Ford Escape Complaints (2003)

558 consumer complaints on file.

#10486981November 27, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I ENTERED MY CAR TO SEE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH CAR IN OFF POISTION AND KEY REMOVED. TRIED STARTING CAR AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY GOT CAR TO START. DROVE SEVERAL BLOCKS, PARKED AND THE CAR AND EVEN AFTER REMOVING KEY, COULD NOT GET CAR TO TURN OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CAR TURNED OFF. I COULD HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FAN RUNNING IN THE AREA NEAR MY BREAK FLUID. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, I NEEDED TO DRIVE HOME. I DROVE SERVERAL HUNDRED YARDS BEFORE I STARTED TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. WHEN I SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD I PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE FLAMES STARTED TO GET BIGGER. I CALL 911 BUT THEY DID NOT ARRIVE IN TIME TO SAVE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ENGINE AND INTERITOR WERE TORCHED. CAUSE OF FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484875November 16, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN AND RAPID UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION AFTER REMOVING MY FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR. DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS TO BRAKE AND ARREST MY MOVEMENT THE VEHICLE STILL WAS MOVING FORWARD. I IMPACTED THE REAR END OF A TRUCK THAT THANKFULLY WAS HEAVY ENOUGH TO COMPLETELY STOP MY FORWARD MOVEMENT. I HAD THIS VEHICLE IN MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO ADDRESS THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. I WAS ASSURED BY THE TECHNICIANS THAT IT WAS INDEED MODIFIED (THAT THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER WAS FITTED WITH NEW LONGER FITTINGS/BOLTS). THIS UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER ALLEGED RECALL/REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482294October 26, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V353000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES) PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE DEFECT WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH OUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 45MPH AND THE RPM INCREASED TO 1,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481526October 23, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V353000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES). THE REMEDY PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME AND AS AN INTERIM REMEDY THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED WHEN THE RECALL PART BECAME AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THEY WERE NOT LIABLE AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,310.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481359October 22, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V353000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE CONTACT STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR IN AUGUST OF 2012 AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CALLED BACK IN OCTOBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480768October 16, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE EXTERIOR PAINT IS PEELING OFF IN LARGE PIECES. STARTING TO RUST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478511October 3, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD SNAP AND A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CONTINUED TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE A FRAME WAS CORRODED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ABS AND THE TIE ROD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478105October 1, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
MY CAR IS MISFIRING AND STALLING ON DE-ACCELERATION (WHEN WE SLOW DOWN). IT STARTED RECENTLY. FIRST IT HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. WE HAD IT TESTED BY A MECHANIC WITH THE ELECTRICAL READER AND IT SAID WE NEEDED A NEW COIL. WE REPLACED THE COIL, DID A FULL TUNE UP AND IT STILL IS NOT WORKING. AFTER MANY HOURS OF RESEARCH WE SEE THAT THE FORD ESCAPE PCM HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND THE 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CALL FORD AND THEY TELL ME MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT PARTICULAR RECALL. HOWEVER, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE. WHAT I AM TO DO? DRIVE THE CAR LIKE THIS AND RISK IT STALLING IN AN INTERSECTION OR ON A HILL AND HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH? FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED OVER THE YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474210September 7, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND THE FRAME WAS CORRODED, AND CRACKED. IN ADDITION, THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE FRAME AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470583August 14, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS UP TO 7,000. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE SHIFTED TO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL SINCE THE ENGINE REMAINED REVVED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CARBON BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY PLATES WHICH KEPT THE PLATES OPEN AND DID NOT ALLOW IT TO CLOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000 AND THE APPROXIMATELY CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 217,000. UPDATED 8/30/12 *CN UPDATED 09/05/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470594August 14, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD WHEN THE SMELL OF FUEL AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE SPARK PLUGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,200. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD AND STRIPPED THE TREADS IN THE HEADS. UPDATED 09/13/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470089August 10, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,400. UPDATED 8/28/12 CN UPDATED 08/29/12. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469637August 8, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING MY ESCAPE, THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING/THUMPING NOISE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I REMOVED THE TIRES AND NOTICE THAT BOTH THE FRONT DISK BRAKES ROTORS WHERE DE-LAMINATING. WITH YOU FINGER NAIL YOU COULD PULL OFF HUNKS OF METAL. I STILL HAVE BOTH ROTORS. AND THE BRAKES HAD ONLY ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THEM. BRAKE JOB WAS DONE BY A FORD DEALER. THE DISK WHERE TURNED AND THEY ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469479August 7, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND THEY BOTH INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED UNTIL THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE A TEMPORARY REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED WHICH CONSISTED OF DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE RECALL TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469311August 6, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A CITATION WAS ISSUED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THERE WERE MINOR SCRATCHES TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,016.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468307July 30, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAD JUST STEPPED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR (HARDER THAN USUAL) TO PASS TWO SEMI'S. THE THROTTLE STUCK IN FULL SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY TURNING THE KEY OFF AND PULLING OFF TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER CALLING THE FORD DEALER AT ALBERT LEA MINNESOTA HE SUGGESTED THAT I LOOK AROUND IN THE ARE WHERE THE RUBBER AIR INTAKE IS AND IF POSSIBLE TAKE THE RUBBER INTAKE OFF AND FEEL AROUND INSIDE. WHILE DOING THAT I COULD SEE THAT THE SHAFT AT THE END OF THE CRUISE CABLE HAD JAMMED UP AGAINST THE ENGINE COVER AND LOCKED UP AT FULL SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE IT BACK INTO DRIVABLE POSITION AND CALLED THE ALBERT LEA DEALER TO TELL THEM WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. THEN I STOPPED AT THE FORD DEALER IN ROCHESTER MINNESOTA TO TAKE A LOOK AT TELL ME IF THE CAR WAS SAFE. THEY TOOK THE ENGINE COVER OFF AND TOLD ME IT WAS GOOD TO DRIVE. LATER I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE TOOK IT ONE STEP FARTHER BY DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE FROM THE THROTTLE CONTROL SHAFT. I WILL BE INSISTING THAT FORD DO THE FIX TO RAISE THE ENGINE COVER AND REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS THE CABLE FOR THE CRUISE IS BENT NEAR THROTTLE CONTROL END. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466795July 20, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS I APPROACHED A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. THE PEDAL STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED PARTIALLY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND I ESCAPED BEING INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS SINCE STUCK ON OTHER OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466406July 18, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:04V165000(POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE(TCM.PCM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466487July 18, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FRIEND HAD JUST INSTALLED FUEL FILTER ON CAR. WAS TESTING CAR - HAD CAR IN PARK - FLOORED ACCELERATOR, ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. WOULDN'T BUDGE. THEY OPENED UP HOOD AND HAD TO CUT CRUISE CONTROL CABLE TO MAKE SHORTER THIS AUTO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECALLED FOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND BEEN REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK AS A RESULT OF THIS NOT BEING DONE PROPERLY. I BELIEVE IT WAS DONE BEFORE THEY CORRECTED THE WAY THEY WERE DOING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466035July 17, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. MOST RECENTLY, THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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