Worst 2003 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Suspension Failures
Unintended Acceleration
Body Structure
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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 Failures | 79 | 3 | — | 143,818 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 65 | 8 | 1 | 108,994 mi | |
| Body Structure | 50 | — | 1 | 116,766 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 42 | 3 | — | 111,343 mi | |
| Airbags | 38 | 6 | — | 120,514 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 29 | 2 | 4 | 104,981 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 29 | — | — | 79,076 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 25 | 2 | 6 | 77,229 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 24 | 3 | 4 | 133,702 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 24 | — | 1 | 134,399 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 20 | 1 | 2 | 91,916 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 19 | — | 1 | 26,882 mi | |
| 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 | |
| Wheel Issues | 12 | 1 | — | 110,055 mi | |
| 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 | |
| Tire Defects | 9 | 2 | — | 37,972 mi | |
| Fuel 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 | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2003 Ford Escape
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~878,726 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 2001-2004 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.
Other Ford Escape Years
2003 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Ford Escape reliable?
What are common problems with the 2003 Ford Escape?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Ford Escape?
How safe is the 2003 Ford Escape?
Does the 2003 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2003 Ford Escape?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
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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