RoadVitals

2003 Ford F-250 Sd Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
15
Latest Jun 1, 2016
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.
8%
of 178 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.
6
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 the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford F-250 Sd submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Jun 1, 2016
Fire reported

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF MOTOR AND BREAKING COIL CAUSING IT TOO LEAK FUEL VAPORS OUT POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THREE DIFFERENT CERTIFIED MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED THIS IS CAUSED TO DEFECT IN THE ALUMINUM HEADS FROM FACTORY NOT HAVING ENOUGH THREADS CAUSING THE SPARK PLUG TO BLOW OUT. POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR FIRE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS ADDRESSED AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WE HAD A SMALL ENGINE FIRE CAUSING SLIGHT DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
10871769
Incident
Apr 10, 2012
Mileage
160,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 20, 2011

TRUCK BEGAN BLOWING FUSE #45, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF INSTRUMENTS AND NO THROTTLE ACTIVATION AVAILABLE. SEEMS TO OCCUR MOST OFTEN WHEN TURNING LEFT, AND/OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK OR REVERSE INTO DRIVE, OR DRIVE INTO REVERSE OR PARK. HAS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER IN ALL OF THE ABOVE SITUATIONS, WITH THE ENGINE ONLY IDLING. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE HEADING UPHILL, VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM, AND IS DUE TO INSULATION BEING RUBBED OFF PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS THAT RUNS THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN. SAME RESEARCH INDICATES FORD CHANGED THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS IN LATE 2003. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE BY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10426540
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
160,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 7, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BARELY ACCELERATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL AT LOW SPEEDS. ONCE HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE SENSOR MODULE (ICP) INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THROUGH RESEARCH, HE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V270000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA05003 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING). IN 2004, A 2004 ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. HE BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT BECAUSE IT HAD A 2004 ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000. UPDATED 08/31/09 *BF UPDATED 09/03/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10279670
Incident
Aug 4, 2009
Mileage
61,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 3, 2006

FAILED CPS (CAM POSITION SENSOR). *JB

NHTSA ID
10158917
Incident
Apr 12, 2006
Mileage
67,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 16, 2006

CPS FAILURE ON A FORD F250 7.3 L TRUCK TRUCK STARTED CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10157681
Incident
May 7, 2006
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 21, 2006

I OWN A 2003 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY WITH A 7.3 LITRE DIESEL ENGINE. I CAME OVER A HILL AND WAS FACED WITH STOPPED TRAFFIC. I HAD A LOAD IN THE TRUCK BED MAKING THE TRUCK HEAVIER. THE TRUCK STALLED AND MY POWER BRAKING WAS LOST. I HAD TO STEER INTO THE MEDIUM CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE REAR OF A SMALL CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND SHE HAD A BABY IN THE CAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE TRUCK NO LONGER STALLS. ANOTHER NAME FOR THE PART IS A DIESEL CAM SENSOR. MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TRUCK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153341
Incident
Mar 21, 2006
Mileage
53,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 28, 2005
Fire reported

F250 FORD DIESEL CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM AS OF DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN TUSCALOOSA, AL IN JANUARY FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED FOR A BURNING SMELL AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER. THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND A MONTH LATER THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ID
10112321
Incident
Feb 11, 2005
Electrical
Filed Jul 30, 2004
Fire reported

CONSUMER ENTERED THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START, CALLED AAA, THEY ARRIVED, OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. THE VEHICLE BURNED UP. MANUFACTURER WAS BEING NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10083930
Incident
Jul 26, 2004
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 24, 2004

