2003 Ford Escape complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SNOW BANK. THERE WAS NO DAMAGED TO THE CONTACT OR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE BRAKE HOSES AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,120.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTTERED AND COMPLETELY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

PAINT DEFECTIVE ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH GOLD ASH PAINT. PEELING AROUND BACK WINDOW AND 3 LARGE PATCHES, OVER 6" IN DIAMETER, ON ROOF. *TR

SENSOR RINGS BROKEN ON A FORD ESCAPE 2003, BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. THE PAINT HAS STARTED PEELING OFF AROUND THE HATCH AT THE BACK. IT'S JUST BUBBLING UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE HAVE NEVER ABUSED THE CAR AND IT STILL HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

PAINT DEFECTIVE ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH GOLD ASH PAINT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED ONTO AN ENTRANCE RAMP, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI-LOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/14/2011 *CN UPDATED 03/09/11 *JB

I HAVE NEVER TRUSTED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. AFTER FIRST WINTER USAGE, THE SOUNDS IT MADE WHEN ENGAGED AND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL SOUNDED LIKE A RUBBING BUSHING OR SOMETHING WITHIN THE GEARBOX. 2 DEALERS SAID YOU COULDN'T REALLY TEST IT IN THE SUMMER, AS YOU NEEDED THE SNOW FOR IT TO ACTIVATE PROPERLY, BUT IT STILL BUCKS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, SO MUCH SO, THAT I DO NOT TRUST IT TO USE. I'VE OWNED JEEP 4WHEEL AND ALL- WHEEL VERSIONS, SO THAT IS WHY I DON'T TRUST IT. I KNOW FORD HAS OVER THE YEARS UPGRADED THIS SYSTEM, BUT IT WAS STILL A $1600 OPTION WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AND EXPECT IT TO WORK. HAVE THERE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AS I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAVE HAD 2 OTHER RECALL FIXES MADE. AFTER THE TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEM, I FEEL THIS IS OF EQUAL CONSEQUENCE. IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE WORSE WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE, RECENTLY PURCHASED PRE-OWNED. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS, WHILE PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP, SUDDENLY IT WAS AS IF THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, THE MOTOR WAS REVVING UP TO 4 GRAND....I PUT THE VEHICLE DRIVE THINKING MAYBE MY FLOOR MAT WAS STUCK UNDER IT, AS I PULLED TO A REDLIGHT, I ALMOST RAN THROUGH THE REDLIGHT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE ACCELERATION INCREASED AND IT TOOK ALL I HAD TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AS HARD AS I COULD. THE FLOORMATS WERE NOT THE PROBLEM.... I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD BABY IN THE BACK SEAT. I THEN TURNED THE ESCAPE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT, THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO BLOW, IT WAS REVVING UP TO 4 AND 5 GRAND. I THEN CALLED A MECHANIC I KNEW, HE CAME TO GET MY VEHICLE TO DRIVE IT BACK TO HIS SHOP. DURING HIS VERY VERY SHORT DRIVE, HE NEVER HAD TO PUT HIS FOOT ON THE GAS AT ALL, AND THE VEHICLE DROVE 40 MILES PER HOUR BY ITSELF... SO FAR, ALL WE KNOW IS THAT THE IAC VALVE HAD WENT BAD...(IDLE AIR CONTROL)....I HAVE HAD IT BACK A FEW DAYS AND NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME, ALTHOUGH I AM VERY CAREFUL AND SCARED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.... DURING RESEARCH, I FOUND THEIR WERE ALMOST 500,000 2003 MODEL FORD ESCAPES RECALLED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION. I CONTACTED 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, EXPLAINING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY BOTH ASSURED ME THAT "MY VEHICLE" WAS NOT ONE OF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATED THE FAILURE.THE FAILURE RECURRED ON JUNE 27,2010 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED,THEY STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NO OPEN RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V165000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

I OWNED A 2003 ESCAPE AND HAD A HEAD ON ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. NOT SURE WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ONE THE AIR BAGS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER CAME ON OR GAVE ME ANY PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE IT WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

