Is the 2003 Ford F-350 SD a bad year?
222 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 74, 7.4× a quiet F-350 SD year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 7.4× the complaints of a quiet F-350 SD year, spread over 10k–93k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2003 F-350 SD owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 29,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 72 (32%) | 11k–91k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 26 (12%) | 18k–90k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 20 (9%) | 20k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (8%) | 7k–61k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 14 (6%) | 8k–68k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 34 (15%) | 33k–121k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Tires | 22 (10%) | 34k–105k miles · ahead | — |
| Steering | 13 (6%) | 32k–122k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exhaust | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 29,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 222 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Transmission failure, no events leading up to the failure. Backed truck up and then went to pull forward truck would not move.
Dead pedal. When you step on gas pedal you get no response until you let off, then the vehicle lunges forward,usually leaving you in middle of intersection.
I was traveling down rte 37W in toms river nj when a loud "Boom" Occurred in my engine followed by a continuous loud "Ticking" Sound.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 29,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2003 Ford F-350 SD: 7
The multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (Slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate. Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.
The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn. A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Certain federal-mogul replacement wheel hub assemblies with the brand names: national, carquest p/nos. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, and 515060, shipped between january 23, 2006, and december 20, 2007, sold for light duty and medium duty trucks. Wheel separation can result in a vehicle crash.
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. In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Certain cequent 90 degree 7-WAY right angle adaptors sold by distributors in tow packages for aftermarket sales to tow 5th wheel RV travel trailers. Due to incorrect wiring of the harness, the trailer lights may not operate properly. If the trailer lights are not working properly, a vehicle crash can occur.
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat. Overheating could result in smoke, burn, or an underhood fire.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 6
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2003 Ford F-350 SD. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
When shifting between park, reverse and/or during 2-3 shift, an intermittent clunk occurs with a torqshift transmission
Some vehicles may exhibit concern during or after programing the VSM
The restraint control module (RCM) when using vcm II, would have an error code 35 and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B1035…
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Engine stalling
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Engine stalling
Engine stalling
Accelerator pedal sensor (Etc)
Neighbouring years
2002 F-350 SD: 239 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2004 F-350 SD: 285 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford F-350 SD year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All F-350 SD years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2003 Ford F-350 SD a bad year?
222 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 74, 7.4× a quiet F-350 SD year. At 29,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 7.4× the complaints of a quiet F-350 SD year, spread over 10k–93k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford F-350 SD?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (72), electrical system (26), speed control (20), transmission and drivetrain (17), brakes (14). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 10k–93k miles.
How many recalls does the 2003 Ford F-350 SD have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 11V-352), Speed control (NHTSA 09V-399), Wheels (NHTSA 07E106000), Engine (NHTSA 07V-553) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.