Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Ford Expedition
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Ford Expedition has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 615 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E064000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E025000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E023000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V094000 SOUTHERN COMFORT/RUNNING BOARDS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 127 complaints
- Electrical System 104 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 61 complaints
- Air Bags 59 complaints
- Tires 59 complaints
- Power Train 50 complaints
Of the 615 complaints on file, 57 report a crash and 36 a fire; across all 615 complaints, owners report 70 injuries and 3 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Ford Expedition has a below-average reliability rating. It's plagued by frequent engine cooling and electrical system complaints, along with significant brake issues. Meanwhile, recalls focus heavily on lighting, although lighting failures aren't directly linked to factory-installed parts.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine cooling | 80,000–110,000 miles | $650–$1,200 | common |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| service brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $350–$700 | occasional |
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | occasional |
| steering | 90,000–130,000 miles | $350–$900 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Coolant replacement every 50,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles
- Replace air filter yearly
- Timing belt replacement at 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Overheating engine
- Intermittent electrical failures
- Unusual brake noises
- Delayed gear shifts
- Loose steering feel
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Ford Expedition at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.