2003 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 FORD ESCAPE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 540 complaints submitted for the 2003 FORD ESCAPE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - EASTOVER, NC

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE IN PARK, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CONNECTOR UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - BROWNS SUMMIT, NC

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE WITH A LOSS OF THE BATTERY POWER, AND THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM AND HORN RANDOMLY SOUNDED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED WITH THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDING WHETHER THE DOOR WAS OPENED OR CLOSED. AFTER A WHILE, THE HORN AND ANTI-THEFT ALARMS STOPPED, BUT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS TO BE NOTIFIED TO DETERMINE A REPAIR SOLUTION FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - BLADENBORO, NC

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - PHOENIXVILLE, PA

    IN MAY OF 2016, I TOOK MY FORD ESCAPE IN FOR REPAIR OF A RECALL. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT A FAILURE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS I READ THE RECALL NOTICE AND THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH REPAIR CENTER AGENT. A MONTH LATER THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATES. AFTER I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD, IT WAS EXPRESSED TO ME THAT RECALL WAS NOT TO PREVENT FAILURE BUT MERELY TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE. HAD I NOT HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED THE ESCAPE AT COST TO THEM, BUT BECAUSE I HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED THEN I MOST PAY FOR IT. WHY WOULD FORD AUTHORIZE SUCH A RIDICULOUS RECALL EFFORT. FIRST OF ALL IF IT'S KNOW ISSUE, WHY NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE. SECONDLY, HAD I KNOW THE RAMIFICATIONS, I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD THE RECALLED PERFORMED. THE CONTROL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AND I HIT A BUMP.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - MASCOUTAH, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE TIRE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION TO THE REAR AXLES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - CINCINNATI, OH

    2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HIS WIFE HEARD A TERRIBLE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE CONSUMER ARRIVED TO WHERE HIS WIFE WAS AND DID AN INSPECTION, AND DISCOVERED THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN IN HALF. THE NEXT DAY, A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. *JB

    Source: CONSUMER LETTER
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - CAPE ELIZABETH, ME

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - SPRING VALLEY, CA

    THE ASH GOLD PAINT IS BUBBLING ALL OVER THE OUTSIDE ROOF REAR DOOR SIDES (ALL OVER) THE CAR TO INCLUDE THE INTERIOR. THE ROOF HAS RUSTED AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING. I WENT TO TWO FORD DEALERS IN SAN DIEGO AND CALLED FORD DIRECT. THE PASSED ME OVER TO THE HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMIN HOTLINE THAT TOLD ME TO CALL FORD, THEY WILL HANDLE THE COMPLAINT. EVERYDAY MORE PAINT PEELS OFF.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - SHADY SPRING, WV

    0N APR 22, 2015 WHILE DRIVING FROM SHADY SPRING WV TO PRINCETON WV ON I-77 TO A DRS APPT, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEH WHEN VEERING OR TURNING RIGHT. I HAD TO WORK THAT DAY AFTER I RETURNED FROM THE DR AND HAD PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEH TO A MECHANIC AFTER I GOT OFF TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON PLUTO ROAD IN SHADY SPRING, I ROUNDED A CURVE TO THE RIGHT AT 20 MPH AND SOMETHING BROKE CAUSING THE VEH TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I HAD THE VEH TOWED TO A&R SERVICE CTR IN SHADY SPRING AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT AFTERNOON THAT THE SUB FRAME BROKE/ LOWER CV JOINT HAD CAME LOOSE AND THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION COVERING THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEH. I NOTIFIED KC PREOWNED AUTO WHOM I HAD PURCHASED THE VEH FROM IN SEPT 2014. HE WENT TO THE MECH AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND CALLED ME AND STATED THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SUB FRAME THAT HAD BROKEN AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MOUNTAINEER AUTO IN BECKLEY WV FOR REPAIR. THE VEH WAS TAKEN ON APR 27 2015, AND AFTER BEING SENT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A RUSTED AND BROKEN BOLT, A NEW SUB FRAME WAS PLACED ON THE FRONT. MY WIFE PICKED IT UP ON JUN 20 2015 AND NOTICED DRIVING HOME A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT AND A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE MIDDLE OF IT. I TOOK IT BACK TO MOUNTAINEER AUTO THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD BY THE SVC REP (J T) THAT FORD WAS NOT GOING TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY IN TO THIS VEH AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I NOTIFIED THE WV ATTY GENERAL FOR HELP AND AFTER TRYING TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE RECEIVED A LETTER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEH SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL FEB 3, 2016, WHEN I SAVED UP MONEY TO FIX IT MYSELF. I TOOK IT BACK TO MOUNTAINEER AUTO AND WAS TOLD THE CARRIAGE BEARING WAS BROKE, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION. TOOK IT TO 2 BROTHERS AND RECEIVED THE ATTACHED STATEMENT.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - DEKALB, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON THE FRAME AND WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FACED OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE