Problems · by component
2003 Ford Expedition air bags problems
61 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Expedition cite air bags, 9% of all 655 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
61
9% of all complaints
Crashes
28
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
49
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TWO SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,943.”
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 65 I HEARD A LOUD POP, MY SEATBELT TIGHTENED AND BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WITH A LOT OF SMOKE. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THEM.”
“SIDE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND NO APPARENT INJURY TO MYSELF OR PASSENGER EXCEPT FOR POSSIBLE HEARING LOSS DUE TO THE LOUD BANG ON DEPLOYMENT. I USED A KNIFE TO CUT THE BAGS AWAY FROM THE FRONT SIDE WINDOWS THEN CONTINUED DRIVING.”
“DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD IN A SCHOOL ZONE WHEN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 PM, WHEN SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE BAGS DEPLOYED DEFLATED. I WAS NEAR A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SO I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I WAS NOT HIT NOR DID I HIT ANYONE TO CAUSE THE BAGS TO DEPLOY.”
“WHILE DRIVING ON VACATION ON VANCOUVER ISLAND NEAR VICTORIA, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE WERE UNINJURED AND DROVE TO THE FORD DEALER IN VICTORIA. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE DEPLOYMENT AND THE SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED BY THE DEALER. IT IS STILL INACTIVATED.”
Showing 6 of 61 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.