I have at time wondered if I would have bought one knowing the problems, I had never visited any forum until 2 weeks after I bought my X.
I still love the truck and ultimately would take the plunge. Well no need to wonder any longer…

 

Actually not hard at all. Navistar didn't make any 7.3s in 2003, yes they were installed in 2003 but not made. Back in November Navistar said they delivered 284,000 units to Ford year to date. Ive heard someone else in the manufacturing business say that they strive to get under a 5% failure rate, 2% would be outstanding. I know buybacks represent extreme cases, but lets assume the failure rate is quadruple the buybacks. Last year it was reported that there were 500 buybacks. Lets also assume that number is up to 750 now. 4X750=3000. 3000 is 1% of 284,000. If the gentleman that was in the manufacturing business knew what he was talking about (yes, I know, more assumptions), then Ford is actually doing pretty good. Another thing Navistar said was that the 6.0 now has (November) less failures per 1000 units delivered than the 7.3 had before they stopped production of it.

 

I did the same.I bought the truck and two weeks later found this forum.At first I was scared stiff when I started reading about motors locking up due to injector failures.But the truck has been good so far and is in warranty untill 100k.I work at a dealership for another brand and purchased a ext warranty for cheap just incase..I guess it makes me sleep better at night.who knows!

 

I think the internet has alot to do with people hearing about problems with anything not just 6.0 if it was not for the internet I would never know of any problems with these trucks. Just think 5 years back where the internet was this site probably was not around.

 

Lets also assume that not all those 284,000 are on the road being driven, some are sitting on sales lots still. By these numbers, if Ford doing great, then Gm and Dodge must be Fantastic!!

Ron

 

I'm like Tim, I bought my 6.0 before I ever heard of the problems, or the sites. Even though I love my truck, and have had excellent service from it, I might have waited a few months to insure I got a motor with the new injectors. That being said, this is not the first "new" vehicle I've bought. I bought an S10 Blazer when they first came out in 4x4, and I ordered a C5 Vette as soon as I saw one in the flesh. Both had teething problems. I chased an intermittent ignition problem in the lazer for 3 years, that would leave me on the side of the road often. My vette's computer decided I was trying to steal it and was taken to the dealer on a roll-back. Even with the "bad" injectors, the only engine related probelm I've had is the rear main seal, and it was fixed prompty and properly. Any time you buy a new model vehicle, you have to expect problems.

 

I heard about the problems long before I bought mine, but my salesman showed up at my work, (he does this to me on occasion) with this beautiful truck, and tells me to try it for a couple of days. Well I still can't believe the power this truck generates, if that clown at the gas pumps asked me that, I'd just smile, get in my truck, and bury him in my tire smoke!!

 

I also jined this forum after my truck had been having prolems, now i see why there was a rebate on the 03's when i bought mine.

My trucks is back at the dealer for the reveing up again and poor starting. I am really feeling the integrity of my new truck is gone......

But i am hopeful that they will fix it, but they are saying they can figure out what is going on. I feel that the reving up is a safety issue espically when at a red light stopped, and the truck is wanting to push you on threw.

I am sure when ford first come out with thoriginal 7.3 non turbo, and before that with the 6.8. There was probs. Look how long the 7.3 done a great job and made ford the leader in diesel's!!!!!

I am just discouraged about the issue i am having with my truck....

O well we will see if they can fix it this time. 4days and counting being back at dealer....

 

The only thing I want is c95's other than that I am ok with it.........still no problems

 

the service manager where I bought my truck told me not to buy 2003 to many problems so I waited for the 2004 he said they were ok I wish I would have kept my 7.3 and waitd till they got the bugs out of 6.0. To keep it in prospective the 500 buy back we know about the 62k recalled for fuel moduel and then who knows how many injector failures, plus rear main seals and wiring harness. and that is just a few of the problems. Lets face it ford really blew it and has been slow to solve the problem. They have basiclly opened the door for there competiors to take some of there market share. I am in the construction bussiness and almost everyone I know in the bussiness drives psd and have met very few that are happy with 6.0, they either have all the reoccuring problems seen on this sight or they get terrible fuel mpgs. those numbers alone tell me that the people with no problems are few and far between and that is a shame. the last 3 ford psd I bought were perfect trucks and before owning this 6.0 I just about would have fought you if you talked bad about ford, no longer like someone else said how people are just driving there trucks, and shaking there heads saying they told me ford cared about there customers.

