2003 Ford Expedition complaints

2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L EJECTION OF FACTORY SPARK PLUG FORM CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

DRIVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO PHX WE WERE AT WICKENBERG, AZ A LOUD POP OCCURRED AND KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. THE SMELL OF GAS WAS PRESENT AND WOULDN'T RUN PROPERLY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN WICKENBERG WAS LUCKILY OPEN AND INSTRUCTED US THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN OUT IN THE 1ST AND 2ND CYLINDERS. THEY DID ALSO TELL US THAT THIS OCCURS OFTEN IN AND THERE IS A TEMP FIX FOR IT. THEY TAPPED OUT THE HEAD AND INSERTED A STEEL SLEEVE FOR THOSE 2 CYLINDERS. TAKING 2 HOURS IT WAS FIXED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY VERY HAPPY TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT NOT HAPPY AT ALL AT FORD FOR HAVING SUCH A BLATANT DESIGN FLAW. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR

FOR NO REASON, WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON 2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 L ENGINE. *TR

WE YOU MAKE A TURN YOU HER A NOISE FROM THE REAR END. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV TIRES, SIZE P265/70R17. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE, FOLLOWED BY A CLICKING NOISE. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER ONE OF THE EIGHT SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4,AND WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN WE NOTICED THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH,SO WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND UPON INSPECTION WE FOUND THAT THE NUMBER 7 PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE COIL WHICH CAUSED THE ROUGH RUNNING,THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP SAID THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THESE TRUCKS AND MOTORS,SO AT THE COST $700 I GOT IT FIXED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THESE MOTORS ARE MADE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD IN CLEAR WEATHER MY 03 EXPEDITION SUDDENLY THREW PLUG #7. IN SO DOING IT DESTROYED THE COIL ASSEMBLY, BUT THE IMPACT OF THE COIL ASSEMBLY ON THE FUEL RAIL SAVED THE CAR'S HOOD FROM FURTHER DAMAGE (THE TOP OF THE COIL ASSEMBLY CLEARLY EVIDENCED THE IMPACT MARK FROM CONTACT WITH THE FUEL RAIL). GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE DAMAGED COIL INSULATION WAS NOW ARCING ITS SPARK ACROSS THE ENGINE HEAD AND THAT THE FUEL MIXTURE WAS SPEWING OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE IT'S SURPRISING THAT WE AVOIDED AN ENGINE FIRE UNDER THE PLASTIC SHROUD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER (PEP BOYS, LAUREL MD - THE SAME LOCATION THAT HAD CHANGED THE PLUGS A YEAR PRIOR). THEY EXAMINED ALL THE SPARK PLUG THREADS AND ADVISED THAT THEY APPEARED OK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS ONE CYLINDER. TO EFFECT REPAIRS THEY ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER OUTLET 36 MILES ($104 CHARGE) UP THE ROAD. THEY FURTHER ADVISED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE AND THAT THIS MAY OCCUR IN OTHER CYLINDERS IN THE FUTURE. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE (800#) DISCLAIMS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM AND REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR TECHNICAL ADVICE. AT THE LOCAL DEALER, THE MECHANIC WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE, PRONOUNCED IT RATHER COMMON AND ADVISED THAT FORD WOULD BE HAPPY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER HIS ESTIMATE WOULD COST ME MORE THAN TWICE THE ESTIMATED FEE FROM THE INDEPENDENT (INCLUSIVE OF THE ADDITIONAL TOW COSTS). SUB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TR TIRES, SIZE P265/70 R17. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR, HE NOTICED A LARGE PORTION OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE TREAD OF THE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ARRIVED AND REPLACED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES AND IS WAITING ON SOME PAPERWORK. HE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND TREAD SEPARATION. BELTS WERE RUSTY UPON INSPECTION (IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING FAILURE). REMAINING WIRECOAT SHOWED RUST REMNANTS IMPREGNATING RUBBER WHERE THE WIRE PREVIOUSLY WAS. TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF IMMINENT FAILURE PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *TR

