2003 Ford Escape complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD WHEN THE SMELL OF FUEL AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE SPARK PLUGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,200. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD AND STRIPPED THE TREADS IN THE HEADS. UPDATED 09/13/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,400. UPDATED 8/28/12 CN UPDATED 08/29/12. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY ESCAPE, THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING/THUMPING NOISE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I REMOVED THE TIRES AND NOTICE THAT BOTH THE FRONT DISK BRAKES ROTORS WHERE DE-LAMINATING. WITH YOU FINGER NAIL YOU COULD PULL OFF HUNKS OF METAL. I STILL HAVE BOTH ROTORS. AND THE BRAKES HAD ONLY ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THEM. BRAKE JOB WAS DONE BY A FORD DEALER. THE DISK WHERE TURNED AND THEY ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND THEY BOTH INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED UNTIL THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE A TEMPORARY REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED WHICH CONSISTED OF DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE RECALL TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A CITATION WAS ISSUED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THERE WERE MINOR SCRATCHES TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,016.

I HAD JUST STEPPED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR (HARDER THAN USUAL) TO PASS TWO SEMI'S. THE THROTTLE STUCK IN FULL SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY TURNING THE KEY OFF AND PULLING OFF TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER CALLING THE FORD DEALER AT ALBERT LEA MINNESOTA HE SUGGESTED THAT I LOOK AROUND IN THE ARE WHERE THE RUBBER AIR INTAKE IS AND IF POSSIBLE TAKE THE RUBBER INTAKE OFF AND FEEL AROUND INSIDE. WHILE DOING THAT I COULD SEE THAT THE SHAFT AT THE END OF THE CRUISE CABLE HAD JAMMED UP AGAINST THE ENGINE COVER AND LOCKED UP AT FULL SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE IT BACK INTO DRIVABLE POSITION AND CALLED THE ALBERT LEA DEALER TO TELL THEM WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. THEN I STOPPED AT THE FORD DEALER IN ROCHESTER MINNESOTA TO TAKE A LOOK AT TELL ME IF THE CAR WAS SAFE. THEY TOOK THE ENGINE COVER OFF AND TOLD ME IT WAS GOOD TO DRIVE. LATER I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE TOOK IT ONE STEP FARTHER BY DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE FROM THE THROTTLE CONTROL SHAFT. I WILL BE INSISTING THAT FORD DO THE FIX TO RAISE THE ENGINE COVER AND REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS THE CABLE FOR THE CRUISE IS BENT NEAR THROTTLE CONTROL END. *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS I APPROACHED A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. THE PEDAL STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED PARTIALLY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND I ESCAPED BEING INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS SINCE STUCK ON OTHER OCCASIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:04V165000(POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE(TCM.PCM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

FRIEND HAD JUST INSTALLED FUEL FILTER ON CAR. WAS TESTING CAR - HAD CAR IN PARK - FLOORED ACCELERATOR, ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. WOULDN'T BUDGE. THEY OPENED UP HOOD AND HAD TO CUT CRUISE CONTROL CABLE TO MAKE SHORTER THIS AUTO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECALLED FOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND BEEN REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK AS A RESULT OF THIS NOT BEING DONE PROPERLY. I BELIEVE IT WAS DONE BEFORE THEY CORRECTED THE WAY THEY WERE DOING IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. MOST RECENTLY, THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FOR 60MPH TO OVER 100MPH IN 2 MILES. THE ENGINE REACHED 7000RPM. THE BRAKES AND PARKING BRAKE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY TURNING THE IGNITION OFF. UPDATED 09/06/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO COOL AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER CLEANED OUT THE THROTTLE BODY AND STATED THAT ICE WAS BUILDING UP AROUND THE CARBURETOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THERE WAS A CONSTANT BEEPING SOUND IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THERE WAS A CODE#B1869 STATING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS AND BODY HARNESSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD BE AN EXPENSE OF $686 TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

SUDDEN ABS FAILURE SMALL ACCIDENT.TOOK ABS RELAY OUT AFTER THIS BRAKES WORK FINE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BOUNCED ABNORMALLY WHEN DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR RELEASED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ABS MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE A WARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REPEATEDLY FLASHES WARNING CODE#47. LIC MECH CAN CLEAN CONNECTOR CONTACTS AND RESET COMPUTER CODE BUT IF WON'T RESET, BAG(S) MAY NOT DEPLOY. MECH ADVISES PROB IS WELL KNOWN OCCURRENCE W/ 1999-2005 FORD ESCAPES. CODES#46/47 (DRIVERS SEAT/RT FRT PASSENGER SEAT) APPEARING AS A RESULT OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES FOR AIRBAG/PRETENSIONER SEAT BELT SYSTEM. ONLY FIX IF LIGHT STAYS ON AND CAN'T BE RESET IS TO REPLACE WIRE HARNESSES; COST $550+ (MUST REMOVE SEATS, PULL UP CARPET TO GAIN ACCESS TO HARNESS AND REPLACE SAME) . NHTSA INVESTIGATED ISSUE IN 1999 (ACTION# SQ99026 NOV.'99-MAY.-2000) BUT CLOSED CASE WITH NO FURTHER ACTION. INTERNET INQUIRY INDICATES LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT ABOVE AND ALSO FAILURE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN ACCIDENTS. INTERNET INDICATES ISSUE INVOLVES MAZDA TRIBUTES ALSO AS FORD ASSOCIATED WITH MAZDA AND USES SAME HARNESS AND SYSTEM. FORD APPARENTLY HAS A REPLACEMENT HARNESS TO FIX PROBLEM BUT OWNERS MUST PAY FOR PART AND LABOR AS FORD DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *JS

WHEN I AM DRIVING MY CAR WILL TRY TO DIE AND ALL GAUGES WILL GO TO THE HIGHEST RPM, SPEED, AND FULL GAS, THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO ZERO AND THEN PROCEED TO THE SPEED I WAS GOING, THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL KEEP FLASHING BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN I RESEARCHED IT, IT SEEMS THAT ON MORE THAN TEN OCCASIONS IF NOT MORE ARE HAVING THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND NO GARAGE CAN FIGURE OUT, THEY TRY REPLACING ALTERNATORS, BATTERIES, AND WIRES AND GROUNDS AND NOTHING IS WORKING, IT CAN'T BE READ ON CODES BECAUSE NOTHING IS SHOWING UP. IF YOU ASK ME THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IF YOU SEARCH IT IN BING OVER TWO HUNDRED MATCHES COMES UP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS CORROSION OF THE SUB FRAME BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS TURNING RIGHT AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BEFORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR JUST ABOVE THE TIRES THE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF AND HAS STARTED TO RUST. *TR

WHEN I RECENTLY HAD MY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK ON MY VEHICLE I WAS HORRIFIED WHEN MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT! CAN YOU IMAGINE MY UTTER SHOCK WHEN MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE IS PROHIBITED TO BE DRIVEN SINCE CATASTROPHIC OUTCOMES WOULD BE LIKELY? HOW VERY FORTUNATE NOTHING FATAL TOOK PLACE WHILE BEING IN THIS VEHICLE; BECAUSE BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THE SUB FRAME IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY REALITY TO SUFFER DETRIMENTAL CONSEQUENCES. MY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE IN THIS SUV EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TO THINK THEIR LIVES WERE AT RISK JUST BY BEING A PASSENGER HAS SICKENED ME BEYOND WORDS. I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO GET IT REPAIRED ASAP, SO I INFORMED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS INSTRUCTED BY THEIR WEBSITE AND ALL THEY COULD DO WAS APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. THIS FRIGHTENING SITUATION GOES FAR BEYOND FROM BEING AN INCONVENIENCE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. I WAS NOT ASKING FORD FOR A NEW VEHICLE, I SIMPLY WAS ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE TOWARDS A MAJOR EXPENSE THAT WAS NOT CAUSED BY MY LACK OF PROTECTING MY MAJOR INVESTMENT WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECKS BUT BY FORD HAVING DEFECTIVE SUB-FRAMES INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLES. MY MECHANIC HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A STRUCTURAL DEFECT AS THIS EVER BEFORE! FORD HAS ALREADY MANUFACTURED VEHICLES THAT INVOLVED MAJOR RECALLS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, SO QUITE NATURALLY OTHER FORD MODELS COULD SUFFER THE SAME DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES WITH R

THIS VEHICLE HAS A BAD MISFIRE PROBLEM,ROUGH IDLE AS WELL AS BAD HITCHING ON HIGHWAY. LOOKED IT UP ON YAHOO ANSWERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. I'M HEARING FAULTY COMPUTERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAKAGE ON HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE BRAKE HOSE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATES CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT TURN ON *TGW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BOLTS WERE SLIDING OR BREAKING OFF AND AS A RESULT, THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACED THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,045.

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, BACK TIRE BLEW OUT, CAR SPUN, LOST CONTROL, ROLLED X 2. CAR LANDED ON ROOF. DRIVER HAD MINER INJURIES, CUTS, BRUISES, TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, RELEASED FROM E.D. IN 2 HOURS.CAR IS TOTAL LOSS. TIRES ALL WITH MINIMAL WEAR, LOTS OF TREAD, WARRATIED FOR 60,000 MILES, THIS TIRE FAILED AT 30,000 MILES. *TR

