2003 Ford E-350: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 46 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel system, diesel (18% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford e-350 equipped with bf goodrich all terrain ko tires, size lt285-75r16, dot pfyuuj11. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the driver rear tire blew out. The vehicle was repaired. The tire failure mileage was 23,000 and the vehicle failure mileage was 53, 8000.”Owner report · Tires · May 2013
“Lost power. Filter heavily plugged particulate. Dropped tank. Bottom of tank has 1/2" silvery flakes. Fuel pick-up screen plugged. Boiled and reinstalled tank. Fuel pump failure about 2 months later. New pump. At 149000 mile, new tank and may need new pump. Tank was delaminating. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Diesel · Aug 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford e 350. The contact stated that the vehicle would lose power and prevent him from accelerating. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who informed the contact that the fuel tank was delaminating and causing the fuel pump to fail. As a result, the fuel tank and transfer pump would need to be replaced. No repairs were performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The current mileage was 190,000 and the failure mileage was 189,500. The VIN was unavailable.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2012
Show 7 more owner reports
“2003 ford cutaway van while driving vehicle driver noticed smelled a burning smell and saw smoke coming from under the center of dash. Pulled vehicle over and got out of vehicle. Smoke continued and flames began to consume vehicle until entire vehicle was on fire. We have experienced many hvac switch failures(melting of switch and or harness connector) and notice very hot wires to the switch at times. Fleet contains 85 ford e350 vehicles and this switch has been a common failure. *tt”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford e-350. While driving highway speeds, the contact stated a bolt separated from the engine block. This defect also caused the serpentine belt to fail, which caused the steering wheel and power steering to fail. The dealer and manufacturer denied any assistance with repair to the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 39,895 and the current mileage was 40,395.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 2011
“Have a 2003 ford e-350 van cng gas conversion. At 97,000 miles a spark plug blew completely out of the cylinder head and broke off the ignition coil that was bolted to the head. The cng gas could have possibly ignited and caused a fire since the fuel was still being sent to that particular cylinder and the spark was still sparking eventhough it was blown out of the hole. I have never heard of this happening before until I researched it after it occurred. This seems to be very common in ford engines that are 5.4 liter. The repair is around $2500. To pull the engine and repair the head. This could have been very dangerous if we had continue driving the van. This occurred 9/27/2010. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2010
“Fuel leaks in 7.3l and 6.0l diesel engines in ford e-350 ambulances. We have had 4 failures of the fuel filter mounting which have cracked and resulted in fuel leaks. Repairs have been made at our expense with significant down time. Repairs have been averaging about $900.00 for each ambulance. There are no tsb or recalls according to our local ford dealer. But parts are on a national back order. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Diesel · Feb 2010
“Sudden fuel leak from the fuel filter mounting housing on the engine. Resulting in significant down time and expense. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Diesel · Jan 2010
“Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford e350. The contact stated that the fuel tank lining came off causing the fuel tank to rust, clogging the fuel filter and fuel injectors. The fuel entering the injectors was minimal which made the truck very hard to accelerate while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that it was a clogged injector that needed to be replaced. One fuel injector was replaced for $970 which cause the identical failure to recur. The ford manufacturer was contacted and stated that they could not help him since there were no recalls. The failure mileage was 98,000 and the current mileage was 105,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Diesel · Jan 2010
“Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford e-350. The vehicle was included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 07v069000, seat belts:front:anchorage. The manufacturer was notified and he was informed the parts needed were on back order. This process has been ongoing for approximately 9 months with no resolution. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 78,000 and the current mileage was 80,079.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Dec 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
AROUND TOWN IS RECALLING 6 MY 2003 FORD E-350 AND MY 2006 E-250 WHEELCHAIR CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.
Remedy: AROUND TOWN IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR AROUND TOWN AT 1-678-364-8594.
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.
Remedy: 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.
ON CERTAIN VANS, A DIODE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
How other years compare
Check your exact E-350 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Ford E-350 reliable?
NHTSA has 46 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Ford E-350. The most complained-about area is fuel system, diesel (18% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Ford E-350 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 91,255 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Ford E-350 have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning equipment adaptive/mobility. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.