 

I think the 500 number relates back to april of 2003.Thats when it was first reported. I would think the number would be much higher now. mine went back in Nov. on lemon law.
There are people who are on their third truck after 2 buy backs. Why would they take them back if they could fix them right? This is ford worst nightmare and it hasn't gone away yet. My second engine had c-95 inj.and I still had 6% fuel in oil and ford can't fix it or won't so they raise the acceptable level to 8%. I mean really 1.2 quarts of fuel in the 15 quart system. With stuff like that going on behind the blue oval no one will belive them when they finally get it right.

 

hunt 2001,

Hows was for don your lemon law / buy back? I am getting info on this form my states attourney general's office right now.

I had a friend that had a 97 chevy 1/2 ton that was a lemon and he said GM was an A$$ about it. Just wondering how ford trated you.

And how do you tell if you have fuel in your oil? (When you change it)

 

I can't see how Ford could pull off completely ignoring 250,000 '03 6.0Ls (I think I got that right) with potential problems do to design flaws, I think we just aren't being privy'd to what they are doing...not always a bad thing. I work in manufacturing, radio equipment, we run into problems like this also. You try to ensure dependable product before release, but there are so many combinations and permiutations (sp?) of uses for the product that its almost impossible to catch all the problems. I'm thankful the 6L problems are a known set and not dozens of random ones. The issue now is getting the fixes to the problems...that takes time, unless you want to keep going back over and over and over and over. Believe me, these failure numbers are quite acceptable for initial release of a new product (for the manufacturer), unfortunately not for those in the 1% failure group. We (at my company) tend not to release any info on possible fixes until we've proven the fix as best we can...another challenge. Products like these are so complex (as soon as there is a computer with sensors and software) that I think they have done pretty good. About the only thing I can see that they could do better is the care for those in the 1% failure group. When we have these problems (my company), we eat a whole lot of $ to KEEP the customer happy, and it gets pretty expensive sometimes. In 1986, before the web was so big, the average was for every 1 unhappy customer they would tell 11 other people, I can't even imagine what that number is now.
I apologize for the ramble, but I am confident Ford will fix the problems, and I do agree Ford could do better caring for many of the customers that are having problems (at least the ones I have heard about), but you gotta admit...it IS one kick a$$ engine/tranny/truck. Like I said to the salesman (I was thinking of trading my GM 2500HD) after I test-drove the F350 6L that I own now..."THAT, is a truck's truck!"
BTW, I have 7000 miles on mine, 14-15mpg winter mileage, 17-18mpg summer, and no problems.......yet.

 

Lots of questions in my mind about that 500 number, too. When was that number official? Was it a quarter before the April release of it? And it's pretty handy it was a nice, round number like that. Does it include dealerships good faith take backs? How about Lemon Law trucks?

IMO, with a problem this widespread and the many articles in the national news about the problems, 500 is a ridiculously small number and very, very hard to believe. And why did Ford even release it? My guess is to try and put some "See, it's not THAT bad" kind of spin on it.

I've been hoping my 6.0 would become dependable, too. But I'm going in for my 3rd turbo accutator problem next week along with the droning, which is getting louder and more instrusive. And those aren't even close to my only problems on my 5/03 build motor.

So my thoughts are starting to turn towards DSB, LL, buy back at this point and I wonder what I'd do instead. The 04's 6.0's seem to have a lot less complaints so far but they don't have PI so they're much louder than the dmax and cummins, which is a concern to me and something I still miss (every morning that I drive the 6.0) from my 01 dmax. And reading the rumor threads around here, it seems the 6.0 may disappear in the near future. Not good for re-sale, that. GM still doesn't offer a diesel in a 'burb and Dodge doesn't have anything in that category at all, gas or diesel. I hate to go back to gas but I'd also have a very hard time buying another 6.0. Very disappointing line of thought altogether for me.

I went in with my eyes open. I'd been reading posts here for a long time before buying. I figured I'd be safe with a late may build since it's got the new injectors and other fixes/flashes. I figured they'd have to iron out a few things in the first few thousand miles but it's just becoming more and more unreliable. And I still figure I got a pretty good motor compared to what a lot of folks on the boards have gone through.

I just want a reliable truck. I like the Ex overall and I don't totally depend on it for transportation but it's just been in the shop too many times.

 

not a bad rep the word is out.