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2003 Ford EXCURSION problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

106 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

57,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 106 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2523.6%
Engine operation2018.9%
Electrical and battery issues1917.9%
Steering behavior1917.9%
Fuel system concerns54.7%
Transmission and shifting43.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
9
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
Fuel System, Diesel
7
Tires
7
Engine And Engine Cooling
6
Steering
6
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel9
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine8
Fuel System, Diesel7
Tires7
Engine And Engine Cooling6
Steering6
Vehicle Speed Control6

Electrical System: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Fuel System, Diesel: 7; Tires: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Steering: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
27
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
12
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
10
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00027
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above10

Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 10

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 27 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003
22
2004
18
2005
10
2006
5
2007
5
2008
8
2009
5
2010
8
2011
7
2012
1
2014
1
2015
4
2017
5
2018
2
2019
1
2020
2
2021
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200322
200418
200510
20065
20075
20088
20095
20108
20117
20121
20141
20154
20175
20182
20191
20202
20211
20231

2003: 22; 2004: 18; 2005: 10; 2006: 5; 2007: 5; 2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 8; 2011: 7; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10003578 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXCURSION THAT WHILE DRIVING JUST SHUTS MOTOR OFF AND YOU LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO WARNING AT ALL. FORD NOT VERY CONCERNED WITH IT AND BEING VERY ELUSIVE ABOUT WHATS WRONG. I CAN NOT GET AN ANSWER JUST KEEP TELLING ME THEY ARE FIXING IT, AFTER THEY FIXED IT IT BROKE DOWN ON THEM ON THE TEST DRIVE, AND STILL NOT WILLING TO TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO TRUCK OTHER THAN DONT WORRY ABOUT IT ITS UNDER WARRANTY. I GUESS IT IS NOT A CONCERN TO THEM AS LONG THEIR FAIMLY IS NOT IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I CANT STOP V…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003578 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004835 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004835 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025689 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)

2003 FORD EXCURSION 6.0 TRITON DIESEL ENGINE STALLS (BOTH HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS), BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025689 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031420 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED , WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED POOR STEERING. CONSUMER AVOIDED SEVERAL COLLISIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT. *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,753 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031420 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032620 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)

ALL GUAGES WENT FULL TILT, ABS LIGHT CAME ON, LOSS OF POWER TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE FOR SAME PROBLEM. ONCE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WOULD NOT START JUST CLICKING. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY TWICE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 9,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032620 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10055646 · 2004-01-22 (January 22, 2004)

WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE CONSUMER WAS UNSUCCESSFUL TWICE. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE SECOND TRY CONSUMER CAME OUTSIDE AND FOUND VEHICLE ON FIRE. ELECTRICAL WIRES MELTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10253088 · 2008-12-29 (December 29, 2008)

2003 FORD EXCURSION LIMITED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE. ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO, MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SURGE IN ACCELERATION AT BOTH IDLE AND WHILE CRUISING. IT HAS ALSO BEGUN TO STALL OUT AT BOTH IDLE AND WHILE CRUISING. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO HAVE A STRONG SMELL OF DIESEL FUEL WHICH ENTERS THE PASSENGER CABIN AT START UP. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEGUN TO LIGHT UP AND I CHECKED THE LIGHT WITH A DIGITAL DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER. THE CODE WAS P2285 (INJECTOR CONTROL PRESSURE SENSOR CIRCUIT LOW). THE SITUATION IS QUITE DANGEROUS. MY WIFE HAD …

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253088 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10298580 · 2010-01-07 (January 7, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A WET ROAD AND SUDDENLY, EXCESSIVE WHITE SMOKE EXPELLED FROM THE REAR TAIL PIPE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BROKEN FUEL INJECTOR WHICH ALSO RESULTED IN DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE. THE ESTIMATED REPAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298580 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008260 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 168 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008260 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037064 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)

TRUCK PURCHASED MARCH 31, 2003. 7 DAYS LATER TOOK TRUCK IN FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. TRUCK WAS IN SHOP FOR 9 DAYS. 7 DAYS AFTER TRUCK WAS OUT OF SHOP WENT INTO SHOP AGAIN FOR 23 DAYS FOR DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB. TOOK TRUCK IN AGAIN ON AUGUST 21, 2003 FOR AC NOT WORKING AND CLICKING SOUND IN TRANSMISSION. STILL IN SHOP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037064 at NHTSA ↗