Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
WHY IS THERE NO WARNING LIGHT,OR SIGNAL OF ANY KIND WHEN THE PCM FAILS? OUR PCM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OUR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, 02 SENSORS, & FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. OUR IGNITION COILS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THIS HAS CAUSED OUR EXPEDITION ENGINE TO RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING COUNTLESS TIMES! I HAVE MIRACULOUSLY BEEN ABLE TO MANEUVER MY EXPEDITION TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY &HAVE IT TOWED EIGHT TIMES WITHOUT KILLING MYSELF, MY FAMILY OR ANY ONE ELSE! WE HAVE HAD ODD ELECTRICAL AND PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS SINCE AUGUST OF 2002 WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. NOT ONE FORD MECHANIC (3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) COULD EVER DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR ISSUES. BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT/CODE WHEN THE PCM IS OUT, THE DAMAGE SNOWBALLS. THERE ARE NO COMPUTER CODES, OR WARNING LIGHTS TO SHOW UP ON THE DASH BOARD WHEN THE PCM IS OUT, WHICH BEFUDDLES THE MECHANICS. WE ARE LITERALLY $5,000 IN THE HOLE SO FAR! FORD DEALERSHIP "REPAIRED" OUR EXPEDITION BY REPLACING THE PCM ($1,300.00). 48 HOURS AFTER THEY REPLACED THE PCM, AND 18 MILES AFTER WE DROVE EXPEDITION OFF THE FORD LOT, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD -FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! WE DROVE BACK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND HE SAID FOR $3,400 PLUS TAX HE COULD REPLACE OUR NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN "BANK ONE" THAT WERE DESTROYED AGAIN, & THE "BANK TWO" CONVERTERS WHICH ARE NOW VERY WEAK, NOT UP TO SPEC. THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR THAT HAS BEEN FICKLE SINCE AUG OF 2002, STOPPED WORKING WHEN WE WENT TO PICK IT UP, SO I CAN'T DRIVE IT, BECAUSE I CAN'T REACH THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDALS. $800 WILL FIX THAT, FORD SAYS. IF YOU GOOGLE "2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER ENGINE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY", THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUES. UNTIL SOMEONE CRASHES AND DIES, I DON'T THINK FORD CARES. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR STOPPED WORKING WHILE BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALER, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS AS WELL. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE IN MY FORD EXPLORER, FIRST AT ABOUT 2500 AND NOW, AFTER A REBUILT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED, AT 205,000. AS WELL, I HAVE HAD DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEMS, MOON ROOF ISSUES, PAINT ISSUES, CRACKED HEAD, ETC. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES AND WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.
2003 FORD EXPEDITION WOULD NOT START AFTER LONG TOW TO MECHANIC IT WAS A BURNT RELAY SWITCH BUT NOW IT TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, CHANGE THE RELAY SWITCH AND PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY FIXED NOW SINCE THE RELAY IS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND PCM MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP NOT SHIFTING 3RD OR OVER DRIVE NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM BUT WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK! *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN MY EXPEDITION MADE A NOISE, THE INSIDE DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. I PULLED OVER AT A HOTEL. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHO CAME TO PICK IT UP A FEW DAYS LATER. WHEN HE STARTED IT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT UNFIRE. THE ENTIRE WIRING BURNED UP ON THE LIFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC TOLD US WE WERE LUCK TO HAVE STOPPED. IF WE CONTINUED DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY FAMILY AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DANGER. I BELIEVE THE FIRE WAS THE FAULT OF BAD WIRING. I CHECK THE RECALL SITES AND MY VEHILCE WAS NOT PART OF THE FAULTY WIRING RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 50MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AFTER MAKING A LOUD NOISE. AFTER DESCRIBING THE SYMPTOMS TO THE DEALER VIA PHONE, HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE NOISE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE DEALER IS DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE TODAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92900.
CLUTCH FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO PRODUCE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED, BY ME, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SYSTEMATIC OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL PASSENGERS NOTICED AND EVENTUALLY IT GOT SO BAD THAT IT FELT LIKE A VERY UNSAFE AND SERIOUS PROBLEM. DEALER IS CHARGING $1600 HALF OF WHICH IS PARTS. NEXT WEEK WHEN I GET THE VEHICLE BACK, WILL DETERMINE IF I AM KEEPING THE CAR OR HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OR FUTURE PROBLEMS. *AK
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RESEARCHING THE SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON THE 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF 40,000. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A VIBRATION OF THE CLUTCH SLIP DIFFERENTIAL.*AK
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
CLUTCH PLATE AND PINION GEAR IS FAULTY AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE GEARS THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE. THE ENGINE WAS IDLING WHEN THE SHIFTER BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER DETERMINED THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 3/10/2006 - *NM
CONSUMER WAS UNLOADING SOME MATERIALS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUMPED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS DRAGGED INTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, RESULTING IN INJURY. *AK *SB
CONSUMER STATES: HAD CAR IN PARK WITH SLIGHT INCLINE, AND LEFT VEHICLE RUNNING ,AND THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO REVERSE. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE PARKED ON INCLINE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF PARK GEAR INTO REVERSE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACK, AND ROLLED OVER CONSUMER'S KNEES WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE KEEPING IT FROM MOVING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY OWNER. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE UNLOCKING THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH BOTH SIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY MOVE UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR MOTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB CONSUMER ADDS BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS MOTORS REPLACED 2 TO 3 MORE TIMES. THE FOG LIGHT HOUSING REPLACED, REAR LIGHT COVERS REPLACED DUE TO MOISTURE, HEATER CORE SWITCH REPLACED FROM DASH. BRAKES SQUEALING WHEN APPLIED. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND POWER STEERING PUMP WINDING. *TT
UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON THE VEHICLE PUT ITSELF INTO REVERSE, ROLLED BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORS YARD, HITTING A VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK
I PARKED MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION IN MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT IT IN PARK AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AS I WENT TO OPEN MY DOOR I TURNED TO SEE THE TRUCK ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. IT HIT MY NEIGHBOR'S TRUCK AND WHEN I GOT TO THE TRUCK, IT WAS STILL IN PARK. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL DAYS I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I ASKED FOR A FORD REP TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN HELPFUL HOWEVER THEY ARE RUNNING UP AGAINST A BRICK WALL AS WELL.THE OWNER AND SERVICE MANAGER WERE TOLD BY FORD THAT AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER WOULD BE SENT OUT TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK. WHEN I CALLED I WAS TOLD THE NOTES STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER ACTION NECESSARY BY FORD.*AK
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITON JUMPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHILE IDLEING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 12 MINUTES, WENT IN REVERSE , AND STRUCK A HOUSE. I RAN AFTER THE EXPEDITION, AS IT ONLY GAINED SPEED, TOWARDS THE HOUSE, AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CATCH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING INJURED MYSELF. *LA
LOUD ROAR FROM REAR END DUE TO GEARS NOT MESHING PROPERLY. THE FORD ZONE MANAGER TOLD ME TO TURN MY RADIO UP LOUDER IF THE NOISE WAS BOTHERING ME.*JB
TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF PARK WHILE IDLING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND STRUCK A LIGHT POLE. THIS WAS A MARKED POLICE UNIT.
CONSUMER SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INTO REVERSE, BUT VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK
VEHICLE WILL SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. *LA
CLUTCH FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO PRODUCE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING.*AK
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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