Known Recalls

Model year record

2003 Ford Excursion

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 139 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V352000

Exterior lighting: tail lights

Component
Exterior lighting: tail lights
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
26,715
Reported to NHTSA
2011-07-13
Owners notified
2011-08-15

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Safety risk

NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V399000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
4,500,000
Reported to NHTSA
2009-10-13
Owners notified
2009-10-27

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Safety risk

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V553000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
1,176,000
Reported to NHTSA
2007-12-05
Owners notified
2007-12-29

Defect description

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V078000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
155,584
Reported to NHTSA
2007-03-06
Owners notified
2007-03-12

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Safety risk

OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE, BURN, OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V327000

Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery

Component
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
83,687
Reported to NHTSA
2004-07-07
Owners notified
2004-07-22

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES, THE ENGINE GROUND STUD THAT ATTACHES THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL EYELET TO THE ENGINE BLOCK MAY BE LOOSE.

Safety risk

IF THE GROUND WIRE IS LOOSE, ELECTRICAL CURRENT MAY FLOW TO THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP CAUSING IT TO HEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT OR IGNITE ADJACENT COMPONENTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE GROUND STUD AND THE RADIO SUPPRESSION STRAP AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system1985,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel91,049 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine812,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel71,993 mi
Tires712,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling677,965 mi
Steering670,000 mi
Vehicle speed control6109,000 mi
Engine540,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip533,950 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator383,474 mi
Seat belts392,000 mi
Structure3140 mi
Suspension32,500 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint360,011 mi
Tires: tread/belt350,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights2—
Power train217,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission2168 mi
Unknown or other2145,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear29,500 mi
Back over prevention: warnings: external/pedestrian alert178,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel190,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery19,550 mi
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module125,000 mi
Electrical system: software148,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring170,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood115,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1—
Electronic stability control (ESC)1—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline186,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger111,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system117,910 mi
Equipment117,910 mi
Exterior lighting1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1—
Latches/locks/linkages125,000 mi
Power train: driveline124,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft1—
Seat belts: front156,000 mi
Seats1200,000 mi
Service brakes1160,000 mi
Service brakes, air124,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor13,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder160,000 mi
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device113,000 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1112 mi
Structure: body: hood1—
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint160,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control110,500 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls1—
Visibility: windshield137,900 mi

The 2002 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2004 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.