I WAS TAKING MY COUSIN TO THE JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES OUTSIDE OF JACKSONVILLE WHEN MY TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF MY SUV. THE SUV ROLLOVER SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. THE TREAD PART OF THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALSO. *TR
2003 Ford Expedition complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT FROM WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING IT WAS A SPARK PLUG THAT BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. BUT SINCE IT WAS ALMOST 5:00 P.M. AND THEY WERE ABOUT TO CLOSE THEY WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING UNTIL THEY COULD LOOK AT IT THE NEXT DAY. I DIDN'T DAMAGE THE HEADS BUT IT STILL COST ME OVER $400.00 TO FIX IT. *TR
ORIGINAL AND 2ND FORD ENGINE BLEW. 1ST THREW A ROD, 2ND BLOCK CRACKED AND RUINED ENGINE DUE TO RAPID COOLANT LOSS. DEALERS OFFERED NO WARRANTY AS BOTH ENGINES BLEW AT 112,000 AND 120,000 RESPECTIVELY. THIS CAR WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND RECEIVED ROUTINE RECOMMENDED SERVICE FOR OIL AND FLUID CHANGES. *TR
1ST OCCURRENCE WAS A SIDE WALL BULGE COMBINATION FLAT IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH NEW. 2ND MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE (08-03-2008) WAS A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS FROM PHOENIX TO LOS ANGELES. SPEED WAS 65MPH TO MAXIMIZE GAS CONSUMPTION IN THE #2 LANE. *TR
FIRST, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I CONTINUED TO GO AROUND THE VEHICLE OPENING AND SHUTTING THE DOORS AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CONSUMER COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE SINCE THE LIGHT CAME ON, AND HAD TO GET A JUMP TO START IT. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THIS THE BATTERY WAS FINALLY RUINED, AND I WAS FORCED TO BUY A NEW ONE. I USED LUBRICANTS TO TRY AND CLEAR DEBRIS FROM THE DOOR SENSORS AND THIS WORKED FOR 3 MONTHS. NOW IT WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. TALKED TO DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE 600 DOLLARS PER SENSORS. NOTHING WRONG WITH SENSOR ITS JUST DIRTY. SECOND, THE REAR AC IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND WILL NOT CONTROL TEMPERATURE. I SENT IT UNDER WARRANTY TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED THE AC MECHANISM, STATED "THIS WAS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE". 5 MONTHS LATER THIS PART WENT OUT AGAIN AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PROBLEM AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER 300 DOLLARS. THEY APPARENTLY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART AND WOULD REPAIR IT AGAIN 5 MONTHS LATER!!!. THIRD, THE SIDE PANELS ON THE EXPEDITION EXTERIOR STARTED FADING AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT 20,000 MILES LATER WE NOTICED THEY HAD FADED AGAIN. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PANELS THIS TIME BECAUSE IT WAS KNOW LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ANOTHER DEFECT REPLACED WITH A DEFECTIVE PART. FORTH, THE REAR PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR/WINDOW TRIM IS B
TREAD SEPARATION- CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV, P265/70 R17, DOT ADT6 45EW 2802, 2003 FORD EXPEDITION, 63,504 MILES, ALL TIRES HAD GOOD TREAD REMAINING, REPLACED ALL TIRES, LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL BADLY DAMAGED. *TR
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BURST INTO FLAMES ON SUNDAY, JUNE 22 AT 5AM. THE TRUCK HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 7PM THE PREVIOUS EVENING. WHILE THE TRAVIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHALL IS STILL FINISHING UP THE INVESTIGATION, ALL SIGNS POINT TO THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. MY CAR WAS GUTTED, IT ALSO TOTALED THE CAR NEXT TO IT AND MOST OF MY GARAGE WENT UP IN FLAMES! FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SEND OUT SERIOUS RECALL NOTICES TO ALL OWNERS ASAP! PEOPLE ARE DYING... JUST CHECK OUT WWW.FLAMINGFORDS.INFO. *TR
I HAVE A RUBBING / GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM MY REAR END ON MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. AND AS I LOOK ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE 100'S OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD AND THEY AREN'T STANDING BEHIND THERE PRODUCT. *TR
