Ford Escape Complaints (2003)

558 consumer complaints on file.

#10268831May 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE AN 03 ESCAPE. SINCE FALL 08 I HAVE HEARD, FELT THIS STUTTER, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT. AT FIRST IT WAS OCCASIONAL, BUT HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY FREQUENT--THREE TO FOUR TIMES IN A ROW ACCOMPANIED ONCE IN A WHILE WITH A TICKING SOUND, AND PULLING THE CAR TO THE LEFT. MECHANICS COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TODAY THEY ARE REPLACING THE TONE RINGS. HAVING A TERM TO USE, I GOT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM FOR OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264369April 7, 2009
STRUCTURE
THE PAINT ON MY ASH GOLD 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS STARTED TO BUBBLE AND PEEL AWAY FROM THE METAL BODY PARTS. DOORS, HOOD, REAR HATCH AND A LARGE SPOT ON THE ROOF JUST BEHIND THE MOON ROOF WINDOW. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN TOUCH UP. THE PAINT IS LITERALLY PEELING OFF OF THE PRIMER WHICH THEN QUICKLY ERODES TO EXPOSE THE METAL WHICH STARTS TO RUST. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SPANNING SEVERAL YEARS AND SEVERAL FORD MODELS. IN THIS AGE WHERE WE HAVE TO KEEP CARS LONGER, THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO DISCOVER - THE COMPANY SIMPLY CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAINT A CAR!!! I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND BOUGHT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. HE POINTED OUT THE PEELING BUT WE BOTH THOUGHT IT COULD BE TOUCHED UP AS HE HAD BEEN DOING FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THE ROOF WAS NOT LOOKED AT UNTIL I WAS WORKING ON THE ROOF RACK. THIS IS THE WORST CASE AND IS NOT GOING TO GET FIXED BY ANY TOUCH UP PAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264378April 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. SPORADICALLY, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE STALLS. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY HER LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263968April 2, 2009
STRUCTURE
MY PROBLEM IS NOT MECHANICAL BUT RATHER "PHYSICAL". THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING OFF THE ROOF AND HATCH OF MY 2003 ASH-COLORED FORD ESCAPE LIMITED SINCE 2007. AFTER READING OTHERS' BLOGS I AM AWARE THAT I AM NOT ALONE BY ANY MEANS. I PURCHASED THE SUV FOR IT'S NICE APPEARANCE AND COLOR. I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFOREHAND THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, OTHERWISE I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED A FORD. APPARENTLY FORD IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP US? CAN'T FORD BE FORCED INTO A RECALL FOR THIS? THESE VEHICLES AREN'T CHEAP!! PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263700March 31, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 03 FORD ESCAPE, AND THE TROUBLE IS ENDLESS. THE CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES AND IT IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE HAD IT IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP ABOUT 6 TIMES AND HAS HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 2 YEARS. THE FAILURE TO START IS SCARY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS GOING TO EXPLODE OR WHAT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT IT IS A SENSOR THAT GOES OUT AND TELLS THE CAR IT DOESN'T HAVE TO START. BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES AND THE OTHER DAY IT DID IT AGAIN. I HATE TO GO OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF GETTING STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AND ANOTHER THING THE SMELL OF THE ENGINE IS CRAZY MY DAUGHTER HAS ASTHMA AND TALKING ABOUT A PROBLEM FOR HER IT IS. I CAN GO TO WORK AND GO BACK 30 MINUTES LATER TO MY CAR AND YOU CAN TELL THAT IT IS STILL SMELLING OF COURSE WHERE I GOT IT FROM THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NO CONCERN IT WAS DUE TO THE FACT OF THEM DROPPING OIL WHEN THEY DID A CHANGE, COME ON PEOPLE 2 MONTHS LATER. I FEAR THAT ONE DAY IT WILL EXPLODE I JUST PRAY TO GOD THAT MY FAMILY IS NOT IN THERE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND FROM READING IN HERE I AM SCARED TO DEATH. SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME FAMILY LOSES A MEMBER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263080March 25, 2009
STRUCTURE
PAINT PEELING IN SEVERAL SPOT ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262227March 18, 2009
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT, TAKE BY TO DEALER ON NUMBERS TIME (5) . EVERY TWO WEEKS FOR THE TIME OF PURCHASE (10/11/2008) CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT RIGHT THE DEALER STATED THE BAG WON'T WORK WHEN NEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260591March 3, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WHICH HAD ACCELERATOR CABLE REPLACED UNDER A RECALL FROM FORD IN APPROXIMATELY 2005. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THE RECALL, WHICH IS NOT COMING BACK TO IDLE SPEED AND ACTUALLY STICKING WIDE OPEN ON ONE OCCASION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO REPLACE THIS AT THEIR COST, SO AM DOING THIS AT MY OWN EXPENSE, OBVIOUSLY SOONER THAN LATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260039February 26, 2009
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT,WHITE IN COLOR AND CURRENTLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT BLISTERING AND PEELING ON THE REAR HATCH BELOW THE WINDOW BOTH SIDES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PAINT PEELING HAS STARTED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE REAR CARGO WINDOW. I VISITED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY DENIED IT AS A DEFECT. OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD FOUR AUTOBODY SHOPS TELL ME $600.00 TO A $1000.00 TO REPAINT. "THE PROBLEM IS FACTORY PRIMER PROBLEM" AND SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE PEELING IF NOT REPAINTED SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259865February 25, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
JANUARY 18, 2009, WAS THE LAST TIME I DROVE MY 2003, FORD ESCAPE. THE DAY PRIOR, I DROVE MY KIDS, TWO BLOCKS AWAY TO A PARK. I GOT BACK HOME AND PARKED MY VEHICLE AT APPROX 2:30 P.M. THE NEXT MORNING AT 11:14 A.M. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY APARTMENT MANAGER STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPT WAS OUTSIDE PUTTING OUT MY CAR FIRE. THE FIRE CAPTAIN STATED THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED FROM THE ABS SYSTEM AND TO CHECK ONLINE AND SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAME OUT AND CLAIMED IT A "TOTAL LOSS". WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO A WEEK AGO, FORD HAD WORKED ON MY VEHICLE IN WHICH I HAD SPENT OVER $5,000.00 TO GET IT IN TIP TOP CONDITION. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE BUT STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THERE RECALL. THEY ALSO STATED TO MY ADJUSTER THAT THIS ABS PART WAS NO LONGER MADE, SO MY INSURANCE COMPANY TRIED TO LOCATE THIS PART AND NO OTHER PARTS STORE CARRIED THIS PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259777February 24, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 65 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND BECAME LOCKED. SHE PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND DROVE IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. SHE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SOME TIME. ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED, THE BRAKES SOFTENED UP AND THE RPMS DECREASED TO THE ORIGINAL START POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE A FEW RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE. ONCE SHE FOUND THE RECALL, THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL INFORMATION. SHE LATER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED FOUR YEARS AGO ON HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. SHE IS WORRIED THAT THE ISSUE COULD CAUSE FUTURE FAILURES AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AGAIN SINCE IT WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259389February 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, AS VEHICLE STALLED WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, BUT WAS ASSURED THE PCM JUST NEEDED TO BE REFLASHED. 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT STALLED OUT ON ME WHEN TURNING A CORNER, FOOT NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED AFTER REALLY REVVING ENGINE HARD. TOOK IT BACK, ASSURED ME IT WAS MY "ANTI-THEFT DEVICE" TWO DAYS AFTER GETTING VEHICLE BACK, STALLED YET AGAIN WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. SYMPTOMS ARE MUCH LIKE THE RECALL LISTED FOR 2003 ESCAPES BUT OF COURSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY "CAN'T GET IT TO STALL" BUT REPLACED THIS TIME THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. PICKED IT UP, NEXT DAY STALLED OUT AS I TURNED CORNER INTO PARKING LOT. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258046February 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO STOP. HE WAS FORCED TO CRASH INTO A SNOW PILE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY DAMAGE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FAILING. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE $300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257482February 4, 2009
STRUCTURE
PAINT BLISTERING AND PEELING ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD ON ROOF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256620January 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE EMISSIONS INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE REPAIR SHOP KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS DUE TO THE PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. WHEN THE GASKET WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BECAME VERY HOT AND THE CORKING (USED TO SEAL THE GASKET) MELTED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WOULD COST $3,700 JUST TO START THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE WHAT OTHER MALFUNCTIONS WERE OCCURRING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256030January 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 30,000 MILES NEEDED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED. OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF AGE. I PAID OVER $4K TO HAVE IT REPLACED. FORD REFUSED TO COMPENSATE FOR OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING / DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255551January 19, 2009
STRUCTURE
WE OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE SUV. THE PAINT IS PEELING OF THE BACK TAILGATE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE AND ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES. THIS PAINT SHOULD NOT PEEL OFF LIKE THIS. THE DEALER SAID I COULD PAY $300 TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254392January 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD ESCAPE 2003 80 000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE AND NOW SLIPS AND MAKES NOISE IN ALL GEARS. ONLY FORD I'VE EVER OWNED....MIGHT BE THE LAST UNLESS THIS IS RESOLVED TO MY SATISFACTION. NO SPECIFIC EVENT TO DETERMINE WHY TRANNY IS GOING..SEEMS LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253611January 2, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PROBLEM: VEHICLE IS BEEPING WARNING BEEPS FROM CLUSTER AREA, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT/BEEPER KEEPS GOING OFF, JUST PAID FORD DEALER $595.20 TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESSES TO BOTH FRONT SEATS AND BOTH BODY HARNESSES FOR CODE B1869, REMOVED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND REPLACED BAD BULB FOR AIR BAG SYSTEM, CLEAR ALL CODES AND ROAD TEST 3 MILES. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPES, SEEMS TO BE AN OVERALL PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL AIRBAG WIRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245524October 15, 2008
STRUCTURE
PAINT PEELING OFF THE ROOF AND REAR TAILGATE OF VEHICLE. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. BODY SHOP INSPECTED AND REPORTED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EVENT AND THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH IMPROPER PREP OR PARTS USED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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