I was driving at about 15 miles an hour and all of a sudden I heard a loud pop. I had to have it towed to a ford dealership. They said that from what I was describing it was a spark plug that blew out of the engine. But since it was almost 5:00 p.m. And they were about to close they wouldn't know anything until they could look at it the next day. I didn't damage the heads but it still cost me over $400.00 to fix it.
2003 Ford Expedition engine complaints
Page 6 of 7: complaints 131 to 160 of 171, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Original and 2nd ford engine blew. 1st threw a rod, 2nd block cracked and ruined engine due to rapid coolant loss. Dealers offered no warranty as both engines blew at 112,000 and 120,000 respectively. This car was very well maintained and received routine recommended service for oil and fluid changes.
First, the door ajar light came on and stayed on. I continued to go around the vehicle opening and shutting the doors and the light remained on. Consumer could not start the vehicle since the light came on, and had to get a jump to start it. After a few days of this the battery was finally ruined, and I was forced to buy a new one. I used lubricants to try and clear debris from the door sensors and this worked for 3 months. Now it will not work at all. Talked to dealer and they want to charge 600 dollars per sensors. Nothing wrong with sensor its just dirty. Second, the rear AC is making a clicking noise and will not control temperature. I sent it under warranty to the dealership and replaced the AC mechanism, stated "this was a common defect with the vehicle". 5 months later this part went out again and it was no longer under warranty and the dealership would not replace the problem and wanted to charge me over 300 dollars. They apparently replaced the defective part with the same defective part and would repair it again 5 months later!!!. Third, the side panels on the expedition exterior started fading at about 20,000 miles. The dealership replaced them under warranty. About 20,000 miles later we noticed they had faded again. We took it to the dealership and they would not replace the defective panels this time because it was know longer under warranty. Even though it was another defect replaced with a defective part. Forth, the rear passenger exterior door/window trim is bubbling and peeling off. This looks horrible! Fifth, the front passenger and font driver window switches that roll down the windows are having issues. I had the motor replaced for the passenger window and it fixed the issue for a little bit. Now the passenger can not roll down the window. However the driver can??? Please help! I need help with any or all of these issues. I don't know where else to go!
I was driving to a ballgame when I heard a loud pop. I pulled over to determine the problem. I opened the hood to notice the #3 spark plug in my 2003 ford expedition 5.4l v8 was flopping around on top of the hood. I had the vehicle towed home. I took my vehicle to the local ford dealership and was told that the entire right side head needed to be replaced from this one spark plug blowout. After doing research on several online websites, forums, and blogs, I have determined this is a major problem with the design of the ford engine. Numerous complaints have been made from ford owners about this same problem.
I was driving my 2003 ford expedition to work this morning and heard a loud "pop" noise, the vehicle began to vibrate and I smelled gas fumes. When I lifted the hood, I immediately noticed that the engine had blown a spark plug.
No warning. Engine stop. At least a dozen times.no body at ford will admit there is a problem.
While driving 2003 ford expedition spark plug blew out and truck reduced speed. The incident caused damage to the engine - which required replacement approx. $6,000.00. I asked the downey ford dealer if this was a manufacturing defect? They replied: they did not know although the truck was not on recall. This defect - blown spark plug may cause excessive injury and or death if this were to occur on the freeway.
December 15, 2007, my 2003 ford expedition's spark plug was blown out. Leaving my three kids and myself stranded on the highway. After paying $1,200 to get it fix, on march 9, 2008 the same thing happen.
2003 expedition 5.4l engine. Production date 10-08-02 . Having oil leak from right head gasket diagnosed by ford. I believe problem is related to tsb 02-22-7. This should be a recall and repair expenses covered by ford / manufacturer.
There were no symptoms leading up to the failure. My 2003 ford expedition made a load pop noise and then continued to make a loud but muffled popping sound under the hood. I immediately pulled over and shut off the engine. I had the truck towed to my local ford dealership where they diagnosed the problem. The problem was the # 3 spark plug had "backed out" or was "spit out" of the engine head. The estimated repair cost to replace the head was $3,500.00. A less expensive fix of $700 - $800 to rethread the head for the #3 spark plug, but with no guarantee how long it would last. The reason for the complaint is that after having my vehicle repaired I found out through a friend that this was not an isolated incident. After researching online I found that hundreds of people had the same problem with the #3 spark plug. Even the service manager at the ford dealership told me it was an issue and a poor design on fords part. However, ford is not taking responsibility for the problem - leaving it's customers with a hefty repair to say the least. I also filed a compliant directly to ford headquarters.
Going in the highway the oil pump just stopped working and the engine was damaged, stopped in the middle which was one of the most dangerous situation I have lived.
My 2003 ford expedition is shutting off while I am driving, nearly causing me to lose control and be rear ended. It happens when I least expect it and the dealership is baffled. All their expensive diagnostic equipment can't even track down the issue. So far they have replaced some fuel parts and my fuse box but it still shuts down unexpectedly. I am $900. In the hole already, let alone I am going to have my first grandchild within a week, and I have this tank that shuts down on the middle of the highway. It sounds electrical and I am in fear of catching fire.
2003 ford expedition with 5.4 liter v8 with approximately 80,000 miles. #3 spark plug blew out of cylinder head.
Vehicle underwent normal driving. 2. Suddenly upon starting the vehicle a loud popping noise from the engine compartment was heard. There was loss of power, and would continue whenever the engine started. The odor of gasoline and oil was emitted into the vehicle. The vehicle had to be immediately brought into a ford dealership. Instead of replacing the entire head as required by ford , helicoil, spark plug, and ignition coil had to be installed by the dealership.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford expedition. While driving 80 MPH, the vehicle caught fire under the hood. The contact stated that the air conditioning shut off and the blower produced warm air before the fire occurred. He smelled something burning and he shut down the engine completely. The contact then noticed smoke coming from the defroster vent under the windshield. The state police and fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed from the scene. The VIN, purchase date, and engine size were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 95,000.
64000 on 2003 ford expedition blew the #2 plug while traveling at highway speed and cruise control on. Had a hela coil put in. Contacted the dealer, no response, 2 weeks later 68000 blew the #3 plug sitting at a traffic light again had a hela coil repair. Again no help from the dealer, and told there was no open recall on that motor . I am filing a complaint with the attorney generals office in minnesota. Both repairs were done at a different ford dealership, they stated replacing the head wa s the correct fix, but ford allowed them to do hela coils, but imagine that, they won't warranty it !!
On april 13, 2007 my 2003 ford expedition with the 5.4 liter triton engine blew out the #3 spark plug destroying the threads and requiring a total head replacement. The cost of this repair, in spite of the fact I purchased the extended warranty, was $3655.22. Upon further research I have found that apparently this is a very common occurrence affecting thousands of ford owners.
Wife was driving the 2003 ford expedition with 73000 miles on it when loud popping noise was heard, upon examination sparkplug was found to have been ejected from the engine block repair at closest ford dealer was $3000.
Engine failure on my 2003 ford expedition having a 5.4 liter triton v8 engine. Number 2 spark plug was blown out and the cost to repair is $3000. Ford has known of this issue for some time but will not accept blame. The number of threads to hold the spark plugs is too few.
While driving along I suddenly heard a loud 'bang'. Thinking it must be a flat tire I pulled over to inspect my tires. After I found no issues with my tires, I noticed that the noise was in fact coming from my engine which also smelled as if something was burning. After having the vehicle towed to be inspected, I was advised that the aluminum around the spark plug had melted and I needed a new head replaced which will cost over 3000 dollars. They initially thought the spark plug had ejected. What will it take to have ford stand behind their vehicles?
Driving normally. #3 spark plug blew out damaging ignition coil and ruining threads. This seems to be a frequent problem with these ford truck engines.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 65 MPH on normal road conditions, a loud popping sound was heard. The contact pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and had it towed to a local dealer. Upon examination, it was determined that the spark plugs blew due to inadequate engine design of the threading. The vehicle was not included in a recall due to the VIN. The dealer replaced the spark plugs and threading. The contact encountered similar complaints about the engine and engine cooling:engine that related to the contact's issue.
