Page 10 of 12 · complaints 451–500 of 558

2003 Ford Escape complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →

Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Linkages
Filed Jul 2, 2005260,000 milesMI

SITTING IN VEHICLE IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND HEARD LOUD POP SOUND. I NOTICED THE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED. I LATER CONCLUDED THAT THE REAR WINDOW SHOCKS HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED THE REAR WINDOW.

Tires
Filed Jun 8, 2005AL

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. SHE STATES VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD HER THAT TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED. HAS PURCHASED ONE NEW TIRE, BUT SHE WAS GOING TO PURCHASE THE OTHER NEW TIRES TOMORROW.*AK

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jun 3, 2005VT

DT: THE TIRES SIDEWALL BLEW OUT ON TWO DIFFERENT TIRES ON PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE.. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. CALLER HAS NOT CALLED DEALER OR MANUFACTURER YET. A RECALL ON A SIMILAR TIRE BUT NOT ON THESE TIRES. TIRE SIZE P235/70R16.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed May 16, 2005VI

THE PRESENT IS IN REFERENCE TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE 2003 FORD ESCAPE. I PURCHASED THIS SAID VEHICLE ON MAY 05, 2004, WHICH WAS SOLD TO ME AS A DEMO. SINCE THEN I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT YET HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED DUE TO THE FACT, THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ITS SOURCE. SINCE AUGUST 2004 I'VE BEEN REPORTING THAT WHEN MY CAR SITS FOR A WHILE EITHER IN THE MORNING OR IN THE AFTERNOON IT GIVES ME A HARD TIME TO START UP, THIS IS NOT A SEQUENCE LIKE PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT FINDING THE PROBLEM IT CAN'T BE DIAGNOSED, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND I CAN'T AFFORD BEING IN THE DEALER ALL THE TIME MISSING HOURS OF WORK WITHOUT PAY AND ALSO STAYING WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. NOT TO MENTION THAT I'M HAVING EXTRA EXPENSES WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD AND ALSO MANAGE TO PAY FOR THE CAR MONTHLY. BEING THAT ALL MY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS I RESORT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS. ON FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2005, I SPOKE TO MR. ESCOBAR WHICH IS A TECHNICIAN FROM PUERTO RICO AND HE ARRANGED THAT ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2005 I LEAVE MY VEHICLE ON THE PREMISES OF METRO MOTORS OVERNIGHT AND THEY WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A LONER FOR THE TIME BEING. MANAGEMENT CHANGED THE DATES AND MY CAR STAYED ON THE DEALERS PREMISES ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2005 TIL MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2005. YET STILL NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. THANKS GOD I HAVEN'T HAD NO ACCIDENTS BUT I WOULD REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT WHATS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM FOR MY O

Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)
Filed May 11, 2005MI

ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON 96 EAST IN MICHIGAN. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 85 MPH AND REALIZED MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK OF FORD FOCUS SE MY2003. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME. SO I STOPPED MY CAR (WHILE ENGINE WAS STILL ROARING HEAVILY), PUT IT INTO THE NEUTRAL & KEY OFF THE IGNITION. AFTER I KEY ON, PROBLEM DISAPPEARED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 21, 200524,000 milesKY

WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR TWO DAYS OR MORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE LOUD GRAINING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLEAN THE EXCESSIVE RUST BUILD UP AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES THAT WOULD HELP REMOVED THE EXCESSIVE RUST BUILD UP. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Apr 6, 200531,000 milesMA

THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE PADS SEPARATED, AND THAT WAS WHY SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE PARKING BRAKES FROZE ONCE THE BRAKES WERE ON AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE BRAKES WITHOUT GETTING UNDER THE VEHICLE TO PULL THE CABLE. *AK *SC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 24, 200539,297 milesFL

INCIDENT: TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ON 9 MARCH MY TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE (XLT) FAILED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING EXCEPT AS I DROVE THAT MORNING THE CAR SEEMED NOT TO WANT TO GO FORWARD. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO BRING THE CAR TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. TO DATE, THE REASON OR CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 18, 200550,269 milesAZ

