RoadVitals

2003 Ford F-350 Sd 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.
55
Latest Oct 22, 2018
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.
42%
of 132 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.
2

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 F-350 Sd submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 55 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

The 25 most recent of 55, in the owner's own words

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 22, 2018

WHILE PREPARING FOR A CAMPING TRIP THIS PASS SUMMER, I WENT TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. WHEN I WENT TO REMOVE THE OIL DIPSTICK, THE DIPSTICK TUBE BROKE, DUE TO CORROSION. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY 25 YEARS OF OWNING A VEHICLE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. IT WOULD BE ALRIGHT, BUT IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE TUBE, IT IS REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO PROPERLY REPLACE IT. IN TURN IT COST MORE MONEY TO REPLACE A PRODUCT THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK. I WAS FUELING MY TRUCK AND WANTED TO CHECK ALL MY FLUIDS.

NHTSA ID
11141798
Incident
Aug 18, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 15, 2014

I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON MY 2003 FORD F350 SD. SC. 4X4 5.4 ENG. WITH THE PROBLEM WITH BOTH EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ROTTING AWAY & THE STUDS & NUTS ROTTING , THEY TOLD ME WE WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE . I WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR HELP TO MAKE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FIX THIS PROBLEMS FOR FREE BECAUSE I TALKED TO MANY FORD DEALERS THEY ARE REPLACING THIS SAME PROBLEMS ON ALL 5.4 ENG. ON FORD TRUCKS AND HAVE TO CHARGE FOR THESE PROBLEMS . PLEASE INVESTAGATE THIS PROBLEMS BEFORE ALL THESE TRUCKS WILL CATCH ON FIRE AND PEOPLE WILL BE INJURY OR FATALITY WILL HAPPEN . PLEASE HELP ME AND MANY PEOPLE CAN GET THESE PROBLEMS FIX FOR FREE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANKS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10598413
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2013
Fire reported

ON 05/31/2013 AFTER DRIVING APROX 50 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND A SMALL FIRE STARTED DUE TO LEAKING OIL ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM A RUSTED OIL PAN. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE IT CONSUMED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THE COST TO REPAIR 1500.00 TO 2000.00 WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. I AM DISABLED AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY WITH A VERY FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. FROM LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER POSTS AND LIVING IN MICHIGAN WITH WINTER SALT, FORD HAS RECALLED MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS THAT COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT OR DEATH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE 7.3 LITER DIESEL ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND UNDRIVEABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10523043
Incident
May 31, 2013
Mileage
100,300 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 12, 2012

VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING ONTO ON-RAMP TO INTERSTATE 90 WEST BOUND AT PINES ROAD IN SPOKANE VALLEY WA. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THEIR WAS A LOUD BANG AND NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT OFF. MY WIFE CALLED ME AND I CAME TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I TURNED THE ENGINE OVER AND DETERMINED IT WAS NOT AN EXHAUST LEAK BUT THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG FROM THE FRONT ON MY V-10 GAS ENGINE. I LOCATED THE BENT SPARK PLUG AT THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER THAN BEING BENT THE THREADS ON THE PLUG WERE INTACT AND DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CROSS THREADED. I HAD THE PLUGS REPLACED AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL. I CHECKED WITH THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP I USED, (AAFES AUTO HOBBY SHOP ON FAIRCHILD AFB), AND INFORMED THEM OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT FORD HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VERY SUBJECT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THAT REPLACING SPARK PLUGS SHOULD NOT LEAD TO AN EXPLOSIVE EVENT STRONG ENOUGH TO DENT MY HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. I AM NOW EXPECTING TO HAVE 9 MORE LITTLE TIME BOMBS JUST WAITING TO GO OFF UNDER THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE HADN'T YET GOTTEN UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 60MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10488604
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 16, 2012

