2003 Ford Excursion Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 24%of 106 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 13,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2003 Ford Excursion, 24% of the 106 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 13,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“2003 Ford Excursion limited with 6.0l diesel engine. Only two weeks ago, my truck began to surge in acceleration at both idle and while cruising. It has also begun to stall out at both idle and while cruising. Also the vehicle has begun to have a strong smell of diesel fuel which enters the passenger cabin at start up. My service engine light has begun to light up and I checked the light with a digital diagnostic code reader. The code was p2285 (injector control pressure sensor circuit low). The situation is quite dangerous. …”
NHTSA complaint #10253088, filed 2008-12, 67,000 miles“I have a 2003 Ford Excursion with the triton v10 gas engine. I was driving on the highway and heard an exhaust sound. I drove directly to pasadena Ford and as I drove in a salesman told me that it was the #3 cylinder and that the spark plug had blown out of the head. He stated that it was common and he saw it all the time. I proceeded to drop off the truck and my service tech called me back and indeed the spark plug had blown out and stripped the head. He told me the repairs would cost $4,000.00. …”
NHTSA complaint #10155464, filed 2006-04, 86,000 miles“While driving about 25 MPH, the engine stalled and I lost steering control. Luckily no other cars were approaching because I was making a left turn on to a busy street. Very dangerous. The stall has also occurred at least 5 other times, usually when decelerating when coming to a stop light. Today, the ABS light came on, then I heard a click and all the gauges lost power, the radio display went out. I could not restart the vehicle - only heard a click sound. After waiting an hour, the vehicle started. Batteries have already been replaced by dealership a couple months ago. …”
NHTSA complaint #10227686, filed 2008-05, 110,000 miles“When the engine is started, it frequently runs roughly for several seconds or more. It causes the vehicle to lurch when put in gear and has almost LED to me striking vehicles parked in front and behind me when I have tried to pull out of parellel parking spaces. It has also caused me to strike my trailer as I attempt to hitch up to it and makes that process very challenging. This vehicle has done this since it was new and has been back to the dealer twice for repairs which have failed to correct the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10038957, filed 2003-09, 500 miles“I purchased a new Ford Excursion in late december of 03. It leaked oil from the engine block due to defects in its manufacture. The engine was replaced after much conflict by the dealer with a used remanufactured engine under warranty after only 11,700 miles. The used engine leaked from the rear of the block in the same way as the original engine. Ford refused to replace the engine with a new motor. The used engine suffered from erratic idle, leakage etc. It seemed destined to fail as the original engine did. I lost over $20,000 after accepting an arbitration decision. …”
NHTSA complaint #10159887, filed 2006-06, 700 milesRelated recalls
- 07V553000Dec 5, 2007On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently…Covers: Ford Excursion 1997–2003, F-450 SD 1997–2003, E Series 1997–2003 +3 more
Related service bulletins
- 10055629Feb 1, 2014Ford: on some trucks, there is a no crank situation and if voltage on transmission range sensor at pin 21, is less than 5 volts, disconnect the engine cooling fan clutch…
- 10030848Dec 9, 2009Ford: some vehicles equipped with the 6.0l engine may experience a p006a, p132, p0401 or p0402 diagnostic trouble code (dtc) with a lack of power condition, surge, or…
- 10028826Jun 1, 2009Ford: some vehicles with diesel engines may experience no starts, hard starts or rough running when cold and may be accompanied with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0611, p1378…
- 10028730May 1, 2009Ford: some vehicles equipped with 6.0l diesel engine may exhibit any one or combination of the following concerns-lack of power, white/black smoke or a surge.
- 10028284Mar 20, 2009Ford trucks: misfire, lack of power, buck/jerk, excessive smoke, crank/no start-diagnostics for fuel system. There are several potential causes for these symptoms.
- 10028125Mar 4, 2009Ford: vehicles may exhibit fuel in the engine coolant, due to leaks in the cylinder head fuel injector area. Symptoms may include fuel in engine coolant and coolant expulsion…
- 10026321May 26, 2008Ford: vehicles mistakenly charged $100 powertrain warranty deductible for fuel injector repair or repairs. No model or model years provided. *pe econoline, excursion and f-series…
- 10024325Mar 1, 20086.0l turbocharger carbon deposit diagnostics and service tips. *nj updated 5/29/08.
- 10023943Oct 1, 2007Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes…
- 10023855Oct 1, 20076.0l--mil on--p0401, p0402, p0404, p1335--lack of power or surge with some 2003-2007 f-super duty, 2003-2005 excursion and 2004-2008 e-series vehicles.
Engine cooling: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Ford Excursion
26 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsTires
10 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Excursion
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology