Worst 2003 Ford F-350 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
Engine & Cooling
Diesel Fuel System
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Ford F-350.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 24 | — | — | 27,253 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 19 | — | 1 | 57,163 mi | |
| Diesel Fuel System | 19 | — | 1 | 82,170 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 | — | — | 49,958 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 1 | — | 38,562 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 13 | — | 1 | 77,140 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | 1 | 112,663 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 11 | 1 | — | 113,784 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 10 | — | — | 57,626 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 6 | 2 | — | 34,268 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 5 | — | 2 | 52,540 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 5 | — | — | 27,646 mi | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | 1 | 174,611 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | — | — | 31,357 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 | 2 | — | 22,966 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 | 2 | — | 16,573 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | — | — | 97,075 mi | |
| Airbags | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Ford F-350. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2003 Ford F-350
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~26,715 vehicles.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
Other Ford F-350 Years
2003 Ford F-350 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Ford F-350 reliable?
What are common problems with the 2003 Ford F-350?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Ford F-350?
How safe is the 2003 Ford F-350?
Does the 2003 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2003 Ford F-350?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford F-350 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Ford F-350
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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