I WAS HAULING A LOADED HORSE TRAILER AND HAD JUST MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY. AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WAS "CATCHING" AND WOULDN'T LET ME ACCELERATE PAST 35 MPH AND WAS REVVING VERY HIGH AND WOULDN'T SHIFT UP INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT FINALLY STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY ENTIRE RIG - TRUCK, TRAILER AND HORSES, HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND THEN THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. HE FOUND THE ENGINE RUNNING POORLY, AND FOUND LOW COMPRESSION ON CYLINDERS #3 AND #8. HE FOUND LOW OIL PRESSURE AND WHEN HE REMOVED THE OIL PAN FROM THE CHASSIS, HE FOUND PISTON MATERIAL IN THE OIL PUMP. HE REMOVED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THE PISTONS IN CYLINDER 3 AND 8 MELTED DOWN. HE HAD TO BORE OUT AND HONE ALL THE CYLINDERS, REPLACE ALL 4 VALVES IN CYLINDER #3 HEAD, REPLACE ALL PISTONS, REPLACE THE MAIN BEARING AND ROD BEARING, UPDATE THE OIL COOLER AND REPLACE 8 PISTONS AND 6 HEAD GASKETS. WHEN HE PUT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER AND TEST DROVE IT, HE FOUND AN EXHAUST LEAK FROM THE EBP SENSOR AND TUBE. THOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED. BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE "SKIPPING" WHEN I WAS HAULING MY HORSE TRAILER. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I WAS OVER 55 MPH AND IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I WAS HAULING. I HAD TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE MECHANIC BEFORE THE BIG BREAKDOWN (DESCRIBED ABOVE) AND HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE HE WAS NOT HAULING A TRAILER AND THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE TOTAL BILL FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS IS $6400.00 AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP ME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10461939
Incident
Mar 26, 2012
Mileage
55,708 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350 SD DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. ..UPDATED 11/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE HEADS CRACKED IT PUSHED WATER IN THE FUEL AND DESTROYED THE FUEL PUMP, INJECTORS, AND TURBO. UPDATED 11/29/12

NHTSA ID
10452402
Incident
Mar 14, 2005
Mileage
25,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2011

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM 2003 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY ENGINE: TRITON 5.4L V8 DATE OF FAILURE: 03-10-11 MILEAGE OF TRUCK: 139414 THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ON A STATE HWY51 NEAR POSTVILLE, IA EJECTION OF SPARK PLUG FROM NUMBER 7 CYLINDER ON 5.4L V8 ENGINE. DAMAGE TO CYLINDER HEAD OF ENGINE AND SPARK PLUG COIL. THIS IS A WELL MAINTAINED 2003 F-350, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AT A FORD DEALER 01-19-09: 109156 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10392217
Incident
Mar 10, 2011
Mileage
139,414 mi
Engine
Filed May 11, 2010

SPARK PLUG BLEW FROM ENGINE ON 2003 FORD F-350 5.4 TRITON ON MAY 10TH 20010. ON FREEWAY APROX.65MPH. CANNOT RE-INSTALL PLUG DUE TO THREAD DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10329843
Incident
May 10, 2010
Mileage
165,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 9, 2010

FORD F350 EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE EXPERIENCED STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND/OR WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. THIS LOOKS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT AFFECTED VEHICLES IN THE 2004-2005 RECALL. ICP SENSOR LIGHT IS LIT AND MOST LIKELY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. SEPARATE OR RELATED ISSUE? : ENGINE WILL "REV-UP" WHILE DRIVING AND PRODUCE ACCELERATION WITHOUT GAS PEDAL BEING APPLIED. ENGINE WILL REV-UP AND/OR IDLE HIGH WHILE IN PARK AND WHEN STOPPED/BRAKES APPLIED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10324699
Incident
Apr 9, 2010
Mileage
90,500 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2009

VEHICLE STALLS - SURGES - RUNS ROUGH - PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE NEW - HAVE TAKEN TO FORD GARAGE AND THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED TO LAST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295213
Incident
Jul 1, 2003
Mileage
25,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 16, 2009

WE WERE USING OUR FORD F350 DIESEL (6.0 MOTOR) WITH 63,000. WE WERE GOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE PULLING A LOADED 5 HORSE TRAILER WHEN THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, 15 SECONDS LATER ENGINE CUT OFF. WE WERE IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAD NO POWER TO STEER OFF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT COME TO A FAST STOP BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OF HORSE TRAILER. WE HAD TO COAST APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AND PULL OFF ON THE LEFT SIDE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS TOO HEAVY AND GOING TO FAST TO LET US OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE. TRUCK WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD TO BE TOWED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND HOME. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $7500 TO $10000. I CHECKED ON WARRANTY AND BECAUSE IT IS A 2003 IT IS EXPIRED. CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT WERE IS NOT SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284128
Incident
Sep 7, 2009
Mileage
63,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 27, 2009

2003 FORD F350 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS, TRANSMISSION AND AN OIL LEAK. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE. HE ALSO NOTICED A DELAY OF ENGAGEMENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND THE FUEL GAUGE WAS STUCK. THE NUMBER 8 INJECTOR HAD FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A NEW PART AND THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDED A NEW SENSOR. IN THE FALL OF 2008, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ICP SENSOR (INJECTOR CONTROL PRESSURE) WAS THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH 2009, WHILE TOWING A TRACTOR, THE TRUCK LOST POWER AND AGAIN IT EMITTED SMOKE AND THERE WAS A HARSH JERK. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. THE NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 3 INJECTOR HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS A NEW OIL LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10270288
Incident
May 1, 2009
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 10, 2009

I SMELLED HINT OF RAW FUEL WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM FOR 1-2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM. 3-4 WEEKS PRIOR TO PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST FOR 1-2 MINUTES. THIS SMOKE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH ROUGH IDLING THAT WHEN AWAY COMPLETELY UNTIL THE NEXT COLD START UP. THE PRECIPITATING EVENT FOR PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION WAS RAW FUEL SPRAYING ONTO THE TRAILER THAT WAS BEING PULLED. INSPECTION REVEALED RAW FUEL POOLED ON THE HORIZONTAL ENGINE SURFACES AND RAW FUEL IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY MANUFACTURER'S DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND TO BE A LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR CUP. IT WILL REQUIRE CHANGING ALL THE FUEL INJECTOR CUPS. THE DEALER SERVICE AGENT REPORTED THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THESE PARTICULAR MODELS. IT IS USUALLY A WARRANTY ITEM. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET AS THIS VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BY TIME LIMIT BUT NOT MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DENIED ANY OBLIGATION TO HELP RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO SAFE OPERATION GIVEN THAT IT SEEMS TO RUN UNIMPAIRED FROM A PERFORMANCE STANDPOINT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258280
Incident
Feb 4, 2009
Mileage
95,300 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 7, 2009

2003 FORD F-350 V10 EJECTED A SPARK PLUG FROM THE #3 CYLINDER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254147
Incident
Dec 29, 2008
Mileage
68,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 16, 2008

I'M SURE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HEARD A TICKING NOISE ALSO, THEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO MISS UNDER LOAD. UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHICH CYLINDER IS THE PROBLEM, SOUNDS LIKE ALL MY BE BAD AT SOME TIME. FORD HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, NOT TAKING THE BLAME IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THEY RUN THEIR BUSINESS. OOOHHHH WAIT THEY ARE GETTING READY TO GO UNDER. WONDER WHY???? *TR

NHTSA ID
10252038
Incident
Dec 10, 2008
Mileage
58,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 2, 2008

2003 FORD F350. DIESEL 6.0 LITER. HARD TO START EVEN WHEN WARM OUT, NOW IS NOT STARTING AT ALL, HAVE HAD THE SAME OIL LEAKS, AT SPEED OF 55 TO 60 JERKS HARD AND HAS EVEN STALLED WHILE DRIVING. JUST A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS AND WE KEEP SPENDING MONEY TO HAVE FIXED AND THEY JUST RECUR AGAIN. BEEN READING PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS US. FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247457
Incident
Oct 15, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 6, 2008

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F350 KING RANCH WITH A 6.0L DIESEL MOTOR. THE TRUCK HAS HAD A VARIETY OF SOFTWARE FAILURES WITH RESPECT TO THE PCM FOR THE MOTOR WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE MOTOR COMPLETELY AND INSTANTANEOUSLY SHUTTING DOWN OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER RESULTING IN THE TURBO OVER BOOSTING AND BLOWING UP THE INTERCOOLER OR NO PSI OUT OF THE TURBO LEAVING ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED TWICE IN THE MOUNTAINS PULLING A FULL TWO HORSE TRAILER (6,500 POUNDS). VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO BAKERSFIELD FORD, VISALIA FORD, RANCHO FORD FOR SERVICE. PCM SYSTEM WAS ALWAYS REFLASHED AND REPAIRS MADE UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL THE MOST RECENT TURBOCHARGER FAILURE 09-28-2008. THE VEHICLE WAS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS FAILURE COST ME $2,700. TODAY 10-6-2008 THE PCM LOST ALL ITS MEMORY AND I AGAIN LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OFF THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS FIVE DAYS AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK BACK FROM FORD. A PROCESS WAS WENT THROUGH AT FORD TO RE-LEARN THE "TURBO STRATEGY" AND THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO ME WORKING FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244582
Incident
Oct 6, 2008
Mileage
38,942 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED OIL SPOTS ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,800.

