2003 Ford Expedition Acceleration Problems

Which parts fail

• Cruise control
  5
• Accelerator pedal
  2

Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  425%
• 25k–50k
  16%
• 50k–75k
  425%
• 75k–100k
  531%
• 100k–150k
  16%
• 150k+
  16%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford Expedition. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer because all of the instrument panel indicators illuminated, except for the brake light. The interior of the vehicle was torn apart and there was an electrical fire. The dealer is ordering a new wiring harness. The vehicle was initially taken to the dealer for the illuminated indicators; however, another failure was found without the contact's knowledge. The failure and current mileages were 83,000. Updated 12-02-08 the consumer also had a problem with the brake lights and the cruise control had to be repaired as well. The consumer stated he never reeived a recall letter for the cruise control. Updated 12/02/08

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH and attempted a right turn, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The vehicle would not stop despite the contacts attempts to brake and the vehicle proceeded to drive onto the pedestrian sidewalk. The contact struck a pedestrian and the pedestrian was killed. The contact sustained injuries to the hands and feet. A passenger sustained injuries to the neck and right foot. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was contacted but declined any assistance to the contact. A police report was available. The failure and current mileage was 38,000.

My 2003 Ford Expedition burst into flames on Sunday, June 22 at 5 am. The truck hadn't been driven since 7 pm the previous evening. While the travis county fire marshall is still finishing up the investigation, all signs point to the faulty cruise control module. My car was gutted, it also totaled the car next to it and most of my garage went up in flames! Ford should be required to send out serious recall notices to all owners asap! People are dying... Just check out www.flamingfords.info.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while parked on an incline with the engine running and the parking brake engaged, the vehicle erroneously accelerated and crashed into a house. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 12,456.

My Expedition is a 1yr and 5 months. With less than 500 miles paid for a front end alignment and tire rotation, because of bad vibration at speeds of 60-70 miles an hour. Still had vibration, took it back to dealer, they said the truck came with tires out of balance. Still had vibration, took it back to dealership, a box dealing with the steering wheel had to be replaced. Since then I have paid for another front end alignment and tire balance, now tires have worn so bad dealership will probably blame worn tires for the vibration. There is more!!! The seal on the front windshield came loose and started leaking, and had to be replaced. In the front defrost vent some foam stuff had come loose and would flap around when the vent was on, the dealership called it ( packing) it was replaced or glued back down. …

2003 Ford eddie bauer Expedition: 3 incidences where when stopping , once in line at mcdonalds and twice when approaching a stop sign, the vehicle motor accelerates and it is impossible to stop the vehicle from moving forward. Dealership has had the vehicle over 3 weeks and cannot duplicate the problem. Since they cannot duplicate the problem-their contention is there is not a problem. I refuse to drive an unsafe vehicle. If they cannot find a problem they need to replace the vehicle and take this one to engineers to research safety hazard. This vehicle only has 9,000 miles it is still a new vehicle.

The car was running well and suddenly it die. No lights in dash board, no shakes, no any previous sign of trouble. Simply it die. I pumped the accelerator pedal and the car continue running. Next time, few days after the incident, the car does the same. This time do not continue running when I pump gas. I have to put in neutral and start it again. It start at once. Could be more than two weeks without signal of problem and then, it happen again. Some other time, it happen 4 or 5 times in a half hour trip.

Gas pedal stuck while under acceleration. While accelerating from a stop light the gas pedal stuck wide open. Managed to get to parking lot while holding brakes to the floor. After several kicks the pedal came unstuck. Took truck to Ford dealer where the service department found that the throttle body sticking due to a shifting in the linkage and carbon build up inside of throttle body. Dealer replaced part #'s 3l1z9e926 & f65z9e936 and performed flush of upper plenum with bg induction service.

Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle had a tendency to lunge forward while sitting idle in drive or reverse. The contact stated that when this happened the vehicle had to be placed in neutral gear or the it had to be turned off because the brakes do not stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the problem was connected to the throttle body. The vehicle had not been inspected. The failure mileage was 70000 and the current mileage was 89187.

2003 Ford Expedition caught on fire while parked. The consumer expressed a concern about any risk or danger of sudden short circuiting, sparking, explosion or fire with parking this vehicle, when one day while sitting in their kitchen, they heard a loud rumble emanating from the rear of the house when they saw the front of the vehicle engulfed in flames with the hood blown off. The fire also spread to the consumers home consuming most of it.

Acceleration complaints in other Expedition years