Worst 2003 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
STRUCTURE:BODY
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Ford Escape.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 79 | 3 | — | 143,818 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 65 | 8 | 1 | 108,994 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 50 | — | 1 | 116,766 mi | |
| STEERING | 42 | 3 | — | 111,343 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 38 | 6 | — | 120,514 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 29 | 2 | 4 | 104,981 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 29 | — | — | 79,076 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 25 | 2 | 6 | 77,229 mi | |
| ENGINE | 24 | 3 | 4 | 133,702 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 24 | — | 1 | 134,399 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 23 | — | 3 | 111,869 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 20 | 1 | 2 | 91,916 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 19 | — | 1 | 26,882 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 18 | — | — | 50,781 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 18 | — | — | 125,489 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 15 | 1 | — | 121,011 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 14 | 11 | 1 | 59,418 mi | |
| WHEELS | 12 | 1 | — | 110,055 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 11 | 2 | 2 | 136,957 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 11 | 2 | — | 18,686 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 11 | 3 | — | 46,755 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 10 | 1 | — | 59,171 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 9 | — | — | 64,489 mi | |
| TIRES | 9 | 2 | — | 37,972 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 7 | 1 | — | 114,084 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 7 | — | 2 | 108,391 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM | 7 | — | — | 116,953 mi | |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 7 | — | — | 22,754 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 5 | — | — | 35,431 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 4 | — | 1 | 80,602 mi |
Recalls for 2003 Ford Escape
5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,408,502 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Other Ford Escape Years
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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