Most common 2003 Ford Econoline problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Econoline complaints by model year
Best Econoline years: 2005, 2006, 2007. Years to avoid: 1997, 1999, 1996, 1995, 2000. Compare all years →
2003 Ford Econoline recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 Mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 Lincoln town car vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on February 18, 2008. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
On certain cutaway chassis cab with the school bus option, two brackets and two outrigger members are missing in the area of the fuel tank.
Remedy: Ford will send technicians to the owner's location to inspect and add the brackets and outriggers as required. Owner notification began on September 3, 2003. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Ford Econoline:
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 2003 Ford Econoline owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Vehicle was parked outside the owner's home. Owner was awakened, and to discovered that the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was an Econoline van modified for persons with disabilities.
I received a recall notice in 9/07 from the Ford company concerning my 2003 motorhome. It involved the speed control deactivation switch, which they said was defective. When I contacted a local Ford dealer as instructed by the letter, I was told the repair had to wait till the parts arrived in December. When I called the dealer lst week, I was told the parts wouldn't arrive until at least February. I called the Ford toll-free number and was told the same thing. Why are they dragging their feet on this? Why does it take so long to get the parts?
Engine & cooling
2003 Econoline made a loud popping sound in the engine compartment, lost power shortly after. Vehicle later caught on fire. ** answer required*** after the noise was heard the driver pulled to vehicle onto the side of the road and that's when the driver noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The driver and firemen were injured while attempting to extinguish the fire. A recall was received in October 2004. The recall referenced safety recall 04s22 and 04s23.
We have a 2003 Ford Econoline van that ejected it's first spark plug this spring costing us towing and $500.00+ in repairs. Wednesday, it happened again, this time on the new york state thruway. We were forced to stand in a 10 foot piece of grass between 3 lanes of traffic and a rock cliff with 4 small children. After we managed to get 7 people packed into a tow truck and get to the nearest Ford dealership, we had to rent a car for 3 days and pay for yet another repair. I investigated and found out that this is a recurring defect in this type of Ford engines. I called the Ford motor company to see what can be done to repair the actual engine problem. I was told that my van is now fixed, so technically it is fine. I was also told that there is only a 50% chance that the problem May occur again and if it does I should call back. …
Body & structure
Dt: the contact stated that a dealer called montgomary Ford sold three 15 passenger vans to a public school called harmony community school.
Consumer complained about having problems with front cab of vehicle been redisigned. Also the way the vehicle was redisigned it did not allow consumer to see a bilnd spot.
2003 Ford Econoline engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 15 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Ford Econoline a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Econoline rates better than average: 41% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Econoline at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Ford Econoline?
The speed control & acceleration — 5 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cruise control. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and body & structure (3).
How many recalls does the 2003 Ford Econoline have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Ford Econoline, the most recent from February 4, 2008 (cruise control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Econoline?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2006 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1999, 1996, 1995 and 2000. See the full Ford Econoline years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Econoline problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.