2003 Ford Navigator Problems
- Complaints
- 5filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 59,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Ford Navigator (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2003 Ford Navigator. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by air bags (1) and seat belts (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 40% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 59,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 2 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling3 60%
- Air bags1 20%
- Seat belts1 20%
- Steering1 20%
- Suspension1 20%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10203899, filed 2007-09, 64,000 milesSeat belts: “- the contact owns a 2001 lincoln Navigator. On 3 different occasions the spark plugs exploded, and she has had to replace the spark plugs and coils. The contact stated that when the spark plugs exploded they sent sends the fragments from the spark plugs into the engine. Each time this happened the number 3 and number 4 sparks werethe ones that exploded. While driving approximately 65 MPH on january 11, 2007 it was the most recent incident. She had to have the vehicle towed. The contact stated that the vehicle has been with the mechanic since 01/11/2007. …”
NHTSA complaint #10180839, filed 2007-01, 74,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
40% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 18,475 and 64,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Ford Navigator in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 2 on record; the latest 2 are shown.
- 10214754Jun 21, 2022Transmission and drivetrain. Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial…
- 10013078Oct 1, 2002Equipment. High side pressure fluctuations on vehicles equipped with a fixed scroll a/c compressor.
Other model years of the Ford Navigator
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 | 59,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 5 | 90,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 5 | 112,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Navigator model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Ford Navigator have?
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2003 Ford Navigator as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Ford Navigator is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by air bags with 1.
Has the 2003 Ford Navigator been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Ford Navigator reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 59,000 miles and the middle half falls between 18,475 and 64,000 miles; 40% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.