I was traveling home to philadelphia from charlotte. As I got closer to my house suddenly there was loud pop and a sound as if something was popping in the engine. I parked the truck on the corner of my block afraid to drive it any further. I looked under the hood and I saw a spark plug sitting on top of my battery. After looking this problem up on the net I found out that ford has had this problem consistently with the triton engines. No recalls have been issued and to me ford needs to own up to this issue..
2003 Ford Expedition engine complaints
Page 3 of 7: complaints 41 to 70 of 171, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Was driving on with family at posted 70 MPH speed. Car lost all power with no warning light or error codes. I had no power steering or power brakes. I managed to pull steering wheel to get off hwy. I turned key off. The car started right back up with no problem. Drove another 2 miles with same results. It was night and out of town. The car started right back up with still no error codes. Drove home with no problems. Took in to mechanic next day with no help. Was told to bring in when service engine light comes on. They can't fix with no idea why and still no error codes. Left there drove towards home died again on way home in town. No error codes.
Spark plug blew out, threads in cylinder head gone!
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. While driving the vehicle at any speed the contact noticed it would suddenly stall without warning. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The current and failure mileage was 97,000.
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.
Recently purchased this 2003 expedition with the 5.4l engine. Purchased on 12/20/2011. Since owning said vehicle I have had two spark plug failures. On cyl 8 and cyl 3. The first incident happened at a speed of about 25 MPH. The second and recent happened driving highway speed, cruise set to 65 MPH. The plug ejects from the cyl causing damage to the coil, and possibly creating a fire hazard. There was no recent tune up to my knowledge.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and shut off when he noticed flames erupting from under the hood on the driver's side. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed. The failure and current mileages were 103,000.
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.
While driving on the freeway our enging just turned off with no warning. This has happened 3 tmes. This could cause serious accidents. We do not know the cause of this but I think ford should figure it ot and fix it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an inspection however, the vehicle failed as a result of excessive rust corrosion in the core radiator support bracket. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified and they informed the contact that there was not a recall related to the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 05/08/12
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.
While driving at a low rate of speed, my expedition made a loud pop and then strange knocking noise. Upon further inspection I noticed I had blown out a spark plug and my coil pack was blown apart as well. When I called a local ford dealership (thomas ford, stillwater ok) the man laughed and said "no it is not a recall, but absolutely should be as this is a very common occurrence in the triton motor." I ask that you re-look back into this "common" problem as this is a terrible thing to overlook.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddendly stalled. The contact stopped the vehicle on the shoulder of the road and was able to restart the engine. The failure continued intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a diagnostic test. The mechanic stated that all eight ignition coils would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, there was a loud popping noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and stopped. The contact noticed that a coil pack and spark plug blew out from its cylinder. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and diagnosed by a private mechanic. The mechanic replaced the spark plug and coil pack. The dealer did not acknowledge the failure. The failure occurred a total of two times per month. The failure mileage was 130,000 and the current mileage was 134,000.
Driving home from a near by store I stopped at the stop sign and then got ready to go and heard a loud pop and the car sounded like a dirt bike my husband came to get me and he said that the spark plug blew out since then its been blowing out alot and we have 4kids so a small car wont do I also still pay payments on the car so I don't think its fair!! I saw online that many people have the same problem so please do a recall already I love fords so much but now that this keeps happening I don't think I will ever get a ford again so please recall it please !!!
My wife was driving with our infant son and our teenage daughter in our 2003 expedition xlt 4.6l 2x4. She heard a loud pop and the vehicle lost power and started smoking and shaking violently. She thought the expedition was going to blow up. We had the expedition checked out and the cylinder number 7 spark plug blew out. The aluminum threads in the head gave and the spark plug blew out, the injector kept spraying raw fuel and the coil ignited it. When all this happened it burned the ignition coil, coil boot, spark plug and the coil harness. Now we were told we would have to have the cylinder head replaced. We love our expedition and I considered buying a new one, but I don't know now.
While driving at highway speeds the engine cuts out/dies.
After making a complete stop at a traffic light I made a left turn and began to accelerate when I heard a loud pop which at first I thought was a tire blow out. The engine was running so erratically that I could feel it in my steering. We inspected the vehicle for a flat when we noticed every tire was fine. I opened the hood and removed the top cover to the engine to discover a spark plug laying on top of the engine and the coil that was once attached blown off of the plug and damaged off to the side still connected to its electrical source. This cold have caused a fire. For the record these plugs were the original factory spark-plugs. Via the internet I have discovered this website to file a complaint.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. The contact stated that the engine bolts were rotted and causing fumes to enter the vehicle. The contact stated that the smell of the fumes caused difficult in driving the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the dealer advised that the nickel bolts weakened after time and began to rot. The dealer stated that the failure was common in the particular year, make, and model. The failure mileage was 104,000.
Blew #3 spark plug after starting up from a traffic light. Pulled over to side of road. With vehicle idling, opened the hood, but the vehicle then stalled. Called aaa and had vehicle towed to ford dealership.
I just experienced my second spark plug blowout. The first was the #4 plug in february and now the #3 in july. Both repairs have been over 700 dollars each.
My best friend's 2003 ford expedition blew a spark plug out of the cylinder head while pulling a boat across a highway. This caused the vehicle to be stuck in the middle of the road, and several cars had to slam on their brakes and swerve to barely avoid collision. Upon internet research, I learned that thousands of people had the exact same problem with this same engine in ford vehicles over several years of production. Ford denies this problem exists and endangers lives everywhere with this motor. I saw this problem myself, and mechanics I have talked to said that these ford cylinder heads are all bad with this problem. This problem exists for every ford triton 5.4 liter v8 engine, so it exists across thousands of VIN numbers.
Factory spark plug blew out of engine. I found numerous complaints of the same problem and was surprised to find there has been no recall.
Spark plug striped and blew out of cylinder head on my 5.4l engine.
A spark plug was ejected from my 2003 ford expedition and is a known problem and deadly safety (fire) problem.
Oil leaking from head gasket on passenger rear of head..... Leaks onto manifold where a fire can start. Ford mechanics know that there is a problem. The mechanics say that there is a flaw in the casting in the head. There are numerous complaints of this happening.
Went out to warm up our ford expedition for work. Upon starting it heard a loud boom and the engine sounded loud. Had it towed to garage. Found out that the #7 spark plug blew out. For safety sake, ford should admit to the defect in the engine, and issue a recall.
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.
2003 ford expedition spark plug blew out of head at 85k miles. Ford dealership acknowledged that it sees 2 spark plug blow outs a month and ford is aware of the problem in 2003 expeditions. Repaired with a ford fix - heliacoil or liner installed into head for damaged spark plug. For true fix, ford needs to replace the head and spark plugs to ensure that other spark plugs don't come unthreaded as mileage increases.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. The contact was traveling 55 MPH when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was performing normally. The dealer was unable to locate a failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage was 117,000.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Ford Expedition?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history