- The problem
- 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 control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- The risk
- A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
- The fix
- 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, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Vehicle safety record
2003 Ford E-550 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2003 Ford E-550 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (1). It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in October 2009 for the vehicle speed control. For comparison, the 2002 has 1 and the 2004 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical E-550 year, for its age
#427 most complained-about 2003 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2003 Ford E-550 problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2003 Ford E-550 recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
- The risk
- Overheating could result in smoke, burn, or an underhood fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on march 12, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (Note: also see recalls 05v017, 05v388, and 06v286)
- The problem
- Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n f65277, shipped from january 16 through june 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect design, the quick connectors may not fully seat with the tube interface, even though the person making the connection may believe that the quick connector is fully attached.
- The risk
- Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
- The fix
- Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters usa at 800-230-5876.
- The problem
- 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 conditions that create hot particles.
- The risk
- These hot particles may ignite the air filter element with the potential for air induction system damage or underhood fire.
- The fix
- 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 occurs first. If your vehicle has already accumulated more than 150,000 miles, this coverage will last until september 30, 2005.
- The problem
- On certain vans, a diode in the anti-lock braking system (abs) module may experience an electrical short.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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 miles from the warranty start date, whichever occurs first. If your vehicle has already accumulated more than 150,000 miles, this coverage will last until september 30, 2005.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 2003 Ford E-550
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford e-550. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 05v270000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 43,000.
Ford E-550: every year compared
All E-550 years2003 Ford E-550 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Ford E-550 | 1 | 5 | F | |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac | 1,313 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport | 1,313 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Explorer | 1,313 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Expedition | 655 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Escape | 598 | 9 | C | Compare |
| 2003 Ford F-150 | 465 | 11 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Crown Victoria | 289 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Ford Econoline | 215 | 4 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2003 Ford E-550
Does the 2003 Ford E-550 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2003 Ford E-550: vehicle speed control (October 2009); vehicle speed control (March 2007); fuel system, gasoline (June 2006); engine and engine cooling (September 2004) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford E-550?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 2003 Ford E-550 had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 26, 2015 and the latest on January 26, 2015. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2003 Ford E-550 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 8 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Ford E-550 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford E-550 years have the most complaints?
2005 (4), 2006 (3), 2002 (1). See every Ford E-550 year compared.
What should I do if my 2003 Ford E-550 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data