2003 Ford Escape complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 65 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND BECAME LOCKED. SHE PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND DROVE IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. SHE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SOME TIME. ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED, THE BRAKES SOFTENED UP AND THE RPMS DECREASED TO THE ORIGINAL START POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE A FEW RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE. ONCE SHE FOUND THE RECALL, THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL INFORMATION. SHE LATER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED FOUR YEARS AGO ON HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. SHE IS WORRIED THAT THE ISSUE COULD CAUSE FUTURE FAILURES AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AGAIN SINCE IT WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, AS VEHICLE STALLED WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, BUT WAS ASSURED THE PCM JUST NEEDED TO BE REFLASHED. 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT STALLED OUT ON ME WHEN TURNING A CORNER, FOOT NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED AFTER REALLY REVVING ENGINE HARD. TOOK IT BACK, ASSURED ME IT WAS MY "ANTI-THEFT DEVICE" TWO DAYS AFTER GETTING VEHICLE BACK, STALLED YET AGAIN WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. SYMPTOMS ARE MUCH LIKE THE RECALL LISTED FOR 2003 ESCAPES BUT OF COURSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY "CAN'T GET IT TO STALL" BUT REPLACED THIS TIME THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. PICKED IT UP, NEXT DAY STALLED OUT AS I TURNED CORNER INTO PARKING LOT. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO STOP. HE WAS FORCED TO CRASH INTO A SNOW PILE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY DAMAGE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FAILING. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE $300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

PAINT BLISTERING AND PEELING ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD ON ROOF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE EMISSIONS INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE REPAIR SHOP KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS DUE TO THE PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. WHEN THE GASKET WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BECAME VERY HOT AND THE CORKING (USED TO SEAL THE GASKET) MELTED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WOULD COST $3,700 JUST TO START THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE WHAT OTHER MALFUNCTIONS WERE OCCURRING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 30,000 MILES NEEDED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED. OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF AGE. I PAID OVER $4K TO HAVE IT REPLACED. FORD REFUSED TO COMPENSATE FOR OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING / DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

WE OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE SUV. THE PAINT IS PEELING OF THE BACK TAILGATE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE AND ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES. THIS PAINT SHOULD NOT PEEL OFF LIKE THIS. THE DEALER SAID I COULD PAY $300 TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. *TR

FORD ESCAPE 2003 80 000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE AND NOW SLIPS AND MAKES NOISE IN ALL GEARS. ONLY FORD I'VE EVER OWNED....MIGHT BE THE LAST UNLESS THIS IS RESOLVED TO MY SATISFACTION. NO SPECIFIC EVENT TO DETERMINE WHY TRANNY IS GOING..SEEMS LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

PROBLEM: VEHICLE IS BEEPING WARNING BEEPS FROM CLUSTER AREA, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT/BEEPER KEEPS GOING OFF, JUST PAID FORD DEALER $595.20 TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESSES TO BOTH FRONT SEATS AND BOTH BODY HARNESSES FOR CODE B1869, REMOVED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND REPLACED BAD BULB FOR AIR BAG SYSTEM, CLEAR ALL CODES AND ROAD TEST 3 MILES. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPES, SEEMS TO BE AN OVERALL PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL AIRBAG WIRING. *TR

PAINT PEELING OFF THE ROOF AND REAR TAILGATE OF VEHICLE. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. BODY SHOP INSPECTED AND REPORTED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EVENT AND THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH IMPROPER PREP OR PARTS USED. *TR

PAINT PEELING -- DELAMINATING -- FROM ROOF OF 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT, COLOR CODE C2. AREA IS ABOVE JUNCTION OF ROOF AND WINDSHIELD. BODY SHOP VERIFIED CONDITION A RESULT OF BAD PRIMER. FORD NOTIFIED AS WELL AS TWO OKLAHOMA CITY-AREA DEALERS -- OVERALL FORD AND BOB MOORE FORD. NO RESOLUTION FROM FORD AS OF YET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT IDLED AT 3,000 RPM'S AND WOULD NOT DECREASE. AS A RESULT, WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WILL SPEED OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE CONTACT DECELERATED AND REACHED A SPEED OF 40 MPH OR LESS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. IT WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING ABILITY. SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.

