2003 Ford Escape Complaint Log

PAINT IS PEELING OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK UNDER THE HATCH WINDOW AND ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE JUST BEHIND THE SUN ROOF. THIS VEHICLE HAS 74K MILES AND IS GARAGED. FROM NOV. 2002 - FEB. 2005 IT WAS EVEN IN PARKING GARAGE WHILE I WORKED. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I CALLED FORD AND THEY DON'T CARE!!! IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL.. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

PAINT PEELING IN SEVERAL SPOT ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *TR

1) THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE ARE UNKNOWN 2) 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS AN ISSUE WITH ITS EXTERIOR PAINT. THE PAINT IS PEELING AWAY FROM THE CAR AND THE EXPOSED METAL IS RUSTING. THIS RUSTING LEADS TO THE COMPROMISE OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CAR. THIS COMPROMISE CAN BE DETRIMENTAL IN CASE OF A COLLISION. A GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED LOTS OF 2003 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE THAT I JUST TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE REPLACED THE BUSHINGS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AS THEY WERE COMING OUT. I ASK THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD SEEN IT BEFORE. RARE BUT HAD SEEN IT. SEEMS TO ME IF THE BUSHINGS COME OUT OF THE CONTROL ARMS AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. SEEMS TO ME TO BE A QUALITY PROBLEM THAT FORD IS IGNORING. I DID HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. HOPEFULLY THIS ONLY OCCURS ONCE. IT ALL STARTED WITH A "CLUNK" NOISE IN THE FRONT END AS YOU GO OVER A DRIVE WAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS TURNING RIGHT AT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BEFORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY FORD ESCAPE IS A 2003 MODEL AND WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED USED IN 2007 BY US. WITHIN A YEAR THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND REAR HATCH STARTED PEELING. TWO YEARS LATER, IT IS RUSTING WHERE THE PEEL IS GONE AND STILL CONTINUING TO PEEL. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS OR INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND SEEN WHERE THIS IS COMMON IN FORDS MY VEHICLE'S AGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW ZERO. THE CONTACTS PERSONAL MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE WAS FREEZING IN THE OPEN POSITION AND SEEMED TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE GROWLING AND SQUEALING NOISES, AND THE FRONT END SHOOK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE INITIALLY BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2008 WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BEARING, THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE, FOLLOWED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE A SECOND TIME, AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, IT IS NO LONGER COVERED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE WILL STALL OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND UPON DECELERATION SUCH AS WHEN ENTERING OR MAKING A TURN. THE CAR RESTARTS WITHOUT HESITATION. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, #04V165000, WHERE THE FIX SEEMS QUITE SIMPLE BUT FORD'S MAIN CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. SAYS MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. SAME CAR, SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT RELATED TO ORIGINAL RECALL. SEEMS ABSURD. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS, THE THREAT OF ONE EXISTS IF THE CAR STALLS WHILE I'M TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR, POSSIBLY, REAR-ENDED. *TR

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT PAINT IS PEELING IN STRIPS OFF THE HOOD AND FROM THE SUNROOF BACK. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS TO FORD IN RIGHTING ON THE PHONE AND IN PERSON. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND @ LEAST 45 OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SWEEP UNDER THE RUG. IT IS A DEFECT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 53,576 MILES ON IT AND SHOWED NO WARNINGS OF FAILURE. WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND NO MOVEMENT FROM VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY EXIT DRIVE LANES , AND MAY CAUSE REAR END COLLISIONS. THE CD4E TRANSMISSION HAS MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS KNOWN BY FORD HENCE THE CONVERSION OF TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURERS FROM BATAVIA, OHIO TO LIVONIA, MICHIGAN IN 2006. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AS I MAY BE USING THE VEHICLE FOR EXPLANATORY PROOF OF POOR QUALITY AND ENGINEERING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,942 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

2003 ESCAPE LIMITED 3.0 V6 IS DIAGNOSED WITH A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD RESULTING IN LEAKING EXHAUST GASES. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 31,200 AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF PAVED ROADWAYS. I THINK THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME BUT HAS NEVER BEEN PICKED UP ON BY REGULAR MAINTENANCE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A COMMON ONE AND OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM AS LEAKING EXHAUST GASES ARE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE RPM RACED TO ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,900. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN HITTING A BUMP AND PERFORMED INSPECTION PER RECALL. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. SHE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY EXERT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STRUT THROTTLE AND ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE AND THROTTLE ASSEMBLIES FOR A $500 SERVICE CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V574000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000. THE CONSUMER STATED FORD DID NOT CONSIDER THE DEFECT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OR WARRANTY. UPDATED 11/15/07 *TR UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 05/30/12