NHTSA ID
10236611
Incident
Jul 22, 2008
Mileage
61,800 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 4, 2008
2 injuries reported

FORD MOTOR COMPANY PUT OUT DEFECTIVE COOLANTS ON THEIR 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES. I HAVE/HAD 2003 F350 KING RANCH TRUCK WITH 67,000 MILES. FORD WARRANTIES DIESEL ENGINES TO 5 YEAR 100,000. ON JUNE 24, 2008, I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY TRUCK OVERHEATED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED FORD NORTH SCOTTSDALE. THEY SAID THAT THE EJR COOLANTS ARE NOT GOOD ON THOSE TRUCKS AND MOST LIKELY IT GAVE OUT. THEY TOLD ME TO GET IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I DROPPED THE TRUCK OFF AT BELL FORD IN ARIZONA ON TUESDAY JUNE 24 TO LEARN THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY 28, 2008. I GOT DIAGNOSTICS DONE AND THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. BELL FORD SAID THEY BLEW BECAUSE THE COOLANT WENT OUT AND BLEW OUT THE WATER, WHICH OVERHEATED THE COOLANTS. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAD 2 CST (MARK & STEVE) "RESOLVE" THE DISPUTE AND SAY THEY CANT HELP US. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED, THAT WHY WOULD THEY NOT RECALL A PART THEY KNOW IS NOT EFFICIENT? THEY DID NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 6.0L. I AM LOOKING AT $4300 JUST FOR THE HEAD GASKETS AND THEN PLENTY MORE IN LABOR CHARGES. THIS DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE GETTING THE COOLANT FIXED. WILL I EVER BUY FORD AGAIN? MOST LIKELY NOT. THEY CANT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR HELP THEIR CUSTOMER. THIS IS A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN BABIED AND UP TO DATE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE. AND NOW ITS DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10233199
Incident
Jun 24, 2008
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 1, 2008

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN NOVEMBER 2004 WITH 42,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 67,000 MILES AND BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 28 MAY 2008 AND I DID NOT RENEW BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND IT HAS SUCH LOW MILEAGE. ON 24 JUNE 2008 THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED WHILE HAULING A HORSE TRAILER. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AND THE COST WILL BE IN EXCESS OF 4,000 DOLLARS. EVIDENTLY, THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ABOUT EGR COOLERS LEAKING WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AT A REPUTABLE DEALER THROUGH THE 3.5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. IS THERE ANY HELP THAT I CAN GET OR ADDRESSES WHERE THIS COMPLAINT MAY BE SENT? I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN, AND THAT IS SAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10232916
Incident
Jun 24, 2008
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 21, 2008

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE SURGING AT IDLE, MAKING THE VEHICLE JUMP FORWARD, ROUGH ACCELERATION, AND COMPLETE STALLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE ICP SENSOR, AND THE ICP WIRING HARNESS (WHICH WAS BURNT AND SHORTING OUT), AND CLEANED INJECTORS = $1348.00 THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT FORD RECALL NO. 05S34 ADDRESSES ON THE SAME TRUCK, SAME ENGINE (6.0), BUT ONE YEAR NEWER. FORD DID NOT RETURN OLD PARTS TO ME AND I FAILED TO ASK FOR THEM. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE SHORTING OUT OF THE ICP HARNESS, LIKE THE PROBLEM IN #05S34, CAUSED THE SENSOR TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228590
Incident
Apr 15, 2008
Mileage
58,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 16, 2008

THE TRUCK (2003 F-350SD) LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE DEAL REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 6.0L D MOTORS. THE EGR VALVE WILL STOP UP AND NOT ALLOW THE EXHAUST TO ESCAPE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228034
Incident
May 1, 2008
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 14, 2008

OUR COMPANY HAS PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F350 IN JULY 2003 IT HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD 3 TURBO'S INSTALLED IS RUNS ROUGH LACKS POWER AND CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WE DO NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK OFTEN BUT IS RUN DAILY. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PROBLEMS WE WOULD HAVE IF DRIVEN 500 MILES A WEEK . MY CONCERNS ARE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT AND I NEED TO PAY 1500 FOR A TURBO OR NEW ENGINE OR INJECTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10214738
Incident
Jan 8, 2008
Mileage
2,289 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD IN MARCH OF 2006 REGARDING EMISSION. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE DEFECT IS COMPUTER RELATED. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A NEW RE- FLASH TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE DEFECT. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10198194
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
10,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2007

DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, TRUCK STARTED CUTTING OUT COULD BARELY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SWAPPED IN MY SPARE CPS AND TRUCK STARTED RIGHT UP AND I DROVE AWAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189152
Incident
Apr 20, 2005
Mileage
45,000 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 .