PAINT PEELING DOWN TO BARE METAL ON ROOF OF VEHICLE WITH PAINT BLISTERING ELSEWHERE. EXPOSED BARE METAL RUSTING DUE TO EXPOSURE TO ELEMENTS. ATTEMPTING RESOLUTION VIA DEALER BUT NO HELP AT THIS TIME. *TR

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 24947 AND AT 36010. THIS ESCAPE HAS ONE ADULT DRIVER AND THE BRAKES PEDAL WAS NOT "RIDDEN". LOTS OF PREMATURE ROTOR WEAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WWW.NHTSA.GOV SITE BUT NO FORD RECALLS. ROTOR REPLACEMENT ADDS ABOUT $250 TO BILL. *TR

SECOND TIME TO REPLACE BRAKE ROTORS ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *TR

I PURCHASED A FORD ESCAPE 2003 ON JULY 2008. LAST MONTH I NOTICED THE LEATHER INTERIOR LOOSENED FROM ALL FOUR DOORS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THIS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE STALLS WHILE DRIVING LEAVING ME WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I CONTACTED FORD AT 800-392-3673 TO ASK ABOUT A RECALL. I FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAS RECALLED 363,440 FORD ESCAPES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT CORRESPOND WITH THE 363,440 FORD ESCAPES THEY RECALLED BUT TO KEEP INTOUCH WITH MY SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MORE UPDATES. AT THIS TIME THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

DEALERSHIP FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF CURRENT VEHICLE RECALLS REGARDING MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED, FAILED TO IDENTIFY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGE) AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHICH STATES ITS TECHNICIANS PERFORM A "MULTI-POINT INSPECTION" "WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE TRAINING" WHICH LED TO SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE (LOCKED-UP). *TR

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE FAILED ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. TIRES IN QUESTION ARE FIRESTONE DESTINATION LE, (DOT VN08, 0107) JUST DAYS AND ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE NEW. AFTER TIRE FAILURE VEHICLE ONE VEERED VIOLENTLY INTO LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE TWO COLLIDED WITH VEHICLE ONE SENDING VEHICLE ONE SKIDDING ON ITS DRIVERS SIDE BEFORE COMING TO A REST ON THE RIGHT BREAKDOWN LANE. TOTAL TIME WHEN VEHICLE ONE NOTICED A NOISE TO END OF INCIDENT WAS LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, SPEED TRAVELING AT TIME OF MISHAP WAS APPROXIMATELY FOUR MPH ABOVE POSTED 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES AMBIENT FAHRENHEIT ON A CLEAR VISIBLE DAY. TIRE IN QUESTION WERE PURCHASED AS A SET OF TWO TOTALLY FOUR JUNE 5, 2007 AND ACCIDENT OCCURRED JUNE 22, 2008. TIRE ROTATION IN OR AROUND 6000 MILES WAS PERFORMED AT PLACE OF PURCHASE. AIR PRESSURES WERE CHECKED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH TIRE SIDEWALL SPECIFICATIONS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLOCK OF PAINT CHIPPING OFF OF THE HOOD. WEEKS LATER, THE CONDITION BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE PAINT BEGAN BUBBLING AND CHIPPING EXCESSIVELY. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO WASH THE VEHICLE THE PAINT WILL COME OFF. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,000. UPDATE 06/10/08 *BF UPDATED 06/10/08

