2003 Ford F-350 Owner Complaints

When the 03 Ford F350 dually, is placed in Park, it will just roll away!

NHTSA ID

11753435

Incident

Jul 24, 2026

I was under the truck working on it and the truck was on I had the emergency brake on and the truck went into reverse and ran me over

NHTSA ID

11750135

Incident

Jun 29, 2026

The wires for the camshaft position sensor are failing just like they have in others models of the f series and cause the truck to suddenly die while driving. There was already a recall in place but it doesn't cover this vin and so I would like to request the recall be extended to this trucks vin

NHTSA ID

11433730

Incident

Sep 16, 2021

AS I AM SURE YOU MUST BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE: I PURCHASED USED A 2003 FORD -F350. I HAD MANY ISSUES AND HAD WORKED MOST OF THEM OUT. THERE WERE MANY ISSUES THAT WERE POSSIBLE I WAS CLEARLY UNAWARE OF. ONE BEING OF UTMOST SAFETY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. MY HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 FORD F-350 6.0 DIESEL FAILED. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE ENGINE STOPS. THE HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP PROVIDES NEEDED PRESSURE TO THE INJECTORS IN ORDER TO HAVE A RUNNING ENGINE. BEING PARKED AND THE HPOP FAILING IS ONE THING HOWEVER DRIVING 55MPH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AGAINST ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A TURN IS A VERY BAD SITUATION. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I AM STILL VERY STRONG AT THE AGE OF 54. MY HPOP FAILED GOING 55MPH ON A LONG LEFT HAND TURN. AS THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN BY BRAKES ARE LIMITED TO A SMALL AMOUNT OF STORAGE AND THEN THEY FAIL. THE STEERING HOWEVER FAILS IMMEDIATELY. I WAS HEADING STRAIT HEAD ON I TO A TRACKTOR TRAILER RIG. IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH TO ATTEMPT TO STEER THIS VEHICLE OUT OF THE OTHER LAND AND BRAKE GETTING IT OFF THE ROAD ASAP. IF THE BIG RIG HAD NOT MADE AN ATTEMPT TO MISS ME, I WOULDNT BE SENDING THIS LETTER. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD NOT THE STRENGTH TO STEER OUT OF A SITUATION OR HAVE TIME TO STOP AND WERE KILLED. THE REPORT MOST LIKELY SAID" DRIVER FELL ASLEEP." OR SOMETHING TO THAT AFFECT. THERE IS NO WAY THIS ENGINE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE OPERATION ON THE ROAD PERIOD. FORD SHOULD HONOR ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WITH A VERY REASONABLE SETTLEMENT NOT TO MENTION HAVING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. I KNOW OF NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE. COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING AND BRAKES DUE TO AN UNFORESEEN INTERNAL MECHANICAL ISSUE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN. RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IS ONE THING, HOWEVER RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL IS ABSURD. HAD I KNOW WHO TO WRITE TOO SOONER I WOULD HAVE.

NHTSA ID

11386656

Incident

Jun 10, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

JUST DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 41 AND IT JUST STOPPED. ENGINE WENT DEAD. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TRIED STARTING AGAIN AND IT WOULDNT START. HAD TO GET IT TOWED. ITS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 20 DAYS. NEEDS A NEW FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE INNER LINING IS PEELING AND PARTICLES ARE GOING THROUGH ENGINE! NEED HELP I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 2015 AND ITS BEEN IN SHOP 7 DIFFERENT TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11279677

Incident

Oct 30, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY DOME AND RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS ON MY 2003 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY, 4 DOOR TRUCK, STAY ON WHEN I AM DRIVING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND LOCKED. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, THE DASH VEHICLE LIGHT IS RED SHOWING THAT ALL 4 DOORS ARE OPEN. ICAN BE PARKED OR MOVING, THE LIGHTS STAY ON. BOTH MY BATTERIES DRAIN. SO I HAV TO CARRY JUMPER CABLES.

