Total Complaints
55 filings
FORD FORD · model year
55 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003FORDFORD carries 55 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 7 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 FORD is electrical system with 7 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 74 investigation files overlapping the 2003 FORD, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
55 filings
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITION. IN ORDER SHIFT INTO REVERSE HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND ALLOW IT TO SLOWLY ROLL BACKWARDS. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
I PURCHASED MY 2003 FORD FOCUS IN 2005 AND EVER SINCE THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK BUT IT HAS GOT STUCK OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS . *CN
WHILE DRIVING IN A NICE ASPHALTED ROAD UP A HILL, I FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED TO SLIP. THE VEHICLE LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM SO I LOOKED FOR A SAFE PLACE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. I ENDED UP AT A SERVICE STATION WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY LOST AND THE SERVICE STATION SUFFERED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. *TR
ON MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR FUSES REPEATED BLOW AND ALSO THE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP ALL THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS COME ON AND SOME TIMES THEY JUST FLICKER OFF AND ON FOR NO REASON. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING IN MY VAN AND I HAVE HEARD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
ON MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR FUSES REPEATED BLOW AND ALSO THE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP ALL THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS COME ON AND SOME TIMES THEY JUST FLICKER OFF AND ON FOR NO REASON. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING IN MY VAN AND I HAVE HEARD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
COMPAINT IS ABOUT B.F. GOODRICH TIRES (LT 265/75R16) TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED PERFECTLY, ROTATED EVERY 7500 MILES. TOTAL TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 61,XXX. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED. I HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE COSTING OVER $2800.00, PLUS REPLACEMENT OF ALL TIRES DUE TO LACK O FAITH IN THE BF GOODRICH TIRES. THE BODY WORK/REPAIRS WILL BEGIN THIS WEEK. *TR
Mileage: 72,300
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND FIXED AT A COST OF 1479.67 PAID BY THE OWNER (ANGELA MORGAN). VEHICLE REQUIRED SERVICING AS IT BEGAN STALLING WHILE IN TRAFFIC (ATLANTA). CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS CAUSED OTHER ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND AS THIS CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS EXTEND BEYOND THE FORD 2002 MODELS; I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER 2003. PLEASE CONTACT ME ANGELA MORGAN *TR
Mileage: 75,000
FORD TAURUS 2003, WINDSHIELD WAS HIT WITH A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON MAY 10, 2007, A CHIP WAS VISIBLE AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS BECAME A 12 INCH CRACK. HAD REPLACED AT A COST OF $197.34. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXCURSION DIESEL TURBO 6.0 ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE THE ABOVE DATE FOR A/C PROBLEMS & SHUTTING OFF ON ME. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERIES ON 4 OCCASIONS IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS. THEY HAVE FOUND ONE SHORT IN FEBRUARY & AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERIES AGAIN IN APRIL 2007 THE VEHICLE DIED ON ME. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE LIGHTS TURN OFF & I LOSE POWER. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND & CORRECT THE PROBLEM & I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAVE TO PICK UP MY 4 CHILDREN AND FEEL I AM PUTTING THEM AT RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Mileage: 54,131
WE OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4 L, V-8 TRITON ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING WE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS BACK FIRING. WE SMELLED GAS AND A BURNING SMELL. WE HAD OUR EXPEDITION TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THAT SPARK PLUG #7 HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD, STRIPPING THE THREADS. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3,500. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THIS EXPEDITION INTO FORD AT 72,723 MILES BECAUSE THE ENGINE LACKED POWER AND SURGED. WE WERE TOLD THAT SPARK PLUG #7 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS PRIOR TO THE FORD'S RECOMMENDATION OF A TUNE UP TO BE DONE AT 100,000. THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUG #7 UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE WERE CHARGED TO REPLACE THE OTHER SPARK PLUGS. THIS IS THE SAME SPARK PLUG THAT BLEW OUT AT 108,411 MILES. WE HAVE CONTACTED MANY MECHANICS TO SEE WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE. WE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE OUR EXPEDITION REPAIRED BY PLACING A RECOMMENDED PERMANENT THREAD REPLACEMENT INSERT P
Mileage: 108,411
NO ACCIDENT, EXPENSE REPAIR $1000.00 TO REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER. 22,145 MILES. THIS HAS TO BE THE RESULTS OF FAULTY PARTS. *TR
MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR'S TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. IT ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS GOING DOWN A VERY BUSY ROAD AND WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS, THE ENGINE REVVED UP. THANK GOD I WAS SOMEWHERE I COULD LET THE VAN COAST OFF THE ROAD BEING I HAD 4 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VAN WITH ME. I HAVE HEARD THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD'S TRANSMISSIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE FORD OUGHT TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE PER THEIR OWN EXPENSE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLE JUST STOPS PULLING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR
Mileage: 65,000
