Ford Escape Complaints (2003)

558 consumer complaints on file.

#10897397August 20, 2016
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE STEERING STARTED TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND LOOSE. MOMENTS LATER THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (SUB-FRAME) ON PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL ALMOST ENDING IN CRASH. NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL BELOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH WAS ISSUED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED. THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER THEY'LL FIX. RECALL # 14S02 2001-'04 FORD ESCAPE RECALLED FOR RUST, STEERING PROBLEM FORD IS RECALLING 385,762 2001-'04 FORD ESCAPE SUVS BECAUSE A RUST PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STEERING CONTROL. | APRIL 8, 2014 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL TITLE: FRONT SUBFRAME CROSSBRACE INSTALLATION NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V165000 FORD RECALL NUMBER: 14S02
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895214August 12, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING, SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS CRACKED AND FORD HAD A RECALL IN PLACE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. INSTEAD, THEY PUT A CROSS-BAR ON THE CRACKED SUB FRAME BECAUSE THEY DETERMINED IT WAS "NOT BROKEN" ONLY "CRACKED". THE SUB FRAME HAD "RUSTED AND CORRODED" DUE TO FORD'S OWN ADMITTANCE OF "FAULTY PARTS". I ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE AND THEY STATED "NO". I ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WOULD PASS INSPECTION AND AGAIN THEY STATED "NO". I ASKED IF THIS WAS A "BANDAID" THAT THEY PUT ON TO MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE FACT THAT ANYONE OPERATING THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE TOTAL CONTROL. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO A MANAGER, WHO TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. HE DID STATE HE WOULD MAKES SOME CALLS AND CALLED ME A DAY OR TWO LATER TO SAY, THAT HIS MANAGER SAID IF I WANTED THE VEHICLE FIXED, I COULD PAY $1,200 FOR THE PART AND AN ADDITIONAL $600-$800 IN LABOR TO FIX THE VEHICLE, OR I COULD TRADE IT IN. I AM BEYOND FRUSTRATED THAT FORD WILL NOT BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 65,000 MILES ON IT!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10892814August 3, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I BEGAN MERGING ONTO I 820 WHEN MY VEHICLE (BY ITSELF) FLOORED THE ACCELERATOR. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE (IT WOULDNT PRESS DOWN, IT WAS HARD AS A ROCK). I USED BOTH FEET TO NO AVAIL. AT 75-80 MPH I JAMMED IT INTO NEUTRAL. THE RPM'S WERE STILL AT MAX. BY THIS TIME IT HAD SLOWED (I WAS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIWAY) TO ABOUT 20 MPH, THEN JAMMED IT IN PARK. I LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL THE INSTRUMENTS WERE ON 0. I HESITATED THEN GAVE THE CAR SOME GAS, IT WAS STILL RUNNING! I COULDNT EVEN HEAR THE ENGINE UNTIL I REVVED IT. I PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. THE CAR DID TURN OFF. I NOTICED A 17 YR OLD BOY DYING BACK IN 2012 -13 FROM THE SAME ACT MY CAR DID. ITS BAD ENOUGH TO LOSE A CHILD BUT TO LOSE A CHILD BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION FROM A VEHICLE AND THE COMPANY STATING THEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER, IS NOTHING SHORT OF TOTAL NEGLIGENCE AND REFUSAL TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONES ERROR AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR YOUTH? LOOK WHO'S RAISING THEM AND GIVING THEM EXCUSES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10892568August 2, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACTWAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10889237July 28, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE IN PARK, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CONNECTOR UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10886257July 20, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE WITH A LOSS OF THE BATTERY POWER, AND THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM AND HORN RANDOMLY SOUNDED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED WITH THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDING WHETHER THE DOOR WAS OPENED OR CLOSED. AFTER A WHILE, THE HORN AND ANTI-THEFT ALARMS STOPPED, BUT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS TO BE NOTIFIED TO DETERMINE A REPAIR SOLUTION FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10884410July 12, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10875236June 20, 2016
SUSPENSION
IN MAY OF 2016, I TOOK MY FORD ESCAPE IN FOR REPAIR OF A RECALL. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT A FAILURE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS I READ THE RECALL NOTICE AND THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH REPAIR CENTER AGENT. A MONTH LATER THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATES. AFTER I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD, IT WAS EXPRESSED TO ME THAT RECALL WAS NOT TO PREVENT FAILURE BUT MERELY TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE. HAD I NOT HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED THE ESCAPE AT COST TO THEM, BUT BECAUSE I HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED THEN I MOST PAY FOR IT. WHY WOULD FORD AUTHORIZE SUCH A RIDICULOUS RECALL EFFORT. FIRST OF ALL IF IT'S KNOW ISSUE, WHY NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE. SECONDLY, HAD I KNOW THE RAMIFICATIONS, I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD THE RECALLED PERFORMED. THE CONTROL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AND I HIT A BUMP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10862577May 2, 2016
