2003 Ford EXPEDITION: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
615 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
79,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 463 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 85 of 615 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 116 | 18.9% |
| Engine operation | 49 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 43 | 7.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 35 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 29 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 3.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 85 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 70 |
| Engine | 44 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 43 |
| Tires | 33 |
| Air Bags | 32 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 |
Electrical System: 85; Engine And Engine Cooling: 70; Engine: 44; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 43; Tires: 33; Air Bags: 32; Unknown Or Other: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 96 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 53 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 69 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 71 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 105 |
| 150,000 and above | 69 |
Under 25,000: 96; 25,000 to 49,999: 53; 50,000 to 74,999: 69; 75,000 to 99,999: 71; 100,000 to 149,999: 105; 150,000 and above: 69
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (105). 152 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 83 |
| 2004 | 72 |
| 2005 | 51 |
| 2006 | 38 |
| 2007 | 35 |
| 2008 | 50 |
| 2009 | 38 |
| 2010 | 52 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 10; 2003: 83; 2004: 72; 2005: 51; 2006: 38; 2007: 35; 2008: 50; 2009: 38; 2010: 52; 2011: 25; 2012: 24; 2013: 20; 2014: 24; 2015: 23; 2016: 25; 2017: 15; 2018: 4; 2019: 9; 2020: 6; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 116 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 49 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 43 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000135 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
WE PURCHASED A 2003 FORD EDDIE BAUER OCTOBER 3RD 2002 AND WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE MOON ROOF AS FAR AS LEAKS OR WIND NOISE. NOT ONLY DOES THE MOON ROOF LEAK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS HAD A RATTLE IN IT EVER SINCE WE GOT IT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES TO GET THE PROBLEMS FIXED AND EACH TIME IT COMES BACK THE MOON ROOF SEEMS TO LEAK EVEN WORSE. THE RATTLE IS STILL IN THE WINDSHIELD ALSO. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NOW THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT THE MOON ROOF TO LEAK GOING THROUGH A HIGH PRESSU…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002492 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S SIDE MIRROR WOULD READJUST ITSELF UPWARD.*JB *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003249 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
SEVERE FRONT BRAKE DUST ON WHEELS AT 500 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003823 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 TO 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE IS BAD TIRES. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 730 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008522 · 2002-11-05 (November 5, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ON SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS WERE BLOWN OUT. THIS WAS A NEW ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE WITH LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE LAST THREE WEEKS AND ALL TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**769301
Owner-reported narrative. 7,964 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009615 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION, WHEN THE GEAR WAS TRANSFERRED TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,755 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010317 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
I PURCHASED MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2002. IN LESS THAN A MONTH THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT TO NO AVAIL. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD BE MARCH 2003 BEFORE A REPLACEMENT PART OR FIX COULD BE MADE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HAZARD, NOT KNOWING IF MY MIRRORS WILL TAKE IT UPON ITSELF TO START ADJUSTING WITHOUT WARNING BECAUSE OF A DEFECT THAT THE DEALERS REPAIR SHOP OR FORD CAN NOT EXPLAIN. I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,447 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010854 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)
THERE IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST BUILD-UP ON THE FRONT AND BACK WHEELS. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK WASHED, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF BREAK DUST BEGAN TO BUILD-UP AFTER TRAVELING 1 MILE. *NLM I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THIS WAS THE #1 COMPLAINT MADE BY 2003 EXPEDITION OWNERS WHEN THEY BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO BE SERVICED. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS TO WASH THE WHEELS EVERY WEEK. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010854 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V094000 · Structure
Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.
NHTSA campaign record ↗