2003 Ford F-250 Owner Complaints

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 consistently represented that the vehicle was in good working condition, had low mileage, showed no significant issues on the Carfax report, and would be an excellent vehicle for towing. The customer was discouraged from test driving the vehicle because it was low on fuel, and sales staff stated that the only reason it had not sold was the snowplow attached to the front. Immediately after taking possession of the vehicle on May 8, the customer experienced a serious issue with the electronic parking brake repeatedly engaging while driving. The customer contacted Metro Motors on the next business day and was instructed by the manager, Nate, to bring the vehicle back. Metro Motors later determined that the parking brake cable was broken and that the brakes were in poor condition. After discussions, the dealership agreed to perform repairs if the customer paid for the parts. After the repairs were completed, the customer noticed smoke coming from the wheels and immediately returned the vehicle to Metro Motors. The dealership retained the vehicle but failed to communicate the nature of the problem or any repair costs until notifying the customer that the vehicle was ready for pickup on June 6, 2026. Before taking possession of the vehicle again, the customer arranged for an independent mechanic to inspect it. Although the dealership manager was initially hesitant to allow the inspection, he ultimately permitted it. The mechanic determined that the vehicle's frame was broken and that it was unsafe to operate, particularly for towing, which was the purpose repeatedly disclosed to Metro Motors before purchase.

NHTSA ID

11747388

Incident

May 8, 2026

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 vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 171,000.

NHTSA ID

11658268

Incident

Jul 31, 2010

Mileage

171,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11618329

Incident

Sep 24, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11572268

Incident

Feb 13, 2024

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 contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11487100

Incident

Aug 31, 2022

Mileage

140,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11471677

Incident

Jun 15, 2022

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 are wearing a band around both the inside and outside of the tyres.

NHTSA ID

11461337

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

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 truly knows about this problem . To get it fixed they have to replace all the bolts do to the bolts being so rusted ! Now I only have 121, + miles on my2003 and with the bolts broken it starts admitting gas fumes into the cab . I did check your site and could only find but 1 complaint , so if this is an issue with the exhaust manifold bolts braking and all the ford forums are full of complaints where are they being filed at on your site ? And I do believe it is an issue because I have spoken to 5 different shoppes and 1 ford dealer , they all say the same thing SORRY but it is your problem ! ford knows but will not do anything about it ! I am having mine put in the shop for repairs on the week of 7 Feb 2022 , now that I found someone I could afford! I had quotes from I will not do the work because it is a V10 to $1000.00 per bolt please address this ! It won’t help me but maybe it will hold ford accountable for the product !

NHTSA ID

11450126

Incident

Feb 3, 2018

DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS DO NOT WORK

NHTSA ID

11374753

Incident

Nov 12, 2020

Mileage

92,000 mi

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 TODAY ITS SEEMS THE 3RD NEW TURBO STOPPED WORKING AND THE MOTOR HAS STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND EVEN THOUGH FORD KEPT TELLING ME THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF ME, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. WHEN THE TURBO FAILED AS I WAS TRYING TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY I HAD NO POWER AND NEARLY WAS REAR ENDED BY AN 18 WHEELER WHO WAS EXTREMELY ANGRY. I HAD TO STAY OFF THE FREEWAY ON OTHER ROADS TILL I COULD GET HOME. THE TRUCK DEVELOPED A BAD VIBRATION AND I WAS NOT SURE I WOULD GET IT HOME. IF I WOULD HAD BEEN TOLD BY FORD THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN OF THE DESIGN FLAW AND THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX IT, I WOULD HAVE NEVER POURED SO MUCH MONEY INTO IT. IT IS A LEMON AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE AND RESEARCHED THIS TRUCK. I FOUND OUT FORD NEW OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS WOULD HAVE THESE PROBLEMS BUT RELEASED THE TRUCK TO US ANYWAY. I NOW CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS TRUCK, I CAN'T FIX IT, I CAN'T SELL IT, AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS LIED TO AND CAUGHT THEM AND SAID, I NOW YOU HAVE BEEN LYING TO ME AND I DO NOT TRUST YOU, I WAS LABELED A HOSTEL CUSTOMER. I ASK YOU, WHO LIKES TO BE LIED TO? THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON INTO 2 YEARS NOW. NOW I HAVE NO TRUCK. I AM INTERNING WHERE IT ASKS "WHEN THIS HAPPENED" TODAY'S DATE. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11271727

Incident

Oct 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PENSKE FORD (LOCATED AT 8970 LA MESA BLVD, LA MESA, CA 91942, (619) 464-7777), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11265693

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

Mileage

72,000 mi

BRAKE LINES COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE SECONDED TIME.

NHTSA ID

11231117

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

144,287 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN KO-II TIRES, SIZE: 265/75/16. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (DISCOUNT TIRE, 11881 MAGNOLIAM AVE, RIVERSIDE, CA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DOT NUMBER, VIN, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11166533

Incident

May 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN KO TIRES, SIZE: 265/75/16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. THE TIRE WAS RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER (DISCOUNT TIRE, 11881 MAGNOLIAM AVE, RIVERSIDE, CA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN, DOT NUMBER, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11166528

Incident

May 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL STRAPS, WHICH FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO HANG. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11S21, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11123050

Incident

May 7, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEANING TO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED OLIVER FORD-LINCOLN (1001 E JEFFERSON ST, PLYMOUTH, IN 46563, (800) 448-8292) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.

NHTSA ID

11113898

Incident

Jul 25, 2018

Mileage

23,000 mi

MY FRONT END SHAKES IT'S NOT THE HIGH SPEED WOBBLE MY TRAILER BRAKES THEY DO NOT WORK I'M BLOWING FUSES IN MY FUSE BOX VIA TRAILER MY TRUCK MAKES A MOANING SOUND KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE A FOGHORN THIS IS WHEN I STARTED OR I COME TO A STOP AND WHEN IT'S IDLING DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME MY SHIFTER ON MY COLUMN CAME LOOSE AND WON'T GO INTO PARK

NHTSA ID

11093839

Incident

May 7, 2017

Mileage

155,000 mi

FAILED SMOG AND EVERY TIME SENSORS ARE REPLACED FAILURE HAPPENS AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11092790

Incident

Apr 30, 2018

Mileage

189,168 mi

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE PULLED OVER THEN WHEN I PUT THE TRUCK INTO DRIVE TO PULL OUT IT BARELY MOVED. WE WERE ALMOST HIT BC THE TRUCK WOULDN'T MOVE SO I PUT IN IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD AND IT DID FINE. SO I TRIED TO PULL OUT AGAIN N DRIVE AND AGAIN IT WOULDN'T GO NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I GAVE IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS DROWNDING OUT OR IT ISN'T GETTING GAS. BUT LIKE I SAID. IT WON'T GO FORWARD IN DRIVE OR 1ST OR 2ND. ONLY IN REVERSE WILL IT MOVE NORMALLY. THIS IS MAJOR!!! I CAN'T HAVE MY KIDS AT RISK BC THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK ABOUT 3 WEEKS SO IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

NHTSA ID

11092593

Incident

May 8, 2018

Mileage

300,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL COURAGIA A/T TIRES, SIZE 285/75/R16 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING OUT FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RETURN THE CONTACT'S CALL. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID

11076706

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

158,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HIS HEAD AND SHOULDER, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DROVE 10 MPH TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THREE DAYS LATER TO VISELIA AUTO BODY FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WENT TO MONARCH FORD (132 N D ST, EXETER, CA 93221, (559) 592-3800), BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 345,555. *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

11051532

Incident

Mar 15, 2017

Mileage

345,555 mi

I HAD PARKED MY TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT IT IN PARK, SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AS I STEPPED OUT OF THE TRUCK THE TRUCK ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY DRAGGING ME ABOUT 100 FT STIKING THE POWER POLE AT THE END OF THE DIVEWAY. THE POLE WAS ROTTED AND FELL ON THE TRUCK CRUSHING ME BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR.

NHTSA ID

11042654

Incident

Oct 9, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

DRIVING 50-60 HIT A BUMP AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE, UNABLE TO CONTROL THE BREAKS AND STEERING. THIS LAST TIME I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT CAUSED ME TO ENTER THE LANE NEXT TO ME NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. WHEN THE SHAKING STOPS, THE TRUCK RUNS SMOOTH WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF A PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID OF MY FAMILIES SAFETY!!!

NHTSA ID

11032830

Incident

Oct 10, 2017

Mileage

102,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID

11024034

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

Mileage

143,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE HARNESS AND CAM SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS OVERCHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10990992

Incident

Apr 30, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi