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.
Body · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving at a high speed, the vehicle veered to the right and failed to remain in position. The contact had to steer the vehicle in excess in order to keep the vehicle in position. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who repaired the vehicle under nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure); however, the local dealer stated that there was corrosion around the attachment…
ODI 10808780
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
Body
Last year i returned my vehicle to the dealer for the sub frame recall. I had the new support installed. This year when i went for my annual vehicle inspection i was told to stop driving the vehicle as my subframe was so badly rusted that it could break at any time. Why was the subframe replacement not included in the recall?
ODI 10787498
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
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
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving over a bump in the road at approximately 10 mph, the front passenger side wheel well fractured and damaged the suspension. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the subframe was rusted. The failure was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.
ODI 10734839
Air Bags · Body · Service Brakes
0n apr 22, 2015 while driving from shady spring wv to princeton wv on i-77 to a drs appt, my wife and i noticed a popping sound coming from the right front of the veh when veering or turning right. I had to work that day after i returned from the dr and had planned to take the veh to a mechanic after i got off to find out the problem. While driving home from work on pluto road in shady spring, i rounded a curve to…
ODI 10826154
Body · Lower Arm
The lower control arm on my 2003 ford escape is rusted through and ford didn't include my vehicle in the recalls. They are obviously having a wider issue with this control arm since recall number 14so2 has affected my escape as well. They claim that my lower control arm wasn't part of the factories that was listed so they won't include me in the recall. I have had this issue for a while and if i was going down the…
ODI 10706658
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving approximatly 25 mph, the vehicle appruptly stopped. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who discovered that the frame fractured near the front passenger side wheel well. The vehicle was repaired by the manufacturer but, while driving, the vehicle experienced severe shaking and vibrations. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
ODI 10823999
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
Body
I have entered the vin correctly but your system doesn't recognize it. First flat tire in the 10 years i have owned car purchased new. Jack, jack tools and temporary spare never used before.. Following owner's manual instructions, jack does not raise vehicle high enough to remove original equipment wheel and specified standard-size tire. Attempted flat repair on flat paved surface. I have 50 years experience working…
ODI 10552155
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that the front end exhibited a loud noise as the front passenger's side front wheel separated. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic for inspection. The failure was located at the front sub frame and lower control arm, which were both determined to be corroded. As a result, the front passenger's side wheel separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was not…
ODI 10525000
Body · Unknown Or Other
The ash gold paint is bubbling all over the outside roof rear door sides (all over) the car to include the interior. The roof has rusted and ford won't do anything. I went to two ford dealers in san diego and called ford direct. The passed me over to the highway safety admin hotline that told me to call ford, they will handle the complaint. Everyday more paint peels off.
ODI 10836543
Body
On both sides of my car just above the tires the paint has peeled off and has started to rust. *tr
ODI 10451301
Body
The exterior paint is peeling off in large pieces. Starting to rust. *tr
ODI 10480768
Body
Paint of ford escape 2003 peeling on the front. There are two large spots about 1 square foot each. I have called ford in greenville, sc few times but to no avail. This problem started about 4 years ago with two 3/8 of an inch size flakes. The suv has been garaged and has been taken good care of however now the paint is flaking with sections at a time. I have researched and have seen the exact same model with the…
ODI 10423811
Body
Paint defective on 2003 ford escape with gold ash paint. Peeling around back window and 3 large patches, over 6" in diameter, on roof. *tr
ODI 10355202
Body
The paint is peeling around the wheel wells and has started to rust; causing possible instability to the body of the car. I did some research online and this seems to be a common problem in 2003 ford escapes. Can something be done? There were some claims that ford improperly prepared the escape for painting. Please advise. *tr
ODI 10331086
Body
My ford escape is rusting above the back wheels i also noticed the same rust on similar models and years of the escape is there a recall there should be. *tr
ODI 10508287
Body · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that she noticed a leakage on her driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and they informed her that the brake hose fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified. In addition, the contact mentioned that the lift gate would not open. The vehicle had not been inspected by a dealer nor…
ODI 10447780
Body
Paint is peeling from the roof and two spots on the tailgate. The service manager at sloan ford in exton, pa wouldn't even look at it. A rep from ford advised that a dealer should look at it. The service manager at kennedy ford collision in conshohocken pa was kind enough to look at the vehicle and confirm that it is defective. Ford declined assistance. The ford rep would not admit that there is a defect despite…
ODI 10293579
Body
2003 ford limited gold escape paint peeling and bubbling on hatch and above front window. Ford will do nothing when i called since there is no recall on this paint issue. *tr
ODI 10281690
Body
Paint peeling -- delaminating -- from roof of 2003 ford escape xlt, color code c2. Area is above junction of roof and windshield. Body shop verified condition a result of bad primer. Ford notified as well as two oklahoma city-area dealers -- overall ford and bob moore ford. No resolution from ford as of yet. *tr
ODI 10244139
Body
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…
ODI 10269844
Body
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
ODI 10294392