RoadVitals

2003 Ford F-550 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.
8
Latest Jan 10, 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.
24%
of 33 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.
2
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 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-550 Sd submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

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

EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 10, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-550 SD. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FUEL TANK DISINTEGRATED. THE FLOAT FILTER AND FILTER WERE CLOGGED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (VISION FORD, 1500 S WHITE SANDS BLVD, ALAMOGORDO, NM 88310) AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,550.

NHTSA ID
11061627
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
107,550 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 18, 2017
Fire reported

WATTER SEPERATOR VALVE DUMPED FUEL ON THE TURBO CAUSING A FIRE.

NHTSA ID
10946265
Incident
Dec 31, 2016
Mileage
175,541 mi
Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Oct 11, 2012

I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES, OF WHICH I HAVE THE RECEIPTS, ON MY F500 FORD WITH THE 6.0 DIESEL ENGINE, AT A COST TO ME OF OVER $7,000. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES, THE ENGINE WAS ONLY OUT OF WARRANTY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. BECAUSE A DIESEL SHOULD LAST FOR A RELATIVELY LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS, I ASKED FORD TO COVER THE BILL. IN SHORT, FORD WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE TIME OF DAY OR ADMIT TO ANYTHING. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I DON' T MAKE THE KIND OF MONEY IT TAKES TO CONTINUALLY INVEST IN AN ENGINE THAT SHOULD STILL RUN FINE. I HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED THIS WITH OTHERS THAT OWN THE SAME ENGINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE TYPE OF PROBLEMS THAT I'VE HAD ARE QUITE COMMON WITH THE 6.0 ENGINE. I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS AND EXPECT FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A POORLY BUILT ENGINE. I'M ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER FOR YEARS AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I AWAIT YOUR REPLY AND CAN SEND YOU A COPY OF THE BILLS AND MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH FORD.

NHTSA ID
10481643
Incident
May 18, 2009
Mileage
80,687 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 2, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE LOSS OF POWER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE, DUE TO THE UNISON RINGS FAILING. THE RINGS ARE A PART OF THE TURBO CHARGER ON THE ENGINE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER PLACED NICKEL PLATED RINGS INSTEAD OF THE STEEL RINGS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RESOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1038 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9500.

NHTSA ID
10353454
Incident
Sep 21, 2004
Mileage
1,038 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 28, 2009

ENGINE FAILED AND VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. THE CULPRIT WAS THE FORD FUEL TANK THAT HAD DELAMINATED WHICH CAUSED DEBRIS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FUEL FILTER AND ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD O BE REPLACED. THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST: $10,345.00. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF REVENUE AS THIS VEHICLE IS USED FOR PRODUCTION PURPOSES. FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DEFECTS OF THEIR FUEL TANKS. WITH NO OTHER CHOICE, WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THESE VEHICLES ARE USED FOR COMMERCIAL USAGE DAILY. THIS IS ALSO A FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT HAS BEEN FORCED ONTO US UNFAIRLY. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THESE FUEL TANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293747
Incident
Jan 2, 2008
Mileage
54,500 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F550 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS DESCRIBED AS "VIOLENT" WITH FLAMES AT LEAST 70 FEET HIGH. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING VIDEOS AND PHOTOS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10251394
Incident
Dec 9, 2008
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2007

THE CLUTCH FAN PULLEY BROKE N THE CONSUEMR'S 2003 FORD F550 CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF THE PULLEY AND BREAK**CC PART NUMBER FD 5C3Z 8509/A. THE REPLACEMENT IS MUCH HEAVIER. *NM

NHTSA ID
10183708
Incident
Feb 7, 2007
Mileage
9,856 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 2003

NAR 9-8-03. INOPERABLE THROTTLE PROBLEM, SEVERAL TIMES THE ENGINE DROPPED TO PERMANENT IDLE IN TRAFFIC. *CB

NHTSA ID
10039876
Incident
Jan 21, 2003
Mileage
909 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Fuel system19

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .