The 2003 Ford E-450 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,567,925 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
Consequence
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,…
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING04V4450002004-09-13253,076 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN VANS, THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT MATERIAL PROCESS RESULTED IN AN AIR FILTER PAPER ELEMENT THAT CAN SMOLDER OR BURN. THIS CHANGE IN FILTER PAPER COMPOSITION COMBINED WITH THE CONFIGURATION OF THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM, MAY ALLOW HOT CARBON PARTICLES TO CONTACT THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT DURING CERTAIN DRIVING…
Consequence
THESE HOT PARTICLES MAY IGNITE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM DAMAGE OR UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO FORD IS EXTENDING THE LIMITED WARRANTY (FOR A ONE TIME REPLACEMENT) OF THE ABS MODULE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WHICHEVER…
ON CERTAIN VANS, A DIODE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence
THE ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, OR THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN OR UNATTENDED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUSE IN THE ABS CIRCUIT AND INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD OVER THE ABS MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO FORD IS EXTENDING THE LIMITED WARRANTY (FOR A ONE TIME REPLACEMENT) OF THE ABS MODULE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000…
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
1fires
TIRES
3
AIR BAGS
1
EQUIPMENT
1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
1
Total complaints22
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I have issues with brakes calipers that pistons are made of phenolic material, replaced calipers multiple times and will fail in as little as one trip and when using rv in hot weather or too much braking like in the city even if is cold the brakes are constantly locking up to the point where the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford e-450. The vehicle was equipped with a kiddie fire extinguisher. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v782000 (equipment). The manufacturer was contacted at [REDACTED] approximately one month ago, but the contact had not received a response…”
“I reported a complaint about 10 days ago and haven't heard anything and this is a follow up. The complaint number is 10992187. Would some one please give me an update on your procedure and when I can expect to hear from you. My name is [xxx] . I leave saturday june 10th and will be gone for a week…”
“When sleeping in motorhome the front drivers steering wheel airbag deployed. The vehicle was parked and not running. The key was not even in the ignition.”
“Velvac foldable rv mirror fell completely off of its mounting. This failure occured on both sides off the rv at nearly the same time. Fortunately the rv was parked at the time and not on the road. The failure occurred in a retaining ring groove with the retaining ring cutting through the groove on…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford e450. While driving at approximate speeds of 45 mph using the cruise control in rainy weather, the vehicle began jerking. The contact stated that there was also a burning smell coming from the vehicle. He was able to move the vehicle off of the road and when he…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford e450. While driving at approximate speeds of 45 mph using the cruise control in rainy weather, the vehicle began jerking. The contact stated that there was also a burning smell coming from the vehicle. He was able to move the vehicle off of the road and when he…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford e450. While driving at approximate speeds of 45 mph using the cruise control in rainy weather, the vehicle began jerking. The contact stated that there was also a burning smell coming from the vehicle. He was able to move the vehicle off of the road and when he…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE09055 Opened 2009-12-07 · closed 2010-04-21
HVAC Switch Failures
ODI has received 1 complaint and reports from 4 transportation fleets alleging 182 switch failures.Each fleet operates mini buses built on a Ford E350 or E450 cutaway chassis.The OEM HVAC blower switches have melted, smoked, burned or experienced open flame and become inoperable on vehicles in each fleet.Some drivers…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Ford E-450 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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