LTR TO FORD CONCERNING A SAFETY DEFECT RE DEFECTIVE WIRING OF THE SIDE AIRBAGS IN 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE FAULTY AIR BAG WIRING. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE AT THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. WHEN THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE FAULTY WIRING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 200 MILES OVER THE 50000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE MILEAGE WHILE WAITING FOR THE RECALLED PART TO ARRIVE. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 15, 2005CA

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN HIS 2003 FORD ESCAPE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 6 SIX OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Mar 1, 2005FL

THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED 6 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF HER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 11, 200530,000 milesID

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY HARDENED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE BRAKES BURN OUT VERY QUICKLY DRIVING UNDER THESE MOUNTAINOUS CONDITIONS. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAS HAD THE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Feb 9, 200522,000 milesNY

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V165000, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO MISS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STRUCK A TREE. CONSUMER MENTIONED THE ENGINE STALLING. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Feb 7, 2005CA

CONSUMER WANTS TO BE SURE THAT HE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE FOR 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *BF THE RECALL IS IN REFERENCE TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › CablesCrash2 injured
Filed Jan 26, 200525,000 milesIL

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A 4 LANE URBAN STREET (ON A RAINY DAY) AND APPROACHED AS "S" CURVE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING FORWARD AND SLID INTO THE NEXT LANE TO THE LEFT. NOT REALIZING WHAT WAS GOING ON, I GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND SLID TWO LANES TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN, MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN AND CROSSED ALL 4 LANES AND HIT A CONCRETE ABUTMENT, GOING UP THE ABUTMENT UNTIL I THOUGHT THE CAR WOULD GO OVER IT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THEN THE CAR CAME DOWN FROM THE ABUTMENT, SLID BACKWARDS SO THE REAR END THEN HIT THE ABUTMENT AND THEN THE CAR FLEW ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FOUR LANES WHERE IT STOPPED, FACING TRAFFIC. ONLY BECAUSE OF GOOD LUCK AND IT BEING EARLY IN THE MORNING DID THE CAR HIT NO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DAMAGE EXCEEDED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. JUST LAST WEEK I RECEIVED THE RECALL ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP (OVER 7 WEEKS LATER) AND WILL THEN GO TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED. HOWEVER, MY CAR'S VALUE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY PLUMMETED. I WILL PURSUE THIS WITH FORD.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 21, 2005NY

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THIS RESULTED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS UNDETERMINED. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 13, 2005MO

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V165000; FORD ISSUED AN ENGINE STALLING RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE ENGINE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VIN IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NM

Fuel System, OtherCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 6, 200514,891 milesMN

WE OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WE HEARD ABOUT A RECALL ON THE ESCAPE. SO ON DECEMBER 21, MY WIFE WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO GET HER CAR WASHED. WHILE SHE WAS THERE SHE ASKED THE SERVICES TECHNICIAN IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FORD ESCAPE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE TECH INFORMED HER THAT HE HAD HEARD THERE WAS ONE, BUT HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM FORD AND SAID NO MORE ABOUT IT. ON JANUARY 4TH 2005 AT ABOUT 5:00 AM MY WIFE ENTERED THE PARKING RAMP AT 12700 WHITEWATER DR, MINNETONKA, MN. SHE NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THERE IS A SPEED BUMP ENTERING THE RAMP. NEXT SHE PLACED HERE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND STARTED FORWARD. NEXT SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND STARTED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. NEXT SHE STARTED TO TURN IN TO A PARKING SPACE. THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW, THE ESCAPE ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CONCRETE PILLAR AND THE AIR BAGS HAD BEEN DEPLORED. WE CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP (MORRIES MINNETONKA FORD) AND THEY INFORMED US THEY WOULD FIX THE RECALL, BUT NOT THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD BY THEM TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS. WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING PHONE TAG WITH THE RELATIONS DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD BY MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY TO CALL YOU AND YOUR RECORDING INFORMED ME TO FILL OUT THIS FORM.*AK