NHTSA ID

11232351

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

Mileage

123,000 mi

I AM INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A TIRES MADE IN 2014. I BOUGHT A SET OF FOUR LT 265/75-16 LRE FOR MY F350 ON 31 MAY, 2014. THEY CAME WITH A 6 YEAR/50K MILE WARRANTY. I HAD TIRES ROTATED PER WARRANTY. ON 11 APRIL, 2019, I EXPERIENCED A DRIVERS REAR TIRE FAILURE ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE (WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET @ 77MPH) CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID "ROAD HAZARD" NOT COVERED. CONTACTED BFG WHO REQUESTED TIRE REMAINS BE SENT FOR ANALYSIS (TO PROVE ROAD HAZARD). ON 10 MAY DEPARTED FROM HOME TO GO TO VIRGINIA. 150 MILES UP I75 HAD TIRE VIBRATION AGAIN. PULLED OVER IN TIFTON, GA AND CHECKED TIRE TIME WITH IR GUN. ALL TIRES RUNNING BETWEEN 95-108 F. FELT TIRES AND HAD A BULGE IN DRIVERS FRONT. INSTALLED SPARE AND STARTED LOOKING FOR A BFG DEALER THAT HAD TWO TIRES IN INVENTORY (ONE TO INSTALL/ONE TO CARRY IN CASE OF FURTHER TROUBLE WITH SET). AS I APPROACHED MACON, GA, ANOTHER TIRE STARTED VIBRATING. WITHIN 5 MILES - IT BLEW HARD AT THE DRIVERS REAR POSITION AGAIN CAUSING OVER $3200 DAMAGE. CALLED EMERGENCY TIRE SERVICE AND REPLACED THE THREE REMAINING TIRES FROM THE 2014 SET. NOTIFIED BFG AND THEY ONLY WANTED THE THIRD FAILURE (SECOND BLOW) FOR ANALYSIS. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED ALL TIRE BULGES ARE CAUSED BY "ROAD HAZARDS". IN SUMMARY - I EXPERIENCED THREE FAILURES IN JUST OVER 800 MILES ON A SET OF TIRES THAT ONLY HAVE 17,000 MILES ON THEM (REMAINING TREAD IS 11/32 PER DEALER INSPECTION). SINCE I STILL HAVE ALL OF THE TIRES - PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FIRST TIRE DID SHOW ONE SECTION 7 INCHES LONG WITH FOUR RADIAL SPLITS STARTING AT THE RIM. SECOND TIRE HAS NUMEROUS RADIAL SPLITS BUT NONE ARE CLOSELY CLUSTERED. IS MY EXPERIENCE UNIQUE TO MY SET OF CONDITIONS OR ARE THERE OTHER SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP OR INSIGHT YOU CAN PROVIDE (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11222886

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

Mileage

63,800 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE SOCKET

NHTSA ID

11031631

Incident

Oct 3, 2017

Mileage

250,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER AND THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AS OF YET. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK FRACTURE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ID

11020924

Incident

Aug 22, 2017

Mileage

147,000 mi

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE HAD EXHAUST GASES GOING INTO OUR TRUCK CAB. WE DO NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK DUE TO THIS REASON. ONE YEAR AGO, WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO DIESEL SPECIALISTS HERE IN LAS VEGAS. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MANIFOLD. THEY TRIED TO FIX IT AND IT WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT A WEEK UNTIL IT STARTED TO FORCE EXHAUST GASES BACK INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LARGE RECALL OF FORD VEHICLES DOING THE SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS STILL MAKING VEHICLES WITH FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON THEM. WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN OUR TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11012818

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A TIRES, SIZE: 285/75/16. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SUSTAINED TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE DOWN TO THE FENDER AND FENDER WELL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS STILL FULLY INFLATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AAA WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRE, BUT ALL OF THE REMAINING TIRES ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID

10983660

Incident

Apr 30, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

DRIVING ALONG LOUD NOISE PULLED OVER TO FIND A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK TAKING THE THREADS WITH IT. NO FIRE THANK GOODNESS!

