Total Complaints
1 filings
FORD E-SERIES · model year
2003 FORD E-SERIES
1 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003FORDE-SERIES carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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-SERIES is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline:differential unit (1) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor (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 1 active recall campaign, 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 177 investigation files overlapping the 2003 E-SERIES, and 8 remain open. 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.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recalls (1)
07V55300005/12/2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
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.
Recent Complaints
20150906UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Mileage: 121,000
20080202ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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
Mileage: 70,000
20070626ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
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
Mileage: 77,000
20070116POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
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
Mileage: 47,187
20041022VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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
Compare 2003FORDE-SERIES to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 FORD E-SERIES have?▼
The 2003 FORD E-SERIES has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES?▼
Yes, the 2003 FORD E-SERIES has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 FORD E-SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 FORD E-SERIES is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR.
Is the 2003 FORD E-SERIES 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.