RoadVitals

2003 Ford E350 Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
11
Latest Aug 26, 2013
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.
24%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 11 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 fuel system

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

Fuel system
Filed Aug 26, 2013

THE FORD E-350 VAN BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER THEN STALLED ON MD ROUTE 43. THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY TO PULL OF THE ROAD WAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED AFTER WAITING 15 MINUTES THEN DROVE ANOTHER 2 MILES UNTIL IT STALLED AGAIN. AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED. THE FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE DELAMINATING AND CLOGGING THE FUEL LINES WITH SILVER STRANDS OF COATING FROM INSIDE THE TANK. A NEW TANK IS BEING ORDERED AND INSTALLED ALONG WITH CLEANING THE FUEL SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO WARNING. THIS 15 PASSENGER VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT A DISASTER. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE USED AS SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION WHICH WOULD MULTIPLY THE TRAGEDY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10537191
Incident
Aug 14, 2013
Mileage
231,121 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 18, 2013

LOST POWER. FILTER HEAVILY PLUGGED PARTICULATE. DROPPED TANK. BOTTOM OF TANK HAS 1/2" SILVERY FLAKES. FUEL PICK-UP SCREEN PLUGGED. BOILED AND REINSTALLED TANK. FUEL PUMP FAILURE ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER. NEW PUMP. AT 149000 MILE, NEW TANK AND MAY NEED NEW PUMP. TANK WAS DELAMINATING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508712
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
102,375 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 31, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND PREVENT HIM FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DELAMINATING AND CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK AND TRANSFER PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10446041
Incident
Jan 15, 2012
Mileage
189,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 8, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS DETERIORATING WHICH CLOGGED UP THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING UP HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE CLOGGED UP. THE MECHANIC WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FOR OVER $1000 AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HIM TO CONTACT NHTSA SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALSO INFORMED HIM THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. LOW SULFUR DIESEL CAUSES FUEL TANK LINING TO BREAK DOWN. PARTICLES FROM THIS LINING CLOGS UP EVERYTHING DOWN STREAM. FUEL PUMP FILTER CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE AND A THREAT ON ROAD WAYS. UPDATED 11/01/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID
10424314
Incident
Aug 8, 2011
Mileage
100,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 7, 2010

FAILURE OF FUEL VAPOR VALVE ASSEMBLY PART #F65Z*9B593*DA. GAS VAPORS BUILD UP IN TANK AND ARE RELEASED UNDER PRESSURE WHEN GAS CAP REMOVED FOR REFUELING. VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY WITH NO WARNING LIGHT FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS OR MORE BEFORE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY UNDER THE CORRECT CONDITIONS THESE VAPORS COULD IGNITE AT GAS PUMP WHEN REFUELING. I HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS OF LETTERS, PHONE CALLS AND VISITS TO FORD DEALERSHIP, ALSO DEFECTIVE VALVE WAS SENT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND RETURNED TO ME WITH A LETTER SAYING IN PART "RETURNING PART AS WE DO NOT HAVE FACILITIES FOR INSPECTING OR EVALUATION" I WAS ALSO INFORMED MY REQUEST WITH SERVICE MANAGER AT GATOR FORD TO MEET WITH MYSELF AND REP. FROM FORD IS NOT POSSIBLE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE AND WELL MAINTAINED. PARTS LETTERS AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU MAY NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER WILL BE PROVIDED FROM ME AT YOUR REQUEST. CORDIALLY YOURS, DANIEL TRZASKA

NHTSA ID
10364911
Incident
Apr 17, 2010
Mileage
23,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK LINING CAME OFF CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO RUST, CLOGGING THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL INJECTORS. THE FUEL ENTERING THE INJECTORS WAS MINIMAL WHICH MADE THE TRUCK VERY HARD TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS A CLOGGED INJECTOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED FOR $970 WHICH CAUSE THE IDENTICAL FAILURE TO RECUR. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID
10348628
Incident
Jan 11, 2010
Mileage
98,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 26, 2010

SUDDEN FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL FILTER MOUNTING HOUSING ON THE ENGINE. RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DOWN TIME AND EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314673
Incident
Jan 13, 2010
Mileage
84,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 26, 2010

FUEL LEAKS IN 7.3L AND 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES IN FORD E-350 AMBULANCES. WE HAVE HAD 4 FAILURES OF THE FUEL FILTER MOUNTING WHICH HAVE CRACKED AND RESULTED IN FUEL LEAKS. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT OUR EXPENSE WITH SIGNIFICANT DOWN TIME. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN AVERAGING ABOUT $900.00 FOR EACH AMBULANCE. THERE ARE NO TSB OR RECALLS ACCORDING TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER. BUT PARTS ARE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314671
Incident
Feb 23, 2010
Mileage
106,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 29, 2008

WHEN DRIVING MY TRUCK LAST WEEK IT STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND VIOLENTLY SHAKING. IT WOULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 30MPH ON 95. WE FOUND THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED. WE THEN REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND FOUND WHAT LOOKED TO BE SILVER PAINT CHIPS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE LINING OF THE TANK IS DELAMINATING. THIS HAS CLOGGED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TANK BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEW TANK WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND THE REPAIRS TO THIS POINT WILL COST ME ABOUT 1000 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243951
Incident
Sep 29, 2008
Mileage
124,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 6, 2008

I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND CROSSING AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF SITTING THE VEHICLE RAN FINE. LATER IN TRAFFIC IT DID IT AGAIN AND AN ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY PRO AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES AND FOUND THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK LINING IS FLAKING OFF BLOCKING THE FUEL LINES AND STALLING THE VEHICLE OUT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND UNHEARD OF PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND THE FUEL TANK INSIDE IS FLAKING BADLY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL OR FAIL IN TRAFFIC. THERE WHERE NO FAILURE CODES DISPLAYED OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241189
Incident
Aug 28, 2008
Mileage
155,753 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 2, 2007

2003 FORD E350 WITH FUEL LINE PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT SMOKE COMING FROM THE DOGHOUSE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE DOGHOUSE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FUEL LINE AND A HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINE CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK OUT**CC *JB

NHTSA ID
10199124
Incident
Jan 1, 1901

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .