2003 Ford Expedition: misfire or rough idle

Filed Oct 26, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · 196,000 miles · WA

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.

Filed Dec 5, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 243,146 miles · KY

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.

Filed Apr 4, 2012 · Engine · 104,000 miles · NY

A month or so ago the truck started running rough and engine light came on. It turns out it was spark plug #4 misfiring. Replaced it and all was golden until yesterday (4/3/12) when I heard a loud pop upon starting the truck and then it was idling rough. Check engine light came back on and spark plug #4 is misfiring again. We bought this truck used and it's been one thing after another. So disappointed in ford. Hope they address this issue and due the proper thing.

Filed Nov 9, 2010 · Engine · 58,000 miles · NY

On 11/7/10 traveling home with my family in my 2003 ford expedition I heard a loud bang thought I blew a tire. I started smelling a strong odor of gas. The car started to misfire. I pulled it over to make sure it wasn't on fire. Turns out a spark plug blew out of the engine. Found out threw some research on the internet that this is a on going problem with ford. Why are they not standing behind there product. I've heard it is a design flaw with the spark plugs not having enough thread on them. I am very disappointed. This is going to cost me somewhere around $3000.00 to get fixed. I bought this truck new from the dealer. I only have 58,000 miles on it to me this is still a new truck something has got to be done they do know that there was a design flaw because in 2004 they changed the design. Shame on ford. An american made vehicle .this should be recalled and ford should make good on there product.

Filed Apr 21, 2010 · Engine · 79,850 miles · PA

We own a 2003 ford expedition eddie bauer. In january 2009, we had a "misfire" in the #6 spark plug and was advised to change all of the spark plugs - which we did. Since that time, we've had 3 other "misfires" in the #6, #8 and #7 spark plugs. Each time a repair is made, there is a misfire in another spark plug within 3 months of the repair. On 4/19/2010, the number 4 sparkplug blew completely out of the engine upon starting the car. We have had the vehicle serviced regularly at the ford dealer and all repairs have been made by the ford dealer. We've been told that ford knows of the design defect in their engines and it is a regular problem with the v8 engines in the ford trucks and they are choosing to do nothing about it. We have spent well over $3000 total to fix all of these issues. Why isn't ford standing behind their product - are they waiting for a injury or worse, a fatality in order to issue a recall?

Filed Mar 13, 2009 · Engine · 65,000 miles · CA

I have a 2003 ford expedition with a 5.4l engine. Was driving the truck when I heard a pop and the engine started to misfire. Spark plug no. 7 had been ejected breaking the coil. I have owned the truck since it was new and it has been well maintained, only 65000 miles. I have read many of the other complaints online and I'm amazed at the numbers of issues with this engine. This was obviously a bad design that spans a number of years.

Filed Jan 29, 2009 · Engine · 99,000 miles · MO

I have a 2003 ford expedition and have had 3 spark plugs blow causing the cylinders to misfire. In each case, I have the car repaired and each time it was a different spark plug to blow, not a previously fixed one.

Filed Dec 16, 2008 · Engine · 97,222 miles · MS

Coil #1 misfire & had to be replaced. Mileage 97,000.

Filed Aug 23, 2007 · Electrical · 74,776 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. While driving 70 MPH, the entire vehicle began to jerk and ride roughly. The contact stated that the service engine light illuminated. She pulled over and turned off the vehicle. She restarted the vehicle and drove to the ford dealer. The dealer performed an ids diagnostic and pinpoint test and discovered that a cylinder misfired on cylinder number 4. The dealer replaced the ignition coil and spark plug assembly. The current mileage was 74,800 and failure mileage was 74,776.

Filed Jul 23, 2003 · Engine, Visibility · CA

The vehicle in question has been in the shop twice for misfire in the engine. The motor started running rough right after a startup one morning with a substantial amount of smoke coming out of the exhaust and about a week later another enormous amount of smoke on startup in the morning. The chain of events also caused other intermitten problems with the performance of the vehicle such as a sense of slack between the engine and rear differential when up shifting and down shifting. The vehicle also has intermitten problems starting , for example, you have to crank the engine three to four seconds longer than normal and at times I have had to stop the ignition and try again. There have been other problems with the vehicle that have been resolved and a continued problem with the mirrors moving when they are not supposed to, although I have not seen them move while driving as of thus far. Please note the incident date shown below is approximate and is when the problems started. I have filed complaints with ford motor company,department of consumer affairs and mailed an application to the dispute settlement board offered through ford motor company.