2003 FORD ESCAPE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO BEING PUSHED/PULLED WHILE THE ENGINE REVVED. BRAKE WAS FULLY DEPRESSED AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH BRAKING. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS DISENGAGED TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE REVVED TO 5500 RPM. VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A SHOULDER AND SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO REV TO 5500 RPM AS SOON AS IT IS STARTED WITHOUT RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR. ACCELERATOR WAS NOT CAUGHT/STUCK TO ANYTHING JUST NON-RESPONSIVE. VEHICLE BEHAVIOR CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATION - FAILURE TO DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION BY ANOTHER 10 SECONDS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS COLLISION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED & REMAINS IN A REPAIR SHOP. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT BEHAVIOR AND MECHANIC HAS DETERMINED THIS IS DUE TO A STUCK THROTTLE CABLE. FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED & SERVICE MECHANIC NOTED HE HAS SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE BUT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. DEALER HAS REFUSED TO HONOR ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY/COVERAGE OF REPAIRS. RESEARCH OF FORD WEBSITE & NHTSA INDICATES NO OPEN/PREVIOUS RECALLS REGARDING ISSUE. THIRD-PARTY SITE CITES RECALL OF THROTTLE ISSUE AS RECALL ID 57885 W/ FORD CONTACT #, HOWEVER. *TR

THE PAINT IS PEELING AROUND THE WHEEL WELLS AND HAS STARTED TO RUST; CAUSING POSSIBLE INSTABILITY TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2003 FORD ESCAPES. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE? THERE WERE SOME CLAIMS THAT FORD IMPROPERLY PREPARED THE ESCAPE FOR PAINTING. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V602000, LATCHES, LOCKS LINKAGES, DOORS LATCH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

ON 4/25/2010 I HAD A PERSON RUN AN INTERSECTION CAUSING ME TO HIT THEM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE. MY FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL WERE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE AS WELL. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS DOING THE SAME THING. I DROVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. IT WAS TOTALED IN THE CRASH. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEEP ME SAFE. I STILL GOT HURT WITH A HURT NECK AND BACK. *TR

REAR LIFTGATE AND REAR WINDOW JUST STOPPED WORKING IN 2008, IN MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE REAR LIFTGATE AND REAR WINDOW WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN. I CAN NOT REPLACE MY TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, OR HAVE ANY REPAIRS DONE THAT REQUIRE ACCESS TO THE REAR LIFTGATE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR 2003 FORD ESCAPES. REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO FIX THIS DEFECTIVE PART SINCE 2008. I CALLED ALL THE FORD DEALERSHIPS IN THE GREENVILLE, SC AREA AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN 2008. I DID SEND ALL MY PAPERWORK AND INFORMATION TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY, NHTSA, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WYFF "LOOKING OUT FOR YOU" BY E-MAIL AND MAILED A HARD COPY. SO YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THIS PAPERWORK AND INFORMATION. I FEEL LIKE SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LIFTGATE AND I DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO MY REAR LIFTGATE TO CAUSE MY REAR LIFTGATE TO STOP WORKING, IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. I HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIPS OR THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I CAN NOT CHANGE MY TAIL LIGHTS OR BRAKE LIGHTS, BECAUSE THIS REQUIRES ACCESS TO THE REAR LIFTGATE. UPDATED 05/07/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/11/10. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS FAILED TWICE. TALKING WITH MY TRANSMISSION GUY I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT HEAVY DUTY ENOUGH TO HANDLE THIS USAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT TO SPEEDS OF UP TO 45 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT COULD BE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE IAC VALVE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DATE OF REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

PAINT PEELING PREMATURELY ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *TR

A WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG/SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE FREQUENTLY HAS PROBLEMS CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE -- AND ACCORDING TO FORD THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON SINCE APPROXIMATELY 2005. FORD IS AWARE THAT THIS MODEL YEAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH THIS WIRING HARNESS AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT OWNERS MUST REPLACE THE HARNESS. IF WIRING HARNESS IS FAULTY AND CAUSES AIRBAGS TO DISABLE, SHOULDN'T THIS BE A SAFETY RECALL INSTEAD OF A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR CONSUMERS TO REPAIR AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH UP AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE GASKET RECIRCULATOR WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. AS THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH SPEED SHE SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE GASKET RECIRCULATOR WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ALSO SERVICED. IN MARCH 2010 WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE PEDAL HAD FALLEN TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,600.

I OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH A 6 CYLINDER ENGINE WHICH I BOUGHT NEW FROM HARROLD FORD IN SACRAMENTO 11/2002. I NOTICED A STRONG OIL BURNING SMELL. AND OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO HARROLD FORD ON 12/30/2009. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE OIL WAS LEAKING THRU THE OIL PAN, AND THAT FORD HAD A RETROFIT FOR THE PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A SEAL PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD NO, THE MATERIAL THE OIL PAN WAS MADE OF ALLOWED THE OIL TO EVENTUALLY START LEAKING DIRECTLY THRU THE MATERIAL. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A RECALL DUE TO THE FIRE DANGER, AND WAS TOLD NO. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND THE OIL PAN WAS REPLACED. I KEPT THE OLD OIL PAN. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. I HAVE TAKEN NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY I NEED TO USE DIFFERENT GAS WHICH I DID. THEY TOLD ME TO CHANGE MY FUEL FILTER, WHICH I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS TIMES. AND IT STILL STICKS. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. WHEN I SAY IT STICKS, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL YOU HAVE TO PUSH IT DOWN HARD THEN LET UP OR YOU GO TO FAST. I AM GETTING NO WHERE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT EVER. I REALLY NEED HELP IN THIS MATTER. I SEE ALL THIS ON TOYOTA, AND I CAN'T GET ANY WERE WITH FORD. HELP! *TR

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE INCREASE IN SPEED IS TO APPLY HARD PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND SHUT OF THE IGNITION. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. THE LAST TIME WAS IN DECEMBER, 2009. I( NOTIFIED THE DEALER IN 2008 AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SIMILAR OCCURRENCES REPORTED. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 40 MPH IN MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE, WHEN MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO INCREASE IN SPEED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS & IT WENT FASTER. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED. I PANICKED & PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, WHERE WE SLAMMED TO A STOP BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND THE CAR WAS HOPPING FORWARD. I WAS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT AND I HAD 4 YR OLD & 9 YR OLD CHILD WITH ME. I TURNED THE CAR OFF & REMOVED THE KEYS & CALLED A TOW TRUCK. AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE TROUBLE ORIGINALLY, BUT THEN IT STOPPED. THEY CHARGED ME NEARLY $100 FOR 2 DAYS OF TESTING, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. AT THAT TIME I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEM, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. *TR

JUST AS I PARKED MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE IN MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A HUGE CRASHING SOUND. THE BACK WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. I CALLED FORD COMPANY OF CANADA. WHILE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT AND A RECURRING PROBLEM, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR ($360) SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MAN WHO FIXED THE WINDSHIELD TOLD ME THAT THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODING HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPE--- MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAR/TRUCK/SUV ON THE ROAD TODAY. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? *TR

2003 FORD ESCAPE - KEY WON'T TURN. STEERING IS LOCKED, AS WELL.

FORD IS NOT ALLOWING MY CAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL: 04S13 FOR POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE RE-CALIBRATION. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY NEVER MISS A VEHICLE THAT GETS RECALLED. MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED MORE THAN 7 TIMES WHEN DECELERATING UNDER 40PMH. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR INTO A MECHANIC TWO TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. EVERYTIME IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *TR

MY FORD ESCAPE IS A 2003 MODEL AND WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED USED IN 2007 BY US. WITHIN A YEAR THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND REAR HATCH STARTED PEELING. TWO YEARS LATER, IT IS RUSTING WHERE THE PEEL IS GONE AND STILL CONTINUING TO PEEL. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS OR INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND SEEN WHERE THIS IS COMMON IN FORDS MY VEHICLE'S AGE. *TR

PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE ROOF AND TWO SPOTS ON THE TAILGATE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SLOAN FORD IN EXTON, PA WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT. A REP FROM FORD ADVISED THAT A DEALER SHOULD LOOK AT IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT KENNEDY FORD COLLISION IN CONSHOHOCKEN PA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRM THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. FORD DECLINED ASSISTANCE. THE FORD REP WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT DESPITE ADVISING ME THAT FORD SERVICE MANAGERS HAVE SUPERIOR EXPERTISE IN EVALUATING FAILURES. *TR

AUG 2007- AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP FOUND DEFECT IN DRIVER/PASSENGER AIR BAG CIRCUIT LOCATED UNDER FRONT SEATS (DTC CODE - D1990/D1994). REPLACED CONNECTORS & HARNESS($490). SUGGESTED CAUSE WAS MOTION OF ADJUSTING POWER SEAT. NOW, OCT 2009 (MILEAGE - 85,000) AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. FIRST FLASHING, THEN OFF FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN SOLIDLY ON AGAIN. IS THIS CIRCUIT LOCATED IN A PLACE WHERE IT SHOULDN'T BE? IS THIS WHY THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ESCAPE AIR BAGS NOT OPENING IN A CRASH? CAN SOMEONE CHECK OUT THE LOCATION OF THE WIRING FOR THIS CIRCUIT? IS IT CAUSING AIR BAG FAILURE IN ESCAPES? DO WE NEED DEATHS? HAS FORD MADE CHANGES IN THE NEW ESCAPES? *TR

IN AUGUST, 2009 I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT FROM ECONOMY HONDA IN CHATTANOOGA, TN. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTITEC P235/70R16 TIRES ON IT. A ROUTINE OVERALL VEHICLE INSPECTION WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL LUBE SHOP TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND WHEN THE ATTENDANT PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, HE NOTICED CRACKS AND TREAD WAS PULLING AWAY FROM ALL FOUR TIRES AND ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE TOO FAR BEFORE I REPLACED THEM (I HAD PLANS TO GO TO NC THIS WEEKEND). THE FOLLOWING MORNING I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CONTINENTAL TIRE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES AND RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT, WHICH I DID FOR $483.00. I SEE SEVERAL RECALLS OF CONTITEC TIRES ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR VARIOUS REASONS. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THESE TIRES. THE CAR ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 45,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT ESPECIALLY UPSETS ME TO KNOW MY GRANDSON HAS BEEN IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ME RIDING ON POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TIRE. THANKS. *TR TAHONA TATE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 07V156000 ( SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTI-LOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

2003 FORD ESCAPE ... PAINT PEELING ON ROOF AROUND SUN ROOF OPENING. *TR

2003 FORD LIMITED GOLD ESCAPE PAINT PEELING AND BUBBLING ON HATCH AND ABOVE FRONT WINDOW. FORD WILL DO NOTHING WHEN I CALLED SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PAINT ISSUE. *TR

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE 6 CYL 2 WHEEL DRIVE WAS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED TO OVER 4000 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY 7 SECONDS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME. CHANGING FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL HAD NO EFFECT ON THE RPMS AND THE ENGINE WENT BACK TO ABOUT 1500 RPMS THROUGH NO ACTION ON MY PART. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY. I RECALL THAT SIMILAR OCCURRENCES HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST SO I WANTED TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO YOU ASAP. I DO NOT RECALL WHAT VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AT THAT TIME. WHAT WORRIES ME IS IF THAT HAPPENS WHILE I AM IN A PARKING LOT BACKING OUT OR SOME OTHER SITUATION WHERE MY REACTION WOULD BE TOO SLOW TO STOP AN ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 32,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR

PAINT IS PEELING OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK UNDER THE HATCH WINDOW AND ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE JUST BEHIND THE SUN ROOF. THIS VEHICLE HAS 74K MILES AND IS GARAGED. FROM NOV. 2002 - FEB. 2005 IT WAS EVEN IN PARKING GARAGE WHILE I WORKED. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I CALLED FORD AND THEY DON'T CARE!!! IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL.. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