MY LOCKS HAVE FAILED ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO WATER INTRUSION INTO THE FUSE MODULE. THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ENGAGE AND THE REAR HATCH AND WINDOW LOCKS WILL NOT DISENGAGE. DEALER SERVICE HAS INDICATED THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS 2-3 TIMES A YEAR WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. DURING A CRASH THE DOORS TO MY VEHICLE COULD OPEN AND SUBJECT THE OCCUPANT TO INJURY. ALL TOLD THIS REPAIR WILL COST OVER $1000. *TR
CAR WOULD NOT START ON FIRST ATTEMPT. FORD DEALER (TED RUSSELL KINGSTON PIKE) SAID DEFECTIVE BATTERY WHICH WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. FORD DEALER (TED RUSSELL KINGSTON PIKE) THEN SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. WENT TO PEP BOYS KINGSTON PIKE - THEY DIAGNOSED DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP REGULATOR. WENT TO DIFFERENT CAR DEALER LOCATION (TED RUSSELL PARKSIDE DRIVE) - THEY OBSERVED LEAK OF FUEL FROM FUEL RAIL ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REQUESTED THAT THEY HOLD PART FOR ME AFTER REPLACEMENT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING TO A BALLGAME WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. I PULLED OVER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I OPENED THE HOOD TO NOTICE THE #3 SPARK PLUG IN MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L V8 WAS FLOPPING AROUND ON TOP OF THE HOOD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FROM THIS ONE SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON SEVERAL ONLINE WEBSITES, FORUMS, AND BLOGS, I HAVE DETERMINED THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE FORD ENGINE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE FROM FORD OWNERS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION TO WORK THIS MORNING AND HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND I SMELLED GAS FUMES. WHEN I LIFTED THE HOOD, I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG. *TR
NO WARNING. ENGINE STOP. AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES.NO BODY AT FORD WILL ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT AND TRUCK REDUCED SPEED. THE INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE - WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT APPROX. $6,000.00. I ASKED THE DOWNEY FORD DEALER IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT? THEY REPLIED: THEY DID NOT KNOW ALTHOUGH THE TRUCK WAS NOT ON RECALL. THIS DEFECT - BLOWN SPARK PLUG MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE INJURY AND OR DEATH IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
2ND SET OF CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES ON 2003 EXP. FORD TIRES CONTINUE TO GO FLAT ON WEEKLY BASIS. AFTER PUTTING CORRECT LBS OF AIR WITHIN 2 DAYS DOWN TO LESS THEN 10-15LBS 2ND SET HAS BEEN ON FOR LESS THEN 18 MONTHS. NOTE: 17 INCH MODEL IT IS NOT LISTED UNDER TIRE TYPE NOTE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING TIRE PROBLEM ON SAME MODEL. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD QUIT WITH NO PROCEEDING SYMPTOMS OR INDICATIONS. SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND TRYING TO RE-START WOULD NOT WORK. SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL, TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TURNING THE KEY TO START DID CAUSE A RE-START. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON THE DASH TO LIGHT, SO A CODE IS BEING GENERATED. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, SINCE IT HAS ISSUED A NOTICE (NOT A RECALL) TO IT'S SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THE REPAIR IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY AND REPROGRAMMING OF THE PROCESSOR. FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM, SO THE CHARGE FOR THE WORK IS $ 342.64. *TR
DECEMBER 15, 2007, MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION'S SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT. LEAVING MY THREE KIDS AND MYSELF STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER PAYING $1,200 TO GET IT FIX, ON MARCH 9, 2008 THE SAME THING HAPPEN. *TR
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION HAD A SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE WHILE MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT HURT WHEN THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. I FOUND THE BRAKE RESERVOIR TO BE COMPLETELY EMPTY AND REFILLED IT IMMEDIATELY. THEN I DISCOVERED THE REAL PROBLEM. THE REAR FACTORY BRAKE LINES WERE CONSTANTLY RUBBING AGAINST THE REAR SPRINGS OF THE CAR , THUS WEARING A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE. THIS RESULTED IN RAPID LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID , WHICH ALSO LED TO SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. THIS WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND I CANT IMAGINE WHY SOMEONE AT FORD DIDN'T SEE SUCH AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
