There are 4 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2003 Ford Excursionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
2003 FORD EXCURSION 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE EXPERIENCING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILURE PEDAL BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE, ENGINE RETURNS TO IDLE. ALL SYMPTOMS MATCH "ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILURE" AS DESCRIBED IN FORD FSA#03B03 DEALER SERVICE DEPT STATES ITS NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS VEHICLE BUT FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DEALERS QUOTED ME A COST OF OVER $1000.00 TO REPAIR. VIN#[XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CRUISE CONTROL STUCK; DOES NOT RELEASE WITH PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. THE CRUISE WILL ONLY RELEASE WITH THE CRUISE 'OFF' BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR IF BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A REAR-END COLLISION. PLAN TO TAKE IT TO DEALER NEXT WEEK; HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE COVERED EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I WON'T USE CRUISE UNTIL THEN. *TR
WHEN IN SPEED CONTROL AT 55 MPH AFTER A LONG DOWN HILL THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL TRAVELING AT 20-30MPH. THE RESULT IS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND POWER BRAKES. THE ENGINE CAN BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. REPORTED PROBLEM TO SELLING DEALER ON ABOUT 11 NOVEMBER 2003. NO ACTION TAKEN. REPORTED PROBLEM TO SERVICE DEALER ON APPROXIMATELY 15 FEB 2004. UPDATED ROM. REPORTED PROBLEM AGAIN TO SERVICE DEALER ON 19 MARCH 2004. RE-FLASHED ROM. OTHERWISE NO ACTION TAKEN.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026