ON FEBRUARY 2007 I WAS DRIVING THE EXPEDITION IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFICWHEN I NOTICED THAT CAR BEGAN TO FEEL VERY HEAVY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS GOING DOWN DESPITE FACT THAT I WAS PRESSING DOWN THE GAS PEDAL, AND SUDDENLY ALL OF THE ENGINE LIGHTS TURNED ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND START THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM ,BUT 5 MINUTES LATER IT WILL DO THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND EVER SINCE THEY ARE AWAITING FOR PARTS TO COME IN ,AND THEY HAVE BEEN ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. FORD D REFUSES TO GIVE ME EITHER A RENTAL OR A LOANER. FORD CONSUMER DEPARTMENT SUCKS.*AK
Mileage: 68,000
ON FEBRUARY 2007 I WAS DRIVING THE EXPEDITION IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFICWHEN I NOTICED THAT CAR BEGAN TO FEEL VERY HEAVY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS GOING DOWN DESPITE FACT THAT I WAS PRESSING DOWN THE GAS PEDAL, AND SUDDENLY ALL OF THE ENGINE LIGHTS TURNED ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND START THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM ,BUT 5 MINUTES LATER IT WILL DO THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND EVER SINCE THEY ARE AWAITING FOR PARTS TO COME IN ,AND THEY HAVE BEEN ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. FORD D REFUSES TO GIVE ME EITHER A RENTAL OR A LOANER. FORD CONSUMER DEPARTMENT SUCKS.*AK
Mileage: 68,000
I WAS TURNING ON TO MY STREET WHEN I HEARD AVERY LOUD BANG AND MY CAR STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. AS I SAT THERE IN SHOCK IT APPEARED THAT MY CAR WAS TILTED DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS LEANING. THE BODY OF MY CAR WAS RESTING ON THE TOP OF THE TIRE. SINCE I COULDN'T DRIVE IT I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE TO BE LOOKED AT. AFTER MY CAR WAS INSPECTED FOR THE REASON FOR THE BANG I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. ALSO, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN AND THE FRONT STRUT MOUNT AND BEARING WERE BROKEN. WHAT COULD I DO BUT HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE. I HAD TWO NEW FRONT COIL SPRINGS PUT ON (I WASN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES WITH THE OTHER SPRING), A NEW SWAY BAR, A NEW STRUT MOUNT AND BEARING PUT ON AT A COST OF $444.64. I HAD JUST COME OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH. IF THE SPRING WOULD HAVE BROKEN THERE, I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN. I STILL HAVE THE BROKEN SPRING. IT STILL HAS THE PROTECT
Mileage: 73,470
MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER IS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY OTHER FIRE VICTIMS: CRUISE CONTROL TOTALLY INOPERATIVE, PERSISTENT ABS ALERTS, "LOW OIL PRESSURE" ALERTS (SOMETIMES JUST DAYS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE), AND STEERING ISSUES. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IS PROVIDING SERVICE AT MY EXPENSE BUT PRETENDED THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND READING TESTIMONIES FROM OTHER FIRE VICTIMS, I AM TERRIFIED. IN MY SUBDIVISION, HOUSES STAND ONLY A FEW FEET APART...THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION PROHIBITS ANY PARKING ON THE STREET. THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY.
Mileage: 75,000
2003 FORD EXPLORER OVERHEATED AND LOST COOLANT. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. FIRST 2 TRIPS, PROBLEM NOT FOUND. AFTER 3RD INCIDENT, A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK WAS FOUND. IN ADDITION TO ENGINE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, THIS OCCURS MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY. UPON TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP (PROBLEM CANNOT BE REPLICATED); THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH, DAMAGE TO A PEDESTRIAN........GEE, HATE TO THINK OF THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. *NM
Mileage: 65,000
2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER: WHEN EXECUTING LOW SPEED TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE IS A FEELING THAT THE TIRES ARE RUBBING THE INSIDES OF THE WHEEL WELLS. THERE IS A BINDING OR GRINDING FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOISE OF SUCH CAN BE HEARD MOST OF THE TIME. AS I HAVE SEEN ON PREVIOUS REPORTS, THERE IS ALSO THE SAME CHATTER AND SHUDDER AND VIBRATIONS ALSO. WE TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE DEPT AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY REPORT THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND NOR REPRODUCE WHAT WE WERE STATING. AFTER A TECHNICIAN TOOK A TEST DRIVE WITH MY HUSBAND, THE TECHNICIAN DID NOTICE A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE REAR HUMMING AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR END. (ALL OF THIS OCCURRING AT 29,000 MILES. AFTER THE REAR END WAS REPLACED, THE ABOVE MENTIONED CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING, GRINDING AND VIBRATIONS WERE GONE. HOWEVER...NOW AT 31,000 MILES THEY ARE ALL BACK AND PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE.
Mileage: 29,000
AT THIS TIME I CAN DO NOT HAVE A FAILURE, ONLY A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN. IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, ANYTIME WHILE MY 2003 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION IS TURNED ON, A LOUD "TIN-SOUNDING-POP" OCCURS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL TANK BUT I CAN NOT BE SURE WHAT IT IS. IN THE PAST MONTH, THE SOUND HAS GOTTEN LOUDER & LOUDER -- EVEN MORE FREQUENT. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE SOUND IS -- IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE HAS LEFT A TIN CAN OUTSIDE AND WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGES FROM HOT TO COLD OR COLD TO HOT, THE TIN CAN "POPS" AS ITS CONTRACTING OR EXPANDING. NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR COMPUTERIZED MESSAGES COME ON. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE -- I BOUGHT IT NEW IN SEP 2003. *NM
Mileage: 43,000
SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD ANY COLLISIONS, BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY EMERGENCY BRAKES. MY EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE STICKING WHICH IS CAUSING THEM TO RUB AND GRIND WHEN BRAKING. WHEN I ACCELERATE MY ESCAPE JERKS FORWARD. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I GET MY VEHICLE WORKED ON TONIGHT. *NM
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Rear-view Camera Failure
Loss of braking caused by rear brake hose failure
Healey Brothers Ford / Open Recall Sale
Power Tailgate Release Systems
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.