2003 Ford Expedition: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 615 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (19% of complaints); the 2002 and 2004 and 2005 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 615 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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 report · Electrical System · Mar 2026
“This vehicle has a faulty engine. The aluminum that Ford used to create the top end is too thin to support the pressure of the engine. As a result spark plugs explode from the engine at random with no warning. This has happened 5 times even after replacing all spark plugs, numerous coils and having kits installed by a mechanic sold by Ford to address the issue. $475 per kit from Ford. This is an enormous safety issue. The last one that blew out was on the highway with my two toddlers in the car.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2021
“This suv stalled on the highway while driving in traffic. It was caused by a fault in the fuel pump or fuel pump relay. Please recall this vehicle.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jan 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Loss of headlights when using auto control, since this is an 03' I believe headlight control unit is bad as this same unit was recalled on my 03' crown victoria”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Oct 2020
“Fuel tank vapor recovery unit developed a crack due to manufacturing defects in plastic weld, permitting gasoline vapor and gasoline fuel to escape from the fuel tank in an uncontrolled and unsafe way. The problem manifested as a fuel vapor leak when the vehicle was parked on a 0-degree surface (level surface) and as a continuous fuel drip when the vehicle was parked on a 10-degree downslope, with the front of the vehicle pointed down-hill.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2020
“Was driving car had at least 80 miles when car cut off at light in would not come back on so I had replaced fuel pump only to find out my fuse box isn't reading my fuel relays from the burning relays replaced. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2020
“As my fiance was coming from work the car suddenly just quit on him while doing 75 mph. He guided the car to the side of the road to a complete stop. He tried to crank the car again to only hearing a buzzing sound. The first mechanic thought it was the starter so he changed it out. The vehicle still would not start but kept making the buzzing sound. The mechanic came out again to see what the issue was told me to change my relay switch I did still hasn't started up yet. My vehicle has been sitting up for three weeks now. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2020
“Keeps blowing the fuel pump reply. We have had to replace the reply 4 times in the last few days. After removing the reply from the fuse panel and looking at the port it is burning both fuse and fuse panel.this happen when we are running and when the fuse blows it kills the vehicle right away in the middle of the street”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2019
“This has happened 3 times, first time stopped at a red light, when foot was put onto gas to go vehicle instantly lost power with no stuttering or stalling and had to put in park turn key over to go again. Second time, going 65 down the highway vehicle suddenly acted like it lost power and speed decreased, pulled over to side of highway and put in park and started right up. Third time, going 65 down highway started to act like it was losing power and showed dash lights as if all power was cut short and then gained all power back without having to pull over and restart.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2019
“The truck would just turn off while driving at 55 or 60 miles an hour , no steeringwas on highway ,no brakes put in neural to get to side of road with cars all around me .this has happened 3 times, then it would not start at all when fulled up with gas, had to be towed, then when I was down to 1/4 tank ,would not turn over, had gas in it too, but would not start, had to be towed in shop now again 3rd time ,had problems with the door agar going off had senor replaced still comes up”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 57 of these complaints and injuries in 70 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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.
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.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
How other years compare
Check your exact Expedition by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Ford Expedition reliable?
NHTSA has 615 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Ford Expedition. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Expedition problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 83,000 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Ford Expedition have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.