Power Train
Filed Dec 22, 200412,300 milesPA

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Dec 22, 200435 milesDE

HOW CAN I GET A LIST OF VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS TO FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE IS EFFECTED IN A FORD RECALL. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 17, 200425 milesMD

MY WIFE, DONNA P. WRIGHT, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 12/10/2004 AT APPROX. 7:15 AM ON MARRIOTTSVILLE ROAD # 2 IN ELDERSBURG, MD. THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND FORD F350 TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER WITH A BOBCAT HEAVY EQUIPMENT. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AT THE TIME. THE FORD TRUCK WAS APPROACHING A CURVE WHEN ITS TRAILER JACKNIFED AND HIT MY WIFE'S FORD ESCAPE HEAD ON. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP OWNER WHO TOWED OUR CAR, THE FRAME WAS BENT IN TWO FEET. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, BUMPER, HOOD, RADIATOR AND BUMPER. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEEPLY. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES (CUTS AND BRUISES). I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT IF I WANTED TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND PAY FOR THE TEST OF THE SENSOR. I FIND THAT RATHER RIDICULOUS.*JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Dec 15, 2004VA

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2003 CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STARTING PROBLEMS. THERE HAD BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS, AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION SEVEN TIMES. COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Wheel Speed Sensor
Filed Dec 15, 200442,182 milesIN

WHILE ON A RETURN LONG DISTANCE ROAD TRIP MY ABS DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE LIGHT DID NOT RETURN UNTIL FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT A SPEED SENSOR HAD GONE BAD.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Dec 14, 200440 milesDE

I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIST OF RECALLS. RECALL 04S13 OCCURED BACK IN APR 2004, AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND IF MY VEHICLE IS STILL IN NEED OF REPAIR.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Dec 12, 200433,000 milesAL

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS, FROM A STOPPED POSITION. VERY HARD TO PUSH THEN THE TRUCK JERKS FORWARD. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Dec 9, 200446,324 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING FROM I66 TO VA28 N AFTER REGAINING 60 MPH THE CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP, APPLIED BRAKES BUT BRAKES OVERHEATED AND CAR KEPT GAINING SPEED. THEN REALIZED GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK OPEN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHUT ENGINE DOWN, RESTARTED AND QUICKLY MOVED TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD (HAD TO, CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC) RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THROTTLE CABLE. THEY SAID CABLE BECAME JAMMED. I CAN FIND NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE ONLINE DATABASE. I THINK THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND PERHAPS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Nov 23, 200415,153 milesCA

FORD ESCAPE XLT 2003 RAKE PADS WORN TO LESS THAN 4 MPH AND ROTORS WORN TO .910 AT 15,153 MILES. I CONSIDER THIS EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 18, 200440,000 milesMN

WHILE ACCELERATING AT A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 18, 20043,600 milesIN

1. VEHICLE HAD RECALL 04S13 PERFORMED FOR POSIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHEN DECELERATING. VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. VEHICLE WAS 19 MONTHS OLD WITH 3600 MILES AND HAD NOT HAD ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS.*AKI 2. 2 WEEKS AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE EXACT CONDITIONS THAT THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES USUALLY WHEN BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE EVERY TIME. THE LAST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AND ABOUT HALF WAY INTO A PARKING SPACE AND IT ACCELERATED OWN ITS OWN, THE FRONT WHEELS JUMPED A 6 INCH VERTICLE CURB, AND LEFT 5 FOOT SKID MARKS IN THE GRASS WHILE TRYING TO STOP. 3. THE DEALER HAS DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR. DEALER INSTALLED FLIGHT RECORDER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR. THEY REMOVED FLIGHT RECORDER AND A TECHNICIAN RODE IN VEHICLE THE PROBLEM OCCURED AND TECHNICIAN HAD VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO SHOP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND RETURNED VEHICLE. ACCELERATION OCCURED AGAIN THEY REINSTALLED FLIGHT RECORDER AND SAID THEY NEEDED THREE RECORDING TO DIAGNOIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT OCCURED YET AND DEALER IS CALKLING TO GET FLIGHT RECORDER BACK.