PURCHASED 2003 FORD ESCAPE 04/05/08. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON A WEEK LATER RETURNED VEHICLE FOR OTHER MINOR FIXES WAS TOLD LIGHT WAS NOT IMPORTANT AS THE BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. DURING OIL CHANGE ON 12/08 TOLD FORD SERVICE DEPT. AGAIN ABOUT AIR BAG LIGHT SAME ANSWER. ALSO INFORM THEM ABOUT CAR SHAKING WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE I WAITED TOO LONG FOR OIL CHANGE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE 07/08/09 WAS REFUSED VEHICLE TOLD IT WAS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE FOUND RT FRONT LOWER BALLJOINT LOOSE IN STEERING KNUCKLE WORN OUT STEERING KNUCKLE NEED TO REPLACE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND RT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE PROBABLY CAUSE OF WHY VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1700 AND WERE NOT SURE IF EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER. THEY WERE RUDE AND I BROKE DOWN. THIS CAR HAS HAD THE SHAKES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I FINALLY TOOK MY VEHICLE HOME TO BRING IT BACK THE NEXT DAY. I PICKED IT UP ON THE 15TH ONCE FORD STATED ALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED AND ENGINE LIGHT WAS GONE EXCEPT THEY DID NOTHING FOR THE AIR BAGS. THIS SHOP IS 12.07 MILES FROM MY HOME APPROX HALFWAY THROUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING BETWEEN 45 AND 50MPH. I CALLED THEM WHEN I GOT HOME GAVE ME ANOTHER APPOINTMENT DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTIC. NO ONE IN THIS SHOP CAN TELL ME IF ANY RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A HANDICAP DAUGHTER WHO GETS HER MEDICAL CARE AT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL AN HOUR AWAY. I NEED A SAFE VEHICLE. MY FAMILY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. THESE

1) THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE ARE UNKNOWN 2) 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS AN ISSUE WITH ITS EXTERIOR PAINT. THE PAINT IS PEELING AWAY FROM THE CAR AND THE EXPOSED METAL IS RUSTING. THIS RUSTING LEADS TO THE COMPROMISE OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CAR. THIS COMPROMISE CAN BE DETRIMENTAL IN CASE OF A COLLISION. A GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED LOTS OF 2003 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE AN 03 ESCAPE. SINCE FALL 08 I HAVE HEARD, FELT THIS STUTTER, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT. AT FIRST IT WAS OCCASIONAL, BUT HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY FREQUENT--THREE TO FOUR TIMES IN A ROW ACCOMPANIED ONCE IN A WHILE WITH A TICKING SOUND, AND PULLING THE CAR TO THE LEFT. MECHANICS COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TODAY THEY ARE REPLACING THE TONE RINGS. HAVING A TERM TO USE, I GOT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM FOR OWNERS. *TR

THE PAINT ON MY ASH GOLD 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS STARTED TO BUBBLE AND PEEL AWAY FROM THE METAL BODY PARTS. DOORS, HOOD, REAR HATCH AND A LARGE SPOT ON THE ROOF JUST BEHIND THE MOON ROOF WINDOW. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN TOUCH UP. THE PAINT IS LITERALLY PEELING OFF OF THE PRIMER WHICH THEN QUICKLY ERODES TO EXPOSE THE METAL WHICH STARTS TO RUST. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SPANNING SEVERAL YEARS AND SEVERAL FORD MODELS. IN THIS AGE WHERE WE HAVE TO KEEP CARS LONGER, THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO DISCOVER - THE COMPANY SIMPLY CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAINT A CAR!!! I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND BOUGHT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. HE POINTED OUT THE PEELING BUT WE BOTH THOUGHT IT COULD BE TOUCHED UP AS HE HAD BEEN DOING FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THE ROOF WAS NOT LOOKED AT UNTIL I WAS WORKING ON THE ROOF RACK. THIS IS THE WORST CASE AND IS NOT GOING TO GET FIXED BY ANY TOUCH UP PAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. SPORADICALLY, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE STALLS. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY HER LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

MY PROBLEM IS NOT MECHANICAL BUT RATHER "PHYSICAL". THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING OFF THE ROOF AND HATCH OF MY 2003 ASH-COLORED FORD ESCAPE LIMITED SINCE 2007. AFTER READING OTHERS' BLOGS I AM AWARE THAT I AM NOT ALONE BY ANY MEANS. I PURCHASED THE SUV FOR IT'S NICE APPEARANCE AND COLOR. I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFOREHAND THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, OTHERWISE I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED A FORD. APPARENTLY FORD IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP US? CAN'T FORD BE FORCED INTO A RECALL FOR THIS? THESE VEHICLES AREN'T CHEAP!! PLEASE HELP. *TR

