RoadVitals

2003 Ford F-250 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.
13
Latest Jun 30, 2022
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.
11%
of 116 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 F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 Jun 30, 2022

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
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 28, 2019

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
Fuel system
Filed Aug 28, 2018

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
Fuel system
Filed Jul 26, 2018

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
Body & structureEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE OIL PUMP. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. AT LEAST TWELVE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT LEAST TWELVE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE MAIN FAILURE WAS THE TURBO BRACKET BEING UNSTABLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOUR BOLTS WERE RUSTED WITH CORROSION AND THE BOLTS, WHICH WERE NOT IN PLACE AND THE J-TUBE INTERNALLY FRACTURED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FOUR BOLTS AND THE J-TUBE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10896379
Incident
Mar 10, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WAS FRACTURED AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ABOUT TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,715.

NHTSA ID
10787706
Incident
Oct 31, 2015
Mileage
150,715 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION AND INTERMITTENTLY CUT IN AND OUT AND MISFIRE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP HAD RUSTED AND SEPARATED CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO HANG FROM THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10616724
Incident
Jul 26, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO NOT BE RESTRAINED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10524827
Incident
Jul 13, 2013
Mileage
56,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 7, 2008

WHEN IN A SLOW ACCELERATION THE MOTOR RPM WILL RACE AND YOU HAVE TO QUICKLY APPLY THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID A MISHAP. THE NEXT THING THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IS THE CAB FILLS WITH DIESELS FUMES. MAKING EVERYONE NAUSEAS. ACCELERATION FROM STOP VEHICLE BILLOWS WHITE SMOKE AND IS SLUGGISH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220409
Incident
Mar 1, 2008
Mileage
35,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 13, 2005

2003 FORD F250 FUEL LINE CRACKED AND FUEL BEGAN POURING ONTO THE ENGINE AND THE EXHAUST.*MR CONSUMER WAS IN A RAIN STORM AND WHEELS WERE THROWING UP ENOUGH WATER TO PREVENT A FIRE. NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR GAUGES CAME ON, JUST SEEING ALL THE SMOKE ALERTED CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW A PUDDLE OF DIESEL FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT A CLAMP HOLDING THE STEEL LINE WAS THE CULPRIT. THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FUEL LINE SHOULD BE RE-ROUTED OR REPLACED WITH A LINE THAT CAN RESIST FATIGUE. *BF

NHTSA ID
10121539
Incident
May 1, 2005
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 21, 2005

[XXX] 5/3/03 RECALL 03B06 6/4/03 AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE 6/17/04 AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE , AC BLEND DOOR BINDING ,PLENUM DEFECTIVE,HAD TO REMOVE DASHBOARD TO REPAIR 6/18/03 4X4 FAILED TO ENGAGE, FAULTY GEM MODULE 6/18/03 OIL LEAKING AT REAR OF MOTOR, REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE, STILL LEAKING TO DATE 11/6/03 WATER SEPERATOR FAILURE, PERFORM RECALL 03E04, PERFORM RECALL 03L12 1/14/04 REAR HEATER LEAKING , REAR HEATER CORE FAILURE, REPLACE FUEL MANIFOLD,BECAUSE FUEL SEPERATOR LIGHT STILL WARNING 2/27/04 REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKING/ NO REPAIR OFFERED 3/11/04 REAR MAIN LEAKING / NO REPAIR OFFERED 5/17/04 AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE,FAULTY LINE CONECTION/REAR MAIN STILL LEAKING 6/10/04 REAR MAIN STILL LEAKING /NO REPAIR OFFERED 8/5/04 RECALL 04S15 PEFORMED/ TURBO FAILURE, UNRELATED TO RECALL 8/13/04 REAR MAIN STILL LEAKING/ NO REPAIR OFFERED 9/15/04 REAR MAIN STILL LEAKING / NO REPAIR OFFERED/POWER LOSS SINCE TURBO REPLACEMENT *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10111911
Incident
May 2, 2003
Mileage
5,810 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 14, 2004

THE GAS GAUGE REGISTERS FALSE READING OF GASOLINE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAN OUT OF GAS. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10076224
Incident
Jun 14, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Dec 3, 2003

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE FUEL INJECTORS OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE RUBBER GASKETS. WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN REPAIR SHOP DEALERSHIP ONLY REPAIRED TWO FUEL INJECTORS AT A TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050008
Mileage
2,000 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 .