The most-reported Excursion run is 1FMNU43S1YE (2000 builds) with 13 complaints, 5.9× the typical run. Tires problems make up 25% of reports; 2000 is the worst model year at 3.1 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for Excursion model years 2000–2005.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Ford Excursion has 395 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 7% of every Excursion complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FMNU43S1YE•••••• | 2000 | 2 | — | |
| 1FMSU43F4YE•••••• | 2000 | — | 1 | |
| 1FMNU43S7YE•••••• | 2000 | — | 1 | |
| 1FMSU43F6YE•••••• | 2000 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1FMNU43S8YE•••••• | 2000 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1FMNU43S6YE•••••• | 2000 | 1 | — | |
| 1FMNU43S3YE•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| 1FMNU41S3YE•••••• | 2000 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1FMNU43S0YE•••••• | 2000 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1FMNU43S5YE•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| 1FMNU43SXYE•••••• | 2000 | — | 1 | |
| 1FMNU42S1YE•••••• | 2000 | — | 3 |
Each of the other 383 Excursion runs has 8 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 35 Excursion VINs so far, most often 2000, 2003, 2001 builds; 4 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Ford Excursion the gap between build years is 2.2×: a 2000 car draws 3.1 complaints per run, a 2003 one 1.4.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 58 | 36 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 74 | 44 | 4 | |
| 2003 | 89 | 62 | 5 | |
| 2002 | 98 | 57 | 9 | |
| 2001 | 163 | 84 | 14 | |
| 2000 | 390 | 125 | 27 |
Heaviest year here is 2000 at 3.1 complaints per run; lightest is 2003 at 1.4.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 25% of everything Ford Excursion owners report: Tires, 202 of 872 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 17 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 11 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | 29 | |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 1 | |
| Hydraulic | 6 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 23 | |
| Suspension | 2 | — | |
| Power Train | 4 | 3 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 12 recall campaigns on the Ford Excursion; the 6 below cover build years 2000 to 2005. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 11V352000 | Exterior Lighting:tail Lights | 2002–2005 |
| 09V399000 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2000–2003 |
| 07V553000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel | 2000–2003 |
| 06V286000 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2000–2002 |
| 07E106000 | Wheels:hub | 2000–2002 |
| 05V270000 | Electrical System:wiring | 2004–2005 |
11V352000 was opened in 2011 on cars built from 2002: 9 years on the road before the recall.
How serious were they
Of the 872 reports on the Ford Excursion, 7% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Ford Excursion | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 872 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 61 (7%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 75 (8.6%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 67 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 4 | 2,728 |
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Ford Excursion share of that is 872 complaints over 395 runs, 0.08% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Ford Excursion VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 872 NHTSA complaints from 395 Excursion runs and 12 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Excursion production run has the most complaints?
1FMNU43S1YE, a 2000 build, with 13 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Excursion run has 2.2.
Which Excursion years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2000 is heaviest at 3.1 complaints per run and 2003 lightest at 1.4.
How many Excursion complaints involve a crash?
7% of 872 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 75 involved a fire.
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