2003 Ford F-250 SD: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 20, 2011 · Electrical, Transmission · 160,000 miles · KS

Truck began blowing fuse #45, resulting in a loss of instruments and no throttle activation available. Seems to occur most often when turning left, and/or when shifting from park or reverse into drive, or drive into reverse or park. Has resulted in a loss of power in all of the above situations, with the engine only idling. If this occurs while heading uphill, vehicle will not move. Internet search reveals this seems to be a fairly common problem, and is due to insulation being rubbed off part of the wiring harness that runs through the steering column. Same research indicates ford changed the routing of the wiring harness in late 2003. I believe this situation should be repaired free of charge by ford.

Filed Oct 25, 2008 · Engine · 102,173 miles · OH

My husband and I were pulling our camper to virginia for vacation and half way there we could smell antifreeze. By the time we got to martinsville and got our camper backed up at the campground white smoke was coming out of our tailpipe and later overheated. We called aaa the next morning and had it towed to a local dealer where they had informed us that it was the egr cooler. They put the new egr cooler on and we got our truck back 2 days later. We did not drive the truck anymore until we were pulling our camper home to ohio and noticed the same things were happening. The white smoke and antifreeze smell we also had loss of power. I made my husband pull over and low and behold we had no antifreeze in the truck. The dealership had put 2 bottles of antifreeze and changed our oil because of antifreeze in the oil. We called the dealership and they told us to try and limp it home. We were not going to be any part of that and asked the gas station attendant where the closest ford dealership was located. They told us the get off the next exit and go 1/2 mile up the road. We made it a 1/4 mile from the dealership and had to pull over because truck was overheating. Tried to start truck back up and nothing. Got a tow truck to tow us to this dealership where they told us our engine was vapor locked. We only had gone 130 miles from the other dealership before this happened. Dealership is telling us that ford has been having issues with the 6.0 liter v6 f-250 super duty diesel engines. Have an ongoing lawsuit with dealership and ford. Would like to know of other issues with these trucks because we are over warrant by 2,000 miles.

Filed Apr 6, 2005 · Engine, Steering · 5 miles · NJ

The vehicle would lose power steering when applying the brakes. The power steering would return after letting off the brakes. The vehicle had been to the dealer on three separate occasions. The dealer changed various parts and the problem recurred. *ak the hydro boost was not operating properly and the engine had an oil leak due to the glow plug boss bar orings. *sc

Filed Mar 24, 2004 · Electrical, Fuel system · 18,000 miles · MO

Extremely poor fuel economy on ford 7.3 l diesel engine. Bought vehicle new approx 1 year ago, vehicle was getting 18 miles per gallon until dec. 2003. As of jan. 2004 the vehicle mileage has been 9 miles be gallon. Vehicle has loss of power and has been in the dealer repair shop for this problem. Ford diagnostic say there is not a problem with the engine. If anything, a diesel engine should get better mileage as it is broken in. Current vehicle mileage is approx. 25500 miles. This vehicle has been regularly serviced, oil change, filter, air filter, fuel filter every 3000 to 4000 miles and has been to the same dealership for the same complaint two times before without correction.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Fuel system · 4,000 miles · NY

On going problems will stall at highway speeds can't pull across intersection loss of power trans will shift or not steering all over road smokes baddly when started

Filed Nov 12, 2003 · Engine · 1,200 miles · AZ

Vehicle's motor stopped running in traffic, causing loss of power assist on steering and brakes.

Filed Sep 7, 2003 · Engine · 9,000 miles · NC

Driving 70mph truck dies . Engine has less than 10000 miles . Frequently pull 8000 lb trailer,boat and other equipment . Serios concerns about losing power bakes and power steering with engine dying.dealer has changed icp sensor twice in a 300 mile span.have read about this beeing a widespread problem with the new 6.0 powerstroke engine.

Filed Aug 11, 2003 · Engine · 1,500 miles · TX

Purchased a 2003 f250 super duty 6.0 l diesel in april 2003. It has been in the shop 4 times in which fuel injectors were replaced and reprogrammed. We have been told by the dealer they do not have any fixes for the rough idle, loss of power, occasional acceleration (for no reason). Our truck is used on a ranch. We are often hauling horse, pulling water tanks over a wide variety of terrain. The problems are becoming life threatening to my husband as well as our livestock. We depend on this truck for our livelihood. Regardless of how bad it runs we can not let it sit in the shop- cattle will starve. Complained to the ford customer relations, they had the regional rep call, she ask if we would accept a goodwill $ in the amount of 1 month payment and said we could expect a fix july 31,2003. I told her I would accept $ as long as she understood it was not shut up $ and the truck would be fixed. She said it was $ to compensate for some of the problems we have already experienced in time lost. The dealer still has no new information to fix the truck but told us to bring it back in and they would look at it again. In the mean time I have been trying to get back in touch with ford regional rep, andre chidder(not sure about the spelling) no luck, ford customer relations said they could not contact her again on my behalf because they have done that once and can;t reopen my case. (no one told me my case was closed) I found a number for her in the internet and will try again. This truck is dangerous and should be recalled ...now failure are daily, dates vary since purchase date.

Filed Aug 2, 2003 · Engine · CA

New 2003 f-250 6.0 diesel ford with 412 miles just lost power on the freeway at 70mph...very dangerous situation with no steering or power brakes...from all the webs site about these truck I can see that I am not the only one with this problem...act now before someone is killed driving this truck...