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Oct 19, 200423,275 milesAZ

ON 10/15/04 I HAD JUST ENTERED A 6 LANE INTERSTATE (HIGH SPEED URBAN TRAFFIC) AND HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE OVER 3 LANES AS THE RIGHT 2 LANES WERE EXIT ONLY ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM MY ENTRANCE POINT. AFTER ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO A GAP TO THE LEFT I FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND WAS ABOUT TO REAR END A FLATBED TRUCK. THE BRAKES HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON SLOWING THE CAR. AFTER SOME VIOLENT MANEUVERING AND SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND SWITCH THE IGNITION OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE PLASTIC COVERING HAD FRAYED/DISINTEGRATED, JAMMING THE CABLE SUCH THAT THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING(S) WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE THE THROTTLE. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID HE HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. HOWEVER, I DID A CURSORY SEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SIMILAR AND IDENTICAL INCIDENTS (ONLY SEARCHED 2003 MODEL YEAR AND ONLY "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL" COMPONENT). THERE WERE 8 INCIDENTS THAT WERE CLEARLY THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLES (10068000, 10015965, 10047388, 10023519, 10051175, 10024424, 10026817 AND 10082787) AND 6 THAT WERE PROBABLY/POSSIBLY THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLES (10018602, 10043060, 10062971, 10015506, 10092028 AND 10040552). THE SERIOUSNESS AND NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WOULD SEEM TO WARRANT INVESTIGATION/RECALL. I REQUESTED THE DEFEC

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 15, 20047,000 milesCA

WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE RACED AND SURGED INTO THE INTERSECTION. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 13, 2004IN

I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A DEFECT, BUT SEEMS TO ME WITH A 2003 SUV SHOULD NOT HAVE PAINT CHIPPING OFF (VERY SMALL ) , SO I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 28, 200450,842 milesCA

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED NECK AND HEMATOMA CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT. *NM THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND EVENTUALLY STAYING ON. CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. *TC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Sep 23, 2004CT

NHTSA RECALL 04V165000 SUBJECT: ENGINE STALLING. AFTER HAVING THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION REPROGRAMMED, THE VEHICLE STALL. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Sep 21, 200419,200 milesVA

COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKES - PADS AND ROTORS - WITH ONLY 19,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. REPLACED AT MY COST - ZERO ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM FORD. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ORIGINAL FORD BRAKES - REPLACEMENTS GENERALLY LAST LONGER.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 21, 2004VA

2001-2003 FORD ESCAPE RECALL FOR ENGINE STALL DOES NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH. DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE WAS MADE AFTER THE PROBLEM VEHICLES - BUT I PERIODICALLY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM, AND FORD WON'T DO A THING ABOUT IT. I JUST HAPPENED TO LEARN OF THE RECALL THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE.*AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 8, 2004CA

WHILE DRIVING TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. GENERAL TIRES, AMERITRAC, M+S, P225/70R15 100'S, DOT 0215041 CK 37710-34752, TREAD WEAR 420, TRACK A, TEMPERATURE B. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Aug 21, 2004CA

NEW CAR, OWNED 10 MONTHS. 16,000 MILES ON IT. SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE, NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER, IE; NO OVERHEATING, ALARM ETC. ENGINE REPLACED, 10 DAYS LATER DROVE ONLY 12 MILES ON NEW ENGINE. BLEW HEAD GASKET, AND ENGINE BEGAN TO BURN. AGAIN NO WARNING. *JB

Power Train › Driveline1 injured
Filed Aug 19, 200439,400 milesCA

CABLE ON VEHICLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE AND CAR ACCELERATOR UNCHECKED. I NEEDED TO"STAND" HARD ON MY BRAKES TO GET ANY CONTOL OF THE SPEED. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND TRANSITIONING TO ANOTHER FREEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP THE CAR WAS TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR ONCE I GOT NEAR THE SHOULDER AND USE THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. THE POWER FORD VALENCIA FORD DEALER, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, FOUND THE BROKEN CABLE AND NOW TELLS ME THAT FORD DOES NOT COVER THIS TYPE OF FAILURE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 10, 200421,121 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER MADE A TURN AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. FORD STATED THAT RECALL04V165000 WAS ISSUED. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Jul 27, 200440,000 milesOH