CRACKS ON 3 OF 4 TIRES. NO ACTION TAKEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE TRAILER TIRE APPARATUS WAS NOT SECURED AND WAS HANGING OFF OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING 135 MILES. THE RISK OF A CRASH WAS INCREASED DUE TO THE HANGING TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRE HOLDER WAS A HALL-MASTER, PART NUMBER 93341. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HARBORFREIGHT.COM SELLS THE SAME PRODUCT AS PART NUMBER 93341-0ZGA. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

2003 FORD EXPEDITION- AFTER IT RAINS I AM HAVING MANY DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DOORS WON'T LOCK, THE RADIO WON'T LIGHT UP ANY MORE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WON'T SHUT OFF, THE FRONT WINDOWS WON'T WORK, MILDEW SMELL IN THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALONE CAN CAUSE A FIRE BUT WITH THE DOORS NOT BEING ABLE TO BE LOCKED IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY AND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. I HEARD FROM THE DEALER AND OTHERS THAT FORD WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4L ENGINE. WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN I HEARD A POP AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE. SPARK PLUG NO. 7 HAD BEEN EJECTED BREAKING THE COIL. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE IT WAS NEW AND IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, ONLY 65000 MILES. I HAVE READ MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND I'M AMAZED AT THE NUMBERS OF ISSUES WITH THIS ENGINE. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A BAD DESIGN THAT SPANS A NUMBER OF YEARS. *TR

MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW A SPARK PLUG COMPLETELY OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT ALMOST 65 MPH, AND THE ENGINE STALLED, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 59K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT COST ME OVER $4K TO REPAIR, AND I NOW FIND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH FORD TRITON MOTORS FROM 1999 TO 2004. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY LOST TIRE PRESSURE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN IDENTICAL FAILURE WITH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. A LOCAL TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED THE VALVE STEM AS BEING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. AFTERWARDS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE NEW SET OF VALVE STEMS WERE CORRODED AND DEFECTIVE. SHE CURRENTLY HAS POSSESSION OF THE VALVE STEMS. THE VALVE STEM INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE WASHING MY SUV, I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT OF THE SLOTS ON THE ROOF BETWEEN THE LUGGAGE RACKS HAVE RUST BUBBLING UP THROUGH THE PAINT. THERE IS NO APPARENT DAMAGE IN THIS AREA AND 3 OF THE TRACKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT VARYING STAGES OF PROGRESSION. I WAS INFORMED BY FORD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD (WOULD) DO FOR ME. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HOT LINE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME. *TR

THE SPARK PLUG COIL ON MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WAS EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BECOME DISABLED. MY WIFE WAS STRANDED ALONE IN AN UNFAMILIAR NEIGHBORHOOD. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS REGARDING THE STABILITY OF THE SPARK PLUG AND THE PROBLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THE UNEXPECTED AND TOTALLY SUDDEN EJECTION OF THE COIL. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED TO SUBMIT TO THE PREDATORY PRACTICES OF MOST REPAIR SHOPS UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE? THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE AND ACTION MUST BE TAKEN. SO FAR THIS HAS COST ME ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FOX IT RIGHT. THE WAY IS SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE READ THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE A RESULT OF A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CYLINDER HEADS AND THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS SHOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DESIGN AND FORD'S RESPONSE TO THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES DISABLED BY THIS ERROR. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION AND HAVE HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS BLOW CAUSING THE CYLINDERS TO MISFIRE. IN EACH CASE, I HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AND EACH TIME IT WAS A DIFFERENT SPARK PLUG TO BLOW, NOT A PREVIOUSLY FIXED ONE. *TR

BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED CONSTANTLY. PADS WEAR VERY FAST. ROTORS WEAR EASILY AND NEED REPLACEMENT WITH PADS EACH TIME. WHEN BROUGHT TO HAVE ROTORS TURN, WAS TOLD THEY ARE MANUFACTURED WITH VERY LITTLE TOLERANCE AND COULD NOT BE TURNED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS MINIMAL VISIBLE WEAR. WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT "MIC" WITH ENOUGH RANGE TO TOLERATE THE CUT WHEN TURNING. ROTORS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACEMENT WITH EACH BRAKE CHANGE. EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. BRAKE DUST HAS EATEN AWAY AT FINISH ON RIMS. AFTER LAST BRAKE REPAIR, FRONT END NOW HAS A CLICKING SOUND. BRAKE PEDAL HAS ALWAYS FELT SPONGY. ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH AGGRESSIVE BRAKING CONDITIONS, BRAKES LOCKED UP. TOLD DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THIS IS NORMAL WITH THE FORD BRAKING SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LAMP NOT STAYING LIT AND THE METAL REFLECTOR PIECE IN THE FOG LAMPS COMING LOOSE. WE ARE NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TWO (FRONT DRIVERS/REAR PASSENGERS) DOOR ELECTRIC LOCKS NOT UNLOCKING OR LOCKING THE DOORS. *TR

PURCHASED A USED 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A TRITON 5.4 V8. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 80,000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND AT ABOUT 84,000 MILES A SPARKPLUG EJECTED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR WAS AROUND $650 FOR A "NOT FOR SURE" FIX. APPARENTLY THE THREADS THAT HOLD THE SPARKPLUGS IN HAD STRIPPED, CAUSING THE BLOWOUT OF THE SPARKPLUG. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE PERMANENT FIX WOULD REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADS AT AROUND $4000. I OPTED FOR THE CHEAP FIX BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FINANCING FOR THE MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAD PURCHASED FOR SUV'S AND TRUCKS WITH SAME MODEL ENGINES WERE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM IN OVERWHELMING NUMBERS, MANY WITH MULTIPLE BLOWOUTS AT VARIOUS INCIDENCES. I WAS HOPING MY PROBLEM WAS CONFINED TO ONLY ONE CYLINDER BUT AT AROUND 90,000, 5 1/2 MONTHS LATER, ANOTHER SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT. NOW THE REPAIR WAS EVEN MORE DUE TO A NEW PART THAT IS TO PROVIDE A MORE PERMANENT FIX. THIS TIME THE REPAIR WAS $830. KNOWING THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THESE MODEL ENGINE I ASKED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER'S SERVICE MAN "IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHY DON'T THEY FIX IT"? HIS REPLY WAS THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT A DANGER SO NO RECALL HAS EVER BEEN CALLED. THE GUY WENT AS FAR AS TELLING ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY IMPROPER THREADING INTO THE HEAD. THE THREADS WERE MACHINED TO SHALLOW AND EVENTUALLY THEY BECOME LOOSE AND FINALLY BLOWOUT WHEN THE THREAD COMPLETELY F

CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 60MPH AND HEAR A HUGE THUMP AND THEN MY ENGINE RPMS DROPPED. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN 6 DEGREE WEATHER WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE CAR IS INOPERABLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND IT CONCLUDES THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. AFTER INSERTING OIL INTO THE ENGINE, THE OIL LEVEL ABNORMALLY DEPLETED SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER, BACK-UP AID SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS AND DEALERS COULD NOT FIX SYSTEM. *TR