I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE WAS PEELING AND FLAKING AT AN ALARMING RATE, BOTH ON THE ROOF AND ON THE REAR PANEL. THE PAINT WAS SO LOOSE THAT A STRONG WIND WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE EDGES AND STRIP IT OFF THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 24, 2007 I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, NAPLETON'S NORTHWESTERN FORD IN CHICAGO, FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE ZONE DISTRICT MANAGER. HE DECLINED MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL HELP IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM, CITING THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. MY ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR FROM NAPLETON'S RECOMMENDED BODY SHOP SAID, IN WRITING, THAT THE PEELING PAINT WAS CAUSED BY DELAMINATION OF PAINT AND A BAD PRIMING PREP JOB. I SENT A COPY OF THE ESTIMATE, PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND A LETTER OF EXPLANATION TO BOTH THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER IN DETROIT AND MY DEALERSHIP OWNER - AND RECEIVED BACK A SHORT FORM LETTER FROM DETROIT STATING THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME FINANCIALLY AS THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. ALTHOUGH I REALIZE THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED, I BELIEVE THAT MY PAINT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY SUBSTANDARD WORK AT THE FACTORY, A BELIEF SUBSTANTIATED BY THE BODY SHOP. RECALLS ARE DONE ALL THE TIME FOR PARTS THAT ARE FAULTY, REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY. MY PAINT JOB WAS FAULTY, AND THEREFORE I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HELP ME FIX IT. ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY AND OTHER WEB SITES, PAINT SHOULD NOT BE PEELING OFF CARS THAT ARE ONLY 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD. I GOT THE DAMAGE FIXED, WHICH COST ME NEARLY $1,200. PRIOR TO OWNING MY ESCAPE, I OWNED A FORD ESCORT FOR 10 YEARS, WHICH NEVER HAD A PAINT PROBLEM. UP UNTIL NOW I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER, BUT SINCE IT APPEARS THAT CUTTING CORNERS AND DOING SUBSTANDARD WORK IS THEIR MODE OF OPERATION, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NEW FORD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT PRETENSION CODE WAS FAULTY. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN IN A CRASH. ON OCTOBER 16, 2007, THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A BEEPING SOUND AND THEY REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN SHE RETRIEVED HER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2007. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,629.

PAINT DEFECTIVE ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH GOLD ASH PAINT. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. ON AUGUST 26, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 37 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE FAILURE IS NOW OCCURRING AT LEAST FOUR TIMES PER DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) WAS REFERENCED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,834.

HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED HOME DEALERSHIP TO CHECK CRUISE CONTROL FOR FAILURE TO TURN ON. AFTER TRAVELING FOR APPROX. 1 HOUR ON INTERSTATE, ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON CRUISE CONTROL. ON THIRD TRY, CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND SET AT 70 MPH. AFTER A FEW MILES I TRIED TO TURN IT OFF WITH NO RESULTS. ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKE APPLIED. I CONTACTED SOMEONE WHO ADVISED ME TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF IF POSSIBLE. I PULLED IN TO A REST AREA WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF. (VERY DIFFICULT WITH ENGINE REVVING CONTINUOUSLY) I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON TO SEE IF THE CRUISE TURNED OFF WITH THE CAR, IT DID NOT, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE CRUISE CONTROL THROTTLE CABLE WAS FOUND TO BE STUCK. THE CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED AS THEY SAID THEY HAD NO PARTS TO REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I WAS SENT ON WITH A REQUEST TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT MY HOME DEALERSHIP. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE SERVICE. *TR

MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON, AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS IT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR THE SIDE MOUNT AIR BAG NEEDED REPLACING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IF THIS WAS NOT REPAIRED, THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED! I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS MADE TO FORD ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY. I FEARED FOR THE SAFETY OF ANYONE THAT MIGHT BE A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE IF IT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SO I WENT AHEAD WITH THE REPAIR. I VOICED MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL I COULD DO ABOUT IT WAS CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THIS PART COST $36.49 AND $210 FOR THE LABOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, LIFT GATE, AND LEDGE SHOWED SIGNS OF BUBBLING PAINT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL SPEAK WITH THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,350. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 08/31/07 *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED US THAT THE SENSOR HAS FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THAT IF WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS QUOTED AT APPROXIMATELY $500.00. AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO MAKE THIS REPAIR AND WE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HOPE THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO PRIOR WARNING NOR ANY ACCIDENT THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS FAILURE. *TR