THE ACCELARATOR CABLE ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE STUCK AT 65 MPH. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY VERY HARD BRAKING AND THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIKE CASTRUCCI FORD IN MILFORD, OHIO. IT WAS LIKE TRYING TO BRAK WHILE I HAVE TO GAS FLOORED. VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

Electrical System
Filed Jul 25, 200415,000 milesIN

THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE (V6, AUTOMATIC) DIES WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE OCCASIONALLY. SINCE MID OF JUNE, 2004, IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES (TODAY IS JULY 25, 2004). WE HAVE SENT THE CAR TO FORD DEALER THREE TIMES ALREADY. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HENCE COULD NOT FIX IT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 21, 200435,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Jun 13, 200410 milesLA

2003 FORD ESCAPE SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT LOCK INTO PARK WITHOUT PUSHING LEVER FORWARD, DEALER REPLACED PARTS AND NOW CONDITION IS WORSE THAN BEFORE. SERVICE MANAGER STATES OTHER VEHICLES SAME YEAR MODEL CHECKED AND ALL PERFORM SIMULARLY. ALSO STATED FORD ENGINEERS ADVISED HIM THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 18, 2004IL

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Tires
Filed May 11, 200428,149 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CHANGE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE TIRE. CONTINENTAL, SIZE P235/70R16. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TIRE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 28, 200428,603 milesIL

ON MY WAY TO WORK YESTERDAY, I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY ONTO AN OFF-RAMP. I DID NOT HAVE THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED, YET THE TRUCK WAS ACCELERATING TO SPEEDS OVER 70 MPH. I TRIED PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE TRUCK. I FINALLY PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WHILE SITTING AT THE INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, STILL IN NEUTRAL, THE TRUCK'S ENGINE WAS REVVING HIGHER & HIGHER. THE TRUCK WAS LITERALLY ROCKING BACK & FORTH. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE & IT RACED ON. I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO ALLOW AMPLE SPACE IN-BETWEEN MY TRUCK & OTHER DRIVERS. I HAD 2 OTHER INTERSECTIONS TO GO THROUGH BEFORE ARRIVING AT MY WORK LOCATION. I WOULD CONTINUE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. IF I HADN'T OF REACTED SO QUICKLY, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO OTHER VEHICLES AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS IN THE STOP & GO TRAFFIC CLOSER TO MY HOME. THIS EXPERIENCE SHOOK ME UP FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I CONTACTED THE NEAREST FORD DEALER & WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEARLERSHIP. WITHIN MINUTES THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED & TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE UNDER WARRANTY & WITHIN A FEW HOURS, I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AGAIN. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO RESISTANCE WHILE PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. THEREFORE, I DID NOT NOTICE THIS PROBLE

Fuel System, Other
Filed Apr 26, 200411,593 milesMD

ENGINE STALLS AND HAS A LOSS OF POWER AT TIMES UNDER ACCELERATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 1, 200415,520 milesNJ

WHILE DRIVING DOWN RT 10 W AT 50 MPH MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE STALLED. I HAD TO SIT WITH MY HAZARDS ON, IN THE LEFT LANE OF THIS BUSY HIGHWAY, UNTIL THE POLICE COULD COME AND MOVE ME TO A SAFE PLACE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD IT IN REPAIR FOR15 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Mar 11, 2004OH

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. WHEN PLACING VEHICLE INTO GEAR CONSUMER MUST APPLY PRESSURE TO ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT RELEASES SUDDENLY IN A WAY WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHEN CONDITIONS ARE ICY THIS COMMON PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2003 Ford Escape → · Every Escape year → · How the figures are calculated →