IN LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS, TWO SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION ENGINE. IT IS A 5.4L TRITON ENGINE. BOTH OCCURRENCES WERE WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH TIMES. I WENT FROM DRIVING 70 MPH TO 45 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS WITH MY WIFE AND 9 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE VEHICLE! FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A REPAIR REPORT, BUT NOT A FACTORY RECALL. THE ISSUE IS A FLAW IN THE ENGINE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE; THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE (A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH OF "FORD 5.4L SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT" DEMONSTRATES THIS). HAD THERE BEEN TRAFFIC BEHIND OR BESIDE ME, WE WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. SINCE FORD KNOWS OF THE ISSUE, THEY OUGHT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THEIR EXPENSE. I NO LONGER TRUST MY VEHICLE. THE REPAIRS FOR THIS ONE ISSUE HAVE COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1,000 TO DATE, AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. I KEEP GETTING MY SPARK PLUGS FIXED AND THE JUST KEEP BLOWING OUT ON MY ENGINE CREATING MY ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND MY SUV SOUNDS LIKE A MAC TRUCK. THIS IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN. WE LIKE TO TRAVEL I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN AND WE CAN ALL FIT IN IT. I LIKE THE TRUCK BUT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT CONTINUES AND IS NOT FREE. *TR

COIL #1 MISFIRE & HAD TO BE REPLACED. MILEAGE 97,000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH OR IMPACT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

ON 12/10/2008 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH. SHE DRIVES A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS? WIFE HAS NECK PAIN, CHILDREN ON BOARD ARE OK, NOT COMPLAINING OF ANY PAIN OR INJURY. EVERYONE ON BOARD WERE FASTENED TO SEATBELTS AND CAR SEATS. JUST VERY CONCERNED, BECAUSE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND NOT SURE WHY AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. THE OTHER PARTIES VEHICLE WAS A SCION XD NOT SURE WHAT YEAR. THEIR AIRBAG DID WORK AND IMPACT WAS PRACTICALLY SAME LOCATION, FRONT DRIVER SIDE CORNER. WAS THIS A DEFECT? NEED TO INVESTIGATE SOMEHOW? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND ME SOME ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD IN ADDITION TO A STRONG BURNING ODOR. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY. SHE LIFTED THE HOOD WITH ANOTHER PERSON'S ASSISTANCE AND HEARD CRACKLING AND SPARKLING SOUNDS. SHE ALSO NOTICED A HOLE IN THE INSULATOR DIRECTLY INTO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER YEARS, MAKES, AND MODELS, BUT NONE FOR THE CONTACT'S PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 165,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 12 WEST. AS I TURNED ONTO A ROAD, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. MY 8-YEAR-OLD SAID, " WHAT IS THAT SMELL?" I TOLD HER THAT IT IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, I TURNED THE TRUCK AROUND AND WENT TO THE NEAREST QUICK STORE. THE MAN INSIDE LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND USED WATER TO PUT ON THE "HOOD BLANKET". THERE WAS A HOLE IN IT ABOVE THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THE MAN KEPT PUTTING WATER ON IT UNTIL IT STOPPED SMOKING. AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, HE TOLD ME THAT ME AND LITTLE GIRL WERE LUCKY. I KNEW THAT IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. IT WAS COLD AND IF I WERE NOT CLOSE TO THE STORE I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STAYED IN THE VEHICLE TO STAY WARM. I AM SO GLAD THAT I TURNED AROUND AND TOOK A CHANCE ON GETTING TO THE NEAREST STORE. MY INSURANCE AGENT WILL BE COMING MONDAY (TODAY IS SATURDAY) TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES AND DETERMINE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. *TR

MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW THE #3 SPARK PLUG ON AUGUST 22, 2006. THE TRITON 5.4 LITER ENGINE HAS 86K+ MILES. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER PURCHASING 12 FORD VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 32 YEARS. IT IS TIME FOR THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND AT LEAST TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS DEFECT. MY REPLACEMENT COST OF THE ENGINE WAS $5,400.00. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE 'BLOWN SPARK PLUG' PROBLEM WITH FORD'S TRITON 5.4 LITER ENGINE FOR A SECOND TIME. MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW THE # 3 SPARK PLUG ON NOVEMBER 15, 2008. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WAS REPLACED AUGUST 22, 2006 WITH 86K MILES BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM AT A COST TO ME OF $5,400. THIS ENGINE HAS 53K MILES AND WAS INSTALLED BY KOONS FORD OF ANNAPOLIS. ALTHOUGH FORD ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE, THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT FORD'S REDESIGNED V8 ENGINE HAD RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. IT IS TIME FOR THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND AT LEAST TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HER INSURANCE AGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,000. UPDATED 12-02-08 *BF UPDATED 12/02/08. *JB

LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS TO 2003 FORD EXPEDITION, TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND A FIRE IN OVERHEAD WIRING HARNESS. FORD CLAIMS TO HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH HARNESS. NONE OF THESE WIRES WERE VISIBLE TO US , BUT HAD MELTED THE UNDERSIDE OF OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT. VISIBLE BURN MARKS ON METAL INTERIOR OF ROOF. ALL OVERHEAD WIRING HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT. THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS TORN APART AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE DEALER IS ORDERING A NEW WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE ILLUMINATED INDICATORS; HOWEVER, ANOTHER FAILURE WAS FOUND WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 83,000. UPDATED 12-02-08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD TO BE REPAIRED AS WELL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER REEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 12/02/08 *JB

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 L , V8 . WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO CHURCH THIS MORNING AND HEARD A LOUD POP COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I PULLED OVER AND DROVE BACK TO THE HOUSE WHICH IS TWO BLOCKS AWAY. I CHECKED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE SPIT OUT ONE OF MY SPARK PLUG AND BROKE THE COIL. NOTICED GAS WAS COMING OUT OF THE HOLE THE PLUG SHOULD BE. I CHECKED THE WEB TODAY AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM DIFFERENT SITES ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS, I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL ADDRESS THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT OR EVEN DIE DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. *TR

AT 92,000 ABOUT MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE PLUG BLEW OUT. I PUT JB. WELD AROUND THE PLUG AND PUT IT BACK IN THE TRUCK. IT WORKED FOR 3 MONTHS AND NOW ITS DONE IT AGAIN. I AM NOW OUT OF WORK AND MY WIFE CAN'T MAKE IT TO HERE JOB BECAUSE OF THE TRUCK. SO I AM LOOKING FOR A HELI COIL REPAIR KIT. BUT NO WAY TO GO AND GET IT I HAVE ONE TRUCK. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING, MY VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POP, AND THEN A RATTLING SOUND. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND NOTICED THAT MY SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. I THEN HAD TO WALK APPROX 1/2 MILE (WHILE I WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT) TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE PLUGS THAT WERE IN WERE FACTORY, AND INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORDS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE PLUGS WITH A HEALING COIL, AND THEN INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A GUARANTEED FIX, IT WAS MORE LIKE PUTTING A BAND AID ON THE PROBLEM, IF I WANTED TO GUARANTEE THE ISSUE WAS FIXED, THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD. I OPTED TO REPLACE THE PLUGS BECAUSE THEY WERE CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER, AND ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. SINCE I WAS QUITE A WAYS AWAY FROM THE MECHANIC THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON IT, I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT SHOP. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY PUTTING AN INSERT IN, AND CHARGING ME AN ADDITIONAL $300. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER OF HER VEHICLE. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HIS WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

