2003 FORD F-250 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 EQUIPPED WITH DEFINITY TIRES A/T 33 12.5R 16.5. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO RECEIVE INJURIES TO HIS LOWER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED A REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144,000. ....UPDATED 08-24-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN APRIL 2011. IN BOTH CASES, THE TREAD PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. UPDATED 08/29/12

ON FRIDAY, JUNE 8TH 2012, ON MY 2003 FORD F250, THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE) TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE TIRE IS A DICK CEPEK FUN COUNTRY 2 PURCHASED IN JULY 2007. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE TIRE HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PROPERLY INFLATED, THERE WAS ADEQUATE TREAD ON IT. MY 15 1/2 YEAR OLD SON, WHO HAS HIS PERMIT, WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, BUT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND REMOVE THE TRUCK FROM THE ROADWAY; WE WERE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AT THE TIME. THE TIRE SIZE IS 315/75/16. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 80 MPH WHEN THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE STEEL FUEL LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,780.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PITMAN ARM. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (16515) FOR THE PITMAN ARM AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

TRUCK COUNT FIRE WHILE NOT IN USE. FIRE UNDER HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK. *TR

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

THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED OUT ON MY 2003 FORD F250 - WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE NTSB ASKING IF OUR BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED OUT - THEY JUST DID LAST NIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS INCREDIBLE THAT A 7 1/2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE LOST IT'S BRAKES ALREADY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BECOME EXPOSED, CAUSING A SHORT AND BLOWING THE ENGINE FUSE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE WIRES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F250 SD WITH BIG O BIG FOOT HT TIRES, SIZE LT265/75R16, DOT NUMBER: UPW8T264005. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THREE OF THE TIRES EXHIBITED TREAD SEPARATION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 948. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,988. UPDATED 10/04/11*BF

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