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE TIRE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION TO THE REAR AXLES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849535March 15, 2016
STRUCTURE
2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HIS WIFE HEARD A TERRIBLE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE CONSUMER ARRIVED TO WHERE HIS WIFE WAS AND DID AN INSPECTION, AND DISCOVERED THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN IN HALF. THE NEXT DAY, A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837246February 19, 2016
STEERING, WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10836543February 16, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ASH GOLD PAINT IS BUBBLING ALL OVER THE OUTSIDE ROOF REAR DOOR SIDES (ALL OVER) THE CAR TO INCLUDE THE INTERIOR. THE ROOF HAS RUSTED AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING. I WENT TO TWO FORD DEALERS IN SAN DIEGO AND CALLED FORD DIRECT. THE PASSED ME OVER TO THE HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMIN HOTLINE THAT TOLD ME TO CALL FORD, THEY WILL HANDLE THE COMPLAINT. EVERYDAY MORE PAINT PEELS OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10826154February 15, 2016
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES
0N APR 22, 2015 WHILE DRIVING FROM SHADY SPRING WV TO PRINCETON WV ON I-77 TO A DRS APPT, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEH WHEN VEERING OR TURNING RIGHT. I HAD TO WORK THAT DAY AFTER I RETURNED FROM THE DR AND HAD PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEH TO A MECHANIC AFTER I GOT OFF TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON PLUTO ROAD IN SHADY SPRING, I ROUNDED A CURVE TO THE RIGHT AT 20 MPH AND SOMETHING BROKE CAUSING THE VEH TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I HAD THE VEH TOWED TO A&R SERVICE CTR IN SHADY SPRING AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT AFTERNOON THAT THE SUB FRAME BROKE/ LOWER CV JOINT HAD CAME LOOSE AND THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION COVERING THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEH. I NOTIFIED KC PREOWNED AUTO WHOM I HAD PURCHASED THE VEH FROM IN SEPT 2014. HE WENT TO THE MECH AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND CALLED ME AND STATED THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SUB FRAME THAT HAD BROKEN AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MOUNTAINEER AUTO IN BECKLEY WV FOR REPAIR. THE VEH WAS TAKEN ON APR 27 2015, AND AFTER BEING SENT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A RUSTED AND BROKEN BOLT, A NEW SUB FRAME WAS PLACED ON THE FRONT. MY WIFE PICKED IT UP ON JUN 20 2015 AND NOTICED DRIVING HOME A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT AND A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE MIDDLE OF IT. I TOOK IT BACK TO MOUNTAINEER AUTO THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD BY THE SVC REP (J T) THAT FORD WAS NOT GOING TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY IN TO THIS VEH AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I NOTIFIED THE WV ATTY GENERAL FOR HELP AND AFTER TRYING TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE RECEIVED A LETTER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEH SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL FEB 3, 2016, WHEN I SAVED UP MONEY TO FIX IT MYSELF. I TOOK IT BACK TO MOUNTAINEER AUTO AND WAS TOLD THE CARRIAGE BEARING WAS BROKE, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION. TOOK IT TO 2 BROTHERS AND RECEIVED THE ATTACHED STATEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825200February 9, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON THE FRAME AND WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FACED OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10824498February 5, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD THUMPING SOUND CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME SEPERATED DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRACTURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10823999February 3, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATLY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE APPRUPTLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME FRACTURED NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING AND VIBRATIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820540January 15, 2016
STEERING, SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A HIGHWAY(60MPH) WHEN MY STEERING BECAME LOOSE, WEAVING LEFT AND RIGHT. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 20MPH UNTIL I GOT HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME HAD BROKEN IN 2. FORD IS RECALLING 385,762 2001-'04 FORD ESCAPE SUVS BECAUSE A RUST PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STEERING CONTROL. FORD DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT CROSSBRACE ON THE AFFECTED ESCAPES. THE SUBFRAME HAS BROKEN APART DUE TO THE CORROSION, AND IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE FORD IS AWARE OF THIS, THEY SHOULD HAVE BOTH SUBFRAME REPLACE AS A RECALL AND NOT ADDING A CROSSBAR AS A RECALL. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR WAS TOO COSTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816734December 29, 2015
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A BRACE WAS PLACED ON BY THE DEALER IN THE SUBFRAME AS PART OF A RECALL IN 2014. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811513December 21, 2015
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING AND RUSHED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM MODULE HARNESS AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808780December 7, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION AROUND THE ATTACHMENT AREA AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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