THE VEHICLE STALLS (LOSES ALL POWER AND COMES TO A HALT) AT LOW SPEEDS EVEN SOMETIMES IN REVERSE GEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED AT PARKING LOTS AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN I AM JUST ABOUT TO TAKE OFF AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ONLY HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, HAVE GOTTEN THE COMPUTER MODULE REPROGRAMMED, CHANGED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, IDLER CONTROLLER VALVE AND RELAY SO FAR. NONE OF THESE HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, THE CAR IS BACK WITH THE MECHANIC FOR OTHER CHECKS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERY INTERMITTENT, IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT!. TAKING THE KEY OUT AND PUTTING IT BACK AND STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN GETS ME MOVING AGAIN!. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY NOT TO BE HIT BY ANYONE FROM BEHIND!. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE LOW SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME FAILED DUE TO RUST. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

PAINT OF FORD ESCAPE 2003 PEELING ON THE FRONT. THERE ARE TWO LARGE SPOTS ABOUT 1 SQUARE FOOT EACH. I HAVE CALLED FORD IN GREENVILLE, SC FEW TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WITH TWO 3/8 OF AN INCH SIZE FLAKES. THE SUV HAS BEEN GARAGED AND HAS BEEN TAKEN GOOD CARE OF HOWEVER NOW THE PAINT IS FLAKING WITH SECTIONS AT A TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE SEEN THE EXACT SAME MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ENTER ANOTHER FORD ESCAPE ASSUMING IT WAS MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITY WITH THE PAINT. THERE ARE SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/FORD/ESCAPE/2003/CONSUMER-DISCUSSIONS.HTML MY CONCERN IS THAT FORD HAS FAILED TO REMEDIATE THIS ISSUE WITH ITS ACTIVE CUSTOMER BASE AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE NOTED AS GROSS NEGLIGENCE. *TR

ABS LIGHT ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE KEEPS COMING ON....WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY FORD ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS...ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE IN IT ONLY HAD IT FOR 37,000 MILES WHEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE....FORD DOES NOT NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT MODULE WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRUALIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THIRTY MINUTES WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE. THE HOOD WAS THEN RAISED AND FLAMES WERE ALSO COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE, BUT THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT WHICH WAS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS LOCATED AT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE CONTROL BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND REPORT THEIR FINDINGS TO THE CONTACT. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER, NOR INSURANCE COMPANY WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPENING THE REAR LIFTGATE AND RETRIEVING AN ITEM FROM THE BACK SEAT, THE LIFT GATE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE HEAD. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V602000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,995 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DETECTED THAT BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE CORRODED. ONE OF THE STRAPS WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FUEL TANK AND THE SECOND STRAP WAS PARTIALLY ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 11/07/11

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

SUDDEN FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM. ABS LIGHT NOT OPERATING ON DASHBOARD INDICATOR PANEL.

WE HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS CAME ON AND WENT OFF SPORADICALLY IN THE PAST 3 YEARS BUT WENT OUT. THIS TIME IT HAS STAYED ON SO WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SEAT BELT WIRING HARNESS ON BOTH THE FRONT SEATS WAS BAD AND IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN WATER SO THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE WIRES TO BE BAD OTHER THEN THEY WHERE INADEQUATE TO BEGIN WITH. THEY SAID TO FIX IT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE SEATS PULL THE CARPET BACK AND REPLACE THE HARNESSES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW ZERO. THE CONTACTS PERSONAL MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE WAS FREEZING IN THE OPEN POSITION AND SEEMED TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

2003 FORD ESCAPE RECALL - #07V156000 RECALL FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC : ANTILOCK : CONTROL UNIT/MODULE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE AUGUST 2005. APPARENTLY IN 2007 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BRAKE ISSUE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, NOR DID ANY DEALER ATTEND TO THIS ISSUE DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE. I CONTACTED FORD SEPTEMBER 2010 WHEN MY ANTI LOCK LIGHT STARTED TO APPEAR ON MY DASH. FORD DID NOT LIST ME AS THE OWNER EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THROUGH A REPUTABLE DEALER AND HAD MY INFO STORED ON THEIR OWNERS WEB PAGE, AND HAVE ALL BILL OF SALES INFO ON FILE. WHILE TALKING TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON IT WAS CLEAR THAT HE WAS EDITING THE RECORD TO SOMEHOW SHOW THAT I EITHER KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL OR THAT SOME DEALER INSPECTED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WHEN I ASKED TO TALK TO A MANAGER, I WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR OVER 30 MINUTES AND FINALLY HUNG UP. I THEN SENT AN EMAIL COMPLAINING. FORD WROTE BACK THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS AS THE CAMPAIGN IS OVER. I NOW HAVE A VERY SERIOUS ANTI LOCK BRAKE ISSUE. THE ANTI LOCK MECHANISM HAS NOW FAILED. I WISH THE NHTSA TO HELP ME GET FORD TO FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE I OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2005, THE RECALL WAS IN 2007, FORD NEVER TRIED TO CONTACT ME ON THIS RECALL, AND NO FORD DEALER EVER INSPECTED MY VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR