2003 FORD F-250 SD Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING HAD FAILED AND THE ROD WAS DETACHED FROM THE CLUTCH. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER, PURCHASED A NEW BUSHING AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE RECENT FAILURE WAS THE SECOND CLUTCH FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000. UPDATED 10/24/12 *CN UPDATED 11/9/2012 *JS

Mileage: 58,000

VEHICLE HAS 7.3 LITER DIESEL ENGINE AND THE FORD 4R100 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ABOUT 88,000 MILES DESPITE PROPER SERVICING SINCE NEW. IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP SHIFTING IN NORMAL USE AND BEGAN TO SLIP BADLY. ONLY SECOND GEAR WAS STILL WORKING WHEN I GOT IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ($3500+). THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED IN A SIMILAR WAY AT ABOUT 135,000 MILES DESPITE BEING SERVICED AS REQUIRED BY THE DEALER. THEY ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN A VALVE BODY FOR THIS TROUBLESOME ASSEMBLY AND IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS. THIS MODEL OF TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE TOWING AND LOSE ENGINE BRAKING DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. FORD NO LONGER USES THIS TRANSMISSION AS IT HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. THE BODY HAS RUSTED THROUGH AT ONE OF THE CAB CORNERS AND OVER BOTH REAR WHEEL WELLS. FORD REPAIRED THE RUST THROUGH ONCE UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE RUST THROUGHS CONTINUE AND HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE AND PROTECTION OF IT'S OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. A RUSTED BODY WOULD NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS AN AN UNRUSTED ONE. *KB

Mileage: 88,000

TRUCK BEGAN BLOWING FUSE #45, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF INSTRUMENTS AND NO THROTTLE ACTIVATION AVAILABLE. SEEMS TO OCCUR MOST OFTEN WHEN TURNING LEFT, AND/OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK OR REVERSE INTO DRIVE, OR DRIVE INTO REVERSE OR PARK. HAS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER IN ALL OF THE ABOVE SITUATIONS, WITH THE ENGINE ONLY IDLING. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE HEADING UPHILL, VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM, AND IS DUE TO INSULATION BEING RUBBED OFF PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS THAT RUNS THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN. SAME RESEARCH INDICATES FORD CHANGED THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS IN LATE 2003. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE BY FORD. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

TRANSMISSION COOLER SUPPLY LINE (METAL TUBING NOT HOSE ELEMENT) DEVELOPED A LEAK DUE TO LONG TERM CONTACT WITH THE ENGINE SUPPORT FRAME CROSSMEMBER. LONG TERM CONTACT RESULTED IN A .25 INCH WIDE X .5 INCH LONG FLAT AREA WORN INTO TUBE WALL WITH A PIN HOLE SIZE PENETRATION THRU THE TUBE WALL. FLUID PRESSURE INSIDE THE TUBE IN COMBINATION WITH THE PIN HOLE SIZE PENETRATION RESULTED IN A SPRAYING LEAK FROM THE TUBE WHICH COATED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK AND THE TRAILER THAT WAS IN TOW AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE BRAKING SURFACES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS OF THE TRUCK WERE COATED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE LOW VOLUMETRIC FLOWRATE OF THE LEAK ALLOWED FOR CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS (AT NIGHT ON FAIRLY LEVEL TERRAIN) WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF THE ONGOING LEAKAGE. THIS ALLOWED FOR THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE BRAKING SURFACES TO BE COATED WITH FLUID. THE LEAKAGE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED HOT WHILE TRANSITIONING TETON PASS FROM JACKSON WYOMING. INSPECTION OF THE TUBING INSTALLATION REVEALED THAT THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE WAS THE AFORE MENTIONED LONG TERM CONTACT WITH THE ENGINE SUPPORT FRAME CROSSMEMBER. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE IS EITHER DESIGN TOLERANCE FOR THE TUBING INSTALLATION OR INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE TUBING AT ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY. THE CLAMPING PROVISION DESIGNED INTO THE TUBING INSTALLATION (ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK ADJACENT TO THE OIL PAN) IN COMBINATION WITH THE INSUFFICIENT LENGTH OF THE TUBING SECTION CROSSING OVER THE ENGINE SUPPORT FRAME CROSSMEMBER RESULTED IN PRELOADED CONTACT BETWEEN THE TUBE AND THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE CROSSMEMBER. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE SO THE DAMAGED SECTION OF THE TUBING WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC HOSE. THE REMOVED SECTION OF TUBING WAS RETAINED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE TRUCK REMAINS IN THE TEMPORARY REPAIRED CONDITION AT THIS TIME. *TR

Mileage: 103,906

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF WITH THE SHIFTER IN PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND INDEPENDENTLY BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY BACKWARD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT BUT WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND ELBOW. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND CRASHED INTO THE GAS PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,349 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,360.

Mileage: 82,349

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F250 WITH 73K MILES ON IT, AND I TOO AM ANOTHER VICTIM OF A SPARK PLUG BLOWING OUT OF MY 4TH CYLINDER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY TRUCK. WHY IS FORD NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. AS MUCH AS WE PAY FOR THESE CARS AND TRUCKS, YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD MAKE THINGS RIGHT. NO WONDER U.S. AUTO MAKERS ARE FAILING. JUST MORE CORPORATE GREED. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 6.0L DIESEL; 130,000 MILES HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP GOES OUT. ALL FUEL INJECTORS NEED REPLACING, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL REGULATOR DISINTEGRATES. AT 99,000 THE TURBO HAD A LEAK, WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO FORD DEALER. THIS TRUCK SHOULD NOT NEED THESE REPAIRS THIS SOON, SOMETHING IS WRONG. DAD WAS A DIESEL MECHANIC, THIS IS VERY FAULTY EQUIPMENT. TRUCK HAS HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE. TRUCK JUST LOSES POWER SUDDENLY. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