2003 EXPEDITION 5.4L ENGINE. PRODUCTION DATE 10-08-02 . HAVING OIL LEAK FROM RIGHT HEAD GASKET DIAGNOSED BY FORD. I BELIEVE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO TSB 02-22-7. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REPAIR EXPENSES COVERED BY FORD / MANUFACTURER. *TR
DRIVING DOWN TAR ROAD WHEN MY TRUCK CAUGHT THE EDGE OF PAVEMENT AND SHOOT ACROSS THE GRAVEL SHOULDER THEN CAUGHT SNOWY HILLSIDE. VEHICLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL TREES. THE TRUCK HAD SEVERE IMPACT TOTALING THE UNIT . NO AIR BAGS EVER CAME OUT. *TR
THREE OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION HAVE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE. THE FIRST OCCURRED JUNE 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES. THIS TIRE WAS REPLACED PRO RATA AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND OCCURRED FALL OF 2007 AT 48,000 MILES AND WAS ALSO REPLACED PRO RATA AT THE DEALERSHIP. NOW A 3RD TIRE HAS FAILED, FEB 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES. *TR
THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION MADE A LOAD POP NOISE AND THEN CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOUD BUT MUFFLED POPPING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS THE # 3 SPARK PLUG HAD "BACKED OUT" OR WAS "SPIT OUT" OF THE ENGINE HEAD. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST TO REPLACE THE HEAD WAS $3,500.00. A LESS EXPENSIVE FIX OF $700 - $800 TO RETHREAD THE HEAD FOR THE #3 SPARK PLUG, BUT WITH NO GUARANTEE HOW LONG IT WOULD LAST. THE REASON FOR THE COMPLAINT IS THAT AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED I FOUND OUT THROUGH A FRIEND THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE #3 SPARK PLUG. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS AN ISSUE AND A POOR DESIGN ON FORDS PART. HOWEVER, FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM - LEAVING IT'S CUSTOMERS WITH A HEFTY REPAIR TO SAY THE LEAST. I ALSO FILED A COMPLIANT DIRECTLY TO FORD HEADQUARTERS. *TR
OUTSIDE MIRROR LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF AFTER GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE AND PRESSING REMOTE LOCK BUTTON. THEY EVENTUALLY RAN THE BATTERY DOWN. THIS WAS AFTER A HARD RAIN. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THIS TIME, THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF (KEY OUT OF IGNITION AND DOORS OPEN) THE CHIME KEPT GOING OFF AND THE BATTERY WENT DEAD BECAUSE I DID NOT DISCONNECT IT. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS, FROM THE FACTORY, AND WATER DRIPS DOWN ONTO THE COMPUTER MODULE AND FUSE BOX. I CHECKED MY FUSE BOX AND I DID HAVE DRIPPING WATER IN IT ALONG WITH CORRODED CONNECTORS, INSIDE THE VEHICLE, INDICATION LONG TERM INTRUSION OF WATER. THIS CAUSES ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTING MY OEM WINDSHIELD I FOUND IT COMPLETELY SEPARATED AT THE TOP AND I COULD SEE LIGHT BETWEEN THE GLASS AND SEAL. I NOW HAVE TO BUY A NEW WINDSHIELD ALONG WITH FUSE BLOCK AND COMPUTER CRAP. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD, AS MENTIONED, IS NOT SEALED. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD INTEGRITY IS A HUGE PART OF THE STRENGTH OF THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD IS USED TO SUPPORT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IN CASE OF DEPLOYMENT. I DON'T HAVE THAT INTEGRITY ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE CONDITION AND THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT FORD PAYS FOR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE FOR A SECOND TIME IN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES AND WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED IN FEBRUARY OF 2006, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,035 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,096.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 50MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AFTER MAKING A LOUD NOISE. AFTER DESCRIBING THE SYMPTOMS TO THE DEALER VIA PHONE, HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE NOISE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE DEALER IS DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE TODAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92900.
