IllustrationTHE FUEL LINES ON THE STERLING TRUCKS I PURCHASED (2) OF THEM ARE FAILING CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL OUT. THEY TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES. STERLING CLAIMS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPLACE ALL THE LINES UNTIL EACH ONE GOES BAD. *JB
2003 Ford E550
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Other model years Selected year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
1425–50K
950–75K
275–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
49 reports with mileage · 16 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports
Fuel System, Other complaints
3 reports2003 FORD SUPER DUTY F350 6.0 LITER DIESEL: THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO PULL MY 5TH WHEEL WITH THIS TRUCK, IT WOULD BUCK FURIOUSLY AND I COULD ONLY STOP THE BUCKING BY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR OF IMMEDIATELY LET UP OFF THE PEDAL. DURING THIS TRIP WITH THE 5HT WHEEL IN TOW, AT 815 MILES THE ENGINE QUIT AT THE M…
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2003 FORD SUPER DUTY F350 6.0 LITER DIESEL: THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO PULL MY 5TH WHEEL WITH THIS TRUCK, IT WOULD BUCK FURIOUSLY AND I COULD ONLY STOP THE BUCKING BY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR OF IMMEDIATELY LET UP OFF THE PEDAL. DURING THIS TRIP WITH THE 5HT WHEEL IN TOW, AT 815 MILES THE ENGINE QUIT AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIMES. I WAS CLIMBING A 5% GRADE AND TRAVELING IN THE TRUCK SLOW LANE ON INTERSTATE 68. I MANAGED TO GET THE RIG TO THE SHOULDER BUT STILL IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT TOOK 3 HOURS TO GET THE RIG MOVED TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE (FICM)HAD FAILED. FORD HAS DESIGNED THIS FICM NO LESS THAN 4 TIMES. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAD A FUEL INJECTOR MISFIRING SINCE DAY ONE OF THIS TRUCK BEING IN SERVICE. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 5 DAYS WHILE REPAIRS WERE MADE. A MONTH LATER ON AUGUST 8, 2003 AT 2568 MILES I LOST A FUEL INJECTOR OR TWO AND BROKE A ROCKER ARM WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 74. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR ANOTHER 10 DAYS WHILE THE ENGINE WAS PULLED OUT AND 27 PARTS REPLACED. WITH THE ADDITION OF ONE BUSINESS DAY FOR A FACTORY RECALL BRINGS THE TOTAL BUSINESS DAYS OUT OF SERVICE TO 14 DAYS. THE SAD PART IS THAT I TRADED A 2002 F350 WITH MORE PROBLEMS THAN I CARE TO TALKE ABOUT IN THE HOPES THAT I COULD MAKE MY LIFE A LITTLE EASIER WITH THIS 2003 F350. BIG MISTAKE!*AK
FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC. WILL SHOW 3/4 TANK ONE DAY THEN THE VERY NEXT DAY WILL SHOW ALMOST FULL. MORE ERRATIC WHEN LOW ON FUEL. MOVES FROM 1/8 OF A TANK TO BELOW THE RED EMPTY HASH MARK OVER NIGHT WHILE SITTING. FUEL GAUGE CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. *LA
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.