CarModelProblems.com

2003 Ford Expedition Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

Typical complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Electrical System — is about in line with the fleet median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
615Complaints
6Recalls
57Crashes
36Fires
70Injured
3Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Electrical System (13.8% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.

None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Electrical System85 · 13.8%No official action
Engine And Engine Cooling70 · 11.4%Investigation closedDP05005
Engine44 · 7.2%Investigation closedDP05005
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine43 · 7%Investigation closedDP05005
Tires33 · 5.4%No official action
Air Bags32 · 5.2%No official action

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

ENGINE44 · 7.2%
TIRES33 · 5.4%
AIR BAGS32 · 5.2%
Unspecified / other21 · 3.4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM20 · 3.3%
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR19 · 3.1%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION18 · 2.9%

Percentages are the share of the 615 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 6 campaigns

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E064000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 06E025000 · 2006 · reported 03/21/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Structure

NHTSA campaign 03V094000 · 2003 · reported 03/07/2003

THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“DURING A RECENT TRIP TO DENVER, THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 20 DEGREES AND THE BACK-UP WARNING BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ADVANCE TRAC…”NHTSA complaint 10054732 — filed 01/23/2004 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“WITHIN 1,000 MILES THE BACK UP SENSOR RANG WHEN EVER YOU PUT THE CAR INTO RESERVE - HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES STILL DOES IT…”NHTSA complaint 10053030 — filed 01/13/2004 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“THE SEATS, MIRRORS & GAUGES ALL WILL READJUST WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY WIFE ALREADY HAD A NEAR MISS ON THE INTERSTATE…”NHTSA complaint 10041368 — filed 10/07/2003 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

312012293520143234201618620181892020282022342024112026

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Expedition?

Electrical system issues are the most-reported category, cited in 85 of 615 NHTSA complaints (13.8%), followed by engine and engine cooling (70), engine (44), engine and engine cooling:engine (43). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 2003 Ford Expedition have?

615 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 57 involved a crash, 36 involved a fire, and 70 reported injuries. 3 deaths were reported.

Does the 2003 Ford Expedition have any recalls?

Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 06E064000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 2003 Ford Expedition's reported problems?

0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.