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE THAT I JUST TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE REPLACED THE BUSHINGS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AS THEY WERE COMING OUT. I ASK THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD SEEN IT BEFORE. RARE BUT HAD SEEN IT. SEEMS TO ME IF THE BUSHINGS COME OUT OF THE CONTROL ARMS AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. SEEMS TO ME TO BE A QUALITY PROBLEM THAT FORD IS IGNORING. I DID HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. HOPEFULLY THIS ONLY OCCURS ONCE. IT ALL STARTED WITH A "CLUNK" NOISE IN THE FRONT END AS YOU GO OVER A DRIVE WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE GROWLING AND SQUEALING NOISES, AND THE FRONT END SHOOK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE INITIALLY BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2008 WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BEARING, THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE, FOLLOWED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE A SECOND TIME, AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, IT IS NO LONGER COVERED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,942 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL THEN SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V165000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AS OF APRIL 9, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 50 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 53,576 MILES ON IT AND SHOWED NO WARNINGS OF FAILURE. WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND NO MOVEMENT FROM VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY EXIT DRIVE LANES , AND MAY CAUSE REAR END COLLISIONS. THE CD4E TRANSMISSION HAS MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS KNOWN BY FORD HENCE THE CONVERSION OF TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURERS FROM BATAVIA, OHIO TO LIVONIA, MICHIGAN IN 2006. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AS I MAY BE USING THE VEHICLE FOR EXPLANATORY PROOF OF POOR QUALITY AND ENGINEERING. *TR

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT PAINT IS PEELING IN STRIPS OFF THE HOOD AND FROM THE SUNROOF BACK. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS TO FORD IN RIGHTING ON THE PHONE AND IN PERSON. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND @ LEAST 45 OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SWEEP UNDER THE RUG. IT IS A DEFECT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. *TR

ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE WILL STALL OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND UPON DECELERATION SUCH AS WHEN ENTERING OR MAKING A TURN. THE CAR RESTARTS WITHOUT HESITATION. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, #04V165000, WHERE THE FIX SEEMS QUITE SIMPLE BUT FORD'S MAIN CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. SAYS MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. SAME CAR, SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT RELATED TO ORIGINAL RECALL. SEEMS ABSURD. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS, THE THREAT OF ONE EXISTS IF THE CAR STALLS WHILE I'M TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR, POSSIBLY, REAR-ENDED. *TR

URGENT RECALL NOTICE, I RECEIVED ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE AFTER RESEARCH ON THE RECALL VEHICLE, I BELIEVE THIS CAUSED MY DAUGHTER ACCIDENT, SHE ROLLED THIS VEHICLE. I M VERY ANGRY THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED THE LAW IN RESPONEDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE AND WHEN I EXPLAINED MY CONCERNS I WAS TOLD SOMEONE WAS GOING TO CONACT ME. THIS HAS NOT HAPPEN. NO DEATHS BUT PROPERTY DAMAGE YES ( PAYING FOR AVEHICAL) I HAVE SITTING IN MY BACK YARD THAT I M STILL PAYING FOR.BRING A SINGLE MOTHER, THIS HARDSHIP, I PAID 14,000.00 AND IT ONLY HAS 60 THOUSAND MILES. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT AND I WILL HAVE THIS VEHICLE CHECKED OUT MYSELF AND TALK TO AN ATTORNEY. NOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME ON WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT, I WOULD BE THANKFUL . *CN

THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE ROOF OF THE CAR NEAR THE FRONT WIND SHIELD AREA AND ALSO ON THE HATCHBACK DOOR. *CN

THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON. SOME TIMES IT WILL REMAIN ON AND SOMETIMES IT WILL FLASH. I HAD THE AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED ($600) AND IT WAS OK FOR 2 MONTHS AND STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND HAS SINCE REAPPEARED. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND ALOT OF OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I BELIEVED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOK AT.*CN

2003 ESCAPE LIMITED 3.0 V6 IS DIAGNOSED WITH A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD RESULTING IN LEAKING EXHAUST GASES. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 31,200 AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF PAVED ROADWAYS. I THINK THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME BUT HAS NEVER BEEN PICKED UP ON BY REGULAR MAINTENANCE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A COMMON ONE AND OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM AS LEAKING EXHAUST GASES ARE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE WAS PEELING AND FLAKING AT AN ALARMING RATE, BOTH ON THE ROOF AND ON THE REAR PANEL. THE PAINT WAS SO LOOSE THAT A STRONG WIND WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE EDGES AND STRIP IT OFF THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 24, 2007 I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, NAPLETON'S NORTHWESTERN FORD IN CHICAGO, FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE ZONE DISTRICT MANAGER. HE DECLINED MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL HELP IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM, CITING THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. MY ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR FROM NAPLETON'S RECOMMENDED BODY SHOP SAID, IN WRITING, THAT THE PEELING PAINT WAS CAUSED BY DELAMINATION OF PAINT AND A BAD PRIMING PREP JOB. I SENT A COPY OF THE ESTIMATE, PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND A LETTER OF EXPLANATION TO BOTH THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER IN DETROIT AND MY DEALERSHIP OWNER - AND RECEIVED BACK A SHORT FORM LETTER FROM DETROIT STATING THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME FINANCIALLY AS THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. ALTHOUGH I REALIZE THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED, I BELIEVE THAT MY PAINT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY SUBSTANDARD WORK AT THE FACTORY, A BELIEF SUBSTANTIATED BY THE BODY SHOP. RECALLS ARE DONE ALL THE TIME FOR PARTS THAT ARE FAULTY, REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY. MY PAINT JOB WAS FAULTY, AND THEREFORE I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HELP ME FIX IT. ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY AND OTHER WEB SITES, PAINT SHOULD NOT BE PEELING OFF CARS THAT ARE ONLY 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD. I GOT THE DAMAGE FIXED, WHICH COST ME NEARLY $1,200. PRIOR TO OWNIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE RPM RACED TO ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,900. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN HITTING A BUMP AND PERFORMED INSPECTION PER RECALL. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. SHE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY EXERT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STRUT THROTTLE AND ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE AND THROTTLE ASSEMBLIES FOR A $500 SERVICE CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000. THE CONSUMER STATED FORD DID NOT CONSIDER THE DEFECT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OR WARRANTY. UPDATED 11/15/07 *TR UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 05/30/12

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT PRETENSION CODE WAS FAULTY. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN IN A CRASH. ON OCTOBER 16, 2007, THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A BEEPING SOUND AND THEY REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN SHE RETRIEVED HER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2007. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,629.

HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED HOME DEALERSHIP TO CHECK CRUISE CONTROL FOR FAILURE TO TURN ON. AFTER TRAVELING FOR APPROX. 1 HOUR ON INTERSTATE, ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON CRUISE CONTROL. ON THIRD TRY, CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND SET AT 70 MPH. AFTER A FEW MILES I TRIED TO TURN IT OFF WITH NO RESULTS. ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKE APPLIED. I CONTACTED SOMEONE WHO ADVISED ME TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF IF POSSIBLE. I PULLED IN TO A REST AREA WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF. (VERY DIFFICULT WITH ENGINE REVVING CONTINUOUSLY) I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON TO SEE IF THE CRUISE TURNED OFF WITH THE CAR, IT DID NOT, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE CRUISE CONTROL THROTTLE CABLE WAS FOUND TO BE STUCK. THE CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED AS THEY SAID THEY HAD NO PARTS TO REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I WAS SENT ON WITH A REQUEST TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT MY HOME DEALERSHIP. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE SERVICE. *TR

2003 FORD ESCAPE PARKED IN GARAGE LOCATED AT 7755 SUNSET DRIVE, ELMWOOD PARK ILLINOIS. VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY BURNED. THE GARAGE WAS A LOFTED STRUCTURE WITH STORAGE CONTAINING 30 YEARS OF POSSESSIONS. THE CAR, GARAGE AND PERSONAL ITEMS WERE DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THIS OCCURRED AT 5:00AM ON A SUNDAY MORNING AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE FROM THE SATURDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE. *JB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE COST QUOTED WAS $450. I THEN DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I ALSO FOUND TWO DIFFERENT FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, WHICH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. ON ANOTHER SITE A TECHNICIAN FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD SIMPLY BE FIXED BY SPRAYING THE CONTACT POINTS WITH AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT CLEANER SUCH AS WD40. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. ON AUGUST 26, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 37 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE FAILURE IS NOW OCCURRING AT LEAST FOUR TIMES PER DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) WAS REFERENCED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,834.

MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON, AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS IT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR THE SIDE MOUNT AIR BAG NEEDED REPLACING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IF THIS WAS NOT REPAIRED, THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED! I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS MADE TO FORD ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY. I FEARED FOR THE SAFETY OF ANYONE THAT MIGHT BE A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE IF IT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SO I WENT AHEAD WITH THE REPAIR. I VOICED MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL I COULD DO ABOUT IT WAS CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THIS PART COST $36.49 AND $210 FOR THE LABOR. *TR

2003 FORD ESCAPE. NOTICED PAINT AROUND LIFT GATE LEDGE BUBBLING AND PEELING. ONLY TOP LAYER OF PAINT IS PEELING, GRAY LAYER APPEARS TO BE FINE, NO SIGNS OF BUBBLING OR PEELING. TALKED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE TWO LAYERS NEVER BONDED WHEN THE CAR WAS PAINTED AT THE FACTORY. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER IT, THEY SAID TO GO TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO. NEVER HEARD BACK FROM DEALER AFTER I MADE CONTACT WITH THEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, LIFT GATE, AND LEDGE SHOWED SIGNS OF BUBBLING PAINT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL SPEAK WITH THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,350. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 08/31/07 *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED US THAT THE SENSOR HAS FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THAT IF WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS QUOTED AT APPROXIMATELY $500.00. AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO MAKE THIS REPAIR AND WE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HOPE THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO PRIOR WARNING NOR ANY ACCIDENT THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IMPROPERLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. A CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DRIVING UPHILL. THE CONTACT HAD THIS FAILURE REPAIRED LAST YEAR, BUT IT HAS SINCE RECURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND 18 MONTHS LATER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT THE VEHICLE JUST IN FRONT AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED FORD WILL NOT PERFORM RECALL WORK A 2ND TIME. OFFICER FIELD REPORT PROVIDED. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

BEGINNING IN APRIL 2007, MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT (CURRENT MILEAGE 118754) EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. IF THE POWER DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BEEN MOVED, THEN THE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR AND FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN DISAPPEAR WITHOUT ANY ACTION TAKEN. THIS SERIES OF EVENT HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BETWEEN APRIL - JUNE, 2007. THE LAST TIME THE PROBLEM SURFACED WAS JUNE 25, 2007. THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON JUNE 26, 2007. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING MY VEHICLE ON THAT DATE, I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN A TRUCK APPROACHING FROM MY LEFT LOST ITS TRAILER. THE TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WITHIN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. ALTHOUGH NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT AN IMPACT OF THIS FORCE INTO MY FRONT BUMPER SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED MY FRONT AIR BAGS, AND THAT THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY SENSOR ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COOPERATE AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER FORWARD. THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, WHERE SHE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE BODY SHOP AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS BADLY BRUISED FROM THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,700.

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT PRIOR TO BRAKE PADS AT 34,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BY THE DEALER AND WILL OCCUR AGAIN. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD BE HARDENED AND THE PAD SHOULD WEAR FIRST, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK

I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS AND DECIDED TO WASH POLLEN OFF CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN, SO I JUST "SPRINKLED" WATER ON THE CAR AND WHEN IT HIT THE SUNROOF, I HEARD A POP. LOOKING AT TOP OF SUNROOF I SAW NOTHING UNUSUAL. WHEN I OPENED THE INSIDE ROOF, I SAW THE GLASS WAS ALL SPLINTERED. AS I CLOSED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE GLASS ALL FELL ONTO THE INSIDE ROOF. GUY AT FORD TOLD ME I MUST'VE HAD A CRACK IN THE SUNROOF & WHEN THE WATER HIT, IT SHATTERED. MY WINDSHIELD DID HAVE A CRACK IN IT, AND THAT DIDN'T SHATTER SO THAT BLOWS THAT THEORY! 70 DEGREES THAT DAY.