EXTREMELY POOR FUEL ECONOMY ON FORD 7.3 L DIESEL ENGINE. BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW APPROX 1 YEAR AGO, VEHICLE WAS GETTING 18 MILES PER GALLON UNTIL DEC. 2003. AS OF JAN. 2004 THE VEHICLE MILEAGE HAS BEEN 9 MILES BE GALLON. VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF POWER AND HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD DIAGNOSTIC SAY THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. IF ANYTHING, A DIESEL ENGINE SHOULD GET BETTER MILEAGE AS IT IS BROKEN IN. CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE IS APPROX. 25500 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED, OIL CHANGE, FILTER, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER EVERY 3000 TO 4000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT TWO TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT CORRECTION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10063760
Incident
Mar 20, 2004
Mileage
18,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I HAVE HAD ROUGH IDLE PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. THIS WAS THE FIRST DIESEL VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED SO IN THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL, BUT IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN APRIL 2003. I HAVE HAD HARD SHIFTING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. WHEN I BACK THE TRUCK UP AND THEN SHIFT INTO DRIVE IT WILL SLAM INTO GEAR AS A VEHICLE WITH NO TRANSMISSION FLUID REACTS. THERE WAS A DANGEROUS HESITATION WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC AND SOMETIMES THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE A 3-5 SECOND STALL. IT HAS BLOWN WHITE SMOKE MORE RECENTLY AND WOULD NOT KICK DOWN INTO PASSING GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO FIX AT THAT TIME. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER AND SHE TELLS ME THAT THE FIX WILL RAISE THE NOISE LEVEL UP 5 DECIBELS. THIS WILL MAKE THE TRUCK LOUDER THAN IT WAS WHEN IT WAS SOLD TO ME. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK BECAUSE OF THE POWER AND HOW QUIET IT WAS. NOW IT WILL GET LOUDER? I REQUESTED THAT FORD BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AND THEY WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM FIRST! EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE LOUDER. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I HAVE MY RECEIPTS BUT DIDN'T FIND OUT HOW MUCH THE REPAIRS HAVE COST ALL TOGETHER, BUT FORD HAS NOT CHARGED ME ANYTHING... YET

NHTSA ID
10071003
Incident
May 15, 2003
Mileage
500 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

ON GOING PROBLEMS WILL STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN'T PULL ACROSS INTERSECTION LOSS OF POWER TRANS WILL SHIFT OR NOT STEERING ALL OVER ROAD SMOKES BADDLY WHEN STARTED

NHTSA ID
10069106
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
4,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Fire reported

WENT TO START TRUCK , STARTER TURNED SLOWLY, TRUCK WOULD NOT START. TRIED AGAIN, SAME RESULTS, BUT WITH THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ACCOMPANIED BY A FAIR AMOUNT OF SMOKE EMANATING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AT THE REAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE FIRE IT SELF EXTINGUISHED. DAMAGE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER. *CB

NHTSA ID
10054238
Incident
Jan 14, 2004
Mileage
7,800 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 6, 2004
Fire reported

MY FORD F-250 6.0 DIESEL FAILED TO START AND MADE A FUNNY NOISE. MINUTES LATER IT WAS ON FIRE AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10052507
Incident
Dec 30, 2003
Mileage
20,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 22, 2003
Fire reported

I WENT TO START THE FORD 250 DIESEL AT 0515 WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 50 DEGREES (FAHRENHEIT). THE STARTER WAS TURNING SLOW, TO SLOW TO START A DIESEL. I TRIED ONE MORE TIME AND IT GOT SLOWER. I GOT IN AN ANOTHER CAR AND WENT TO WORK. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER MY WIFE HEARD SOME POPPING AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ME. I GOT THEIR IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND IT WAS IN FLAMES. IT WAS TOTALED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047359
Incident
Nov 13, 2003
Mileage
6,500 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 18, 2003

VEHICLE SOMETIMES SURGES AT A STOP LIGHT BY 250-300 RPM. VEHICLE STALLS ON ROAD AND BUCKS AT 55 AND 70 MILE AREA BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. ONE DAY VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE ALL THE LIFTERS WERE STUCK. SOUNDED LIKE METAL PARTS FLYING TOGETHER COMING FROM ENGINE. ROUGH IDLE AND SMOKES AT TIMES. GAS GAUGE SOMETIMES STICKS ON FULL FOR 50-60 MILES THEN FALLS TO 3/4 OR LESS. SOMETIMES NO POWER AND THEN AT TIMES WITH POWER. MILEAGE FELL FROM 16.9 CITY TO 12.5 TO 13.2. RPM NEEDLE 1,500 TO 2,500 WITHOUT ENGINE SURGING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES WITH ONLY 5,000 MILES. ENGINEER DROVE IT 50 MILES AND SAID "NO PROBLEMS." *LA

NHTSA ID
10043178
Incident
Sep 1, 2003
Mileage
1,600 mi

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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .