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
    - LISBON, OH

    ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND GO OFF ROAD INTO A BUILDING. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - HARTLAND , MI

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE LATER STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION FAILURE BY FORCEFULLY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

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

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COLLAPSED INWARDLY WHICH CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - VANCOUVER, WA

    WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 30 MINUTES PRIOR. WE WERE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC UNTIL LEAVING THE FREEWAY 1 LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WHEN MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO USE THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN SHE PUMPED THEM NUMEROUS TIMES, THERE WASN'T ANY CHANGE. SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES. SHE REAR ENDED MY NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP. POLICE WERE AT THE LIGHT WHERE SHE REARENDED ME. THEY CONFIRMED NO BRAKES, MY HUSBAND DID, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOO. WHEN IT WAS RECEIVED TO THE BODY SHOP ON MONDAY MORNING THE BRAKES WERE VERY SOFT ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN. AFTER SITTING FOR A WEEK, THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. THEY CANT DETERMINE WHY THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE FIRST CALL I MADE AT THE ACCIDENT AND THEY TOLD ME THEY KNOW IT HAD LEGAL BRAKES. COME TO FIND OUT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS BLACK AND HAS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL WITH THE ABS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THERE IS ALSO A RECALL ON CERTAIN MASTER CYLINDERS WHICH WERE FAULTY/LEAKING AND THE STOCK NUMBERS. UNFORTUNATELY THE STOCK NUMBER WAS REMOVED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. WE HAVE A VEHICLE THAT NEVER EVEN MADE IT TO OUR HOME THAT IS NOW TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP IS ONLY GOING TO "MAKE IT RIGHT" WITH PROOF THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE POLICE REPORT STATES SUCH AND I HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE BODYSHOP, BUT AFTER WAITING FOR THE INSURANCE TO HAVE THE TEST DONE, THEY CANT CONFIRM LOSS OF BRAKES. THEY CAN ONLY STATE THE FLUID BEING BLACK. WE NOW ARE HAVING TO FIGHT TO NOT LOSE OUR TRADE IN VALUE AND TO NOT HAVE A REPORTABLE ACCIDENT AGAINST MY DAUGHTER VS A MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE INSURANCE ARE NOT MAKING THIS EASY. THE MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE I EVER OWNED FOR 30 MINUTES IS ALL I CAN SAY. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - DYERSVILLE, IA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HE TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE UNTIL HE PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS TO MUCH AIR GOING INTO THE THROTTLE BODY, AND THE COLD AIR WAS FREEZING THE THROTTLE BODY AND PREVENTED IT FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 3/5/14*CN *TR

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

    I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL DUE TO INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATION AND HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED ABOUT 1-1.5 YEARS AGO. TODAY, WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK FOR LUNCH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY BEGAN ACCELERATING WHEN IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF PARK. WHEN I WOULD TRY TO STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP FOR A SECOND, THEN BEGIN TO TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY ONLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AT ANY STOP SIGNS OR STOP LIGHTS, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED GREEN AGAIN. I ONLY KNEW TO DO THIS BECAUSE I HAD HAD THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUES PRIOR TO THE RECALL. IN THIS INCIDENT, I NEVER ONCE USED THE CRUISE CONTROL THOUGH. IT ACCELERATED ALL ON ITS OWN. I HAD ONE OTHER SITUATION SIMILAR TO THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT THAT WAS WHEN I WAS USING MY CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WOULDN'T DISENGAGE. MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NOT LOOK AT IT UNLESS I PAY THE $80 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - WHITE PIGEON, MI

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. . ..UPDATED 03-12-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE COURSE OF 2 YEARS, THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO 2 GARAGES AND 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS, AND NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. UPDATED 04/01/14

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - MOUND , MN

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PLUGS HAD POPPED OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COIL PACK. AS A RESULT, THE COIL PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - IMPERIAL, MO

    I HAVE ENTERED THE VIN CORRECTLY BUT YOUR SYSTEM DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT. FIRST FLAT TIRE IN THE 10 YEARS I HAVE OWNED CAR PURCHASED NEW. JACK, JACK TOOLS AND TEMPORARY SPARE NEVER USED BEFORE.. FOLLOWING OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, JACK DOES NOT RAISE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO REMOVE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHEEL AND SPECIFIED STANDARD-SIZE TIRE. ATTEMPTED FLAT REPAIR ON FLAT PAVED SURFACE. I HAVE 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING ON AUTOMOBILES.THIS FLAW COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO REPLACE A FLAT TIRE IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS (DARKNESS, WEATHER, DANGEROUS LOCATION,MEDICAL EMERGENCY). THE JACK WORKS MECHANICALLY AND LIFTED THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF THE VEHICLE BUT LACKED 4 TO 6 INCHES OF LIFTING VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO REMOVE WHEEL. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND NOT AN INCOMPETENT USER. JACK WAS POSITIONED AS SHOWN IN MANUAL. MY FIRST CAR WAS A 1931 MODEL A FORD AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE ENCOUNTERED AN OEM JACK THAT WOULDN'T WORK AT LEAST ONCE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE