The Lemon IndexCylinder 3 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. Full P0303 page
34 owner complaints · the #4 code Ford Edge owners name · 14% of Ford Edge complaints that name a code (every car: 2.4%)
Middle of 62,000 miles · most between 53,000 and 83,000 (7 owners gave it)
Ford Edge owners named P0303 in 34 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2017, 2018 and 2016 model years, at a middle of 62,000 miles. The part they name most is the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (16 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Edge model years that report P0303
Owner complaints naming P0303, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
62,000 miles is the middle of what 7 owners entered. Half were between 53,000 and 83,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the engine (replaced or rebuilt), in 16 of the 34 complaints (47%). 16 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 4 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: head gasket (16), ignition coils (9) and spark plugs (6).
- Engine replaced or rebuilt16 complaints16 mention a repair or replacement, 4 of them say the problem came back · what Ford Edge owners paid
- Head gasket or coolant in a cylinder16 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what owners paid
- Ignition coils9 complaints8 mention a repair or replacement, 5 of them say the problem came back · what Ford Edge owners paid
- Spark plugs6 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
7 complaints mention a recall and 7 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0303
74% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires71%24 of 34 complaints
- Overheats32%11 of 34 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off18%6 of 34 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0303 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0316 6 P0302 4 P0300 3 P0304 2 P1285 2 P0301 2
Other codes named in the same Ford Edge complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
- Engine replacement$7,5003 bills · middle bill
Repair bills owners named in these 34 complaints (3 in all). Owner reports, not a quote: costs vary by shop and region.
Ford Edge ignition coil replacement cost
Keep going
- P0303: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford Edge reliability by year
- 2017 Ford Edge problems and recalls
Other codes Ford Edge owners report
P0302 P0301 P0316 P0304 P2111 P0300 P1285
P0303 on other cars
Ford Escape (62) · Chrysler Pacifica (26) · Honda CR-V (23) · Ford Fusion (22) · Honda Accord (20) · Honda Odyssey (16) · Kia Soul (14)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0303 means
Cylinder 3 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. A flashing check engine light means the misfire is serious enough to damage the catalytic converter, so slow down and get it checked right away.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- Spark plug or ignition coil on cylinder 3
- Fuel injector on cylinder 3
- Vacuum leak near that cylinder
- Low compression (valve or piston ring problem)
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11772368, 11770573, 11769257, 11767714, 11767313, 11767145, 11753876, 11716156, 11694247, 11670214, 11669279, 11653051 and 22 more.
Quick answers
What does P0303 mean on a Ford Edge?
Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected. Cylinder 3 is not firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses some power. A flashing check engine light means the misfire is serious enough to damage the catalytic converter, so slow down and get it checked right away.
Which Ford Edge years have the most P0303 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2017 (17), 2018 (13), 2016 (4) Ford Edge named P0303 most (34 complaints in all, 2016–2018). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0303 on a Ford Edge?
Owners most often name the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (16 of 34 complaints), then head gasket and ignition coils. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0303 show up on a Ford Edge?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 62,000 miles; half were between 53,000 and 83,000 (7 owners).
Can I drive my Ford Edge with P0303?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0303 on the Ford Edge, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.