URGENT RECALL NOTICE, I RECEIVED ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE AFTER RESEARCH ON THE RECALL VEHICLE, I BELIEVE THIS CAUSED MY DAUGHTER ACCIDENT, SHE ROLLED THIS VEHICLE. I M VERY ANGRY THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED THE LAW IN RESPONEDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE AND WHEN I EXPLAINED MY CONCERNS I WAS TOLD SOMEONE WAS GOING TO CONACT ME. THIS HAS NOT HAPPEN. NO DEATHS BUT PROPERTY DAMAGE YES ( PAYING FOR AVEHICAL) I HAVE SITTING IN MY BACK YARD THAT I M STILL PAYING FOR.BRING A SINGLE MOTHER, THIS HARDSHIP, I PAID 14,000.00 AND IT ONLY HAS 60 THOUSAND MILES. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT AND I WILL HAVE THIS VEHICLE CHECKED OUT MYSELF AND TALK TO AN ATTORNEY. NOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME ON WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT, I WOULD BE THANKFUL . *CN

DEALERSHIP FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF CURRENT VEHICLE RECALLS REGARDING MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED, FAILED TO IDENTIFY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGE) AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHICH STATES ITS TECHNICIANS PERFORM A "MULTI-POINT INSPECTION" "WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE TRAINING" WHICH LED TO SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE (LOCKED-UP). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IMPROPERLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. A CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DRIVING UPHILL. THE CONTACT HAD THIS FAILURE REPAIRED LAST YEAR, BUT IT HAS SINCE RECURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND 18 MONTHS LATER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT THE VEHICLE JUST IN FRONT AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED FORD WILL NOT PERFORM RECALL WORK A 2ND TIME. OFFICER FIELD REPORT PROVIDED. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

BEGINNING IN APRIL 2007, MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT (CURRENT MILEAGE 118754) EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. IF THE POWER DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BEEN MOVED, THEN THE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR AND FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN DISAPPEAR WITHOUT ANY ACTION TAKEN. THIS SERIES OF EVENT HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BETWEEN APRIL - JUNE, 2007. THE LAST TIME THE PROBLEM SURFACED WAS JUNE 25, 2007. THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON JUNE 26, 2007. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING MY VEHICLE ON THAT DATE, I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN A TRUCK APPROACHING FROM MY LEFT LOST ITS TRAILER. THE TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WITHIN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. ALTHOUGH NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT AN IMPACT OF THIS FORCE INTO MY FRONT BUMPER SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED MY FRONT AIR BAGS, AND THAT THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY SENSOR ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT PRIOR TO BRAKE PADS AT 34,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BY THE DEALER AND WILL OCCUR AGAIN. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD BE HARDENED AND THE PAD SHOULD WEAR FIRST, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK

PAINT BLISTERING AND PEELING ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD ON ROOF. *TR

I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS AND DECIDED TO WASH POLLEN OFF CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN, SO I JUST "SPRINKLED" WATER ON THE CAR AND WHEN IT HIT THE SUNROOF, I HEARD A POP. LOOKING AT TOP OF SUNROOF I SAW NOTHING UNUSUAL. WHEN I OPENED THE INSIDE ROOF, I SAW THE GLASS WAS ALL SPLINTERED. AS I CLOSED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE GLASS ALL FELL ONTO THE INSIDE ROOF. GUY AT FORD TOLD ME I MUST'VE HAD A CRACK IN THE SUNROOF & WHEN THE WATER HIT, IT SHATTERED. MY WINDSHIELD DID HAVE A CRACK IN IT, AND THAT DIDN'T SHATTER SO THAT BLOWS THAT THEORY! 70 DEGREES THAT DAY.

