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
    - ONTARIO, 00

    FIRE EMERGING FROM HYDRAULIC ANTI-LOCK CONTROL UNIT THE SUBJECT TO FORD RECALL # 07S51 AFTER RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED, *KB

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - SARASOTA , FL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND SPUTTERING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO CHANGED WAS THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE COILS WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE RUINED THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - CLIFTON PARK, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC STATED ALSO THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - CLINTON, MA

    MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) BUT DOSE NOT HAVE ONE OF THE VINS THAT FALL INTO THE LIST. *TT

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - HALLSVILLE, OH

    2008 FORD RECALLED MY 2003 ESCAPE FOR ABS MODULE CONNECTOR. I HAD IT REPAIRED. MY ESCAPE HAS BEGAN TO "GRAB" WHEN I APPLY BRAKES. NEW ROTORS & PADS DID NOT HELP. WHILE ONLINE TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, I SAW ANOTHER RECALL FOR ABS MODULE CONNECTION FOR 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS BEEN REOPENED.(JAN 2010) BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - BUFFALO, NY

    WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND I HAD TO COAST OFF THE EXIT RAMP, GETTING STUCK AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, AND I HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE RAMP AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS WAS AT 5PM ON A WEEKDAY, AND HAD SOMEONE NOT COME TO HELP ME PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - HOUSTON, TX

    I HAVE A FORD 2003 ESCAPE 6 CYL. BOUGHT IN MAY OF 2004 NEW - 76 MILES ON IT TEST DRIVEN FROM A DEALER IN SCHULENBURG, TX - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - THE PCM COMPUTER WENT OUT AND BLEW A SPARK PLUG ON 1/16/2011 - I HAD TO REPLACE THE PCM (WHICH I WAS TOLD SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THE 2003 FORD ESCAPE) SINCE THIS SHOULD NEVER GO OUT ON THE CAR. THE MILEAGE WAS ONLY 43,625 ON 1/16/2011 WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE THE CAR FOR 7-8 YRS. NOW. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PCM WITH A REMANUFACTURED (SINCE IT WOULD COST WAY MORE FOR A NEW ONE) PCM - ELECTRONIC IGNITION COSTING ME JUST OVER $2,100. AGAIN, THIS PART WAS INTENDED TO NEVER GO OUT FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, PERIOD. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON FORD MOTOR COMPANIES PART - AND I WAS TOLD TO COMPLAIN AND RECORD THIS TO NHTSA AS OTHERS HAVE, AND IF ENOUGH DO, THEY WOULD HAVE TO RECALL. I AM NOT SURE IF I AM IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO PLACE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - CORVALLIS, OR

    FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS SHOT AT 50 THOUSAND MILES AND WERE REPLACED, REAR BRAKES SHOWED VERY LITTLE WEAR, 100,000 MILES AND ROTOR AND BRAKE WEAR ARE AGAIN EXCESSIVE AND NEED REPLACEMENT SOON, REAR BRAKES STILL OK AND ARE THE ORIGINALS. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE ALWAYS HAVE SEEMED INADEQUATE, AS IF THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT SELF ADJUST THEY WERE CHECKED AND CLEANED AND DETERMINED TO BE WORKING OK. I DO PERFORM THE REVERSE AND BRAKE TECHNIQUE TO ADJUST THEM. BOTTOM LINE "THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT SELF ADJUST AND BRAKING IS WHOLLY ON THE FRONT BRAKES PREMATURELY WEARING OUT ROTORS AND PADS!" *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - LAKE MARY, FL

    I PARKED MY CAR IN MY GARAGE (AS I ALWAYS DO, MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT)AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM A SPORTING EVENT AT A LOCAL ARENA. I WAS IN MY HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES, MY DOG STARTED ACTING FUNNY, THEN THE SMOKE ALARM WENT OFF IN THE HOUSE. I WENT TO CHECK IT, SAW SMOKE COMING IN MY KITCHEN FROM THE TOP OF THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE DOOR TO FIND FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER OF MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. HE GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN IN THE GARAGE AND PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER DID NOTHING TO HELP PUT OUT THE FIRE AND IT JUST STARTED TO GET BIGGER. I CALLED 911 AND WAS ADVISED TO EXIT THE HOME. WE WENT OUTSIDE GRABBED GARDEN HOSES TO CONTINUE TO PUT OUT OR CONTAIN THE FIRE BUT IT KEPT GROWING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. MY ENTIRE GARAGE WENT UP IN FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, MY KITCHEN IS COMPLETELY BURNED AS WELL. MY ENTIRE HOUSE IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED FROM HEAT AND SMOKE DAMAGE. THE HOUSE AND ALL IT'S CONTENTS ARE CONSIDERED UNUSABLE AND WE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR CONFIRMED THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT GAVE NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT EXACT PART. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD ESCAPE
    - AUSTIN, TX

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LATCH WOULD SPORADICALLY OPEN INDEPENDENTLY. IN WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE