2003 Ford Expedition vs 2003 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Ford Expedition | 2003 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 615 | 1,131 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 152 | 122 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 57 | 60 |
| Fire reports | 36 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14 | 15–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 82,000 mi | 74,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Expedition | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 32 | 354 |
| Power Train | 50 | 335 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 127 | 69 |
| Electrical System | 104 | 54 |
| Air Bags | 59 | 50 |
| Visibility | 37 | 57 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 61 | 31 |
| Suspension | 20 | 63 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 64 | 65 |
| Vibration / shaking | 34 | 36 |
| Rust / corrosion | 30 | 31 |
| Brake problems | 16 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 14 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 14 | 18 |
| Electrical failures | 12 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 10 | 0 |
2003 Ford Expedition
2003 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Expedition vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.