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
    - DREXEL HILL, PA

    MY CAR IS A PART OF A RECALL FOR RUST AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, BUT I THINK THAT SCOPE IS TOO NARROW. MY ESCAPE HAS RUSTED WHEEL WELLS AND A RUSTED GAS TANK COVER THAT I CAN SEE. I HAVE ALSO READY HAD TO REPLACE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FOR RUST, ALONG WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALL OF ITS PARTS, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, SWAY BAR LINKS AND ALL PARTS OF THE OIL PAN. ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO RUST. THIS WAS AT THE MILEAGE OF 58,465. I STILL HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR THE 90 MILES FROM MY HOME TO THE JERSEY SHORE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - BELLEVILLE, NJ

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE HEARD AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED FROM THE SUB FRAME, WHICH HAD EXTENSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, THE SUB FRAME AND THE CV JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

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

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - WARNER, NH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE SEAT OCCUPANT WAS UTILIZING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,907. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. UPDATED 09/12/2014 *JS

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - FLAT ROCK, MI

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION-LOWER CONTROL ARM REGIONAL) AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE RUST HOLES ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRAME AND MADE AN INTERIM REPAIR, WHICH INCLUDED ATTACHING A CROSS MEMBER AND SUPPORT BAR TO THE SUBFRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A TURN WHEN THE LOUD, POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED FROM THE SUBFRAME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,716.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - AURORA, CO

    WE BOUGHT MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE JUNE 13TH 2012 FOR 8K. WE DROVE AROUND TOWN AND MADE A QUICK STOP BEFORE GOING HOME. THE ESCAPE WOULD NOT START BACK UP. WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY HAD THAT PLACED. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THE TRUCK STARTED AND SHUT BACK OFF. WE FINALLY GOT IT TO START GOT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. WE GOT ON THE HIGHWAY A FEW DAY LATER THE CAR STALLED OUT. SO FOR THE PAST 20 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR IT STALLS OUT AT HOME, ON THE ROAD, AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I DRIVE TO WORK AND HOME. ONCE IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN IT SHUTS OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS INCLUDING THE ONE THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM GROOVE FORD IN COLORADO AND 8 OTHER MECHANICS. THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AS THE COMPUTER DOES NOT STATE WHAT'S WRONG. I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS SUV. AS WELL AS ASKING OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS THAT I SEE DRIVING AROUND TOWN IF THEY HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE. IT IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT STALLS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. PLEASE TELL FORD TO LOOK INTO THIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - DUNN, NC

    I CANT REMEMBER I JUST REMEMBER MY HEAD LIGHTS GOING OUT AND I TRIED TO CONTROL MY CAR AND COULDN'T. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - WESTFIELD, MA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY WHERE THE CONTACT FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,489.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - NASHUA, NH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR EXTERIOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THERE WAS A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,920.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE