2003 Ford Expedition Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 59about this part
- Share
- 10%of 615 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 84,385miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 59 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Ford Expedition, 10% of the 615 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,385 miles. 27 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving down a freeway at a speed of approximately 65 I heard a loud pop, my seatbelt tightened and both side curtain airbags deployed, with a lot of smoke. I managed to pull the car over to the right side and called my insurance company. This just happened yesterday so I don't know what to expect from them.”
NHTSA complaint #11004230, filed 2017-07, 20,000 miles“Side airbags spontaneously deployed while driving down the highway. I stopped the vehicle safely and no apparent injury to myself or passenger except for possible hearing loss due to the loud bang on deployment. I used a knife to cut the bags away from the front side windows then continued driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10885468, filed 2016-07, 153,000 miles“Driving on a paved road in a school zone when at approximately 5 pm, when side airbags deployed. The bags deployed deflated. I was near a residential neighborhood so I pulled off the road and exited the vehicle. I was not hit nor did I hit anyone to cause the bags to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10760097, filed 2015-08, 191,260 miles“Driving on side road doing about 30 to 35 my side air bag curtains deployed. Sounded like a gun went off and white powder came out,took to Ford said cant find anything wrong, but charge me 250 dollars to tell me the code show air bag deploy, about 5 months late the seat belt pretensioner went off while sitting in a parking lot, same noise and powder, Ford said not their problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10298883, filed 2010-01, 130,000 miles“On saturday, may 17, 2014 at approximately 1:00 pm, I was driving my vehicle northbound on ca-57 through brea when the side curtain air bags suddenly deployed for no reason. I did not come into contact with any other vehicle or object nor was there an eminent roll over. This caused me to almost loose control of my vehicle, but I was able to regain control and safely move to the side of the road. Once stopped, I opened all the windows to air out the smoke from the air bag deployment.”
NHTSA complaint #10593321, filed 2014-05, 105,774 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 5% |
| 2024 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 3 | 1% |
| 2020 | 9 | 2% |
| 2019 | 25 | 5% |
| 2018 | 5 | 1% |
| 2017 | 11 | 3% |
| 2016 | 5 | 2% |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% |
| 2014 | 7 | 10% |
| 2013 | 3 | 3% |
| 2012 | 3 | 3% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 5% |
| 2009 | 1 | 4% |
| 2008 | 4 | 3% |
| 2007 | 5 | 2% |
| 2006 | 16 | 5% |
| 2005 | 9 | 3% |
| 2004 | 46 | 15% |
| 2003 | 59 | 10% |
| 2002 | 16 | 5% |
| 2001 | 19 | 3% |
| 2000 | 35 | 4% |
| 1999 | 19 | 2% |
| 1998 | 20 | 2% |
| 1997 | 26 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2003 Ford Expedition
127 complaintsElectrical system
104 complaintsBrakes
87 complaintsTires
57 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
50 complaintsEngine
44 complaintsFuel system
38 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
38 complaintsBody and structure
32 complaintsOther or unknown
22 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsSuspension
20 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Expedition
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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