Ford Escape Complaints (2003)

558 consumer complaints on file.

#10650243October 27, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649968October 25, 2014
SUSPENSION
I TOOK MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE TO DEALER TO HAVE CROSS BRACE PUT ON DUE TO RECALL. I KNOW MORE THAN LEFT THEIR PARKING LOT AND NOTICE CAR DRIVING FUNNY. EVER SINCE BEING PUT ON I HAVE TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM ON PASSENGER FRONT, NEW TIRES AND 2 ALIGNMENTS. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE CV JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. I CALLED THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT CAR DRIVING FUNNY THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME ITS NOT THERE FAULT. I HAVE SOAKED ALMOST $1000 IN REPAIRS DUE TO CROSSBAR BEING PUT ON MY CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED THERE ARE FLAWS IN THE CROSS BRACE BEING INSTALLED ON CARS. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS AND SINCE DEALER MESSED WITH MY CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639903September 29, 2014
SUSPENSION
SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE SUB-FRAME CAUSING HARD STEERING AND LOSS OF PROPER CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637170September 18, 2014
STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A NEWLY DESIGNED REINFORCEMENT CROSS-BRACE; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT COMPLETE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CORROSION PRESENT. THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS AN ENFORCED PROCEDURE PER THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE STEERING BECAME AFFECTED DUE TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632510September 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
ON JUNE 9 2014, I TOOK MY ESCAPE TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE RECALL 14S02 PERFORMED. WE HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE SERVICE WRITER CALLED ME TO SAY THAT "THE CAR WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE" BECAUSE OF THE RUST SPOTS THAT HAD EATEN THROUGH THE ENGINE CRADLE. HE WARNED ME THAT IF THIS WENT UNREPAIRED, THE FRAME COULD COLLAPSE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE. HE REASSURED ME THAT HE WAS WORKING WITH FORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CRADLE AS PART OF THE RECALL. HE TOOK PICTURES (TWICE) OF THE CAR AND SUBMITTED THEM AND A REQUEST TO FORD FOR THE REPAIR. ON JULY 13 2014, MORE THAN A MONTH LATER, THE SERVICE WRITER LET ME KNOW THAT FORD HAD REJECTED THE REPAIR CLAIM, SAYING THAT "THEY DIDN'T THINK THE RUST WAS SIGNIFICANT, IT WAS SURFACE RUST, AND THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY SAFE TO DRIVE." THE DEALER INSTALLED A BRACKET ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE RUSTY CRADLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BRACKET IS PART OF THE RECALL. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON JULY 14 2014 AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SAFE AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE RUST. WE SUBSEQUENTLY SPENT OVER $1,500 MAKING OTHER REPAIRS TO THE CAR, BELIEVING IT WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, ON SEPTEMBER 5 2014, MY DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRADLE, BENDING THE DRIVE AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND RENDERING THE CAR UNABLE TO DRIVE. THE SERVICE WRITER HAD BEEN CORRECT, IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT DID FAIL. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. ON SEPTEMBER 9 2014, I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD AGAIN REJECTED THE CLAIM TO REPAIR THE (BROKEN) ENGINE CRADLE. THIS TIME, THE REASON GIVEN WAS "THEY HAD ALREADY DONE THE RECALL" THAT WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS THE CRADLE DAMAGE FROM RUST. I HAVE APPEALED THE REJECTION THROUGH FORD CUSTOMER CARE AND THROUGH THE SPECIAL SERVICES GROUP AND THEY CONTINUE TO REJECT THE REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632092September 10, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE), IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,429. UPDATED 10/01/14 *BF UPDATED 1/7/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631927September 9, 2014
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
THIS VEHICLE IS PART OF THE FORD RECALL 14S02 (NHTSB #14V165000 ). I HAD THE RECALL DIRECTED CROSS-BRACE INSTALLED IN JUNE 2014 (3 MONTHS AGO). I WAS TURNING A CORNER AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH, HEARD A POP IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR AND THEN HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO FOUND THAT THE CROSS-BRACE HAD FAILED BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME GAVE WAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRACE WAS ONLY TO PROVIDE AN ENVELOPE OF SAFETY IF THE SUBFRAME FAILED BUT IT WAS NOT MEANT TO PREVENT FRAME FAILURE OR CORRECT FRAME WEAKNESS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE SUBFRAME REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED AS PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST ABOUT $2000. I DON'T THINK THAT A QUALITY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A FRAME FAILURE AFTER ONLY 10 YEARS. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THAT SIMILAR TO TOYOTA, FORD IS TRYING TO SAY THEY PUT IN A FIX BUT NOT REALLY FIX THE REAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT MY FRAME WAS SEVERELY WEAKENED BEFORE THE CROSS-BRACE WAS INSTALLED AND THAT THE SUBFRAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED INSTEAD OF THE PATCH FIX DESIGNED IN THE RECALL WHICH FORD ADMITTED TO ME WAS ONLY TO HELP PREVENT INJURIES, NOT TO FIX A KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEM. YOU WOULD THINK THE MECHANICS WOULD WANT TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS FROM POTENTIALLY LETHAL STRUCTURAL FAILURES. MAYBE THEY DO BUT MANAGEMENT IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH PROFITS. FAILING TO STAND BEHIND THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCT WILL COST FORD; THEY CERTAINLY HAVE LOST ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630668September 4, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS I WAS DRIVING, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE WAY TO PASS A VEHICLE. WHEN I RELEASED THE PEDAL- THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP AFTER PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND FIRMLY APPLYING THE BRAKES. AS I CAME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS BEGINNING TO SMOKE, AND I FEARED IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT FULL THROTTLE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE WORSE AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE MOTOR STOPPED AND A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL AND METAL WAS ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM FROM FORD DUE TO A THROTTLE CABLE STICKING. FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE CAUSED TO MY VEHICLE CAUSED BY AN ACTIVE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630544September 3, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 FOR ESCAPE REFUSES TO START AFTER BEING DRIVEN UNTIL SEVERAL HOURS IF NOT DAYS LATER. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER TWICE THE FIRST TIME IT WORKED FOR 2 MONTHS AND IT DID IT AGAIN ON 9-2-14 REPLACED THE STARTER AGAIN AND IT WILL NOT START STILL THERE IS NO POWER GOING TO ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. I HAVE REPLACED ALL RELAYS AND FUSES AND STILL NOTHING. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 5 MONTH OLD AND 16 MONTH OLD IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629095August 28, 2014
STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
AT A SLOW SPEED, STEERING ALL OF THE SUDDEN BECAME ERRATIC. IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN, SO MY LOCAL DEALER TOOK A LOOK AT IT. HE IS A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC. HE SAID THE SUBFRAME WAS DAMAGED AND IT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL #14S02 WHICH IS FOR A CROSSBAR TO THE SUBFRAME DUE TO A POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE ONLY FORD DEALERSHIP IN OUR AREA, ONEONTA FORD. THE PUT THE CROSSBAR IN AND PERFORMED ONLY THE SPECIFIC RECALL WORK. THEY ARE TELLING ME NOW THAT IT STILL CANNOT BE DRIVEN AS THE SUBFRAME IS DAMAGED. THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ISSUE AND THE RECALL. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. ONEONTA FORD IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627729August 28, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOWER CONTROL ARM CORROSION RECALL NOTICE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT WAS IN MAY. THE DEALER STATED TO CALL BACK IN JULY. TO DATE, THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 14V165000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628174August 25, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622336August 14, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR WAS CORRODED AND AS A RESULT, EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619498August 7, 2014
SUSPENSION, STEERING