Vehicle was brought into ford dealer for a "tapping noise" in engine area.. Dealer ran a test and found nothing wrong. Several days later engine starting making popping noises and was unable to drive vehicle due to engine not operating properly..same dealer towed to their facility and said spark plug in #3 cylinder came loose and was ejected and damaged the head. They want $3k to repair this...vehicle has 75k miles with no more warranty.
1.) I was just driving the vehicle and the spark plug blew out of the engine. 2.) I have a 2003 ford expedition 5.4 l triton v8 with 78,000 miles and the spark plug blow out of the engine. 3.) a ford dealer is replacing the head on my expedition, cost $3000.
After my 100,000 mile service which included a spark plug change, two spark plugs blew out, causing damage to the cylinder head and major repair cost.
On january 18, 2006 I was driving my 2003 ford expedition with a 5.4l triton v8. Just south of chicago the engine blew a spark plug from the #5 cylinder. Ford wants $4500 to repair and seems to believe that there is no known problem. This could have resulted in fire since the plug was out of the engine and the injector was still firing putting raw gas in the cylinder. I could smell the gas. If it had spilled out onto the engine, a fire could result. Ford has no interest in repairing this problem.
This complaint is in reference to a mechanical problem I had with my 2003 ford expedition. While driving on interstate I-90 near boston, ma, the engine ejected a spark plug from the head casing of my motor (third plug on the passenger side). When the plug ejected, it took with it all of the threads in the casing, resulting in significant damage to the head. This happened very suddenly, and resulted in a dramatic reduction in vehicle performance - which nearly caused a vehicle crash on the highway. I was stranded on the massachusetts turnpike for some time and had to have the vehicle towed. Much to my surprise, my mechanic indicated that this was the 4th expedition he had seen this year with this damage to the exact same plug casing - in his mind clearly a defect given that these were all relatively new vehicles without significant mileage on them. I called ford on this - but they claimed this was not a common problem (I did not believe them). My repair costs for this were over $2,000. Subsequent review of your website indicates that a class action lawsuit has been filed by several persons in california claiming to have incurred the same type of damage. It appears as though this is on your radar screen, but I would like to formally submit this request that this be looked into on my behalf as well as for others who I'm sure this has happened to already - but are not aware that this may be a widespread defect/safety issue.
A spark plug blew out of my 2003 ford expedition and mess up the whole engine, requiring replacement of both heads. Ford denies it was a engine problem, but there are thousands of incidents like mine around the country.
Dt: the contact says that his engine is stalling at anywhere from 45-70mph. The engine stalls while he is trying to accelerate. There is no prior warning to the failure. The engine just completly shuts off. It takes it a couple of minutes after the failure for his engine to start up again. The engine is an automatic transmission and it has done this to him at least ten times. Has came very close to having accidents because of this problem because he has know warning to get out of the road.
Since we have owned this 2003 expedition we have had the windshield replaced due to noise and loose stripping, then, the contracting person put in the wrong years windshield. The emissions canister was cracked and was replaced. The muffler would pop after turning off the engine, but couldn't be fixed until verified by ford. I waited for 3-4 hours one day with 3 children while they let my car run and shut off. We finally called ahead, and had them wait outside on us until we killed the engine to hear it pop. It was a poor muffler weld and was repaired. The side molding rattled badly, and was terribly faded, and that was replaced. The door gets a lot of wind noise , and a whistle in the window. They said window passed the dollar bill test and was fine but it still whistles. They, put a clear strip along inside of door to help noise. It doesn't. Then ,the rear continental tire had such horrible, uneven wear, it was extremely dangerous. Bought new tires for $600. Then rear differential malfunctioned, and would make a grinding on turning left or right. They fixed that in march 2005, and it just started doing it again. Now, there is a strange noise when revving the engine to drive coming from under the hood. It is going in tomorrow for the noise and the rear differential. On top of all the repairs, we have had a squeaky brake issue. Also, they have said they were good. They just get a lot of brake dust, just sand them. Our side windows shimmies all the time. ! I did invest in an extended warranty!.
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