2003 Ford Escape complaints

I PURCHED MY NEW VEHICLE ON 7/12/03 AND ON 3/3/04 UPON OPENING MY DRIVER DOOR, I HEARD A CLANKING NOISE AND THE DRIVER DOOR FELL OFF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I LOCATED THE TOP PIN INSIDE THE CAR BUT THE CLIP WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. I CLOSED THE DOOR & CLIMED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER (NOT WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM) TO GET IT FIXED. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND THEY WERE VERY SUPRISED. BUT, FROM WHAT I JUST READ.... ITS HAPPENED BEFORE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CLIP SO THEY JERRY-RIGGED SOMETHING TO HOLD THE PIN IN PLACE. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND 2ND GEAR ON ITS OWN. *PH THE GEAR INDICATOR STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE, WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THEN RETURNED, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE HE HAD LEFT IT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WORE A SEAT BELT. *AK

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMER, THE ESCAPE INTERMITTEDLY WILL NOT START. TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7 TIMES OF CRANKING BEFORE SUV STARTS. OCCURED FIRST IN AUG., THE FORD SHOP REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. ONE MONTH LATER DOESN'T START AGAIN. FORD SHOP LEFT TICKET OPEN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. IN OCTOBER, HAPPENS AGAIN. NOW THEY HAVE INSTALLED A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT I HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON AS I'M CRANKING IF THE CAR DOESN'T START. THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS ONLY GOOD FOR 1 WEEK, HAVE TO KEEP GOING IN TO HAVE IT RESET.

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE WHICH I PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2003 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE FUEL INJECTORS. WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND DESTROYED. THE FLAMES ALSO PENETRATED THROUGH THE FIRE WALL WITHIN LITTLE TIME. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. AT THIS TIME I HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE TO MY CALLS TO FORD REGARDING THIS EXTREME MALFUNCTION.

TO START, MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 36,000 MILES. IT IS A COMPANY VEHICLE THAT I'M ABLE TO USE PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A QUICK TRIP TO TOWN AND THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE GAS. LUCKILY I ACTED QUICKLY AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE SAFELY. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ON THE FLOORBOARD THAT WAS CAUSING CONSTANT ACCELERATION, THERE WASN'T. I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND THE RPM'S SORED TO 4 WITH BEING IN PARK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS VEHICLE HAD PERFORMED IN THIS MANNER. I MUST SAY THAT THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTNING. I WASN'T SURE I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

UPON TURNING THE IGNITION TO THE "ON" POSITION IN MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE, THE SUNROOF WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF BETWEEN 10-15 MINUTES, AND THEN RESTARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 4 WEEK PERIOD. *NLM

I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD ESCAPE IN NOVEMBER 2002 AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY SUV OVER 5 TIMES. RIGHT NOW, MY SUV IS IN THE SHOP FOR A COOLANT SYSTEM REPLACEMENT AND A RADIO REPLACEMENT. MY RADIO WAS REPLACED TWICE THIS YEAR ALREADY. MY SUV WOULDN'T START TWICE THIS YEAR. I BELIEVE I HAVE DRIVEN A LOANER CAR AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE NOV 2003. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH MY SUV. I FEEL IT IS A LEMON. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME SINCE DAY ONE. *LA

THE SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE CONSUMER STATED PIECES OF GLASS FELL INTO THE FRONT SEAT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB

WHEN DRIVING OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE, THE CAR'S ENGINE SPEED WOULD SUDDENLY JUMP FROM 1,500 RPMS TO AS HIGH AS 4,000+ RPMS WHILE BRAKING. SAME DEAL WHILE TRYING TO COAST TO A STOP - THE PEDAL SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN POSITION AND ENGINE RPMS WOULD NOT DECREASE. THE CAR WAS NURSED TO THE CLOSEST TOWN AND TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THE SHOP FOREMAN DID AN ON-THE-SPOT DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT TAKING A REAL LOOK UNDER THE HOOD STATING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BINDING. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S BRAKES. WE ASKED FOR AN APPRAISAL OF THE BRAKES, AND FOUR INDIVIDUAL FORD PERSONNEL (ONE SHOP FOREMAN, ONE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, AND TWO SEPARATE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL) STATED THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED WAS UNNECESSARY WEAR DIRECTLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH FORD WERE WILLING TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY. THE FINAL PERSON WE SPOKE WITH WENT SO FAR AS TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD US THE CAR. THE ANALOGY GIVEN WAS THAT ALL FORD DEALERSHIPS ARE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS WITH A FORD VEHICLE IS THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE RELOCATING FROM THE EAST COAST TO ALASKA. IT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT FORD CARES NOT AT ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THEIR PRODUCTS - PEOPLE WHO RIG

