2003 FORD E-SERIES — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
5
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
9
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 FORD E-SERIES
The 2003 FORD E-SERIES has received a total of 5 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL, STRUCTURE. 9 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System (1 complaint), Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor (1 complaint), and Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES, potentially affecting up to 1,179,674 vehicles.
Recall 07V553000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
| 1,176,000 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
View full details →Recall 03V094000 — STRUCTURE
| 3,674 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield Wiperwashermotor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED SHUT OFF DEAD!!!! IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO RESTAR IT AND IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE CLOSEST MECHANIC SHOP.I PAID $49.95 FEE AND THEY SCANNED THE ENGINE. TOLD ME IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LOOSE WIRE, THAT THEY TOOK CARE OF IT AND GO AHEAD AND DRIVE IT. "BRING IT BACK, IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN" EASIER SAID THAN DONE. YES IT IS STILL HAPPENING. I LOVE MY CAR AND IT IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I HAVE. I AM 69 3/4 YEARS OLD AND DRIVE AROUND WITH MY 92 YEAR OLD MOTHER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.
I HAVE A FORD E350 4X4 VAN 2003. THERE HAS BEEN FUMES ACCUMULATING IN THE VAN WHEN DRIVING. I GET HEADACHES AND MY EYES TEAR AND MY FEEL SICK. I NOTICED THE FUMES INTENSELY ON 1.25.08 WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY MILES IN COLD WEATHER AT A DISTANCE OF 2.5 HOURS AND 132 MILES ONE WAY AND 264 ROUND TRIP. THE FUMES BUILD UP WHEN DRIVING. I OPEN MY PASSENGER WINDOW WHILE STILL DRIVING AND IT SEEMS LIKE I GET MORE FUMES. IN ADDITION WHEN I PUT ON THE HEATER IT ALSO FILL UP THE VAN. ON 2.1.08 I DID ANOTHER TRIP LIKE THE ONE THAT WAS MENTION ABOVE. MY WIFE AN I EXPERIENCE THE SAME AFFECT WHICH WERE HEADACHES AND NAUSEOUS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AND STARTED TO LOOSE POWER, EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE MAY 21, 2007. THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE THEN AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL BECOME AVAILABLE ON JUNE 26, 2007. NOW AS OF TODAY JUNE 26, 2007, IT WAS PUSHED BACK TO AUGUST 25, 2007, BECAUSE IT'S AN ENGINEER PROBLEM. I AM OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEALER OR FORD IS NOT ASSISTING ME IN MUCH OF ANYTHING RIGHT NOW!*AK
GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR END WHILE BACKING OR MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. PER 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY DOCUMENTED BOTH HERE AND IN ONLINE FORUMS. IT REQUIRES A $1000.00 REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WILL PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. *NM
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Safety Rating for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 FORD E-SERIES in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES
Ford Motor Company has issued 9 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SB-20937 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD: MULTIPLE VEHICLES WITH A TORQ SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENT CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN DRIVE, REVERSE AND PARK AND/OR DURING 2-3 UPSHIFT. MODELS F SUPER DUTY; E SERIES; EXCURSION; F53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS AND LOW CAB FORWARD. *PE
04228 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HARD START OR NO START. *EH
17695 — STEERING
STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE 50-65 MPH. *TT
17244 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDERS BINDS IN OFF AND LOCK POSITIONS. *TT
17245 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE REMAINING AT IDLE EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TT
03164 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SOME VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L 2V ENGINE, WITH AN ENGINE BUILD DATE PRIOR TO 8/29/03 MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE TICK NOISE THAT IS PRESENT AT ALL TEMPERATURES DURING IDLE. 2004 MODELS INCLUDED. *TT
17079 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WATER PUMP PULLEY BOLTS LOOSENING. *TT
3C2414A411AA — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
E-SERIES CHASSIS CAB AND CUTAWAY 12A581 BACK-UP CIRCUIT REPAIR PROCEDURE. *TT
16407 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP PULLEY BOLTS LOOSE. *MJ
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FORD E-SERIES
- 1998 FORD E-SERIES — 13 complaints
- 1999 FORD E-SERIES — 4 complaints
- 2000 FORD E-SERIES — 10 complaints
- 2001 FORD E-SERIES — 7 complaints
- 2002 FORD E-SERIES — 6 complaints
- 2003 FORD E-SERIES (current)
- 2004 FORD E-SERIES — 12 complaints
- 2005 FORD E-SERIES — 10 complaints
- 2006 FORD E-SERIES — 0 complaints
- 2007 FORD E-SERIES — 0 complaints
- 2008 FORD E-SERIES — 6 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints