2003 Ford Expedition Electrical Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11722874

Incident

Mar 8, 2026

My Ford Expedition started randomly stalling and it stalled in the highway. The engine just shut down in the middle of the highway and it was such a scary a life endangering experience. This total loss of power in the middle of the highway when vehicles are traveling at highway speeds can cause death very, very easily to the occupants of the Ford Expeditions suffering this defect. I have been reading in many forums ( I have included the link to one of many forums) this is a common defect [XXX] ) many have Ford Expedition owners have experienced and have been very concerned and shocked that there was not recall. The issue is that the R303 relay (non serviceable fuel pump relay) fails very commonly on Ford Expeditions. In my Ford Expedition, the relay was melted. The fuel pump relay fails and cuts all current going to the fuel pump causing the engine to stall. This is a life-threatening risk caused by a defective fuse box with a defective fuel pump relay (R303). There were no warnings, the Ford Expedition just stalled randomly. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11566561

Incident

Dec 7, 2023

The brakes are burning while driving & the emergency brakes are not applied. The power windows are failing 1 by 1.

NHTSA ID

11559141

Incident

Dec 8, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the engine was misfiring, and the contact smelled a burning odor inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on five occasions where it was diagnosed that water was leaking into the ignition coil. The independent mechanic installed silicon around the boot to prevent water from leaking into the coils; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact it was not a known failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.

NHTSA ID

11491056

Incident

Dec 26, 2017

Mileage

196,000 mi

Faulty fuse panel. This is a known issue. It is ALL over the internet. There has never been a recall. The vehicle will stall while driving. On attempting restart or crank, there is a buzzing noise from the fuse panel. The pcm #203 I believe, corrodes or melts through the board on the panel causing the fault. Replacing the fuse/relay will correct, but for a time. Panel replacement is required. First incident at 165k. Second incident at about 205k. After the last panel replacement, the vehicle continued to stall. Another faulty fuse, for the day running lamps, caused a fault, which melted the housing between the panel and the wiring harness. The screw attachment is "crunchy" because of the melted elements. The smell is noticeable, and the panel requires replacement again. Third incident about 246k. This is a fire hazard. The wiring harness is hot to the touch. Being a KNOWN issue, having discussed on various socials and with ford dealer techs, this should have been recalled ages ago.

NHTSA ID

11420216

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

FUEL PUMP RELAY SHORTED OUT IN MOTION. HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. STEERING LOCKS UP ENGINE JUST DIES IN MOTION. SUPER DANGEROUS AND SCARY REPLACED FUSE BOX AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. NO POWER STEERING ENGINE JUST DIES IN MOTION. SO SCARY ON HIGHWAY 75 MPH.

NHTSA ID

11373099

Incident

Sep 20, 2016

Mileage

156,000 mi

MY FUSE AND RELAY PANEL HAS A DEFECT AND NOW MY TRUCK WON'T START. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330232

Incident

Jun 22, 2020

Mileage

186,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11327392

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

130,989 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11321046

Incident

Mar 10, 2020

Mileage

190,035 mi

SUNROOF LEAKS BADLY IT HAS FUSE BOX SHORTING OUT. WHEN IT RAINS MY WINDOWS GO UP DOWN ALONE. ALL LIGHTS SHORTED OUT AND NOTHING WORKING ANY LONGER

NHTSA ID

11289948

Incident

May 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 85 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE FUSE BOX MADE A BUZZING SOUND. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, REACHED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, AND PULLED THE RELAY FUSE TO STOP THE BUZZING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED. ANOTHER MECHANIC CAME ALSO CAME TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE FUSE RELAY AND THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED ANDERSON FORD (3900 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 225-4151) AND WAS PROVIDED WITH A QUOTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE FUEL PUMP/FILTER, 402 SENSORS, AND FUSE RELAYS WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 236,000. *DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11266998

Incident

Jun 5, 2019

Mileage

236,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11265641

Incident

Sep 29, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11253937

Incident

Aug 16, 2019

Mileage

248,000 mi

I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MY 03 FORD EXPEDITION SHUTTING OF RANDOMLY IT IS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAYS YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AND ALL POWER TO MOTOR ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT ALL RELATES TO THE FUSE BOX PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL SO MANY PEOPLE CAN GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED

NHTSA ID

11245286

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

25 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11231014

Incident

Jul 8, 2019

Mileage

250,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, WHEN UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY, IT MOVED THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS AND NEVER MOVWS BACK. I PUT THE MIRRORS BACK WHERE THEY BELONG AND EVERY FOLLOWING TIME WHEN I UNLOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB, IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THIS WAY.

NHTSA ID

11205517

Incident

May 3, 2019

Mileage

204,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING HOME AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 4 TIMES EACH TIME THE BATTERY WOULD DIE INSTANTLY. WE HAD TO KEEP JUMP STARTING IT TO GET HOME. 2 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. SCANNED IT CAME BACK P0304 CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE. CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND COILS. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF.RAN OBD2 SCANNER TO DOUBLE CHECK CODES. CODE P2503 CHARGING SYSTEM LOW VOLTAGE . TOOK BATTERY TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS HAD THEM TEST IT. THE COCA SHOULD HAVE BEEN 650CCA AND WAS AT 11CCA SO BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. NEXT DAY TOOK SON TO SCHOOL LESS THE 2 MILES RAN FINE ON MY WAY HOME IT DIED 3 TIMES THIS TIME I WOULD WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART IT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON STARTED SEARCHING ON LINE AND AND CALLING MECHANICS. SO BOUGHT NEW ALTERNATOR. STARTED THE TRUCK TO WARM UP AFTER 5 MINUTES IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN WAITED A MINUTE AND STARTED BACK UP DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. SO AFTER SEARCHING MANY PEOPLE WERE SAYING THE FUSEABLE LINK WAS BAD SO WENT TO FORD HAD ONE ORDERED INSTALLED IT TO DAY. BATTERY LIGHT STILL ON STARTED IT RAN FOR 5 MIN AND DIED AGAIN. SO NOW I BOUGHT NEW SPARK PLUGS, COIL PACKS, BATTERY,ALTERNATOR, FUSIBLE LIN. NOW OBDII CODE B1676- BATTERY PACK VOLTAGE OUT OF RANGE TESTER BATTERY FULLY CHARGED TESTED ALTERNATOR IT'S AT 14.7 WHICH IT SUPPOSED TO BE.

NHTSA ID

11156464

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

243,146 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN MY TRUCK JUST CUT OFF, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO THE SHOP. HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACE, 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM.HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN FUSE WAS REPLACE. 3 WEEKS LATER I'M NOW HAVING TO HAVE THE FUSE BOX REPLACE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. THEY JUST CAME OUT WITH THE LATEST UPDATE FUSE BOX IN 2017.

NHTSA ID

11145153

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START DUE TO A FAULTY FUSE BOX. THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED BY THE OWNER AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. EVENTUALLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (VISTA FORD IN WOODLAND HILLS, CA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11032102

Incident

Mar 2, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70+ IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND ENGAGED THE FLASHERS. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHILE MANEUVERING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AVOIDING MULTIPLE CLOSE CALLS. ONCE STOPPED, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TRIED TO RESTART. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE CAR RESTARTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTOZONE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY FAULT CODES. ONE CODE INDICATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS AN ISSUE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND DIRECTED ME TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT LOOK AT IT IMMEDIATELY SO I HAD MY SON PICK ME UP WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS ($95 FEE THAT WAS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY SINCE THIS IS A WELL KNOW FAILURE) ON THE CAR AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE FAULTY CENTRAL JUNCTION FUSE BOX LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE FEET. PN 3L1Z-14-A068-AA-A11 @$517. INSTALLATION COSTS $215. WHEN I GOT HOME I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE BLOGS AND COMMENTS ARE OF MULTIPLE NEAR MISSED COLLISIONS AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS PART FAILURE HAPPENED ON VEHICLES THAT WERE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME TO ANY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED FOR LATER FORD EXPEDITIONS BECAUSE FORD KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. IF YOU CONTACT ANY PICK AND PULL SALVAGE YARD YOU WILL FIND THAT ALL OF THESE CENTRAL JUNCTION BOX (FUSE BOXES) ARE NOT AVAILABLE SINCE EVERYONE TRIES TO REPLACE THEM BY THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COSTS. ALSO, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPANIES THAT WILL REPAIR THE FAULTY PART WITH A RE-ENGINEERED CIRCUIT. FORD HAS SINCE MADE A NEW PART WITH A DIFFERENT PN / MODEL NUMBER. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL IN THE FIRST YEAR. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND LIVES ARE AT STAKE.

NHTSA ID

10972088

Incident

Apr 5, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10972072

Incident

Apr 5, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE CAR MAY STOP AT RANDOM TIMES. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS A FUSE THAT BURNED OUT.... THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT A HIGHER SPEED. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FORD SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. I WAS TOLD FROM DEALERSHIP THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE WATER RUNS DOWN THE SIDE AND GETS INTO THE FUSE BOX. THIS IS CAUSING A SHORT. SO, THE REASON IT WORKED THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE WE ADDED A NEW FUSE. BUT, THE SECOND TIME THAT IT STOPPED IT BURNED THE FUSE BOX. NOW, I HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE PART COSTING OVER $500. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT APPEARS TO BE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FORD SHOULD ISSUE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10947659

Incident

Jan 12, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

2003 FOR EXPEDITION NOT RUNNING PROPERLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER WINDOW STUCK BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN.

NHTSA ID

10905972

Incident

Sep 12, 2016

Mileage

224,000 mi

OPEN DOOR SOUND INDICATOR WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING--VEHICLE STOPPED TO LET PASSENGER OUT. WHEN ANY DOOR IS OPENED, THE OPEN-DOOR HIGH PITCHED STEADY-HUM SOUND COMES ON, WHICH IS NORMAL, HOWEVER, THE HUM WILL NOT SHUT OFF. IT CONTINUES LOUDLY FOR 8-10 MINUTES AND THEN REDUCES TO A FAINT HUM UNDER THE DASH. THE SOUND(S) CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE SUV IS TURNED OFF, PUT IN PARK, AND THE KEY IS REMOVED. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE 2003 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION AND IT'S OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE WITH JUST 57,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY BEEN VERIFIED BY A LOCAL FORD/KIA REPAIR SHOP WHOSE MECHANIC SCRATCHED HIS HEAD IN CONFUSION; HOWEVER, THEY WANT TO CHARGE US TO TEAR THE DASH APART TO ATTEMPT TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THEY CAN'T TURN THE INDICATOR SPEAKER OFF ALTOGETHER. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM; MAINLY, WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. CAN IF BE FIXED VIA A SIMPLER SOLUTION (MAYBE A SIMPLE FUSE OR WIRING?), IS THIS IS A POSSIBLE FUTURE FIRE DANGER, AND HAVE ANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ID

10904766

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

42,000 mi

VEHICLE STALL WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY.MY WIFE FIRST THEN I EXPERIENCE MYSELF STALL VEHICLE ON FAST LANE VERY DANGEROUS.VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF CANNOT STEER THE WHEEL LUCKY ENOUGH TO GLIDE TO SAFETY SIDE.FUSE BOX BURNING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY LOTS OF COMPLAINT IN INTERNET HOW MANY LIVES TO WASTE BEFORE ANYONE ACT ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10899683

Incident

Aug 29, 2016

Mileage

128,500 mi