LIVE IN CHICAGO IL. (20 MINUTES OUTSIDE) AND MY EXPEDITION WAS LEFT OUTSIDE. IT GOT COLD (48 OUTSIDE) OVER NIGHT, AND MY FORD WAS DEAD IN THE MORNING, (DOME LIGHTS WOULDN'T EVEN TURN ON). I JUMPED IT, AND NOTICED THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE (DOESN'T EVEN LIGHT UP). I TOOK IT TO FORD, AND THEY HAD THOUGHT THAT THE UNIT BURNED OUT. COOL, I CAN BUY ONE ON E-BAY FOR ABOUT $40.00 INSTEAD OF 326.00 THAT THEY QUOTED ME... I LEFT FEELING A LITTLE BETTER, KNOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS....THEN SOMETHING STRANGE STARTED HAPPENING... THE 4WD HIGH/LOW IS FLASHING IN 1 MINUTE INTERVALS AT THE SAME TIME. THE DRIVER SEAT IS ADJUSTING ON IT'S OWN, WHILE I AM DRIVING, AND CANNOT BE STOPPED, LEAVING ME CRAMMED INTO THE DASH/STEERING WHEEL, THE BACK UP AID IS NOT WORKING, WHEN I EXIT THE VEHICLE THE RADIO STAYS ON, I HAVE TO RE-OPEN THE DOORS AND CLOSE THEM AGAIN TO TURN IT OFF, AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROLS. CALL ME STUPID, BUT THIS SOUNDS A LITTLE MORE INDEPTH THAN A CLIMATE CONTROL BURNING OUT. AFTER READING COUNTLESS ISSUES WITH THE EXPEDITION (INCLUDING THE COOL FEATURE OF AUTO IGNITE, WHERE IT DECIDES TO BURN IT'S SELF TO THE GROUND AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 3-5 HOURS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FIRES) I AM NOT SURE I AM VERY FOND OF THIS TRUCK ANYMORE. I AM NOT ENCOURAGED BY EVERYONE ON THIS HAVING SIMILAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AND NOT HAVING FORD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM CAUSES GRAVE CONCERN, SEEING HOW MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS (WHO ARE SECURED IN THEIR CAR SEATS)

MY HUSBAND'S 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE HAD BEEN OUT OF THE CAR FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. WE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. WE HEARD ANOTHER LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND WENT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. WHEN WE GOT OUTSIDE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN WE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. AT THAT POINT WE CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT, AND SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SHORT IN THE WIRING. HE HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO DOORS OPEN. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY CAR MAX. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS ALMOST TO THE END OF THE OFF RAMP TO THE 210 FREEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN AN AWFUL NOISE. IT SOUND LIKE SHE BLEW A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE #3 SPARK PLUG BEING EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND HAVE NEVER CHANGED PLUGS. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED LOCAL AND NOT ON THE ROAD FOR VACATION. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED AND A TUNE UP DOWN. AN EXPENSIVE DAY AND NEEDLESS TIME OFF WORK FOR A PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO DUE TO BAD ENGINEERING. A TAPERED SPARK PLUG AND 1/4 THREAD LOCK IN THE HEAD IS NOT A SAFE AND SMART DESIGN. A 3/4 THREAD LOCK WOULD BE MUCH BETTER. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE HEAD ON A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4L ENGINE THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD AND GASOLINE WERE EXPELLED ON THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE HEAD HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1,832.48. *TR

DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY 50, OUTSIDE SACRAMENTO AT ABOUT 65MPH IN THE EARLY EVENING ON 9/21/08 WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SWING OUT OF CONTROL. I MANAGED TO REMAIN IN CONTROL AND GET TO THE EDGE OF THE FREEWAY. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE TIRE, THE TREAD FROM THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS TOTALLY GONE, BUT THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. THE TREAD HAD CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO MY BACK PANEL AND BUMPER ASSEMBLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND ASSUMED THAT A TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE DROPPED AND BEGAN TO SCRAPE THE ROAD SURFACE. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE STATION AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE A-ARM AXLE RUPTURED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 111,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

TODAY IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE CYLINDER OF OUR FORD EXPEDITION. THE FIRST TIME IT STRANDED MY FAMILY IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE WINTER. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO AWAY FOR A WEEKEND TRIP TOMORROW. IT COST US 3K THE FIRST TIME AND TODAY'S QUOTE IS ABOUT THE SAME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNBELIEVABLE GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF OCCURRENCES THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THIS IS BS! FORD IS DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVE AND IF SOMEONE DIES DUE TO THIS HAPPENING IT WILL COST THEM MORE THAN MONEY....BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS. *TR

THE # 1 SPARK PLUG ON MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW OUT AND STRIPPED THE THREADS AND BROKE THE COIL. *TR