2003 FORD F-250 (ONLY 50,000 MILES) HAD MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HOUSING CRACKED AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR. ONLY OPTION IS TO INSTALL NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

2003 F-250 SD 4X4 CC 5.4 L GAS AUTO TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED IT LURCHES FORWARD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. FORDS RESPONSE IS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN AUTOMATIC AND IS IN PARK. IT HAPPENS IN BOTH COLD WEATHER AS WELL AS WARM. *NM

Mileage: 32,000

DT: A SHIFT CABLE BROKE ON JUNE 5, 2005. CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY FIXED IT. HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK BUT THIS ONE WAS THE BAD ONE. THE DEALER GAVE NO IDICATION WHY IT BROKE. ALSO, THEY HAD TO PULL OUT THE MOTOR BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AGAIN BECAUSE AN EMERGCEY LIGHT CAME ON. SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ALL HE COULD SAY WAS THAT IT HAPPENED TO A COUPLE OF THEM. *AK

Mileage: 31,000

OUR 2003 FORD F250 DIESEL TRUCKS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 55,000 MILES. WE PAID $40,000 FOR A TRUCK THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT TO LAST AND BE A QUALITY VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT CAME WITH A 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. NOW THAT WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT, WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT A TRANSMISSION IS NOT CONSIDERED POWER TRAIN ON A DIESEL ENGINE. THIS TRUCK IS ALMOST NEW. WE HAVE ONLY PULLED A STOCK TRAILER WITH IT A HAND FULL OF TIMES. IT IS MOSTLY USED ON THE HIGHWAY AS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. FORD IS NOT STANDING BESIDE IT'S VEHICLE. THEY WANT US TO PAY $3500.00 TO REPLACE A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. MY HUSBAND HAS TALKED TO THE FORD COMPANY DIRECTLY WHO DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A RECORD OF US BUYING THE TRUCK. WHY SHOULD THEY BE ABLE TO MANUFACTURE GARBAGE,CHANGE OUTRAGEOUS PRICES FOR IT AND THEN NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT????IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO? *NM

Mileage: 55,000

HARSH OR DELAYED FORWARD OR REVERSE ENGAGEMENT. *AK

Mileage: 45,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, ALL FOUR TIRES LOCKED-UP ON THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE GEARS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND ROUGHLY. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *LA

Mileage: 12,000

OIL LEAK

Mileage: 4,000

ON GOING PROBLEMS WILL STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN'T PULL ACROSS INTERSECTION LOSS OF POWER TRANS WILL SHIFT OR NOT STEERING ALL OVER ROAD SMOKES BADDLY WHEN STARTED

Mileage: 4,000

I HAVE HAD ROUGH IDLE PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. THIS WAS THE FIRST DIESEL VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED SO IN THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL, BUT IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN APRIL 2003. I HAVE HAD HARD SHIFTING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. WHEN I BACK THE TRUCK UP AND THEN SHIFT INTO DRIVE IT WILL SLAM INTO GEAR AS A VEHICLE WITH NO TRANSMISSION FLUID REACTS. THERE WAS A DANGEROUS HESITATION WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC AND SOMETIMES THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE A 3-5 SECOND STALL. IT HAS BLOWN WHITE SMOKE MORE RECENTLY AND WOULD NOT KICK DOWN INTO PASSING GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO FIX AT THAT TIME. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER AND SHE TELLS ME THAT THE FIX WILL RAISE THE NOISE LEVEL UP 5 DECIBELS. THIS WILL MAKE THE TRUCK LOUDER THAN IT WAS WHEN IT WAS SOLD TO ME. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK BECAUSE OF THE POWER AND HOW QUIET IT WAS. NOW IT WILL GET LOUDER? I REQUESTED THAT FORD BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AND THEY WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM FIRST! EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE LOUDER. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I HAVE MY RECEIPTS BUT DIDN'T FIND OUT HOW MUCH THE REPAIRS HAVE COST ALL TOGETHER, BUT FORD HAS NOT CHARGED ME ANYTHING... YET

Mileage: 500

VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM 4TH GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHILE ASENDING A MODERATE GRADE. VEHICLE WAS TOWING A FLATBED TRAILER WITH 7000 LBS OF BLOCK. WHEN VEHICLE UNEXPECTED SHIFTED INTO FIRST THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN A JACKKNIFE.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. LIGHT ON PANEL CAME UP, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SHOP A TOTAL OF FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL REMAINED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK

MY 2003 F250 FORD WILL MOVE FORWARD WHEN YOU START THE ENGINE AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK. IT DOES NOT DO THIS EVERY TIME BUT IT HAS DONE IT AROUND TEN TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. THE TRUCK WILL MOVE FORWARD , SOMETIMES ABOUT FOUR TO SIX INCHES. THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING WHEN IT WILL DO THIS. I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID FORD TOLD THEM THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP IN SHAWNEE OK. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS DISASSEMBLED THE INNER PUMP ROTOR WAS BROKE AS WELL AS 1-2 AND 2-3 SHIFT VALVES WERE STUCK. MILAGE WAS 3, 822. NOV 13, 2002. ON JAN 31 2003 WHILE GOING TO THE STORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR OVERDRIVE BUT WOULD MOVE IN FIRST AND SECOND AS WELL AS REVERSE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO PLACE OF PURCHASE WALT'S LIVE OAK FORD WHERE THEY HAVE STATED IT WOULD BE A 5 DAYS BEFORE IT COULD BE LOOKED AT. TS

Mileage: 8,800