Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford Expedition submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION HAS A REAR END PROBLEM AND ITS NOW ROARING WHILE I'M ON THE HIGHWAY. I NOTICE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER. I ALSO NOTICE THERE ARE OTHER FORD EXPEDITION HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE SEE RECALL BULLETIN FOR THIS ITEM#10016789.NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 050618. REPLACEMENT# 05126.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING @ 30-50 MPH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,880.
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
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON 7/27/12 TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER BACK TO HER MOTHER, AS I HAD MY DAUGHTER DURING SUMMER VISITATION. HALF-WAY INTO MY TRIP (525 MILES ONE-WAY) IT STARTED TO RAIN AND I HYDRO-PLANED, RESULTING IN A ONE-CAR ACCIDENT. I SLID FROM THE INNER LANE (PASSING LANE), ACROSS THE OUTER LANE, INTO THE SHOULDER AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD-RAIL. IF NOT FOR THE GUARD-RAIL, MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE FALLEN ABOUT 30-FEET FROM THE INTERSTATE TO THE ELEVATION BELOW. AFTER THE RESPONDING DEPARTMENT ARRIVED (HIGHWAY PATROL AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS), WE EVALUATED THAT MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE OK PHYSICALLY. ONCE I STARTED TO EVALUATE THE DAMAGE, I LOOKED AT THE FRONT TIRES AND THEY ARE SEVERELY WARPED!! I'M NOT AN AUTOMOBILE AFICIONADO, BUT MY FRONT TIRES (BOTH) ARE COMPLETELY BALD ON THE OUTER PORTION OF THE TIRES, WHILE THE INNER THREADS ON THE TIRES SHOW LITTLE WEAR (THE TIRES ARE ONLY 2 YEARS OLD). FROM WHAT I HAVE GATHERED, THE "CUPPING" THE TIRES EXPERIENCED ARE FROM A FAULTY/DEFECTIVE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. I NOTICED SHORTLY INTO MY TRIP, THAT MY STEERING WHEEL HAD A MODERATE VIBRATION. I HAVE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WHEN I USED TO OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER (IT ALWAYS NEED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT). I WAS NOT TICKETED FOR THE INCIDENT AND AM COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FAULTY FRONT END ALIGNMENT MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING VIBRATION, AND THE WHEELS CUPPING, RESULTING IN UNEVEN TREAD-WEAR, LEADING TO MY HYDROPLANING ACCIDENT... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ABSORB IMPACT FROM DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING AND BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY WEARING OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
I HAVE A 2003 EXPEDITION WITH ONLY 31000 MILES. AT 26000 MILES I NOTICED A GRINDING VIBRATION WHEN I TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT.. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003,04 EXPEDITIONS. THE CLUTHES IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOES BAD EVERY 30,000 MILE AND THE COST WILL BE $1250.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. IF FORD KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM, WHY HAVEN'T THEY ISSUED A RECALL? WE AS OWNERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY THIS EVERY 30,000 MILES. MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX] . PLEASE RESPOND. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND ASSUMED THAT A TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE DROPPED AND BEGAN TO SCRAPE THE ROAD SURFACE. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE STATION AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE A-ARM AXLE RUPTURED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 111,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB
I KEPT FEELING A "SLIPPING FEELING" IN THE REAR OF MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. LIKE A GEAR AND NOTCHES OF THE GEAR WERE NOT LINING UP PROPERLY TO INTER-LOCK AND TURN. IT WOULD FEEL LIKE A JUMPING, SLIPPING. I TOOK IT LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE REAR CLUTCHES. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE REAR CLUTCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES AND NOW I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IN FOR NUMBER SIX. *NM
DT: THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD HAS BROKEN TWICE. BOTH TIMES WAS WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS FIXED IT ONCE AND NOW IT IS BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK INFORMATION FROM THE CONSUMER, BUT SHE HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. *JB PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW DOES NOT GO DOWN FROM MASTER SWITCH. DOOR AJAR LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF. LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT SEPARATED, THEN VEHICLE HIT SIGN. LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKEN, UPPER BALL JOINT BAD, SPINDLE BROKEN SWAY BAR LINK BROKEN, CV BOOT TORN AND AXLE PULLED OUT OF FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. TIE ROD END ON LEFT SIDE BROKEN AND VACUUM HUB CRACKED ON SPINDLE AND TIRE AND RIM DAMAGED. ALSO FENDER LINER RIPPED OUT. SPINDLE, UPPER CONTROL ARM, LOWER CONTROL ARM, CV BOOT REPLACED. CLIP FOR AXLE VACUUM HUB AND WHEEL AND TIRE, REMOVED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL TO REINSTALL, AXLE AND CLIP REPLACED WHEEL AND TIRE AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENT. DAMAGE TO HOOD WHEN KNUCKLE SPLIT. *TT *SB
WHILE MAKING A STOP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK WHEN STOPPING, THE MOTOR STARTS SHAKING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESPOND UNTIL ATTEMPTING 2 OR 3 TIMES, THEN FINALLY A LOT OF SMOKE APPEARS. THE SUSPENSION APPEARED TO BE LOOSE AND ONE SENSOR ON THE WHEELS DID NOT RESPOND. *SC
FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY ON OUTSIDE EDGES. TOOK TO TIRE SHOP FOR ROTATE AND ALIGNMENT. THEY SAID THAT ALIGNMENT WAS OUTSIDE MANUFACTURER SPECS, BUT THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM ON VEHICLE. SPECIAL CAMBER/CASTOR ADJUSTER KIT MUST BE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE TO ALLOW ADJUSTMENT. OTHERWISE TIRES WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR UNEVENLY AND CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *JB
WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH AND OVER THERE WAS LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS NOISE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VIBRATION WAS NORMAL. *AK
AT 65-75 MPH CAR FEELS LIKE TIRES ARE GOING TO FALL OFF "BAD VIBRATION." *LA
2003 FORD EXPEDITION FX. NO DEFECT LISTED. *AK
VIBRATION FROM TIRES WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.*AK
2003 FORD EXPEDITION LEMON VIBRATION. 8AK
WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT LOUD GRINDING NOISE- HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES AND AFTER THE LAST TIME IT STOPPED, BUT HAS SINCE RETURNED. ALSO, EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE DUST ON WHEELS, AND THEY ARE MAKING NOISES. ALSO AS IF THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED AND THERES ONLY 4000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. *AK
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION, WHEN THE GEAR WAS TRANSFERRED TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB
CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 79 MPH CONSUMER NOTICES A HIGH PITCH WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND NOTICE REAR AXLE WAS RUBBING AND ORDER NEW AXLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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