FORD E-450 · model year

2003 FORD E-450

22 NHTSA complaints, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003FORDE-450 carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 E-450 is vehicle speed control with 4 filings, followed by tires (3) and structure (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 E-450. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

22
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

22 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
TIRES3
STRUCTURE1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
VISIBILITY1
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE1
AIR BAGS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (5)

09V39900013/10/2009

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

04V44500013/09/2004

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 CER

04V44400013/09/2004

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ON CERTAIN VANS, A DIODE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

06E05600013/06/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

07V33600003/08/2007

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Recent Complaints

20240904SERVICE BRAKES

I have issues with brakes calipers that pistons are made of Phenolic material, replaced calipers multiple times and will fail in as little as one trip and when using RV in hot weather or too much braking like in the city even if is cold the brakes are constantly locking up to the point where the wheels won't turn, and burn I have to pull over when this happens and wait and hour or two while the brakes are smoking on the side of the road and my wife with a fire extinguisher afraid that the RV was going to burn then I reach inside with a tool to break them loose. I do not have more options for the repair as the calipers pistons are the problem every time and it became very dangerous to drive around anymore, I don't often complain of things but this is a safety issue that affected many of this vehicle owners with this type of caliper pistons. At this time the brakes are not the problem is the calipers pistons that fail no matter how old they are, as they heat up they warp or deform causin

20180301EQUIPMENT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-450. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A KIDDIE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V782000 (EQUIPMENT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 1-855-262-3540 APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RECALL REMEDY COMPLETED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME HAD PASSED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE SERIAL NUMBER AND PURCHASE DATE WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170606UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I REPORTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO AND HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING AND THIS IS A FOLLOW UP. THE COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 10992187. WOULD SOME ONE PLEASE GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON YOUR PROCEDURE AND WHEN I CAN EXPECT TO HEAR FROM YOU. MY NAME IS [XXX] . I LEAVE SATURDAY JUNE 10TH AND WILL BE GONE FOR A WEEK OUT OF COUNTRY. HE WILL RETURN ON JULY 10. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20160725AIR BAGS

WHEN SLEEPING IN MOTORHOME THE FRONT DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. THE KEY WAS NOT EVEN IN THE IGNITION.

Mileage: 36,540

20120807FireSUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-450. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MERGE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SPINDLE HAD MELTED AND THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, FLAMES WERE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SPINDLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED ALONG WITH THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY, TIRE AND BRAKES. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Mileage: 20,000

20110711VISIBILITY

VELVAC FOLDABLE RV MIRROR FELL COMPLETELY OFF OF ITS MOUNTING. THIS FAILURE OCCURED ON BOTH SIDES OFF THE RV AT NEARLY THE SAME TIME. FORTUNATELY THE RV WAS PARKED AT THE TIME AND NOT ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN A RETAINING RING GROOVE WITH THE RETAINING RING CUTTING THROUGH THE GROOVE ON THE MIRROR SPINDLE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2003 LAZY DAZE RV. I DO HAVE SOME OF THE PARTS, BUT THE SPINDLE WAS REPAIRED SO I CAN USE THE RV. *TT

Mileage: 40,000

20100825FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E450. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ISSUES WHEN DRIVING SUCH AS RUNNING ROUGH, STALLING, HESITATION, FAILURE TO RESTART AND FAILURE TO INITIALLY START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE HE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

Mileage: 20,000

20100405FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E450. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 45 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL IN RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE RETARDER WAS INOPERABLE. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS BUT DID SO WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED NOR HAD THE MANUFACTURER BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 238,000.

Mileage: 238,000

20100405FireLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E450. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 45 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL IN RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE RETARDER WAS INOPERABLE. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS BUT DID SO WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED NOR HAD THE MANUFACTURER BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 238,000.

Mileage: 238,000

20100405FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E450. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 45 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL IN RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE RETARDER WAS INOPERABLE. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS BUT DID SO WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED NOR HAD THE MANUFACTURER BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 238,000.

