Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2003 Ford Escape has 9 recalls, 598 complaints.
9
Recalls
598
Complaints
N/A
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 7, 2026
15V606000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September...
15E045000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to...
14V165000
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originall...
12V353000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from...
07V156000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDIT...
04V574000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.
07E023000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11...
04V602000
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTIITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMP...
04V165000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.
Overall
Not Rated
Front Crash
Not Rated
Side Crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2003 Ford Escape 4-DR.
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2025 | AIR BAGS,ENGINE | I was doordashing as it's my job and all of sudden my car starts not idling won't stay off od off sw... |
| Sep 4, 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Never received a recall letter or notice |
| Oct 8, 2023 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2003 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front wheel would extend outward wh... |
| Jun 27, 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2003 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, and while dr... |
| Mar 8, 2022 | SUSPENSION | Driver had uneasy feeling with stability of vehicle as if it was swaying. He got it looked at and wa... |
| Dec 19, 2021 | AIR BAGS | I had a rear end at fault collision that totaled my 2003 Ford Escape on Dec.19, 2021....not one air ... |
| May 12, 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | I was recently driving on the interstate and the gas pedal got stuck so the car started speeding up ... |
| Feb 9, 2021 | STEERING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE COMING FROM GEORGIA, IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE... |
| Jan 9, 2021 | SUSPENSION | WHILE REPLACING THE CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4X4 I NOTICED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THER... |
| Dec 28, 2020 | SUSPENSION | RECALL #14S02 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V165000) COVERED REPLACEMENT OF LOWER CONTROL ARM & BALLPOINT FOR ... |
| Dec 1, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF THE SHIFTER CABLES. THE CABLES TO ALLOW THE... |
| Sep 4, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD WHEN IN REVERSE GEAR WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP AT WORK. I HAD TO HAVE PEOPL... |
| Jul 29, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE S... |
| Jul 29, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | WHILE MY 2003 ESCAPE WAS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND KICKED AD I PRESSED ACCELERATING ON A HEA... |
| Jul 20, 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY TO PARK... |
| Jul 10, 2020 | WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES | I BROUGHT BRACES DRUMS FOR BACK WHEELS STILL IDONOT HAVE BRACES THEY DONOT WORK TOOK TO AUTO PLACE W... |
| Jun 4, 2020 | SUSPENSION | THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS BROKEN AND WOULD BE ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE. I WAS DRIVIN... |
| May 18, 2020 | SUSPENSION | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TAKING HIS VEHICLE TO AN INDEP... |
| May 14, 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The contact owns a 2003 Ford Escape. The contact's nephew stated while driving approximately 35 mph,... |
| Mar 5, 2020 | SUSPENSION | MY CAR HAD A RECALL #14S02 FOR A RUSTED SUBFRAME. FORDS FIX WAS TO PUT A $20 PIECE OF METAL THAT THE... |