I HAVE A 03 FORD ESCAPE, AND THE TROUBLE IS ENDLESS. THE CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES AND IT IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE HAD IT IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP ABOUT 6 TIMES AND HAS HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 2 YEARS. THE FAILURE TO START IS SCARY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS GOING TO EXPLODE OR WHAT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT IT IS A SENSOR THAT GOES OUT AND TELLS THE CAR IT DOESN'T HAVE TO START. BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES AND THE OTHER DAY IT DID IT AGAIN. I HATE TO GO OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF GETTING STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AND ANOTHER THING THE SMELL OF THE ENGINE IS CRAZY MY DAUGHTER HAS ASTHMA AND TALKING ABOUT A PROBLEM FOR HER IT IS. I CAN GO TO WORK AND GO BACK 30 MINUTES LATER TO MY CAR AND YOU CAN TELL THAT IT IS STILL SMELLING OF COURSE WHERE I GOT IT FROM THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NO CONCERN IT WAS DUE TO THE FACT OF THEM DROPPING OIL WHEN THEY DID A CHANGE, COME ON PEOPLE 2 MONTHS LATER. I FEAR THAT ONE DAY IT WILL EXPLODE I JUST PRAY TO GOD THAT MY FAMILY IS NOT IN THERE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND FROM READING IN HERE I AM SCARED TO DEATH. SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME FAMILY LOSES A MEMBER. *TR

PAINT PEELING IN SEVERAL SPOT ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *TR

PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT, TAKE BY TO DEALER ON NUMBERS TIME (5) . EVERY TWO WEEKS FOR THE TIME OF PURCHASE (10/11/2008) CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT RIGHT THE DEALER STATED THE BAG WON'T WORK WHEN NEED. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WHICH HAD ACCELERATOR CABLE REPLACED UNDER A RECALL FROM FORD IN APPROXIMATELY 2005. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THE RECALL, WHICH IS NOT COMING BACK TO IDLE SPEED AND ACTUALLY STICKING WIDE OPEN ON ONE OCCASION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REPLACE THIS AT THEIR COST, SO AM DOING THIS AT MY OWN EXPENSE, OBVIOUSLY SOONER THAN LATER. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT,WHITE IN COLOR AND CURRENTLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT BLISTERING AND PEELING ON THE REAR HATCH BELOW THE WINDOW BOTH SIDES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PAINT PEELING HAS STARTED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE REAR CARGO WINDOW. I VISITED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY DENIED IT AS A DEFECT. OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD FOUR AUTOBODY SHOPS TELL ME $600.00 TO A $1000.00 TO REPAINT. "THE PROBLEM IS FACTORY PRIMER PROBLEM" AND SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE PEELING IF NOT REPAINTED SOON. *TR

JANUARY 18, 2009, WAS THE LAST TIME I DROVE MY 2003, FORD ESCAPE. THE DAY PRIOR, I DROVE MY KIDS, TWO BLOCKS AWAY TO A PARK. I GOT BACK HOME AND PARKED MY VEHICLE AT APPROX 2:30 P.M. THE NEXT MORNING AT 11:14 A.M. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY APARTMENT MANAGER STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPT WAS OUTSIDE PUTTING OUT MY CAR FIRE. THE FIRE CAPTAIN STATED THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED FROM THE ABS SYSTEM AND TO CHECK ONLINE AND SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAME OUT AND CLAIMED IT A "TOTAL LOSS". WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO A WEEK AGO, FORD HAD WORKED ON MY VEHICLE IN WHICH I HAD SPENT OVER $5,000.00 TO GET IT IN TIP TOP CONDITION. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE BUT STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THERE RECALL. THEY ALSO STATED TO MY ADJUSTER THAT THIS ABS PART WAS NO LONGER MADE, SO MY INSURANCE COMPANY TRIED TO LOCATE THIS PART AND NO OTHER PARTS STORE CARRIED THIS PART. *TR