Ford Escape Complaints (2003)
558 consumer complaints on file.
- #10113211March 1, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED 6 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF HER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111367February 11, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY HARDENED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE BRAKES BURN OUT VERY QUICKLY DRIVING UNDER THESE MOUNTAINOUS CONDITIONS. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAS HAD THE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111241February 9, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V165000, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO MISS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STRUCK A TREE. CONSUMER MENTIONED THE ENGINE STALLING. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10111431February 7, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
CONSUMER WANTS TO BE SURE THAT HE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE FOR 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *BF THE RECALL IS IN REFERENCE TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10107944January 26, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A 4 LANE URBAN STREET (ON A RAINY DAY) AND APPROACHED AS "S" CURVE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING FORWARD AND SLID INTO THE NEXT LANE TO THE LEFT. NOT REALIZING WHAT WAS GOING ON, I GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND SLID TWO LANES TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN, MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN AND CROSSED ALL 4 LANES AND HIT A CONCRETE ABUTMENT, GOING UP THE ABUTMENT UNTIL I THOUGHT THE CAR WOULD GO OVER IT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THEN THE CAR CAME DOWN FROM THE ABUTMENT, SLID BACKWARDS SO THE REAR END THEN HIT THE ABUTMENT AND THEN THE CAR FLEW ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FOUR LANES WHERE IT STOPPED, FACING TRAFFIC. ONLY BECAUSE OF GOOD LUCK AND IT BEING EARLY IN THE MORNING DID THE CAR HIT NO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DAMAGE EXCEEDED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. JUST LAST WEEK I RECEIVED THE RECALL ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP (OVER 7 WEEKS LATER) AND WILL THEN GO TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED. HOWEVER, MY CAR'S VALUE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY PLUMMETED. I WILL PURSUE THIS WITH FORD.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10108649January 21, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THIS RESULTED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS UNDETERMINED. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10107287January 13, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V165000; FORD ISSUED AN ENGINE STALLING RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE ENGINE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VIN IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105900January 6, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WE OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WE HEARD ABOUT A RECALL ON THE ESCAPE. SO ON DECEMBER 21, MY WIFE WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO GET HER CAR WASHED. WHILE SHE WAS THERE SHE ASKED THE SERVICES TECHNICIAN IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FORD ESCAPE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE TECH INFORMED HER THAT HE HAD HEARD THERE WAS ONE, BUT HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM FORD AND SAID NO MORE ABOUT IT. ON JANUARY 4TH 2005 AT ABOUT 5:00 AM MY WIFE ENTERED THE PARKING RAMP AT 12700 WHITEWATER DR, MINNETONKA, MN. SHE NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THERE IS A SPEED BUMP ENTERING THE RAMP. NEXT SHE PLACED HERE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND STARTED FORWARD. NEXT SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND STARTED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. NEXT SHE STARTED TO TURN IN TO A PARKING SPACE. THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW, THE ESCAPE ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CONCRETE PILLAR AND THE AIR BAGS HAD BEEN DEPLORED. WE CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP (MORRIES MINNETONKA FORD) AND THEY INFORMED US THEY WOULD FIX THE RECALL, BUT NOT THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD BY THEM TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS. WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING PHONE TAG WITH THE RELATIONS DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD BY MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY TO CALL YOU AND YOUR RECORDING INFORMED ME TO FILL OUT THIS FORM.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105216December 22, 2004POWER TRAIN
WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104320December 22, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
HOW CAN I GET A LIST OF VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS TO FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE IS EFFECTED IN A FORD RECALL. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103994December 17, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY WIFE, DONNA P. WRIGHT, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 12/10/2004 AT APPROX. 7:15 AM ON MARRIOTTSVILLE ROAD # 2 IN ELDERSBURG, MD. THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND FORD F350 TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER WITH A BOBCAT HEAVY EQUIPMENT. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AT THE TIME. THE FORD TRUCK WAS APPROACHING A CURVE WHEN ITS TRAILER JACKNIFED AND HIT MY WIFE'S FORD ESCAPE HEAD ON. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP OWNER WHO TOWED OUR CAR, THE FRAME WAS BENT IN TWO FEET. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, BUMPER, HOOD, RADIATOR AND BUMPER. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEEPLY. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES (CUTS AND BRUISES). I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT IF I WANTED TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND PAY FOR THE TEST OF THE SENSOR. I FIND THAT RATHER RIDICULOUS.*JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103865December 15, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2003 CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STARTING PROBLEMS. THERE HAD BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS, AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION SEVEN TIMES. COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103037December 15, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
