2003 FORD ESCAPE — Owner-Reported Problems

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

• Campaign 04V165000 was reported 384 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 04V574000 was reported 608 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 04V602000 was reported 709 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07E023000 was reported 1,508 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07V156000 was reported 1,520 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 14V165000 was reported 4,099 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 15E045000 was reported 4,359 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 15V606000 was reported 4,577 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

Safety Recalls (9)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

1. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 04V165000

   Report date

   Apr 6, 2004

   Component:

   POWER TRAIN

   Consequence:

   SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

2. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 04V574000

   Report date

   Dec 7, 2004

   Component:

   VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

   Consequence:

   AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

3. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 04V602000

   Report date

   Dec 20, 2004

   Component:

   LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

   Consequence:

   IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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4. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 07E023000

   Report date

   Mar 29, 2007

   Component:

   SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

   Consequence:

   LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

5. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 07V156000

   Report date

   Apr 10, 2007

   Component:

   SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

   Consequence:

   AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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6. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 12V353000

   Report date

   Jul 26, 2012

   Component:

   Not available in the source record

   Consequence:

   A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

   Remedy:

   Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

7. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 14V165000

   Report date

   Apr 2, 2014

   Component:

   STRUCTURE

   Consequence:

   A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy:

   Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S02.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

8. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 15E045000

   Report date

   Jun 3, 2015

   Component:

   SUSPENSION

   Consequence:

   Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy:

   Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

9. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 15V606000

   Report date

   Sep 29, 2015

   Component:

   POWER TRAIN

   Consequence:

   If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

   Remedy:

   Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →