Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Escape, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure121
- Vehicle speed control90
- Suspension90
- Air bags60
- Power train55
- Engine and engine cooling47
- Steering44
- Service brakes, hydraulic41
- Electrical system39
- Engine24
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 31 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 58 2003 Escape vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 44 people died inside them, and 15 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Ford Escape failed the safety check 2.50% of the time — 19% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 149,509 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
199 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 46% arrived as used imports, 54% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 10.6–13.1 L/100 km (about 18–22 mpg US), CO₂ 244–301 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escape · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 9.3 | 10.6 |
| Escape 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 10.2 | 11.3 |
| Escape · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 10.2 | 12.2 |
| Escape 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 11.1 | 13.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Ford Escape.
| 2015438 29 Sept 2015 | Powertrain A safety defect may exist in vehicles in which remanufactured automatic transmissions were installed as service replacement parts. The shift lever bolt may not … |
| 2014110 2 Apr 2014 | Suspension On certain vehicles registered and operated in areas where road salt is used on the roadways during winter months for extended time periods (Ontario, Quebec, N… |
| 2012235 25 Jul 2012 | Other On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine and speed control, inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could … |
| 2007107 3 Apr 2007 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the electrical wiring connector to the ABS module may have been manufactured incorrectly. Over time, contaminants can enter the ABS electr… |
| 2004426 8 Dec 2004 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines, the accelerator cable's inner liner may, over time, migrate out of the conduit at the dash panel fitting duri… |
| 2004126 7 Apr 2004 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine, during deceleration at vehicle speeds below 64 km/h, the engine may stall due to an excessively rich fuel-ai… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTIITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2003 Ford Escape: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636254 | CD4E TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A FINAL DRIVE WHINE / WARBLE TYPE NOISE MOSTLY IN THE 25-45 MPH SPEED RANGE ON LIGHT THROTTLE ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. *TT |
| 636245 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A REAR SHOCK LEAK AND / OR NOISE CONDITION. *TT |
| 636171 | SOME VEHICLES WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS MAY EXHIBIT A CLICKING NOISE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DURING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS. *TT |
| 636139 | SUBJECT REGARDING THROTTLE BODY SERVICE REPLACEMENT / TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE BRACKET INSTRUCTIONS. *TT |
| 636122 | THIS BULLETIN STATES THAT THE REAR UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD IS DISCONTINUED. *TT |
| 10205036 | Safety recall 14S02 - Corrosion at forward attachment of lower control arm - requests for recall service action |
| 10183772 | 2001-2004 Escape vehicles Safety Recall 14S02 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where a corrosion-related separation of the forward attachment of the lower control arm (LCA) from the subframe may occur. Separation of the LCA from the subframe may result in diminished vehicle directional control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 10056443 | FORD: THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (LCA) FORWARD ATTACHMENT WILL SEPARATE FROM SUBFRAME, CAUSING DIMINISHING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DUE TO OPERATING IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. MODEL 2001-2004 ESCAPE. *PE |
| 10020067 | PCM FAILURE - ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES INTERMITTENT - INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 10019382 | CAMSHAFT TICK NOISE - 3.0L 4V ENGINE ONLY. *TT |
| 10019076 | REPLACE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY DURING 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10018063 | RESTRAINT SYSTEM - SAFETY BELT BUCKLE AND PRETENSIONER DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B1877 AND/OR B1881. *TT |
| 10014302 | SIDE AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B1994 OR B1998. *TT |
| 10014265 | SERVICEABILITY OF INSTRUMENT PANEL REGISTER VENTS. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10014052 | SAFETY BELT BUCKLE AND PRETENSIONER DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B1877, B1881, B1885 OR B1886. *TT |
| 10013426 | HIGH AIRFLOW FROM DEFROSTER VENTS WHEN IN FLOOR OR FLOOR DEFROST MODES. *EH |
| 10013423 | CONDENSATION INSIDE THE FOGLAMPS. *EH |
| 10013422 | AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON . *EH |
| 10013406 | WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REMOVAL TIP. *EH |
| 10013396 | STEERING GEAR SQUEAK - WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING LOW SPEED PARKING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10013369 | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Cruise Control Cable
Stuck Throttle
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Engine Compartment Fire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE STALLING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation