Skip to content
Engine coolingPart report

2003 Ford E550 Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
20about this part
Share
30%of 66 total for the year
Median mileage
26,650miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2003 Ford E550, 30% of the 66 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 26,650 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Turbo charger hose keeps blowing off pull a horse trailer w/f350 diesel 2003 Ford & on nov. 19,2003 I got my right hand burned trying to put turbo hose back on, to get truck & trailer off road Ford dealer would not come out. Ilgot to a deler in gerstown ,maryland & got new hose & clamps after being on the road for over 12 hours to go 175 miles. …”

NHTSA complaint #10100532, filed 2004-11, 10,000 miles

“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 poor design this is also a dealer only part that cost $175.00 I was just glad I was able to get the vehicle on the side of the road and avoid an accident.”

NHTSA complaint #10173793, filed 2006-11, 48,950 miles

“While driving truck engines would shut off and then restart. This happened a couple of time on a narrow mountain road causing me to lose steering for a second or two, very scary. Problem fixed after I replaced the cps on my own.”

NHTSA complaint #10192509, filed 2007-06, 46,000 miles

“The cold air tube to the turbo blew loose on a uphill pull. I experienced a severe loss of power and lots of black smoke. I am pulling a 5th wheel trailer and had this been on a mountain pass I feel I could have lost control, thus resulting in a deadly accident. Country Ford at las vegas re-attached the hose b ut gave no guarantee that it would not happen again. I believe Ford should re-engineer the tube with a more severe flange that could be better secured.”

NHTSA complaint #10141352, filed 2005-10, 38,500 miles

“We own a 2003 f250 v-10 triton pick up. While we were driving the #3 spark plug out of the head. Ford is refusing to repair the problem. We have extended warranty and we have researched on the internet that there are many other people that have had this problem and they are refusing to do anything. I sent a letter to the office of the attorney general and they advised that we should send one to you also. This is a major problem. What if it happened when we were on the highway going about 70 MPH and our daughter was in the vehicle with us? …”

NHTSA complaint #10110580, filed 2005-02, 38,940 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20032030%

Other parts of the 2003 Ford E550

Tires
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford E550

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology