAN. THIS OCCURRED 9/27/2010. *TR

NHTSA ID
10359622
Incident
Sep 27, 2010
Mileage
97,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 4, 2008

E-350 VAN 5.4 MOTOR THE #3 SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220074
Incident
Feb 28, 2008
Mileage
233,105 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL 35 MPH. IT WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER AND TEST DRIVEN TO RECREATE THE OVERHEATING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC INSTALLED GAUGES TO MONITOR THE ENGINE'S HEAT MORE CLOSELY. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON 8 OCCASIONS, UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

NHTSA ID
10164496
Incident
Jul 26, 2006
Mileage
59,500 mi
Engine
Filed May 29, 2006

MY 2003 FORD E-350 WITH THE 7.3 L DIESEL QUIT, WITH 74,000 + MILES. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED CAM SHAFT SYNCHRONIZER, FORD REPLACEMENT PART F7TZ-12K073-A. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158483
Incident
May 5, 2004
Mileage
74,100 mi
Engine
Filed May 12, 2003
Fire reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY PREPARING TO EXIT WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD "POP" AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUSED 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO THE CONSUMER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019651
Incident
May 6, 2003

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Fuel system11Electrical9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .