2003 Ford Escape Body Problems
- 50
- 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 50 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- independent mechanic · 11 records
- passenger side · 11 records
- failure mileage · 10 records
- front passenger · 10 records
- needed replaced · 9 records
- lower control · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 20 |
| 60–100k mi | 11 |
| 150–400k mi | 7 |
| 30–60k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Air Bags · Body · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact noticed that the k frame was corroded and the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. In addition, while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the k frame needed to be replaced, the power control module needed to be repaired, and the air bags…
ODI 11203699
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact heard a knocking sound coming from the vehicle. An independent mechanic discovered that the subframe was rusted and quoted a repair cost of $2,000 to have the frame replaced. Several unknown dealers were contacted and quoted repairs costs as high as $4,800. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 88,000.
ODI 11210307
Body · Steering
My vehicle was serviced for the ford recall # 14s02 and a cross brace was installed. The recall was due to a subframe corroding away in some parts of the us including my region. My complaint is that ford did not correctly fix this problem with their cross brace. They simply bolted a cross brace from one side of the frame to the other and it does nothing when the subframe actually corrodes away. I was lucky to not…
ODI 11099483
Body
The front frame of the car has corroded to the point that the control arm has come loose and the car is not drivable. There is a recall of this specific problem for this make/model/year but i am being told my vin is not part of this recall. The control arm detached while i was driving. I was not in an accident but was able to pull over. I had the damage asses by a local mechaninc, who informed me of the recall.
ODI 11052706
Body · Lower Arm
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving approximately 5 mph, a crunching sound was present coming from the front passenger side and the vehicle suddenly could not be driven properly. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the lower control arm had fractured due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was…
ODI 11042888
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While the contact's spouse was driving 30 mph, a loud pop was heard and the steering wheel became extremely loose. The contact stated that the vehicle swerved to the right and the driver was able to stop the vehicle on the side of the roadway. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to ourisman ford & lincoln of alexandria (6129 richmond hwy,…
ODI 11034712
Body · Steering · Suspension
The front sub frame is rusted and the vehicle is unsafe to drive.
ODI 11032266
Body · Wheels
Tl* the contact's daughter owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that his daughter noticed that the subframe looked rusted and loose. The vehicle was towed to brondes ford toledo ([redacted], toledo, oh 43623) where it was diagnosed that the subframe had rotted. The vehicle was serviced per nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). After the vehicle was driven over 20 mph, the wheels turned at different…
ODI 11034438
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 35 mph, a loud noise was heard coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle and the vehicle swayed back and forth. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home and, upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, noticed corrosion and separation of the lower control arm from the frame. The vehicle was not taken to…
ODI 11025457
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the front end of the vehicle shook violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where he was advised that the sub frame was rusted out. The vehicle was not repaired. A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case #cas13006709 and advised the contact to follow…
ODI 11021702
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While the vehicle was being inspected, the contact noticed that the subframe was completely fractured. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 134,000.
ODI 11018975
Body · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 45 mph, the steering failed and the subframe fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 17653427. No further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 172,907.... .updated 11/16/17 *bf…
ODI 11012058
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 10 mph, the passenger side of the subframe was rusted and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to mark thomas ford (located at [redacted] ext ne cortland, oh 44410) where it was diagnosed that the frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case number: cas13677317. The failure…
ODI 11003970
Body · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control) and 14v165000 (structure); however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the undercarriage of the vehicle, especially near the control arm, was corroded to the point that it failed inspection. Also, the vehicle's rpm…
ODI 10980384
Body · Unknown Or Other
My vehicle was setting in my driveway on 4/14/2017 and the neighbor came pounding on my door stating my vehicle was on fire. He tried putting the fire out to avoid the fire from reaching the gas tank and also spraying the side of my house to try to keep it from catching the siding on fire. The front drivers side tire blew up so he dropped the hose and ran.when the fire dept got here it had already burned my vehicle…
Fire reported
ODI 10980417
Body
My father took my escape to have the brakes assessed and while it was up on the lift, the owner of the service station made mention to the excessive, abnormal rust in the chassis. He stated that the condition of the chassis is very dangerous and that the support arm, that was installed due to the recall #14v165000 and 14s02, is attached to rust and not supporting anything to make the truck safe. I have tried a…
ODI 10981766
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 65 mph, a loud noise was heard coming from the front passenger side and the vehicle immediately veered to the side of road. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was serviced per nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The vehicle was towed home to a family member's home where it was inspected by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that a cracked…
ODI 10960024
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. Upon exiting a parking area, there was an abnormal suspension vibration near the front of the vehicle. The front subframe fractured and impacted the front passenger side tire. The contact and a mechanic inspected the fact that there had been premature rust and corrosion associated with the underbody, subframe, and the bar that was connected to the frame. The vehicle was…
ODI 10926992
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The vehicle was repaired. While driving approximately 5 to 10 mph, there was a grinding noise. The vehicle was coasted over to the side of the road and towed to a mechanic. It was diagnosed that the subframe was completely rusted. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
ODI 10919811
Body
The vehicle was moving at 35 mph, the front passenger side wheel started making noise and got wobbly. I took it to a ford dealer. The service department took a day to diagnose the problem. They indicated that the sub frame has rusted out and the lower control arms are not secure in the sub-frame and may separate anytime. They refuse to fix the problem as per the recall saying that they put a cross brace and the…
ODI 10924863
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.
ODI 10892568
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…
ODI 10895214
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…
ODI 10825200
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.
ODI 10824498
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