WHILE ON A RETURN LONG DISTANCE ROAD TRIP MY ABS DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE LIGHT DID NOT RETURN UNTIL FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT A SPEED SENSOR HAD GONE BAD.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102989December 14, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIST OF RECALLS. RECALL 04S13 OCCURED BACK IN APR 2004, AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND IF MY VEHICLE IS STILL IN NEED OF REPAIR.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102804December 12, 2004VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS, FROM A STOPPED POSITION. VERY HARD TO PUSH THEN THE TRUCK JERKS FORWARD. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102462December 9, 2004VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING FROM I66 TO VA28 N AFTER REGAINING 60 MPH THE CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP, APPLIED BRAKES BUT BRAKES OVERHEATED AND CAR KEPT GAINING SPEED. THEN REALIZED GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK OPEN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHUT ENGINE DOWN, RESTARTED AND QUICKLY MOVED TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD (HAD TO, CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC) RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THROTTLE CABLE. THEY SAID CABLE BECAME JAMMED. I CAN FIND NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE ONLINE DATABASE. I THINK THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND PERHAPS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10100414November 23, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FORD ESCAPE XLT 2003 RAKE PADS WORN TO LESS THAN 4 MPH AND ROTORS WORN TO .910 AT 15,153 MILES. I CONSIDER THIS EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10101268November 18, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE ACCELERATING AT A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10100153November 18, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1. VEHICLE HAD RECALL 04S13 PERFORMED FOR POSIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHEN DECELERATING. VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. VEHICLE WAS 19 MONTHS OLD WITH 3600 MILES AND HAD NOT HAD ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS.*AKI 2. 2 WEEKS AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE EXACT CONDITIONS THAT THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES USUALLY WHEN BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE EVERY TIME. THE LAST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AND ABOUT HALF WAY INTO A PARKING SPACE AND IT ACCELERATED OWN ITS OWN, THE FRONT WHEELS JUMPED A 6 INCH VERTICLE CURB, AND LEFT 5 FOOT SKID MARKS IN THE GRASS WHILE TRYING TO STOP. 3. THE DEALER HAS DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR. DEALER INSTALLED FLIGHT RECORDER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR. THEY REMOVED FLIGHT RECORDER AND A TECHNICIAN RODE IN VEHICLE THE PROBLEM OCCURED AND TECHNICIAN HAD VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO SHOP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND RETURNED VEHICLE. ACCELERATION OCCURED AGAIN THEY REINSTALLED FLIGHT RECORDER AND SAID THEY NEEDED THREE RECORDING TO DIAGNOIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT OCCURED YET AND DEALER IS CALKLING TO GET FLIGHT RECORDER BACK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10096056October 19, 2004VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ON 10/15/04 I HAD JUST ENTERED A 6 LANE INTERSTATE (HIGH SPEED URBAN TRAFFIC) AND HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE OVER 3 LANES AS THE RIGHT 2 LANES WERE EXIT ONLY ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM MY ENTRANCE POINT. AFTER ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO A GAP TO THE LEFT I FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND WAS ABOUT TO REAR END A FLATBED TRUCK. THE BRAKES HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON SLOWING THE CAR. AFTER SOME VIOLENT MANEUVERING AND SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND SWITCH THE IGNITION OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE PLASTIC COVERING HAD FRAYED/DISINTEGRATED, JAMMING THE CABLE SUCH THAT THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING(S) WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE THE THROTTLE. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID HE HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. HOWEVER, I DID A CURSORY SEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SIMILAR AND IDENTICAL INCIDENTS (ONLY SEARCHED 2003 MODEL YEAR AND ONLY "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL" COMPONENT). THERE WERE 8 INCIDENTS THAT WERE CLEARLY THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLES (10068000, 10015965, 10047388, 10023519, 10051175, 10024424, 10026817 AND 10082787) AND 6 THAT WERE PROBABLY/POSSIBLY THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLES (10018602, 10043060, 10062971, 10015506, 10092028 AND 10040552). THE SERIOUSNESS AND NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WOULD SEEM TO WARRANT INVESTIGATION/RECALL. I REQUESTED THE DEFECTIVE CABLE FROM THE SERVICE WRITER, BUT HE INDICATED THAT AS IT WAS A WARRANTY ITEM IT HAD TO BE RETURNED TO FORD. HOWEVER, I DID TAKE 2 PICTURES IF THEY WOULD BE OF ANY HELP.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0