Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Ford Expedition problems

Owners filed 655 complaints about the 2003 Ford Expedition with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (132).

Complaints
655
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
58
Reported by owners
Fires
38
Reported by owners
Injuries
71
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling132
  2. Electrical system117
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic64
  4. Tires62
  5. Air bags61
  6. Power train59
  7. Engine44
  8. Visibility39
  9. Structure32
  10. Suspension22
  11. Steering21
  12. Vehicle speed control21
  13. Fuel/propulsion system20
  14. Fuel system, gasoline18

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200210
200386
200474
200571
200640
200746
200851
200938
201053
201125
201224
201320
201424
201523
201625
201715
20184
20199
20206
20212
20224
20231
20242
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

132 reports7 fires
“I WAS ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTHBOUND WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BOOM FOLLOWED BY A FLAPPING SOUND I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER TO SEE WHAT HAPPEND WHEN I NOTICED GAS COMING FROM THE AREA WHERE THE SPARK PLUG WAS AT I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED FOR A TOW. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10505722

Electrical system

117 reports4 crashes17 fires
“My truck stopped working in November 2025. I was told I needed fuel pump and filter. I replaced those and still didn't crank. I was then told I needed a circuit box. Purchased a circuit box and had it put on. Got my truck back February 2026. March 08,2026, truck went out again. I kept my truck maintenance and don't understand what's going on with it. I was told it is a recall on electrical parts and engine coils and spark plugs.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2026Electrical systemODI 11722874

Service brakes, hydraulic

64 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, DECELERATION BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES LINES HAD RUSTED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS AND FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 06/27/14*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureODI 10584189

Tires

62 reports6 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION EQUIPPED WITH MIRADA CROSS TOUR SLX TIRES, SIZE: 265/70R17. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A POP NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED AND DESTROYED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BIGH TIRE AND MUFFLER, 1695 SOUTH VOLUSIA AVE, ORANGE CITY, FL 32763) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEEL CORD IN THE FRONT TIRE FAILED AND FRACTURED THE CORD IN THE REAR TIRE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. SIX WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD AND THE WIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 274,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2017TiresODI 11018670

Air bags

61 reports28 crashes1 fire
“bought truck 3/2/22 from Gold cAuto In troy NY. 3/7/22 went to take kids to school 2.5 inches of water set in my weather guard mats. seats soaked console everything in front cab reversed to pull out spot and water starting pouring on my and my kids from sides in pass sides front and the front windshield area omgand the sun roof was worst.kids had to go in myslef too it was snow still out.so that dayi oh sunroof needs to be blown out i said well that right frontdoor sounds open when its shut . same night i picked it up said all was good to go and his guy didn't hear any issues with door. the next snow it was worst this was about toward end of march. i called back around 3/15 said its still leaking dude i just want my money back for real and we are good, he said no doesnt work liek that said all his winshield guy he would take a lok at it and tell hijm ihe sent me. did that talked to the guy said he woudl call me the next day week went by so i called him back long story short he said he wasnt fixing it josh the dealer never pays him , i understood. called talked joshgoldstien told him he said well u just have to bring it in and let me have it for a few days he…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2022Air bags, Seat belts, StructureODI 11471391

Power train

59 reports8 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,880.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2014Suspension, Power trainODI 10633257
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.