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP. THE CONTINENTAL TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ENGINE, AND WINDOWS.*MR PRIOR TO DATE, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SIX TIMES FOR: DIFFICULTY IN CRANKING, CLINKING NOISES IN THE ENGINE AND DIFFICULTY WITH THE IDLE. DESPITE THE LATEST SERVICE, CRANKING AND IDLING CONTINUED. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE RECURRING PROBLEMS WHICH CONTINUED TO EXIST. CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED THE REAR WINDOW LEAKED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE IS A DEFECTIVE AND INFERIOR PRODUCT. *PH *NLM

ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME, WHEN I TRY TO START UP FROM A STOP THE ACCELERATOR WILL NOT GO DOWN UNDER GRADUAL PRESSURE. I HAVE TO PUSH HARDER AND HARDER UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY JERKS DOWN AND THE CAR SURGES AHEAD AT A FAST SPEED. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AND I TRY TO SPEED UP, THE SAME THING HAPPENS. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING ON GOOD ROADS, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON SLIPPERY OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP (GERMAIN FORD OF COLUMBUS) AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS BUT HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAVE JUST PUT A RANDOM DATE DOWN BECAUSE IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK, THE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY CAME OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. *AK

SIZZLING NOISE WHEN AIR CONDITION IS USED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN TO 2 SEPARATE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS. KEARNY MESA FORD (ORIGINAL DEALER) AND NORTH COUNTY FORD BOTH CLAIM NOT TO BE ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST!!! *LA

HELLO. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW FORD ESCAPE WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES IN JUNE 2003. TIRE MODEL: CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV TIRE MODEL #: 235/70R16 WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, WITH SIDEWALL AND TREAD SEPARATION, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPLEASANT SITUATION, THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE VEHICLE (AND TIRES) HAVE 5K MILES. THERE WAS NO LOAD OR OTHER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME. I AM WRITING FOR SEVERAL REASONS: 1. WHERE DO I OFFICIALLY REPORT SUCH AN INCIDENT AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE? 2. WHERE CAN I OBTAIN SAFETY RATINGS REGARDING THIS TIRE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SUV TIRES? THANK YOU, SINCERELY, JOHN W. COLE, MD DETAILS OF INCIDENT: FORD ESCAPE TIRE BLOWOUT FORD ESCAPE, PURCHASED JUNE 2003, APPROX 4900 TOTAL MILES CONTINENTAL TIRES (STOCK TIRE WITH VEHICLE) DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT: 9/25/03, 8:20 PM WIFE AND SON (10 WEEKS OLD) DRIVING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 50, CROSSING SEVERN RIVER BRIDGE. TRAVELING AT 60 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. LOUD POP HEARD BY WIFE AND DRIVER REAR TIRE BLOWS OUT. WIFE AND INFANT SON TRAPPED AT FAR SIDE OF BRIDGE, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. POLICE CALLED, SET UP FLARES, AND NOTIFIED TOW COMPANY. TOW COMPANY STATED SUPPLIED JACK WOULD NOT LIFT THE TRUCK CHASSIS HIGH ENOUGH TO PUT ON SPARE!! TOW COMPANY USED ADDITIONAL JACK TO RAISE CHASSIS. KEY ISSUES: SUV PURCHASED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. TIRE NEW, WITH LITTLE MILEAGE. BLOWOUT OCCURS ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT R

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (TIRE SIZE P235.70R16) . DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE BRAKES AND ROTORS FAILED WHICH CAUSED NOISE WHILE BRAKING. *AK *NLM

EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS RADIATE EXCESSIVE HEAT WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED. HEADER, MANIFOLD, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMBINED TEMPERATURES CAUSE SCORCHING OF GRASS WHEN PARKED IN A LOWLY-CUT, GRASSY AREA. RAMIFICATIONS COULD BE SAFETY IMPACTS TO OCCUPANTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL.

WHILE AT A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A BUILDING. *AK

WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, IT MOVED ONLY IN REVERSE, REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SELECTION. THIS WAS ONLY REMEDIED AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. *JB

THERE WAS A GROANING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP BUT IDLING. THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THE STEERING PUMP AND PRESSURE LINE HAD RUPTURED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING FLUID BEING CONTAMINATED. *AK *SCC *JB

WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM VENT AREA INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A BAD SMELL. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN THE RAIN WATER CAMES THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FRAME. THE WATER WENT DOWN INTO THE ELECTRICAL BUTTONS ON DOOR PANEL. FORD REPLACED ALL THE RUBBER SEALS BUT IT STILL LEAKS. *AK

