I just thought I would let all know that the '03 F-250 is no longer a part of my life!!! I now own a '04 F-250. I am keeping my fingers, toes, eyes, and everything else crossed that there will be no problems like before. The dealer worked me a deal to pay mine off and put me in a new truck for the same terms as before with nothing out of pocket. They finally realized it was un-repairable. I went in with this site as my ammunition! I want to say thanks to everyone who posts here. This place let me know I was not alone with all the problems with my '03. Have a great day!!

 

What problems were ya having with the 03'???

 

I can only imagine... at least they got a new one

 

I mentioned this site to my service advisor, and she said "The internet is not such a good thing". I thought it was a major case of CYOA! Anyhow, I did get a new truck, I lost $3,100 plus 3 months worth of payments plus a new stainless Magnaflow exhaust system. I no longer own the '04 F250 with the '03 powerstroke. I now have an '04 2500HD with the Duramax. I know Chevy has had it's share of problems too, But at least they will give you something to drive when they have to keep your truck for a week at a time for warranty work. I guess you live and learn, But it sure is expensive. I'm glad it worked out for you racerwoman,I can identify with your situation.

 

I have had every problem known to man with the '03! The one thing I can say about my dealership is that they always got me a veichle to drive while they had mine. I insisted on it!!! I even made them give me a truck that would pull my camper during the summer when they had mine. I was very pleased with the deal they put together for me in order to get a new truck and no paperwork! ( on my part )

 

You should share the name and city of the dealer who let you borrow such a truck. I'm going to this right now with my dealer (Poughkeepsie Ford in Poughkeepsie, NY) and they aren't giving me anything but a Ranger which might as well be a 4x4 Focus......

 

I even called the ford customer service to try and get a loaner vehicle for the 5 days they were going to have mine in the shop. They told me it was up to the dealer and not ford. I explained that when I took delivery of my truck, it had those factory defects. They should have at least been willing to stand behind their product to the tune of a loaner/rental vehicle. The dealer should have at least stood behind their customer as well. They acted like they were doing me some kind of big favor to just fix what was wrong with it when I drove it off the lot. They tried to say the exhaust smell in the cab would go away after it was broke in. They also said that it was the first time they had seen a rear seal leaking. I must have bought the only F250 they sold with the 6.0 powestroke!Yeah right! Sorry for the rant, But if I can discourage anyone from buying a truck at benson ford in Easley SC, I will do it.

 

I had a 2001 F-250 with the 5.4 and it also had a leaky rear. I just drove it that way b/c I figured they would never fix it right.

 

Well Folks this may be long.........I will try to hit just the high points.

I bought a new 2003 6.0 F350 in June 2003, it was made in Feb of 2003 @ the Kentucky ford plant.

I bought the truck for a work truck........I haul pole barns. Since it was bought for a work truck I didn't want all the bells and whistles. It is an extended cab, flat bed, standard trans, XL.

I now have 75000 miles on it. Granted that is alot of miles but it is all hwy miles. At 18000mls it was @ the dealership and they replaced the #7 injector and cleared and reset the computer. The truck never has run right from day one........it has been gutless, has no low end power and idles real rough almost dying and sometimes would die.

We limped along with it until finally it gave out, breaking down and leaving us stranded 8 hrs from home. It broke down in Guymon OK 3mls from the ford dealership, but they would not get the truck in their shop to try to fix it.........said it would be a week before they could look at.........got the same story from 3 other dealerships close to Guymon. Finally got one that said they would get it in and look at, but I had to pay to have it towed 70mls south to TX (I was headed North to CO). They said that the high pressure oil pump had blown out the gaskets and seals. Took them a week to get that fixed. Went to pick it up (drove 8hrs) and when I got there they said it still wasn't running.......UGGHH!! So now they think it is injector problems.......replaced the 2,3&8 injector. Drove 8hrs to pick it up again....Got in the truck drove it a block went back told the service manager something was wrong, it was not running right, he got in and drove it (telling me oh it's probably just cold and hasn't got warmed up yet). we went about ten miles got on a straight stretch and he pushed it up to around 60mph and then........The transmission locked smooth up........bouncing us off the road!! I was not a happy camper. Then to top it off, the service manager drives the truck back to the dealership (5mls) with the transmission locked in low (the shifter was flopping around in neutral), it was grinding and making a god awful noise. So, we replaced the transmission, all this took a month.......I was losing lots of money! Before going to pick the truck up for a third time I asked the Service manager to check and make sure that no damage had been done to the rear end. I was told that he had indeed checked it out and there was no damage. I drove the truck the 8hrs home and it was making a noise.....AGAIN! Took it to a dealership at home and guess what.........The rear end was out!! After talking to the service rep for the dealership in TX, I was told that the service manager only checked the oil in the rear end!! So, we fixed the rear end. The truck made 4 1/2 hauls before breaking down in Springfield CO!! This time it was towed to Lamar to the Ford dealership where it stayed for a week and half. They could not figure out what was wrong with it. So, I hauled it home. Put it in the dealership here and they replaced the 1 and 7 injector.......this was the second time for the #7. Also a fuel pump, pcm module, gasket-rocker arm cover, mass air flow censor, idle censor and replaced the pinion seal and nut because the rear end was leaking. Another month later the truck is finally running, but I am scared to take it out again. I have been calling customer service and have gotten nowhere. The dealership the truck was bought at will not help in anyway. I have had a Service manager call and leave a nasty message on my phone because I reported his neglegance to customer service. I AM FED UP!! I will never buy another Ford. The customer service is seriously lacking. I am trying to get the truck bought back, but haven't had any luck so far. Next step is to hire an attorney. I have lost so much money with down time, hotel cost and repair cost it is unbelievable.

I bought from a dealership away from home........BIG MISTAKE!!
Sorry this is so long.......lol......and that was just the highlights.

 

BarrelRacer

I think I would drive it right through the dealers showroom.

See if that gets his frigging attention!!

Hope your attorney can take em to the cleaners. FMC and the dealership..

Good Luck and keep us posted

 

BarrelRacer

Although I agree with the recommendation to drive it through the showroom everyone knows that would not result in a better situation for you the owner.

I would request a DSB package from your dealer and be sure to mention new truck or buyback every other word. If they don't step up and make it right fill out the DSB paperwork and send it in. From what you have described, the board won't have any trouble awarding your request.

Bottom Line: Don't get frustrated and let Ford win. That's exactly what they want. Keep fighting them but fight clean and don't give them any ammo to use against you. Stand up for your rights as a consumer. Good luck.

 

I have requested an arbitration package from Ford......I assume that is the same thing as the DSB package. I was contacted by a guy in Michigan. On his voice mail he says he is with the select dealer region.........don't know what his purpose is but he did want to know what all was going on with the truck and what my expectations are. I told him I wanted the truck bought back or replaced over and over. I also told him that my experience with customer service has been devastating.

I had a supervisor at the customer service 800 # tell me that Ford would not buy back or replace the truck and that Ford would not be contacting me, then he hung up. I have his name and ID # though. lol

 

I don't want beat a dead horse but I'm going to. Send an email with all your details to WFord @ Ford . com and see what happens. It's like Christmas when you were a kid. Tell them all the bad stuff. I waited three weeks for a new engine in my 6.0 and after ruffling feathers I got the new engine in and the truck back in 3 days. See the problem is they didn't beat the lemon law deadline so I too want a new truck and they're wroking on that now.

 

Alfie623,

I will do it. Thank you.

I am thinking of buying a 450 to maybe a 650 next, but I have been told the only difference between them and a 350 is the rear end. Also, I am not sure if I can get one of them in a 4x4 and I have to have a 4x4. I will check into it more when I get something done with this truck.

 

How long do you have for the lemon law to file a claim?? Is it different in every state, if so does anybody know what it is in Arizona??