Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2003 model years. Data updated: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 23 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
3
13.0%
Electrical and battery issues
3
13.0%
Transmission and shifting
1
4.3%
Engine operation
1
4.3%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Air Bags
1
Air Bags:Frontal
1
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Air Bags
1
Air Bags:Frontal
1
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
BLINKERS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING ON THE CAR. FUSE #13 WAS BLOWN. WHEN FUSE #13 WAS REPLACED, LARGE QUANTITIES OF WHITE SMOKE BOILED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I RAISED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE WIRING TO THE SWITCH INSTALLED ON THE MASTER CYLINDER BURNING. THIS OCCURRED IN MY HOME DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE FIRE OUT. *TR
UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHEN THE CAR IS UNATTENDED. EVERY TIME IT RAINS I HAVE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR DAYS. STARTER KICKS IN AUTOMATICALLY, BLOWER STAYS ON WHEN CAR IS OFF. HEADLIGHTS JUST TURNING ON WITH THE SWITCH OFF AND THE KEYS OUT. *NM
03 NAVIGATOR BEGAN "STUTTERING" WHEN DRIVING, FELT LIKE A TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THREE OF THE EIGHT CYLINDERS WERE NOT AT FULL COMPRESSION. HE ADVISED NEW HEADS WERE NEEDED. COST: $7000. SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM, INDEPENDENT (FORMER FORD TECH) MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISED THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THE TRITAN MOTOR AND THERE IS A CASTING PROBLEM WITH THE HEADS. *TR
2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT WITH 5.4 LITER TRITON V8 ENGINE WITH 59,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT ABUSED. THE #3 SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD DURING DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THIS EVENT WAS PRECEDED BY A TAPPING NOISE WHICH OCCURRED OVER THE PRECEDING TWO WEEKS. THE NOISE WAS SIMILAR TO A NOISY VALVE LIFTER. THE ENGINE HAD THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS THAT WERE NEVER REMOVED, REPLACED OR SERVICED. THE FACTORY CHANGE INTERVAL ON THE PLUGS IS 100,000 MILES. SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT …
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
23 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
65.2%Usable mileage15 / 23 records
91.3%Valid incident date21 / 23 records
100.0%Valid filing date23 / 23 records
91.3%Ordered incident and filing dates21 / 23 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
240.0%ODI 10139712 · 112,000 mi
ON 9/25/2005 ABOUT 2:30 AM MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THE TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BY FORD. APPARENTLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ON IT WAS JUST SITTING IN FRONT OF MY TOWNHOUSE VILLA AND IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. I NOTIFIED FORD COMPANY THEIR REPLY "GET A LAWYER". *NM
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THEN, CONSUMER ENTERED THE GARAGE AND SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER INSPECTING THE GARAGE HE CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE PROCEEDED TO BACK THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE FOR FEAR IT WOULD BURN THE HOUSE, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CRUISE CONTROL NHTSA RECALL 05V017000. *AK
2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT WITH 5.4 LITER TRITON V8 ENGINE WITH 59,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT ABUSED. THE #3 SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD DURING DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THIS EVENT WAS PRECEDED BY A TAPPING NOISE WHICH OCCURRED OVER THE PRECEDING TWO WEEKS. THE NOISE WAS SIMILAR TO A NOISY VALVE LIFTER. THE ENGINE HAD THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS THAT WERE NEVER REMOVED, REPLACED OR SERVICED. THE FACTORY CHANGE INTERVAL ON THE PLUGS IS 100,000 MILES. SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT …
DT: CONSUMER STATES: TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND IT HAS BEEN FIXED. WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE A SUDDENLY VEHICLE SURGED AND LEAPED BACKWARDS. REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND GASKET. NO LIGHTS CAME ON. *AK
MY HUSBAND WERE INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH. THE 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SPUN AROUND AND ROLLED OVER AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS SHOCKED WHEN ADVISED OF THIS. *TR
MY SUV WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, SUNDAY NOV. 4TH AND A FIRE STARTED. 911 WAS CALLED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND TOLD ME IT WAS ELECTRICAL. *TR
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
125.0%ODI 10220068
BLINKERS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING ON THE CAR. FUSE #13 WAS BLOWN. WHEN FUSE #13 WAS REPLACED, LARGE QUANTITIES OF WHITE SMOKE BOILED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I RAISED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE WIRING TO THE SWITCH INSTALLED ON THE MASTER CYLINDER BURNING. THIS OCCURRED IN MY HOME DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE FIRE OUT. *TR
UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHEN THE CAR IS UNATTENDED. EVERY TIME IT RAINS I HAVE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR DAYS. STARTER KICKS IN AUTOMATICALLY, BLOWER STAYS ON WHEN CAR IS OFF. HEADLIGHTS JUST TURNING ON WITH THE SWITCH OFF AND THE KEYS OUT. *NM
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Too few reports for a range
112,000 mi
3 (sparse)
ODI 10139712 · 112,000 mi
ON 9/25/2005 ABOUT 2:30 AM MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THE TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BY FORD. APPARENTLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ON IT WAS JUST SITTING IN FRONT OF MY TOWNHOUSE VILLA AND IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. I NOTIFIED FORD COMPANY THEIR REPLY "GET A LAWYER". *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DID ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND IT WAS ORDERED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE SWITCH WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THEN, CONSUMER ENTERED THE GARAGE AND SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER INSPECTING THE GARAGE HE CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE PROCEEDED TO BACK THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE FOR FEAR IT WOULD BURN THE HOUSE, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CRUISE CONTROL NHTSA RECALL 05V017000. *AK
2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT WITH 5.4 LITER TRITON V8 ENGINE WITH 59,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT ABUSED. THE #3 SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD DURING DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THIS EVENT WAS PRECEDED BY A TAPPING NOISE WHICH OCCURRED OVER THE PRECEDING TWO WEEKS. THE NOISE WAS SIMILAR TO A NOISY VALVE LIFTER. THE ENGINE HAD THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS THAT WERE NEVER REMOVED, REPLACED OR SERVICED. THE FACTORY CHANGE INTERVAL ON THE PLUGS IS 100,000 MILES. SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT …
03 NAVIGATOR BEGAN "STUTTERING" WHEN DRIVING, FELT LIKE A TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THREE OF THE EIGHT CYLINDERS WERE NOT AT FULL COMPRESSION. HE ADVISED NEW HEADS WERE NEEDED. COST: $7000. SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM, INDEPENDENT (FORMER FORD TECH) MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISED THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THE TRITAN MOTOR AND THERE IS A CASTING PROBLEM WITH THE HEADS. *TR
DT: CONSUMER STATES: TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND IT HAS BEEN FIXED. WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE A SUDDENLY VEHICLE SURGED AND LEAPED BACKWARDS. REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND GASKET. NO LIGHTS CAME ON. *AK
TRUCK WAS PARKED NOT RUNNING WHEN IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE IN GARAGE. ALLEN FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT OUT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STORAGE FACILITY, DAMAGE TO TOWNHOME, FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. TRUCK WAS NOT PD FOR, SO LIENHOLDER WENT AND SUED ME. WANT DAMAGES AND MENTAL ANGUISH PAID FOR BY FORD. *TR
MY SUV WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, SUNDAY NOV. 4TH AND A FIRE STARTED. 911 WAS CALLED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND TOLD ME IT WAS ELECTRICAL. *TR
UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHEN THE CAR IS UNATTENDED. EVERY TIME IT RAINS I HAVE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR DAYS. STARTER KICKS IN AUTOMATICALLY, BLOWER STAYS ON WHEN CAR IS OFF. HEADLIGHTS JUST TURNING ON WITH THE SWITCH OFF AND THE KEYS OUT. *NM
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2002: 0 complaints · 2003: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2002
0
0
0
2003
0
0
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2002
1
0
0
2003
4
0
1
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Vehicle Speed Control
Air Bags
Air Bags:Frontal
Electrical System
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
Air Bags
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
Air Bags:Frontal
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
Electrical System
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
1 mentions · 4.3% of complaints
Median mileage: 59,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10173090 · 59,000 mi
2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT WITH 5.4 LITER TRITON V8 ENGINE WITH 59,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT ABUSED. THE #3 SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD DURING DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THIS EVENT WAS PRECEDED BY A TAPPING NOISE WHICH OCCURRED OVER THE PRECEDING TWO WEEKS. THE NOISE WAS SIMILAR TO A NOISY VALVE LIFTER. THE ENGINE HAD THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS THAT WERE NEVER REMOVED, REPLACED OR SERVICED. THE FACTORY CHANGE INTERVAL ON THE PLUGS IS 100,000 MILES. SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT …