Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
BTW a friend's '05 Caddy caught on fire 8 hours after he parked it in his attached garage. Fire investigators traced it to the car's electrical system.
Not related to Gorilla Glue? Ha!
I double checked the specs for my single stage oil lube 20 gallon,5hp electric motor, air compressor and found that 125 lbs was listed as maximum pressure, with 90 lbs apparently the typical working pressure. I used my Lowe's 400lb impact wrench recently to remove a 1 1/2" nut on a trailer ball using about 105lbs. No problem with that nut backing off, but the same wrench would not even begin to budge the Expedition lug nuts (Ford dealer installed) at the 120 max pressure the regulator setting would allow. Concerned that the studs might have been stretched so as to cause eventual failure. My brother's Chevy van with probably 5 lug 1/2" studs had this problem several years ago--rear wheel fell off in downtown Atlanta on the way to boat race in Florida. Local tire store guys had mounted the same tire earlier that day--went 200 miles before studs completely failed.
Will continue to monitor tire store and Ford dealer tire work after every service visit due to repeated problems with over and under tightened lug nuts and way too high and low air pressures.
I can't believe how many messages there are for 2003 Expedition brake problems, i.e. brake dust, pad problems, squeaking, whining, stopping problems, etc - I've just reviewed. I must say this info was helpful in just negotiating with the dealer (threatening would be more apropos).
I could write a book on our experience- we purchased our '03 Expedition (our 3rd Expedition, also owned '97 and an 00'models - just great SUV's) in Sept. 03, had it back to the dealer 2 months later for the excessive brake dust and squealing of the pads on the rotors. And have had the vehicle back in 3 other times, including the State Inspection, 6 months ago at 12,000 miles.
We have gotten the run around from the dealer all along. They told us the brake dust is normal, the noise is normal and the pads just do this - and we did notice this on every other '03 Expedition's. The Dealer told us on the second visit in March 2004 that new pads were coming out and they would let us know when they’d be available On the 4th visit for the state inspection they did recommend changing the pads, but told us this was not a warranty item – even though the current pads passed inspection all around.
Within the last week the screeching has gotten extremely bad. We took the vehicle in to the dealer yesterday for another look at the brakes and normal service ( oil change, rotate tires, etc - the 15,000 mile deal). The Service manager called yesterday and informed us our brakes are shot. We need new front rotors, pads for all four wheels ( because that's the way the service package is made up) and the rear rotors need turned??? At 17,000 miles of local driving mostly done by my wife???
My wife and I were speechless. We fought with the Service Manager yesterday and again today, arguing that we had the vehicle in their shop on 4 separate occasions and they found nothing wrong. Then today we had a go around with and the dealer’s Customer Service Rep several times over the phone. After checking this and other web sties and threatening to call all the area TV stations and report this situation to the Business Affairs reporters the Dealership agreed to complete all the repairs for the brakes under warranty. I don’t mind paying for normal maintenance, but my other two Expeditions went 32,000 and 34,000 miles before needing brakes and all we had done was to have the pads replaced.
I would go back to the dealer and argue like we did – we took this up the chain of command from the SM to the SCR and then to the Ford Motor Company District Regional Manager, before we got any action.
Normally, I prefer to handle situations like this with sugar and spice, you usually get bet customer service, but in this instance the salt and vinegar had to be dumped in the wound to get some action. We are very disappointed in this Ford dealership at this point in time – where we have purchased 3 SVU’s and 1 car and have had all our service done there. Good Luck.
P.S. - I just want to say as a first time visitor and user of this site – THIS INFO WAS GREAT AND REALLY HELPFUL.
"People can't walk all over you if you don't lie down"
I just joined this group and just bought an 05 Expy EB and really love it. I'll tell you what I know about the the 03-05 Expys and variety of problems. Have friends that are a service manager and a mechanic at a Ford dealership. The service manager bought an 03 Expy. It had the "1st year of a new line of cars" blues. In short, the 03s have problems. The problems were mostly fixed by the end of the model year 03 and very early 04. Ford made changes to the design of many of the components that were causing problems as the model year progressed. This doesn't help any of you that own the 03 - but that's what I'm hearing. My service manager friend sold his 03 and bought an 05 to get rid of his problems. I'm told that the 04 and 05s are much more reliable.