Mileage: 238,000

20100226FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

FOLLOW THIS LINK: HTTP://STEVEWIENCEK.SMUGMUG.COM/PHOTOGRAPHY/FORD-FUEL-TANK/10976330_WP42T#774715040_3CEQC FOR A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT I AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS FUEL TANK. IT IS UNSAFE, DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. 1) LOSS OF POWER 2) OCCURRED EVERY 100 MILES OR LESS 3) COST WAS OVER $5000 TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FUEL LINES AND FUEL INJECTORS. *TR

Mileage: 113,020

20100218TIRES

2003 FORD E450 DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB THE RIM HAD WEAR MARKS WHERE THE LUG NUTS WORE LARGE HOLES, WHICH CAUSED THE STUDS TO SNAP OFF. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0038-91 UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF

20100218WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

2003 FORD E450 DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB THE RIM HAD WEAR MARKS WHERE THE LUG NUTS WORE LARGE HOLES, WHICH CAUSED THE STUDS TO SNAP OFF. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0038-91 UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF

20091120FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-450 DIESEL BOX. WHEN DRIVING UPHILL THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, BUT THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED DE-LAMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AWAITING REPAIRS . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 43,400.

Mileage: 43,400

20080402VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (05S28) ON SEPT. 2007 ON THE CRUISE CONTROL ON OUR 2003 FORD MOTOR HOME. AS OF APRIL 2, 2008 THE DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL BE GETTING THE PARTS. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS A REASONABLE RESPONSE TIME. THIS IS THE SECOND RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE MOTOR HOME TO THEM TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND REALLY NEED TO HAVE THIS FIXED. *TR

20080102VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD INFORMED HER TO PULL OUT THE FUSE SINCE SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET TO THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE SWITCH COULD BE DEACTIVATED. A MECHANIC STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT SHE NOT PULL THE FUSE OUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD STILL CATCH FIRE. IN DECEMBER OF 2007, FORD STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY MARCH OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 7,402. UPDATED 02/19/08. *LJ

20071105VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FORD SAFETY RECALL 05S28 - I WENT TO DEALER AND THEY DEACTIVATED CRUISE CONTROL BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR - TOLD THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE NOV - CALLED TODAY TOLD NATIONAL BACKORDER MOST LIKELY NOT TILL MARCH 08 - WHY THE LONG DELAY? *TR

Mileage: 34,784

20070917VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FORD E-450 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH REPLACEMENT. FORD IS OUT OF PARTS AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT LOCAL DEALER. *JB

20070530TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF HIS MICHELIN LT 225 75R/16 TIRES HAD LARGE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CRACKS WERE DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20050722STRUCTURE

DT: CONSUMER OWNED A C CLASS MOTOR HOME 30 FEET LONG, E450 FORD V10 2003, MAKE OF MOTOR WAS FOREST RIVER SUN SEEKER. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH EXTREME HEAT BUILD UP IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT NEXT TO THE DOG HOUSE, AND ALSO IN THE DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT. THE HEAT FROM THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT WAS COMING THROUGH THE FIRE WALL WHICH SEEMED TO BE WELL INSULATED. HOWEVER, THE HEAT WAS STILL COMING THROUGH , AND CAUSING GREAT DISCOMFORT TO OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4 OR 5 HOURS IN OCTOBER OF 2004, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE A COMPACT DISC IN THE CD PLAYER HE FOUND THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SO HOT THAT IT CAUSED HIM TO DROP THE DISC. CONSUMER WAS WORRIED THAT TOUCHING DASHBOARD WOULD BURN HIM OR HIS WIFE. HEAT WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE COMPACT DISC WOULD WARP IF HE PLACED IT IN THE PLAYER. HE HAS TALKED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF QUITE RIDE SOLUTIONS IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. THIS COMPANY MADE AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT THAT WILL CO

Mileage: 14,000

Compare 2003FORDE-450 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 FORD E-450 have?
The 2003 FORD E-450 has 22 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 FORD E-450?
Yes, the 2003 FORD E-450 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 FORD E-450?
The most-complained component for the 2003 FORD E-450 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and STRUCTURE.
Is the 2003 FORD E-450 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.