2003 Ford Escape Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Escape. Part of Generation 1 — 2001–2007.

20022004
Complaints
736
Crashes
55
Fires
35
Injuries
41
Fatalities
Recalls
5

Worst 2003 Ford Escape Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#179 complaints

SUSPENSION

Avg mileage:143,818 mi
Crash-related:3
#265 complaints

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Avg mileage:108,994 mi
Crash-related:8
Fires:1
#350 complaints

STRUCTURE:BODY

Avg mileage:116,766 mi
Fires:1
Considering a 2003 Ford Escape?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Ford Escape.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
SUSPENSION793143,818 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6581108,994 mi
STRUCTURE:BODY501116,766 mi
STEERING423111,343 mi
AIR BAGS386120,514 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2924104,981 mi
STRUCTURE2979,076 mi
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC252677,229 mi
ENGINE2434133,702 mi
POWER TRAIN241134,399 mi
UNKNOWN OR OTHER233111,869 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING201291,916 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE19126,882 mi
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1850,781 mi
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS18125,489 mi
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS151121,011 mi
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1411159,418 mi
WHEELS121110,055 mi
SERVICE BRAKES1122136,957 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL11218,686 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES11346,755 mi
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE10159,171 mi
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)964,489 mi
TIRES9237,972 mi
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM71114,084 mi
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE72108,391 mi
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM7116,953 mi
TIRES:TREAD/BELT722,754 mi
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS535,431 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM4180,602 mi

Recalls for 2003 Ford Escape

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,408,502 vehicles.

15V606000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
~57 affected

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.

15V606000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
~57 affected

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.

14V165000STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
~348,950 affected

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.

12V353000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
~529,719 affected

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.

12V353000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
~529,719 affected

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.

Check Any VIN — $4.99