Brake Dust - the 03 brake pads have been updated. The first time you replace the pads, the dust will go away. Ford (actually an aftermarket company that I saw at a Ford dealership) also sells a liner that sits behind the wheel and on top of the rotor to minimize the brake dust problem.
Vibration - Ford has replaced numerous sets of the cheap/junk Continental tires because of vibration problems. If you have an 03-04 with vibration, it could very well be the tires. If you are getting the runaround, try a different dealership. I know that Ford has been replacing these tires (in bulk) if they are causing problems. Everyone seems to say "buy the Michelins". I have Continentals on my 05. I'm almost dissapointed that these tires seem to be okay. I would have loved to get a set of Michelins for free. I hear the Michelins make the truck drive much better than it already does.
Hope this gives some of you the answers you needed even if the answer isn't the one you were hoping to hear.
Thank you.
Sloparo
When I applied my brake the car started to accelerate I looked down to make sure I didn’t have my foot on the gas peddle. I had to press several time before it stopped. (very scary) I had it towed and took it to the dealer and they said they could not find anything wrong with brakes for accelerator.
I know there was a case were this same experience happened with a BMW they apply the brakes and the car just accelerated a young person was killed. When the investigators check the car they said there wasn’t any problems with the brakes or accelerator. The lady was sentence to 2 years in jail she had a retrial and they had found other cases were the same thing happed to other drivers.
Some time when I first start up my car there is a loud noise. It doesn’t always happen only some times.
If anyone has heard or experience this problem please let me know .I afraid to drive the car.
I don't know it they are related, but I think Ford should answer up for their messed up drive lines.
Does anyone else know if these things are related?
Ron
I have a 1999 Ford Expedition - I bought it in a privtae sale. My biggest mistake! I bought it for $13,800.00 CDN > but I had to put another $6000.00 into it!(rotten deal that was!) - OK, I'm an easy target for con-artists.
It has a vibration. I feel the vibration in the steering wheel, and it's fairly contant. It was only 2 months ago that I bought it! And I didn't recognize the vibration at that time. Dunno why - I always wanted to try out an Expedition - but not at this price!
Now, I have the vehicle almost in good order - still another $1400.00 for a new heater box ( it's no good as well) They have to take apart the dash to get a new unit in. However, I don't have a clue on the vibration! It has no more hard or soft codes in the onboard computer.
I did replace (2) coils in the engine (part of repairs) but that didn't stop the vibration either. I also hear ping sounds from the vehicle after I stop on a long trip (metal fatigue?). Dunno. I'm looking for the same issue to solve - dam!
I got it repaired for $1200.00 area Canadian. Dam - I will never buy a Ford Expedition as long as I live!
Can't wait to pay off the bank now & get rid of this vibrator - sadly, it's not powerful enough to help anyone's sex life! But does drive me nuts!
It's a bloody vibrator - yes! And I will never buy another Ford vehicle again! And I can't wait to pass this piece of S_it back to a dealer, or another person to spend their millions in repair bills.
I believe it may be the engine mounts. I will try to get them replaced/padded. It's killing me! I can see why there aren't anymore ford expeditions on sale anywhere - it's a "BAD" vehicle period! Vibration appears to be a typical issue. I can't wait to pay off the bank - in fact I'm going to try & sell it off at my loan cost as soon as I can.
I will never buy a ford vehicle again!. Good luck!
It's aggravating! The vibration is through-out the vehicle, and especially felt on the steering wheel. Maybe it's really bad engine mounts. Dunno. But as soon as I can "Dump" this Expedition - I'm going too.
The is truly a ("Fix-Or-Repair-Daily vehicle")
I will never buy a Ford vehicle again!