Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
NHTSA campaign 11V352000 · 2011 · reported 07/13/2011
NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2003 Ford F-350 SD Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel — runs 2.7× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
132Complaints
5Recalls
6Crashes
2Fires
4Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel (13.6% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel complaints here are 2.7× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel | 18 · 13.6% | Recalled | Recall 07V553000 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 16 · 12.1% | not available | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 13 · 9.8% | Recalled | Recall 07V553000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 · 9.8% | Recalled | Recall 07V553000 |
| Tires | 9 · 6.8% | not available | — |
| Electrical System | 8 · 6.1% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 132 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 5 campaigns
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 09V399000 · 2009 · reported 10/13/2009
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 07V078000 · 2007 · reported 03/06/2007
OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Wheels:hub
NHTSA campaign 07E106000 · 2007 · reported 12/17/2007
WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
NHTSA campaign 07V553000 · 2007 · reported 12/05/2007
IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“FORD F350 EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE EXPERIENCED STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND/OR WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. THIS LOOKS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT…”NHTSA complaint 10324699 — filed 04/09/2010 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
“2003 FORD F350 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS, TRANSMISSION AND AN OIL LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WHITE SMOKE EMITTED…”NHTSA complaint 10270288 — filed 05/27/2009 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
“OUR COMPANY HAS PURCHASED A 2003 FORD F350 IN JULY 2003 IT HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD 3 TURBO'S INSTALLED IS RUNS…”NHTSA complaint 10214738 — filed 01/14/2008 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford F-350 SD?
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel issues are the most-reported category, cited in 18 of 132 NHTSA complaints (13.6%), followed by fuel system, diesel (16), engine and engine cooling:engine (13), engine and engine cooling (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2003 Ford F-350 SD have?
132 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 6 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 4 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2003 Ford F-350 SD have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 11V352000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2003 Ford F-350 SD's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