DRIVING VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME AND TOOK TO DEALER WHO CONTACTED FORD FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THEY INSTALLED A CROSS BRACE THAT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE SUBFRAME BECAUSE IT HAS NOT FULLY DETACHED. THERE IS NO STEERING CONTROL AT ALL OVER 15MPH AND IN THEIR EYES IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP DROVE THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED FOR HIMSELF THAT THERE IS NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618547August 4, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WAITING FOR VEHICLE PARTS TO COME IN. *SMD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617706July 30, 2014
STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
I AM WRITING ABOUT A RECALL FOR MY FORD ESCAPE. THIS RECALL INCLUDED THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND THE SUBFRAME. THEY WERE BEING RECALLED FOR CORROSION ON THE CONTROL ARMS AND IF SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME IT COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT STEERING LOSS AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR AND INCREASING CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL FIX, THEY INSTALLED A REINFORCEMENT PART AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. AFTER THIS, SLOWLY, MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED BECOMING COCK-EYED. AFTER DRIVING IT LIKE THAT FOR A FEW DAYS,I NOTICED THAT AFTER I TAKE A LEFT TURN THE CAR WOULD JERK AS THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHTENED. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FORD DEALER THAT FIXED THE RECALL, SINCE THE RECALL CLEARLY STATED THAT IT COULD LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN, THINKING THAT HE RECALL WAS NOT FIXED PROPERLY OR SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH THE RECALL IS FAILING. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THE SUBFRAME IS CORRODED AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. AND THAT IT WOULD COST 1800 DOLLARS TO FIX. I ASKED WHY IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE STEERING IS EFFECTED, THEY SAID THAT THE SUBFRAME WASN'T INCLUDED. I HAVE READ SEVERAL DOCUMENTS ABOUT THIS RECALL AND SEVERAL OF THEM STATE THAT THE SUBFRAME IS INCLUDED. SO I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE, THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL ONLY INCLUDED THE SUBFRAME IF THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM IT BEFORE THE RECALL WAS FIXED NOT AFTER. I THINK THIS IS SO UNFAIR, SINCE CLEARLY THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED WHEN THEY DID THE RECALL FIX. THEY HAD TO HAVE SEEN THAT, JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T SEPARATED AT THE TIME DOESN'T MEAN IT SHOULDN'T BE INCLUDED. ANYWAY, I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC WHO CAN FIX IT FOR ALOT LESS, BUT IT IS STILL COSTING ME 1400 DOLLARS!! I CAN'T AFFORD IT, CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS, I THINK IT SHOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE, AND THAT THE SUB FRAME SHOULD BE INCLUDED. PLEASE HELP, THANKS. RECALL 14S02. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615924July 24, 2014
STEERING
HI, I TOOK MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A RECALL FIXED AND SINCE THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAS GOTTEN WORSE, THE RECALL WAS FOR A STEERING STABILIZER AND MY STEERING HAS GOTTEN MORE WOBBLY....I HAVE EMAIL BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE COMPANY AND SO FAR NOTHING AND THAT HAS BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615806July 23, 2014
STEERING, WHEELS
THE ENCLOSED FORM WITH THE THINGS FIXED SHOULD HELP. I WAS TURNING AND THE WHEEL ALMOST FELL OFF. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT SO NOTHING WAS HIT OR HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609924July 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE FELT HER VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 9/19/14*CN UPDATED 2/20/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609571July 10, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK, I HAVE USED MY SPEED CONTROL AT SPEEDS OF 75 TO 80 AND HAVE THE SPEED INCREASE WITH NO INPUT FROM ME. THE SPEEDS HAVE GOTTEN UP TO 90 BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO DISENGAGE AND THIS IS ONLY AFTER NUMEROUS HARD INPUTS ON BRAKE PEDAL AND THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, THIS PROBLEM IS AFTER I HAD THE REPAIR DONE PER RECALL12V-353. THE REPAIR WAS DONE ON 8/17/13, MILEAGE AT REPAIR WAS167,183. THIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH SPEED CONTROL BEFORE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. AS OF NOW 7/10/14 IT IS IN REPAIR SHOP TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. APPR. 186890 MILES ON VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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