2003 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

2003 FORD ESCAPE LEAKS DIRT INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN DRIVING DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD, AT TIMES THE DUST INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN IS SO THICK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ROAD OR INSTRUMENTS. ROAD DUST IS VISIBLE PASSING BY DOOR AND SEALS. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS CONDITION. LAST VISIT THE DEALER SUGGESTED THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO CLEAN THE VEHICLE OUT ANYTIME WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE, AND WE SHOULD NOT OPERATE THE HEATER/AIR ON GRAVEL ROADS( WE LIVE ON A GRAVEL ROAD). FORD CUSTOMER CARE WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NEVER RESPONDED.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000949 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DESIGNED TO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THE BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED.*JB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006902 at NHTSA ↗

I WENT TO SHUT MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND IT FELT A LITTLE FUNNY. I OPENED IT AGAIN AND WHEN I SHUT IT I HEARD A CLANKING NOISE. WHEN I OPENED MY DOOR AGAIN THE PIN AND CLIP FELL OUT AND THE DOOR (THE TOP HINGE) CAME OFF. I HAD TO REMOVE THE BOTTOM PIN AND CLIP TO RE- HANG MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IN ORDER TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DO NOTHING AND TELL ME THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON THEY HAVE EVER SEEN IT HAPPEN TOO AND THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 4,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010687 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I DROVE IT 8 DAYS AND 650 MILES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 6 DAYS. I AM REQUESTING FROM FORD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WHICH THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE. THEY ARE FIXING THE DIRECT CLUTCH WHICH FAILED. I DO NOT THINK AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UNREASONABLE. I KNOW GM WOULD PROVIDE ONE SHOULD THE SITUATION BE THE SAME. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010750 at NHTSA ↗

I'VE HAD MY NEW SUV FOR 4 DAYS (270 MILES) - IT STALLED WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC. LOST ALL POWER. MANAGED TO GET IT OVER IN A EMPTY TURNING LANE, TURNED EVERYTHING OFF, PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY 2 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BEFORE PURCHASING, SALESMAN ASSURED ME THAT THE "STALLING" PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED ON EARLIER MODELS WAS CORRECTED WITH THE 2003 MODEL. APPARENTLY NOT. I DRIVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO AND FROM WORK - THIS HAPPENED GOING TO WORK, BEEN IN VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 268 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013542 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED SLIGHTLY THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD FROM 0-10 MPH. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015506 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM IN MARCH 2003. THE THROTTLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015965 at NHTSA ↗

GAS PEDAL STICKS AT IDLE WHEN IN GEAR. MUST PRESS WITH INCREASED PRESSURE THEN SUDDENLY RELEASES, LUNGING FORWARD. THIS IS A COMPANY VEHICLE AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS COMPANY HAS THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018602 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-04-06 (April 6, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.

Consequence: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Consequence: AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2004-12-20 (December 20, 2004)

CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTIITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.

Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-04-10 (April 10, 2007)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2012-07-26 (July 26, 2012)

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.

Consequence: A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.

Consequence: A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S02.

Reported: 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.