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. AFTER THE 2ND TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER, IT IS STILL HAPPENING. NOW IT IS HAPPENING IN DRIVE AS WELL. I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE DECEMBER 2002 AND IT HAS STALLED OUT A TOTAL OF 11 TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS 8000 MILES ON IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FORD ESCAPE 2003 SUV,THE LEFT TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL(ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT,TIRE SIZEP235/70R16,DOT#UNAVAILABLE) DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. CONTINENTAL SUV TIRE.*AK

I HAVE COMPLAINED TWICE BEFORE ABOUT MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS NOW DONE IT A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS. THE MOST UNNERVING WAS WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15 MPH. IT HAS ALSO HESITATED AND BUCKED INTO AN INTERSECTION ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I CONTACTED THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND EXPRESSED MY SAFETY CONCERNS, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPRODUCABLE THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. MY DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPRODUCE THE STALL AND ARE UNABLE, AS AM I. THEY HAVE PERFORMED A TSB, INSTALLED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND A NEW CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. I NOW HAVE A VDR IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS A MAJOR DANGER TO MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS AND ANYONE WHO IS AROUND THE VEHICLE WHEN IT MAY STALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN I LOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I DO NOT TRUST THE VEHICLE AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN IT.*AK

IN MARCH 2003 VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND ACCELERATE, MAINTAIN SPEEDS WHILE FOOT OFF THE GAS (ONCE AT 65 MPH), & SHAKE LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL. A COUPLE TIMES IT EVEN SPED UP WHILE I WAS BRAKING AT RED LIGHTS. ON 4-10-03 SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DUPLICATE SYMPTOMS SINCE THEY ARE PARTICULARLY EXAGGERATED AFTER PARKED FOR AN HOUR OR SO. STATED THAT I COULD LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT (NO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OFFERED) OR WAIT UNTIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE THE CAR DID NOT FEEL SAFE, I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHICH OFFERED ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION. THE PROBLEMS SEEMED TO IMPROVE FOR A WEEK OR 2 BEFORE RETURNING, FOLLOWING EACH OF THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: 5/16/03 REPLACED THROTTLE BODY/IDLE AIR CONTROL/PCM REPROGRAMING; 6/6/03 REPAIR VACUUM TUBE/HOSE; 6/25/03 REPLACE PCM WITH NEW UPDATED PCM. TWO WEEKS LATER 7/12/03 OPERATION OF POWER LOCKS/WINDOWS, AND REAR WIPERS/DEFROST WERE GOING IN AND OUT WITH DASH ABS, BRAKE, AND BATTERY LIGHTS COMING ON CONCURRENTLY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN UNTIL 9 DAYS LATER WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO COME GET THE VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED THE CAR UP TO LEAVE. 7/21/03 ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. HESITATION, ACCELERATION, SHAKING, AND MAINTAINING SPEEDS, ALTHOUGH NOT AS FREQUENT, CONTINUE AND COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED BY FORD REPRESENTATIVE ON 8/4/03. I AM NOW CONTINUING TO PURSUE LEMON LAW PROCEDURES. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR AAA TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. CONTINENTAL, CONTITRAC SUV. *AK CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE TIRE WAS RIPPED IN A CIRCULAR TEAR. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T SUSTAIN ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE NOR DID THE VEHICLE. *PH *JB

WE BOUGHT MY ESCAPE XLT ON 5/26/03. ON 7/30/03, UPON EXITING MY VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FELL OFF. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT ISSUE ME A DIFFERENT ESCAPE UNLESS WE PAID $9K TOWARDS A NEW ONE AND I'VE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON MY NEW VEHICLE. THEY SAID THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE AND IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY MARKINGS IT RECEIVED FROM CONSUMER REPORTS. I FOUND THAT ON MARCH OF 2003 ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE LIKELY NOT THE ONLY ONES TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO US, LIKE THE FORD DEALERSHIPS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE. AFTER THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME, THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED, BUT UPON EXAMINATION WE NOTICED A PART HAD BEEN LEFT OFF AND MY DOOR WAS DAMAGED AND SCUFFED. WE HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND ARE PERSUING OUR OPTIONS. *JT

WHILE DRIVING AT 50/55 MPH VEHICLE DIED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.THE COST FOR REPAIRS WERE $114.21. *AK *CB

ESCAPE STALLED FOR THE FOURTH TIME. I DID HAVE A VDR IN THE VEHICLE FOR 5 WEEKS BUT IT DID NOT STALL DURING THAT TIME. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS SAFE TO TAKE IT OUT BECAUSE IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. WELL IT DID AND I LOST ALL BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY. *PH

