VehicleVerdict

2003 Ford E-550 engine problems

The 2003 Ford E-550 has 22 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 27% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

22

Engine complaints

27%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

E-550 engine complaints by model year22 complaints2002: 1 complaints2003: 22 complaints2004: 1 complaints2005: 1 complaints2006: 1 complaints
E-550 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

04V445000EngineSeptember 13, 2004 · 253,076 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THESE HOT PARTICLES MAY IGNITE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM DAMAGE OR UNDERHOOD FIRE.

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.

What owners report

NO WARNING/SYMPTOM CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED -10* OUTSIDE WITH ICY ROADS 7:00 PM MODERATE TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY ENGINE SHUT DOWN THIS IS A 1TON PICKUP GOING 55 MPH WITH VERY LITTLE STEERING CONTROL WITH LACK OF POWER STEERING. MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE FORD 7.3 DIESEL…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 17, 2006

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2003 Ford E-550 have?

NHTSA has 22 complaints about the 2003 Ford E-550 engine — 27% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Ford E-550 engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 04V445000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.