TroubleCAR
79
Trouble

2003 Ford Expedition

Complaints: 615Avg mileage: 83,110 miSince: Aug 2002
3 deathsCrashFire70 injured

Problem Areas

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
Rearview Mirrors/Devices: Exterior
19
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
18

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

WHEELS
30,000 miSep 16, 2016SAN DIEGO, CA
1 deathCrash4 injured

2003 FORD EXPEDITION, WITH FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES BY CONTINENTAL, HAD A TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON JUNE 11 WHICH RESULTED IN ONE DEATH AND FOUR SERIOUS INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A TREE...UPDATED 02/02/17 *BF *TR

AIR BAGS
100,000 miNov 21, 2011YOUNGS TOWN, OH
1 deathCrash4 injured

TL* THE DRIVER OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH AND COMPLETING A TURN WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A BRICK BUILDING. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AND FOUR OTHER PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
38,000 miJan 19, 2011FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
1 deathCrash2 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTED A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ONTO THE PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK. THE CONTACT STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN AND THE PEDESTRIAN WAS KILLED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HANDS AND FEET. A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND RIGHT FOOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

SERVICE BRAKES
100,000 miApr 4, 2016MOREHEAD, KY
CrashFire

THE BRAKE LINE THAT IS ROUTED TO THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL BRAKING FUNCTION HENCE, CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO RUN OFF INTO A DITCH TO MISS A SLOWING VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD COME TO REST IN THE DITCH THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FORTUNATELY, I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON BOARD, SO I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER LINE THAT RUNS PARALLEL WITH THE DEFECTIVE LINE THAT SHOWS ZERO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION.

SERVICE BRAKES
169,000 miNov 22, 2016CHALMETT, LA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PASSENGER LOCATED IN THE REAR SEAT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A HOTEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000.

WHEELS
163,000 miAug 27, 2013LEVELLAND, TX
Crash1 injured

LOST CONTROL, HIT PARKED CAR AND TREE, FRONT END DAMAGE, DRIVER SIDE FENDER, DRIVER DOOR, DRIVER RECEIVED LACERATION TO FOREHEAD AND TWO FRACTURED RIBS. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

AIR BAGS
127,500 miAug 9, 2012GILBERT, AZ
Crash1 injured

MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FORD EXPEDITION WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TURNED LEFT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY CAR. MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL LOCATIONS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

AIR BAGS
120,000 miAug 2, 2012SOLANA BEACH, CA
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING SOUTH IN THE FAST LANE, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT (NO APPARENT REASON). THE DRIVER STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE SUV BUT HIT THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. THE BACK LEFT TIRE THEN BLEW AND THE DRIVER HIT THE GUARD RAIL AGAIN, AT WHICH POINT THE A-FRAME AND FRONT AXLE WERE DESTROYED, ELIMINATING STEERING AND BRAKING FUNCTIONS. THE SUV CAREENED ON THE TWO LEFT TIRES, THEN SEVERAL MOMENTS LATER THE CAR FELL BACK DOWN TO ALL FOUR WHEELS, AND THE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO A STOP IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE. AT NO POINT IN TIME DID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. *TR

AIR BAGS
161,500 miApr 5, 2012PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL
Crash1 injured

HEAD ON COLLISION, BOTH VEHICLES TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. 2003 EXPEDITION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE IMPACT, HOWEVER THE EXPEDITION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT THE EXPEDITION DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND SHOULDER ON STEERING WHEEL, WITH TORN SHOULDER MUSCLES AND POSSIBLE UPPER GI BLEEDING FROM THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE AND SEAT BELT INJURY. *NOTE***- ALL AIRBAGS ON THE 2010 SUBURBAN DID DEPLOY (OTHER TOTALED VEHICLE). *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
99,000 miMay 28, 2011MCDONOUGH, GA
Crash3 injured

DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 42, MCDONOUGH, GA. SPEED LIMIT 55MPH. WIFE WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 45-50MPH. CAR IN FRONT OF HER SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO TURN INTO A GAS STATION, WHICH HAPPENED TO HAVE THE COUNTIES CHEAPEST GAS. WIFE ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BUT NOT IN TIME, RESULTING IN THE FRONT OF HER 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF THE STOPPED DRIVER. ON A FAIRLY SEVERE TRAFFIC CRASH, THE AIRBAGS FOR OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL DAMAGE TO THE EXPEDITION WAS FRONTAL. ALL DAMAGES TO THE STOPPED VEHICLE WERE TO THE REAR. *TR

STEERING
Sep 3, 2010MORENO VALLEY, CA
Crash1 injured

ON SUNDAY AUGUST 22, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M I WAS DRIVING ON THE 215 FREEWAY GOING SOUTHBOUND IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, CA. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, WEATHER WAS MODERATE AND IT WAS NIGHTTIME. WHILE DRIVING MY PARENTS' 2003 FORD EXPEDITION ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE AT THE SPEED OF 60-65MPH I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP AND I TRIED TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE WHEELS TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND I VEERED OFF THE LANE AND INTO THE DIRT ON THE SHOULDER LANE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER TWO OR THREE TIMES, AND TOOK OUT A BIG PIECE OF FENCE AND FINALLY STOPPED. I WALKED OUT OF THE CAR IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND PANIC, PEOPLE PULLED OVER TO HELP, POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AS WELL AS AN AMBULANCE. ACCIDENT REPORT WAS TAKEN BY THE CHP AND I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE AMBULANCE. I SUFFERED FROM MINOR INJURIES TO HEAD AND BODY AND HAD NIGHTMARES AND WOKE UP SCREAMING FOR A WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED AWAY AT THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT. *TR

AIR BAGS
Aug 15, 2010LITHONIA, GA
Crash3 injured

A DEER CAME ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS SWITCHING LANES AND I SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING. HIT THE DEER AND DRAG IT APPROX 60 FT. SPARKS AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS WE FLIPPED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLIP 6-8 TIMES PER PASSENGER (DAUGHTER) AND A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE FAILURE OF THE BAGS. THE EXPEDITION WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOW CAME OUT, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW IN THE FRONT ROW WERE SHATTERED, THE ASHTRAY DISCONNECTED AND WENT OUT THE WINDOW. THE MIRRORS ON THE EXPO WERE DAMAGED AND THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS TERRIBLY DAMAGED. A NEW VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. *TR

AIR BAGS
128,000 miMar 17, 2010CLUTE, TX
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE PRECEDING VEHICLE INDICATED A TURN. THE PRECEDING VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLETE THE TURN AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS LEFT HAND AND A FRACTURED STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
84,770 miDec 11, 2008SAN BERNARDINO, CA
Crash2 injured

ON 12/10/2008 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH. SHE DRIVES A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS? WIFE HAS NECK PAIN, CHILDREN ON BOARD ARE OK, NOT COMPLAINING OF ANY PAIN OR INJURY. EVERYONE ON BOARD WERE FASTENED TO SEATBELTS AND CAR SEATS. JUST VERY CONCERNED, BECAUSE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND NOT SURE WHY AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. THE OTHER PARTIES VEHICLE WAS A SCION XD NOT SURE WHAT YEAR. THEIR AIRBAG DID WORK AND IMPACT WAS PRACTICALLY SAME LOCATION, FRONT DRIVER SIDE CORNER. WAS THIS A DEFECT? NEED TO INVESTIGATE SOMEHOW? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND ME SOME ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
54,000 miOct 6, 2008BROCKTON, MA
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER OF HER VEHICLE. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HIS WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

TIRES
Aug 19, 2008THOMASVILLE, GA
Crash5 injured

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

AIR BAGS
69,500 miFeb 28, 2008HASTINGS, MN
Crash1 injured

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

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
55,000 miSep 18, 2007CHAPEL HILL, NC
Crash3 injured

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

AIR BAGS
66,000 miJul 20, 2007BARNSDALL, OK
Crash1 injured

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

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
40,000 miMar 21, 2007CHANDLER, AZ
Crash2 injured

ON MARCH 13, 2007, OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION HAD A TREAD SEPARATION TIRE FAILURE. WE WERE PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER AND BOTH VEHICLES ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT CONTINENTAL TIRES. TWO OF THE FOUR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED ENOUGH TO REQUIRE EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. ONE WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL, THE OTHER DRIVEN TO THE HOSPITAL. BOTH WERE TREATED NAD RELEASED THE SAME DAY. CONTINENTAL TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THIS VEHICLE BASED ON THE TIRE RECALLS THAT HAVE OCCURRRED. I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES.*AK

Other Expedition Years

Other Ford Models