2003 Ford F-250 SD: hesitation when accelerating

5 of the 178 complaints about the 2003 Ford F-250 SD describe hesitation when accelerating.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 3%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 18 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Hesitation when accelerating by model year

2023
1
2022
3
2021
1
2020
13
2019
3
2018
1
2017
2
2015
2
2014
1
2011
2
2010
2
2009
1
2008
1
2007
1
2006
1
2005
2
2004
9
2003
5
2002
1
2001
3
2000
2
1997
1

What owners say

Filed Jan 6, 2011 · Engine · 125,000 miles · FL

The turbo on the low end struggles. Egr is having problems. Truck hesitates when starting off, it is a potential problem for wrecks because the motor hesitates from take off. Turning out to be a safety hazard.

Filed Jan 6, 2011 · Engine · 125,000 miles · FL

Filed May 11, 2004 · Engine · 7,000 miles · TX

Purchased 2003 f-250 sd with 6.0l diesel engine in june 2003. To date, vehicle has been to ford service six (6) times -- all related to the engine. The first time, we were travelling down interstate at 70 MPH when truck hesitated and died. We were unable to restart the truck and had to coast to next exit and into a service station. We were told the PCM (power control module - brains of the engine) failed. Since then, the truck's service engine soon light has come on and each time ford service attributes the problem to different parts of the engine - go figure. This has all taken place before even having the truck for one year!!

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Fuel system · 500 miles · AR

I have had rough idle problems since I bought the truck new. This was the first diesel vehicle I have ever owned so in the beginning I thought it was normal, but it kept getting worse. I purchased the truck in april 2003. I have had hard shifting since I bought it. When I back the truck up and then shift into drive it will slam into gear as a vehicle with no transmission fluid reacts. There was a dangerous hesitation when crossing traffic and sometimes the truck would have a 3-5 second stall. It has blown white smoke more recently and would not kick down into passing gear on the freeway. I have had the truck in for service several times and the last time they told me that they had no fix at that time. I just got off the phone with a customer service manager and she tells me that the fix will raise the noise level up 5 decibels. This will make the truck louder than it was when it was sold to me. I purchased this truck because of the power and how quiet it was. Now it will get louder? I requested that ford buy the vehicle back and they want to fix the problem first! Even though it will be louder. This is not acceptable but I have no choice. I have my receipts but didn't find out how much the repairs have cost all together, but ford has not charged me anything... Yet

Filed Oct 5, 2003 · Engine · SC

I recently purchased a 2003 ford super duty with a 6.0l diesel, I now have 6100 miles on it, I took the unit to my dealer at 1,100 and complained of erratic idle, low fuel mileage, 18 on the highway, 15 in town, cold start hesitation while accelerating and the air filter indicator was broken, they had my truck for 6 hours, which wasn't the problem, I was told there is some software issues in the PCM, and they were working on it, I called ford cac (customer assistance center), I was told the same, I was advised if it was a component issue that ford would extend the warranty on that part, I said no way, I wanted the part changed even if there was after a problem if my truck was out of warranty. I then received a phone call from the district rep up in north carolina, I told him what was going on, he said he was a policy/complaint person and was not in the technical side of things, I now have 6100 miles on the truck and still no change, I sent a email to the ford cac, 5 days ago with no response. I'm going to call the cac again and the dealer. If this is fords idea of customer service they should re-think it.