The 2003 Ford F-250 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 110,402 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 151 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL…
Consequence
NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES, THE ENGINE GROUND STUD THAT ATTACHES THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL EYELET TO THE ENGINE BLOCK MAY BE LOOSE.
Consequence
IF THE GROUND WIRE IS LOOSE, ELECTRICAL CURRENT MAY FLOW TO THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP CAUSING IT TO HEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT OR IGNITE ADJACENT COMPONENTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE GROUND STUD AND THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Complaints by component
TIRES
14
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE
13
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11
4fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
SERVICE BRAKES
8
1crashes1fires1injuries
STEERING
6
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
SUSPENSION
5
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
5
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
Total complaints151
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The customer purchased a vehicle from metro motors on may 8, 2026, after visiting the dealership three times and speaking with multiple sales representatives. During each visit, the customer specifically stated that the vehicle would be used to tow a trailer and repeatedly asked whether it was…”
“The customer purchased a vehicle from metro motors on may 8, 2026, after visiting the dealership three times and speaking with multiple sales representatives. During each visit, the customer specifically stated that the vehicle would be used to tow a trailer and repeatedly asked whether it was…”
“The customer purchased a vehicle from metro motors on may 8, 2026, after visiting the dealership three times and speaking with multiple sales representatives. During each visit, the customer specifically stated that the vehicle would be used to tow a trailer and repeatedly asked whether it was…”
“Truck had no check engine light then caught on fire going down the road and burned to ground within seconds incident report 46-24-05039 08_30-74 us-30 - pa 74 30 w”
“Truck had no check engine light then caught on fire going down the road and burned to ground within seconds incident report 46-24-05039 08_30-74 us-30 - pa 74 30 w”
“Truck had no check engine light then caught on fire going down the road and burned to ground within seconds incident report 46-24-05039 08_30-74 us-30 - pa 74 30 w”
“Speed control sensor allows brake fluid leak through the plug connector and run down the wiring harness, allowing brake fluid to splash on the exhaust manifold and cause a fire.”
“The contact owns a 2003 ford f-250. The contact stated that both turn signals and the windshield wipers would intermittently fail to operate as needed. Over time, the failure worsened and the components failed to operate. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
InvestigationPE04070 Opened 2004-10-07 · closed 2005-02-15
ENGINE STALLING
TWENTY FIVE OF THE ODI FAILURE REPORTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD COMPLAINTS.TWENTY ODI REPORTS DO NOT CONTAIN A VIN (AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD REPORTS).THE 14 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 2 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE ALL MINOR.SUBMITTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-070, FORD'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION…
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 F-250 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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