NHTSA ID

10909834

Incident

Sep 26, 2016

Mileage

133,003 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. THE ENGINE HAD A VERY ABRUPT LOSS IN POWER AND BEGAN SHAKING AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ON A 2 LANE ROAD AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TRY AND MAINTAIN MY SPEED TO PREVENT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FROM BEING REAR ENDED. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES TO A PLACE I COULD SAFELY STOP, I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AN A SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN SHOT FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER REVIEWING THIS ON THE WEB, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE WHERE SPARK PLUGS WERE SHOT OUT OF ENGINES. NHTSA NEEDS TO EVALUATE THIS AS REVIEW. HAD THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN AND I HAD NO WHERE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A RESULT OF AN CYLINDER HEAD WITH INADEQUATE THREADS FOR SPARK PLUGS TO THREAD INTO AND TAKE HOLD OVER TIME THE ALUMINUM WEAKENS AND THIS HAPPENS. IF THIS WASN'T A PROBLEM WHY DID FORD REDESIGN CYLINDER HEADS AFTER THESE MODEL ENGINES TO ACCOMMODATE MORE THREADING TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS IN THE ENGINE?

NHTSA ID

10721515

Incident

May 18, 2015

Mileage

105,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLED AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676690

Incident

Dec 16, 2014

Mileage

248,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BED OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CAUSED SHARP EDGES TO DEVELOP. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE BED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10632394

Incident

May 16, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY MY 2003 FORD F350 SD. SC. 4X4 5.4 ENG. WITH THE PROBLEM WITH BOTH EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ROTTING AWAY & THE STUDS & NUTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS TO ENGINE HEADS THAT THEY WERE ALL ROTTING AWAY , THEY TOLD ME WE WON'T FIX THE PROBLEMS FOR FREE . I WOULD LIKE FOR TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MANY PEOPLE WILL GET INJURY OR MANY FATALITY WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS FALL OFF AND CATCH ON FIRE & BURN UP BECAUSE FIRE COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS . I TALKED TO MANY FORD DEALERS THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THESE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE & HAD TO CHARGE THE OWNER OF THESE TRUCKS & MANY OTHER YEARS OF THESE FORD TRUCKS . PLEASE HELP ME & MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THESE FORD TRUCKS TO MAKE FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL THIS PROBLEMS BEFORE PEOPLE WILL DIE & FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE . THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10607928

Incident

Jul 6, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE ERRONEOUSLY. AFTER REINSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH OR SHE WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10579010

Incident

Apr 4, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

CRACKED "Y" PIPE IS LEAKING DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES INTO CAB OF TRUCK. THIS OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WHEN THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY BACK IN 2004 BUT NOW IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY NOR IS THERE A RECALL. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO SEVERAL DEALERS IN THE AREA BUT UNLESS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY THEY WON'T COVER THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, I FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY, AS DIESEL FUMES ARE LINKED TO CANCER OR COULD LEAK TO AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE IS OVERCOME BY THE FUMES, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A DEATH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS HAZARD AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. I DO KNOW FROM TALKING TO MECHANICS THAT THIS DOES OCCUR OFTEN IN THESE TRUCKS.

NHTSA ID

10567257

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

I THOUGHT MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE AND TAPED THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SCRATCHED THE BUMPER OF THE CAR I TAPPED. I WAS ON I 95S TOWARDS FREDERICKSBURG, VA WHEN MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TAPED BRAKE AND THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I DID HAVE SOME BRAKING. GOT THE TRUCK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, DIAGNOSED WILL HOLE IN BRAKE LINE CAUSED BY RUST. REPLACED 18 FT OF LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562202

Incident

Jan 23, 2014

Mileage

283,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL WAS FOUND TO BE PREMATURELY LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD GASKET HEAD BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10546769

Incident

Sep 1, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE BEGAN EMERGING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE AND DIESEL FUEL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,057.

NHTSA ID

10525587

Incident

Jul 17, 2013

Mileage

158,057 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510985

Incident

May 3, 2013

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BLOCKERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10459388

Incident

Apr 3, 2012

Mileage

98,000 mi

HAVE FICM FAILURE AND MULTIPLE FUEL INJECTORS FAIL, WHEN TOOK TO DIESEL SHOP WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE AND THEY HAD AT LEAST 6 IN REPAIR SHOP WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454976

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

117,000 mi

STRONG DIESEL FUEL ODOR AT IDLE IN CAB WITH WINDOWS CLOSED. STRONG DIESEL ODOR AROUND FRONT OF TRUCK. NO VISIBLE LEAKS OR DAMP AREAS. FEAR FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453402

Incident

Mar 2, 2009

Mileage

97,000 mi