Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2003 Ford F-550 SD — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Ford F-550 SD year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model (naming may differ or it predates EPA records).
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: 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.
Risk: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Campaign 11V352000
Issue: FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Risk: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Campaign 09V399000
Issue: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)
Campaign 07V078000
Issue: ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Campaign 07V553000
Issue: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES, THE ENGINE GROUND STUD THAT ATTACHES THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL EYELET TO THE ENGINE BLOCK MAY BE LOOSE.
Risk: IF THE GROUND WIRE IS LOOSE, ELECTRICAL CURRENT MAY FLOW TO THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP CAUSING IT TO HEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT OR IGNITE ADJACENT COMPONENTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE GROUND STUD AND THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Campaign 04V327000
NHTSA has no NCAP crash-test rating for this model/year (common for older, low-volume, or heavy-duty vehicles).
The parts named most often across 33 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 fire
1 fire
1 crash · 1 injured
1 fire
1 fire
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
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.
WATTER SEPERATOR VALVE DUMPED FUEL ON THE TURBO CAUSING A FIRE.
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.
NORCOLD CORP. ISSUED SAFETY RECALL # 10E-049 ON/ABOUT OCTOBER 21, 2010 FOR REFRIGERATOR UNITS IN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FOR A POTENTIAL "FIRE" IN THE COOLING UNIT(S). A CERTIFIED RV DEALER CONFIRMED FIRE DAMAGE TO UNIT OWNED AND OPERATED BY COMPLAINANT . NORCOLD CORP. HAS REFUSED TO HONOR SAFETY RECALL(S) AND REPAIR SAID DAMAGED UNITS. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE REFRIGERATOR UNIT ONLY HOWEVER ITS A TOTAL LOST. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF SIMILAR DEFECTIVE REFRIGERATOR UNITS BEING USED ON THE NATIONAL'S HIGHWAYS BY UNSUSPECTING RV OWNERS POSING A SERIOUS SAFETY AND HAZARDOUS POTENTIAL FOR A CATASTROPHIC EVENT THAT WILL ENDANGER THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK INNER LINING WAS DE-LAMINATING AND BEING DRAWN INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY, THE CONTACT DECIDED TO DE-LAMINATE THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DELAMINATED AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO CLOGGED UP. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND STALL WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. THE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $900 TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SINCE THERE WERE NO WARRANTIES OR RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
I HAVE 2 FORD F550 TRUCKS (2001,2003). BOTH TRUCKS WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE (37K, 56K MILES). BOTH DIESEL ENGINES. BOTH HAVE ONLY HAD EITHER SHELL OR CHEVRON FUEL PUT IN THEM. NO BIO FUELS. THE INTERIOR OF BOTH MY TRUCKS FUEL TANKS ARE DELAMINATING AND CAUSING THE VARIOUS FUEL FILTERS TO CLOG WITH A METALLIC DEBRIS AND RUST. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS BLAMING THE DELAMINATING ON THE FUEL USED IN THE TRUCKS. MY DEALER (WESTLIE FORD, CAMAS, WASHINGTON) WHERE I PURCHASED THESE TRUCKS CANNOT WARRANTY THE REPLACEMENT TANKS NEEDED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY! WORD HAS IT FORD HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEW COATING ON THE NEW TANKS BUT, I CAN FIND NO ANNOUNCEMENT FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYING SO. AVERAGE COST TO REPLACE THIS TANK RUNS BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,500 DOLLARS. HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE WHEN THEIR FUEL SYSTEMS GET CLOGGED BY THE DELAMINATING PARTICLES OF THE FUEL TANK AND STOP DEAD ON A FREEWAY OR FOGGY NIGHT? FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM! *TR
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.
HERCULES S-209 TIRE BLEW ALL TREAD LOST MAJOR SEPARATIONS OTHER TIRES NOTICE WIDESPREAD MINOR CRACKING. *TR
FUEL TANK DELAMINATION. CLOGS FUEL SYSTEM, AND TRASHES INJECTORS AND PUMPS. NEW TANK, INJECTORS, PUMP. CLEAN FUEL SYSTEM. FORD SAYS BIOFUEL, NEVER USE BIOFUEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F550 SD. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE SHAKING AND WOULD LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE INSIDE LINING OF THE FUEL TANK WAS PEELING AND CLOGGING THE FUEL LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-55O. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD-WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED AN INTERNAL OIL LEAK FROM THE PUMP. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR AN IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK DELAMINATED DUE TO THE DIESEL FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102000.
Showing 12 of 33 complaints.