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. *AK *TS *JB

3 WEEKS AFTER BUYING VEHICLE IT STARTED MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT WAS NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR. *AK

2003 FORD ESCAPE V-6 AUTOMATIC VEHICLE STALLED ON FREEWAY FOR NO REASON. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. ON APRIL 17, 2003 I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN VACAVILLE WITH A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES MAKING A GRINDING NOISE (25,503 MILES). THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE AND CHECKED THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE MEASURED THE BRAKE PADS AT ABOVE 5MM OF PAD REMAINING. THE NOISE CONTINUED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 27, 2003 (28,720 MILES). THIS TIME THEY HEARD THE NOISE AS WELL AS A BEARING NOISE. THEY MEASURED THE BRAKES AT 3MM AND TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS MAY BE WARPED. I LEFT THE VEHICLE FOR THE BEARING REPAIR AND RECEIVED A PHONE MESSAGE (ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE) THAT THEY RE-MEASURED THAT BRAKE PADS AND FOUND THEM TO BE 2MM NOT 3MM. THEY DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE ROTORS. I ASKED ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PADS OR THE ROTORS. I CALLED MY BROTHER-IN-LAW THAT WORKS FOR FORD AND TOLD HIM ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE. HE MADE SOME PHONE CALLS AND FOUND OUT FROM ONE OF FORD'S ENGINEERS THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE WEAR (BOTH PADS AND ROTORS) ON THE ESCAPE AND THE FORD FOCUS. TODAY (30,270 MILES) I TOOK MY ESCAPE TO MIDAS AND HAD A BRAKE INSPECTION. THE MIDAS EMPLOYEE SAID THAT THE ROTORS ARE WORN DOWN BELOW SPECS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT WEAR THAT QUICKLY. AS TO THE PADS HE SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE CERAMIC PADS. I WENT TO T

PREVIOUS COMPLAINT: STALLING OF 2003 ESCAPE. I RETURNED VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW EEC AND TROUBLE SHOT THE SYSTEM. THE WORK PERFORMED DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW IT IS SEVEN DAYS LATER AND THE STALLING HAS RETURNED. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT REVEL ANY PROBLEMS SO THIS MORE THAN LIKELY WILL BE AN ONGOING ISSUE. *JB

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. IT HAS STALLED AT LEAST TEN TO TWELVE TIMES IN THE LAST 14 DAYS. THE CONDITIONS DURING THE STALLING VARY: ON AN INCLINE, COMING TO STOP AND ON STRAIGHT AWAY LEVEL TERRAIN. IT HAS ALSO STALLED AND RESTARTED MUCH LIKE A HESITATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH AND THE THROTTLE STUCK. DRIVER HAD TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WASN'T SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN.*AK

ENGINE STALLING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMP IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER, HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE KNUCKLE SEPARATION OFF THE SUSPENSION CAUSED ACCIDENT. *NLM

MY ESCAPE STALLED 2 TIMES LAST MONTH. I TOOK IT INTO BE SERVICED WHERE I WAS ASSURED THEY DID EVERYTHING NECESSARY ON THE TSB. IT STALLED AGAIN TODAY AND I TOOK IT BACK. I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS STALLING AND THEY HAVE EQUIPPED THE CAR WITH A BUTTON THAT I AM TO PUSH WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEN RETURN. THIS DOES NOT SOUND SAFE TO ME CONSIDERING I DRIVE ALMOST 50 MILES A DAY, PLUS IT IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. *NLM

REAR HATCH - SHEET METAL AROUND PLASTIC TRIM PIECE USED FOR HANDLE AND SPACE BETWEEN WINDOW AND HANDLE DENT EASILY DURING NORMAL OPENING AND CLOSING. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FOR ESTIMATES SAYS THIS HAPPENS ALOT. AREA SHOULD BE REINFORCED OR HATCH SHOULD BE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL LIKE THE MINI-VANS. *NLM

BINDING OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM IDLE; PEDAL DIFFICULT AT TIMES [INTERMITTENT PROBLEM] TO PUSH SMOOTHLY, CAUSING UNEVEN AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *NLM

GAS PEDAL STUCK AND THERE WA SSUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM SIMILAR TO ODI 10018602, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES A "SIZZLING" NOISE WAS HEARD. THE MUFFLER LOOKED LIKE IT TURNED A REDDISH COLOR. CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT MUFFLER WAS CORRODED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO START UP THE VEHICLE AGAIN. *TT

GAS PEDAL STICKS AT IDLE WHEN IN GEAR. MUST PRESS WITH INCREASED PRESSURE THEN SUDDENLY RELEASES, LUNGING FORWARD. THIS IS A COMPANY VEHICLE AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS COMPANY HAS THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB