AI Damage2003 Ford Navigator: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Ford Navigator filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 60% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 20% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 20% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 20% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
The brakes squeaked, the seat belt button was replaced, the idler arm was replaced. The vehicle would always run rough and loose power. Updatd 02/27/07.
On february 25, 2005, I took my 2003 lincoln navigator to the service department for a major front air suspension problem; the front half of my car was so low to the ground while the back half was set high. The ride was very bumpy, rough,and unwieldy .
Consumer states that vehicle's front passenger side airbags sensor stays on. Dealer notified. Please provide additional information. Ts
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Navigator has 3 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Navigator?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, air bags, seat belts. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (20%), stalls while driving (20%), transmission slipping (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Ford Navigator?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2003 Ford Navigator from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2003 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.