2003 Ford Escape Suspension Problems
- 71
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 71 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- lower control · 26 records
- passenger side · 20 records
- front passenger · 15 records
- cross brace · 10 records
- front frame · 9 records
- frame rusted · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 26 |
| 60–100k mi | 14 |
| 150–400k mi | 14 |
| 30–60k mi | 2 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body · Suspension
My ford escape had recall 14s02 completed, which was supposed to "fix" the rusting out sub-frames made of inferior metal due to salt-belt states salting of roads, by installing a flimsy brace across the sub-frame, but i'm honestly not sure what it does besides prevent your car from "completely" losing control. Ford refuses to truly fix the problem and it posses a serious risk to me, my family, and others on the…
ODI 10808308
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving at various speeds, there were abnormal noises coming from the front of the vehicle. In addition, both front tires leaned inwards. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front control arm, sway bar, and tie rods needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the mechanic also stated that the subframe corroded and needed…
ODI 10806155
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…
ODI 10820540
Steering · Suspension
My wife owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving it down the road she noticed the steering was getting uncontrollable. She pulled the car off the road and called aaa for a tow. The car was towed to midas where we usually have our work done on our vehicles. Midas looked at the car while still on the tow truck. They said that it should be covered by the recall on the car. Midas called waikem ford and was told to tell us…
ODI 10790466
Power Train · Suspension
I own a 03 ford escape and when driving at about 30mph my tire started rubbing the fenderwell and pulling hard to the right i had to fight to keep my car from hitting things and about 5 seconds after all of a sudden there is a very loud clunk sound from my passenger front tire. And my front end dropped and wheel locked up. Causing me to lose control of my vehicle. Nearly missing parked cars. I was told my lower…
ODI 10789108
Body · Steering · Suspension
Steering lose with little control. Mechanic states a separation of the lower control arm due to excessive corrosion in frame. Matches ford recall 14s02. Yet recall was performed june 2014. So safety recall failed.
ODI 10783252
Suspension
I was driving along a highway getting ready to turn when the frame broke and i was barely able to get off the road when it stopped because i found out later the frame that kept the c v joint in place came apart and my tire twisted into the wheel well. The recall that was to keep this from happening had been performed but the repair did not keep this from happening to my vehicle.
ODI 10783183
Body · Fuel/Propulsion System · Suspension
Went to get car inspected and the exhaust y pipe and engine cradle subframe has corrison. Called the ford recall and for some reason my vehicle did not have a recall, but there were other 2003 recalls for the control arms and corrison of the frame and members. This seems to be a problem with a lot of ford vehicles but not on the recall list and should be. Vehicle has 100,078 miles. There is also noise come from an…
ODI 10778798
Suspension
I was pulling out of my driveway and started to hear a loud clunking noise. I pulled the car back in and it has sat the past few days. I took it to my mechanic and was told that the whole front end and frame are rusted and needs to be replaced. I researched online and am now aware of all the issues that involve rust on these models. I am scared to even drive the car in the shape that it is in. I will call the recall…
ODI 10777880
Suspension
The right front sub-frame is dangerously rusted through, and my mechanic says it's not safe to drive as it may collapse an any moment. I took it to the ford dealership in north canton, ohio this summer (approximately june or july) and they said the vin number wasn't on the recall list, so they refused to fix it. The situation is such that i have a vehicle that is unsafe to drive, and ford motor co. Will not fix it.…
ODI 10788478
Steering · Suspension
A recall on our ford escape was performed last august.the recall was for rusted frame/cradle area that holds front suspension together.at the time of the recall i informed the dealer that the cradle was weak and very rusty over and above any other rust on car.the dealer installed a brace between the two rails of the frame and told me that was the extent of the recall.the other day while driving the cradle gave out…
ODI 10704535
Suspension
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure) and the dealer installed reinforcement cross bar to the under carriage of the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the cross bar was not a permanent repair. As a result, the front sub frame needed to be…
ODI 10704447
Steering · Suspension · Wheels
Had my 2003 escape in to the dealer for a wheel bearing problem, while it was in the shop they did the open recall 14s02 sub frame brace installation. Drove the car 2 times. The wife decided to drive to the store on a 3rd time and called me to say car was pulling hard to the passenger side. After getting the car home i remove the passenger front tire thinking that we had a sticking brake caliper and could see right…
ODI 10694966
Steering · Suspension · Underbody Shields
Vehicle went in for control arm brace recall in 2014 due to poor metzl used on the subframe, march of 2015 it failed leaving limited control of steering, ford was contacted and stated that they are only responsible for the control arm recall and to contact the dealer. They said they did what they were told to do and the rotted subframe was not a part of the recall. Ford needs to recall the subframe part before…
ODI 10701995
Steering · Suspension
Daughter driving her vehicle home from work noticed severe vibration in front of vehicle and gradual loss of control of steering. Following day, vehicle brought to repair shop for inspection. Discovered that right lower control arm broken. Discovered that there was a massive recall for exact issue. Remedy said to be support brace/cross member. Vehicle brought to ford dealership for repair. Recall device installed,…
ODI 10680459
Steering · Suspension
While backing out of drive felt an unusual tug of steering wheel, and steering wheel was rotated approx. 30 degrees. Drove it to repair shop where they discovered the lower control arm had rusted away from the subframe mount and the subframe was significantly rusted. Also was notified of safety recall 14s02. Made appointment and slowly drove vehicle to ford dealership to have recall addressed. Dealership replaced…
ODI 10668086
Steering · Suspension · Wheels
The front passenger side lower control arm failed while my son was driving the vehicle. He was going straight, and the right front side just buckled under while he was in motion. Luckily he wasn't on a heavily-traveled road when it happened, because there would have been a serious accident. The vehicle, although it is a 2003 ford escape, is not part of recall #14s02. Why, i don't know? No one at ford can explain…
Crash reported
ODI 10923861
Suspension · Underbody Shields
Seems we own a ford escape 2003 which needs a cross brace for the sub frame. The reason for the recall is that the sub frame corrodes and the brace will keep the two sides from breaking apart and splitting them into two halves. That is because it can rust and break. The top of the sub frame of the ford escape is rusted and looks very unsafe. Ford would not replace the whole sub frame because it does not effect where…
ODI 10661273
Suspension
Separation of the lower control arm from the sub-frame causing hard steering and loss of proper control. *tr
ODI 10639903
Structure · Suspension
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…
ODI 10631927
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…
ODI 10632510
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.
ODI 10628174
Steering · Suspension
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…
ODI 10619498
Steering · Suspension · Underbody Shields
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…
ODI 10617706
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…
ODI 10649968