no report yet
Vehicle speed control
Risk. A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
2003 Ford E550Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 66 owner complaints about the 2003 Ford E550, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 26, 2015. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 Ford E550 has problems
66 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
20Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
9Power train1 crash/fire/injury
9Tires1 crash/fire/injury
8Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
6Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
5Visibility
4Fuel system, diesel
3Fuel system, other
3Service brakes, hydraulic
118 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 20 | 1 |
| Power train | 9 | 1 |
| Tires | 9 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 1 |
| Air bags | 6 | 6 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel system, diesel | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel system, other | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 3 | 2 |
| 8 other systems | 11 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2003 Ford E550 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Vehicle speed control
Risk. OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
no report yet
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, OR THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A BURNING ODOR, SMOKE,…
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. THESE HOT PARTICLES MAY IGNITE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM DAMAGE OR UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Best & worst years
2003 vs. every other E550 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the E550 median. How we score
'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What E550 owners report
Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
WHILE DRIVING TRUCK ENGINES WOULD SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTART. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIME ON A NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD CAUSING ME TO LOSE STEERING FOR A SECOND OR TWO, VERY SCARY. PROBLEM FIXED AFTER I REPLACED THE CPS ON MY OWN. *TR
MY HUSBAND WAS HAVING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON HIS 2003 F-350 FORD DIESEL WHEN THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED HE HAD A RADIATOR LEAK, THERE WAS A HOLE IN A RADIATOR HOSE. THE LARGE DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF STOCK OF REPLACEMENT HOSES. (THERE'S A CLUE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM) THEY DECIDED TO PULL ONE…
NO WARNING/SYMPTOM CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED -10* OUTSIDE WITH ICY ROADS 7:00 PM MODERATE TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY ENGINE SHUT DOWN THIS IS A 1TON PICKUP GOING 55 MPH WITH VERY LITTLE STEERING CONTROL WITH LACK OF POWER STEERING. MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE FORD 7.3 DIESEL…
Own a 2003 E550?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.