UNEXPECTED SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY ABRUPT SIDE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THESE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT A CONSTANT RATE OF SPEED (65MHH) ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT EXPLOSIVE NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEING DISORIENTED FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED IN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH 65K MILES AND NO MODIFICATIONS OR PREVIOUS DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SCANNED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER WHICH SHOWED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN IMPENDING ROLLOVER CAUSING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP NOR FORD WILL REPAIR THIS DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAGS AND HEADLINER.*CN
2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH TIRE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE SAW A PIECE OF HIS TIRE BOUNCE OFF THE PAVEMENT BEHIND HIS VEHICLE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. PICTURES ATTACHED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. AS THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE REST OF THE TREAD CAME OFF AND BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK BECAUSE OF A NAIL AND WAS REPAIRED 1 YEAR AGO, AND THERE HAD BEEN NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. ( CONTINENTAL CONTI TRAC TIRES). *JB
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MIRRORS AND WINDOWS ON MY FORD SUV. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY CLAIM THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE BROKEN GEAR SHIFT AND JAM RADIO. ONE MONTH LATER I WAKE UP TO MY TRUCK ON FIRE AFTER SITTING FOR SEVEN HOURS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SOMEONE USED A SCREWDRIVER TO PUNCH OUT THE KEY CYLINDER ON THE KEY PAD. THE THIEF STOLE PERSONAL ITEMS THAT WERE LEFT IN THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB THE THIEVES GAINED ENTRANCE TO THE VEHICLE BY PUSHING THE MECHANICAL KEY PAD OUT. UPDATED 1212/07.
GOING IN THE HIGHWAY THE OIL PUMP JUST STOPPED WORKING AND THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED, STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION I HAVE LIVED. *TR
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE REAR ENDED. IT HAPPENS WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT AND THE DEALERSHIP IS BAFFLED. ALL THEIR EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT CAN'T EVEN TRACK DOWN THE ISSUE. SO FAR THEY HAVE REPLACED SOME FUEL PARTS AND MY FUSE BOX BUT IT STILL SHUTS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. I AM $900. IN THE HOLE ALREADY, LET ALONE I AM GOING TO HAVE MY FIRST GRANDCHILD WITHIN A WEEK, AND I HAVE THIS TANK THAT SHUTS DOWN ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT SOUNDS ELECTRICAL AND I AM IN FEAR OF CATCHING FIRE. *TR
2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH 5.4 LITER V8 WITH APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CORRODED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE WIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED. UPDATED.
A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE DAY WAS CLEAR, THE WEATHER WAS WARM. MY WIFE HIT HER MONTE CARLO DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE LADIES CAR, BOTH VEHICLES WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO THE TREES. OUR CAR HIT A RATHER LARGE PINE TREE. WITH BOTH OF THESE MAJOR IMPACTS, TOTALING BOTH CARS, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY WIFE'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. THE FRONT OF OUR CAR WAS HIT ON BOTH THE FRONT RIGHT AND FRONT LEFT CORNERS. WE ARE DEPENDING AND PAYING FOR THESE SAFETY, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT THEY DON'T OPERATE WHEN NEEDED. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT HAS SURFACE RUST ON THE ENGINE INTAKE COWLING. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT UNDER FORD'S RUST WARRANTY ONLY RUST THROUGH ISSUES ARE COVERED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND RIDE ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN IDS DIAGNOSTIC AND PINPOINT TEST AND DISCOVERED THAT A CYLINDER MISFIRED ON CYLINDER NUMBER 4. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUG ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,776.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES, SIZE LT275/65R18. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO A FUEL STATION WHEN THE TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT. THE FAILURE BENT THE FENDER OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
2003 FORD EXPEDITION FIRE, STARTED NEAR THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME WITH NO ONE IN IT. *TR
I WAS IN A MVA ON JUNE 29, 2007. I HIT SEVERAL TREES AND WENT DOWN A LARGE EMBANKMENT. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I HAD SEVERE FRONTAL DAMAGE AND DRIVER DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC AW TIRES (SIZE P27560R17). ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN AIR BUBBLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. SHE RETURNED TO THE STORE AND EXCHANGED THE FAILED TIRE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, SHE NOTICED AN AIR BUBBLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. A SALES REPRESENTATIVE FROM WAL-MART STATED THAT THE ENTIRE BATCH OF TIRES WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WITH A GOODYEAR TIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND ALL OF THE CABLES WERE EXPOSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE TIRES ARE UNSAFE. THE DOT NUMBER, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, # OF CYLINDERS, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 97,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT 840 TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE TIRE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND MELT. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY DRIVING ON THE SPARE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HER TO CALL THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. BRIDGESTONE STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TIRE. THE TIRE SIZE IS P265/70R17. CURRENTLY, THE TIRE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THE FUEL SYSTEM, POWERTRAIN, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,625 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,620.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SHUT OFF AND THE BLOWER PRODUCED WARM AIR BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. THE STATE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.
