2003 Ford E550 engine problems

Filed Jun 5, 2007 · Engine · 46,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Mar 27, 2007 · Engine · WA

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 from one of the used trucks in stock and had to check three before they found one without a hole (there's a second clue) I found the following on-line "so I took my truck in for a coolant leak..more like an added drain in a 3" hose that to me looks like the return under the engine. This hose is located in very close proximity to the steering box.....yep...a hole was worn in this hose from the steering..." this indicates to me that there is a design flaw placing the radiator hose too close to the steering mechanism. Overheating and stranded motorists constitutes a safety issue.

Filed Nov 18, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · 48,950 miles · AK

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 poor design this is also a dealer only part that cost $175.00 I was just glad I was able to get the vehicle on the side of the road and avoid an accident.

Filed Aug 23, 2006 · Engine · 14,200 miles · MA

Exhaust manifold bolts breaking. Causing exhaust leak and exhaust fumes into vehicle cabin.

Filed Jul 10, 2006 · Engine · 52,000 miles · WV

I was driving my ford f150 (51k miles) through town when all of a sudden boom. My children were scared to death and I was more than a bit concerned. When I was able to pull over and analyze the situation I found the coil on plug blown off of the #3 plug on the passenger side. Upon further inspection I found the actual spark plug had blown out of the cylinder head. The truck was towed to the dealership from which it was bought and repair costs were in excess of $3100. This is a design flaw and ford should fix the problem. Why else do you change designs in the next model year vehicle?

Filed Jun 16, 2006 · Engine · AZ

We have 3- 2003 f550 trucks, the first two trucks are always in the shop for repair to the engines, the first truck [xxx] has had two re-manufactured engines put in and the 2nd truck [xxx] has had patch jobs done to the motor. These trucks are work trucks and are on the highways five days a week or more, but the safety issues of these trucks is that the engine either freezes up or just quits and this has happened on a corner, intersection on a hill they are going down. At this time we have been lucky that there has been areas to pull off the side of the road and cars have able to swerve around us to avoid an accident. He had to back down with the traffic on the west bound side to get to an area that was out of the way. Also he was lucky he was in an area where the west bound traffic could see him, if this would have been more of a curve there probably would have been an accident. Someone is going to get killed, because there is no warning when these trucks will shut down, because of motor problems. The motor have had intercooler problems, injectors replaced, motor shutting down, etc.. The ford motor company is well aware of this problem because we have read in other papers of similar incidents, it looks at this time that ford is trying to patch the trucks together instead of putting in a new motor and style, in which is not having these problems. We have also filed a previous complaint with ford motor company the first time the oil coolers went out and the injectors, then again today when the motor quit again in traffic in the mountain areas, this was motor shut down for no reason. There a lot of dangerous curves and hills, some are which 6% to 10% grades that a semi or larger would not be able to stop as quickly as a passenger car or smaller vehicle! *jb updated 07/16/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Apr 14, 2006 · Engine · 86,100 miles · CA

Every time this vehicle ( 2003 ford expedition fx4 4x4 ) is either washed, and or when it rains, the truck will attempt to stall out, in any driving conditions city or fwy, which may cause an accident. I know this to be true for I have this vehicle and it stalled on the fast lane hwy 15, I had first believed it was a fuel problem, due to, it acts like its out of gas, bad filter etc, with this type of truck ford has installed ignition coils, one on top of each spark plug a total of 8, I had ford recently look at the problem and they did replace #8 coil due to water in the spark plug port ( 4-3-06 ), the plug boots do not stop any water from getting into the engine (spark plugs and wire assembly area), I have spoken to ford service dept, and out side mechanics and they all have agreed that this is a common problem with the ford expeditions. What is unethical the ford dealers and service dept, will attempt to convince the consumer that it is their fault and that any warranty may be void, sunrise ford ( 909‑434‑0473 ) had tried to make me agree or say that I was washing the engine with water to clean it, the only time I look under the hood is to change the oil or check the fluids, sunrise ford has been the only one, doing any major repairs to this truck and there mechanic, lost two machine type screws, and they told me I lost them, and that I should have checked the work after it being done, is this my responsibility as a consumer? But as I write to you 4-14-2006 my wife's ford expedition has failed again it stalled after she left our driveway thank god I have a subaru in case of an emergency, and I will have to take it back to ford to do repairs due to ignition problems. Know wonder ford is going out of business they treat their valid customers so poorly. Sincerely: gregory m ritchie.

Filed Oct 31, 2005 · Engine · 38,500 miles · WA

The cold air tube to the turbo blew loose on a uphill pull. I experienced a severe loss of power and lots of black smoke. I am pulling a 5th wheel trailer and had this been on a mountain pass I feel I could have lost control, thus resulting in a deadly accident. Country ford at las vegas re-attached the hose b ut gave no guarantee that it would not happen again. I believe ford should re-engineer the tube with a more severe flange that could be better secured.

Filed Feb 15, 2005 · Engine · 38,940 miles · FL

We own a 2003 f250 v-10 triton pick up. While we were driving the #3 spark plug out of the head. Ford is refusing to repair the problem. We have extended warranty and we have researched on the internet that there are many other people that have had this problem and they are refusing to do anything. I sent a letter to the office of the attorney general and they advised that we should send one to you also. This is a major problem. What if it happened when we were on the highway going about 70 MPH and our daughter was in the vehicle with us? Thank god we were only going 30 MPH and no one got hurt. As soon as it happened we pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. They said that it was not covered by our warranty since we had put bosch platinum 4 spark plugs into the vehicle. They stated that we now voided our warranty. I researched the entire warranty policy and there is nothing stating that. The dealer was even going to put the spark plugs in for us when we bought them in june of 2003. But they wanted almost $300.00 to put them in. We asked them at that time if we could use them and they said we wuld like you to use motorcraft, but if you choose to use a different brand make sure that they are the same or better. So that is what we did. We have researched so many options and information that there are other people out there that have had the same problem and they do not want to do anything. We also advised them that this truck is my husbands lively hood and if he cant work how are we going to pay the payment every month. We seem to have ro recourse but to extend our hand to you for help. The estimated cost of repair is $4000.00. Your attention in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Filed Nov 25, 2004 · Engine · 10,000 miles · PA · 1 injury

Turbo charger hose keeps blowing off pull a horse trailer w/f350 diesel 2003 ford & on nov. 19,2003 I got my right hand burned trying to put turbo hose back on, to get truck & trailer off road ford dealer would not come out. Ilgot to a deler in gerstown ,maryland & got new hose & clamps after being on the road for over 12 hours to go 175 miles. This is the 5th time it has happened to me the truck has only 23000 miles; truck loses power & when on a hill will not move happened 5 times; ford installed new turbo charger & it lasted approx.3000 miles & hose blew off again; I am afraid to use this truck to pull my horse trailer & I am invoking the lemon law.