CAR TO DEALERSHIP ON 6/1/07 FOR SERVICE. BRAKE PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED, TIRES ROTATED, REPLACED STABILIZER BAR. LEFT DEALER AND IN LESS THAN 2 MILES, ABS DASH LIGHT CAME ON. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION--THINKING MAYBE SOMETHING HAD GONE AWRY WHEN CAR WAS SERVICED. PER THEM (AND THEY SHOWED ME WHAT WAS WRONG), COLLAR ON OUTSIDE OF AXEL THAT TURNS TO SEND SIGNAL TO ABS SENSOR HAS A CRACK THAT WILL INTERMITTENTLY MAKE THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM COME ON. REPLACEMENT PER THEM--$425.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COOPERATE AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER FORWARD. THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, WHERE SHE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE BODY SHOP AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS BADLY BRUISED FROM THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,700.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING UNDER 40 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. SAFETY RECALL # 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) DOES NOT APPLY TO THE VIN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON. SOME TIMES IT WILL REMAIN ON AND SOMETIMES IT WILL FLASH. I HAD THE AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED ($600) AND IT WAS OK FOR 2 MONTHS AND STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND HAS SINCE REAPPEARED. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND ALOT OF OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I BELIEVED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOK AT.*CN

2003 FORD ESCAPE. NOTICED PAINT AROUND LIFT GATE LEDGE BUBBLING AND PEELING. ONLY TOP LAYER OF PAINT IS PEELING, GRAY LAYER APPEARS TO BE FINE, NO SIGNS OF BUBBLING OR PEELING. TALKED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE TWO LAYERS NEVER BONDED WHEN THE CAR WAS PAINTED AT THE FACTORY. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER IT, THEY SAID TO GO TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO. NEVER HEARD BACK FROM DEALER AFTER I MADE CONTACT WITH THEM. *TR

THE KEY CANNOT BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH EASILY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. IT WAS GETTING WORSE, AND I WOULD EXPECT THIS TO FAIL SOON. IT EVEN HAPPENED AT THE DEALER, AND THEY HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT TO ENGAGE.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 07V156000 CONCERNING SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, AND WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAITING TIME FOR THE REPAIRS . SHE STATED THAT THE ONLY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HER AND THE DEALER WAS THEIR INABILITY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000. *AK RETURNED USPS , 2NDATTEMPT MADE 05/23/07 FAILED . *LJ

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

SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WHILE TURNING THE CORNER THE CAR KILLED. HIT BRAKES HARD TO AVOID REAR-END COLLISION. THE CAR ACCELERATED, CAUSING ME TO ONCE AGAIN HIT THE BRAKES.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL THEN SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V165000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AS OF APRIL 9, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 50 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE UP TO NOW I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS I GUESS KNOCK ON WOOD I HAVE BEEN LUCKY. LATELY THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN IT STAYS ON. FROM READING SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL REASONS AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, MAYBE FORD SHOULD TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND RECALL THE VEHICLES TO GET THIS FIXED. *JB

VEHICLE STALLS SUDDENLY WITHOUT NOTICE AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE. 2003 FORD ESCAPE. VEHICLE IS THE YEAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND CAME FROM THE SAME KANSAS PLANT BUT IT SHOWS NO RECALL. CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE ALSO NOT HEARD OF THIS ISSUE. *JB

I'VE READ ONLINE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE 2003 FORD ESCAPE. MY AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON ABOUT 2CE A WEEK. *JB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE COST QUOTED WAS $450. I THEN DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I ALSO FOUND TWO DIFFERENT FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, WHICH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. ON ANOTHER SITE A TECHNICIAN FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD SIMPLY BE FIXED BY SPRAYING THE CONTACT POINTS WITH AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT CLEANER SUCH AS WD40. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS. *TR

THE 2003 FORD ESCAPE DIED WHEN GOING TO A STOP OR PRIOR TO ACCELERATION. NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I CONTACTED FORD ,AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY BAD GAS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS. ALSO, I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECK FOR FIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR WIRE. NO FIRE FOUND YET. ENGINE WILL RACE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL FORWARD AFTER IT HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK AND EVEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. TODAY ONE MORE NIGHTMARE HAS BEGAN. I DROVE THE ESCAPE APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES, RETURNED HOME, AND KILLED THE VEHICLE. IT WILL NOT START. IF I TURNED THE KEY TO THE 3RD POSITION ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT. IT WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE TRYING TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE GOING. I HAVE TRIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO FORD FOR RECALL ON ABS. THEY CAN GIVE APPROXIMATE DATE, BUT NOTHING DEFINITE. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THOUGHT THERE WAS A TIRE FAILURE. INSPECTION REVEALED THE TIRES TO BE FINE. THE CONTACT GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR WITH NO RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD 43,000 MILES ON IT. *AK UPDATED 2/9/2007 - THE FAILURE OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *NM

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH ENGINE RUNNING TRANSMISSION IN D WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BRAKE PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY PUSHED TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. THE PROBLEM WAS THE RIGHT REAR RUBBER BRAKE HOSE BURST. NOT YET REPAIRED. *NM