VEHICLE UNDERWENT NORMAL DRIVING. 2. SUDDENLY UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS HEARD. THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER, AND WOULD CONTINUE WHENEVER THE ENGINE STARTED. THE ODOR OF GASOLINE AND OIL WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEAD AS REQUIRED BY FORD , HELICOIL, SPARK PLUG, AND IGNITION COIL HAD TO BE INSTALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
64000 ON 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW THE #2 PLUG WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND CRUISE CONTROL ON. HAD A HELA COIL PUT IN. CONTACTED THE DEALER, NO RESPONSE, 2 WEEKS LATER 68000 BLEW THE #3 PLUG SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AGAIN HAD A HELA COIL REPAIR. AGAIN NO HELP FROM THE DEALER, AND TOLD THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL ON THAT MOTOR . I AM FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE IN MINNESOTA. BOTH REPAIRS WERE DONE AT A DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED REPLACING THE HEAD WA S THE CORRECT FIX, BUT FORD ALLOWED THEM TO DO HELA COILS, BUT IMAGINE THAT, THEY WON'T WARRANTY IT !! *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS, BOTH REAR TIRES LOST THEIR TREAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH, BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM THE TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. ON JUNE 5, 2007, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME TIRE FAILURE WITH THE REAR REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE DRIVING SPEED AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ALSO THE SAME. THE TIRES WERE CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC AW (P27560R17), WHICH WERE RECALLED UNDER NOTICE # 02T012000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT) ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES ALONG WITH THE TIRE TO SEND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A COPY OF THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS, MULTIPLE PICTURES OF THE PROBLEMATIC TIRES, AND ALSO A COPY OF THE RECALL FOR PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT OF THE TIRES. UPDATED 08/06/07 *TR
CLUTCH FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO PRODUCE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED, BY ME, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SYSTEMATIC OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL PASSENGERS NOTICED AND EVENTUALLY IT GOT SO BAD THAT IT FELT LIKE A VERY UNSAFE AND SERIOUS PROBLEM. DEALER IS CHARGING $1600 HALF OF WHICH IS PARTS. NEXT WEEK WHEN I GET THE VEHICLE BACK, WILL DETERMINE IF I AM KEEPING THE CAR OR HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OR FUTURE PROBLEMS. *AK
SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FAIL TO RETURN TO PROPER POSITION AFTER USING REVERSE AID. MIRRORS OFTEN TILT TOO HIGH, TOO LOW, ETC. AND MAX OUT CREATING BAD CLICKING AS IF THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO TILT PAST FURTHEST POINT. HAVE TO RESET MANUALLY ON EACH SIDE EVERY TIME. HAPPENS 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES USED, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE PURCHASE. FORD SAYS THERE IS NO FIX TO THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS NOT HEARD OF THE ISSUE MUCH, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN FIND HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT ON WEBSITES SUCH AS THIS AND OTHERS. *TR
ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 55,000 MILES, SEEMS A BIT EARLY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. REPLACED WITH NEW, BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING WILL NOT GO OFF. BOTH ALT AND BATTERY TESTED FINE ON ANALYZER. *TR
ON APRIL 13, 2007 MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH THE 5.4 LITER TRITON ENGINE BLEW OUT THE #3 SPARK PLUG DESTROYING THE THREADS AND REQUIRING A TOTAL HEAD REPLACEMENT. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, IN SPITE OF THE FACT I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WAS $3655.22. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF FORD OWNERS. *TR
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RESEARCHING THE SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON THE 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF 40,000. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A VIBRATION OF THE CLUTCH SLIP DIFFERENTIAL.*AK
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2003 Ford Expedition → · Every Expedition year → · How the figures are calculated →