2003 Ford ESCORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
18,785 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2011: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10089490 · 2004-08-23 (August 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097577 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
VEHICLE SEVERELY VIBRATED WHILE IN MOTION AT 70 MPH, AND IN NON MOTION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116587 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 2003, FORD, ESCAPE WITH 13.970 MILE WITH GENERAL AMERI - TRAC, 225/70R15 PASSENGER REAR TIRE THREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO UNDER CARRIAGE AND BUMPER. WHILE REPLACING TIRE WITH SPARE NOTICED DRIVER'S REAR TIRE ALSO STARTED TO SEPARATE. ESCAPE WAS TO UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO CUTTER FORD DEALERSHIP, AIEA HAWAII. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING, SAYING TIRES WERE ON FOR 12,000 MILES OR 1 YEAR. TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED WHICH COST LITTLE OVER 250.00, BUT THIS DIDN'T INCLUDE …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134201 · 2005-08-25 (August 25, 2005)
DT: THE CALLER SAYS VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN IT IS IN IDLE. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGNS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND IT BECAME WORSE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX IT. THE MANUFACTURER SAID IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173398 · 2006-11-13 (November 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE IDLE WAS ROUGH. THERE WAS ALSO A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO THE WAY THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED, AND THAT SOME VIBRATION WAS INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WHILE IN REVERSE. THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT LEAKIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189739 · 2007-05-04 (May 4, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. IN 2004, THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED RECALL # 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER PERFORMED THE REPAIR, HOWEVER, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE SHE LEFT THE PARKING LOT. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 49,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10189739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244249 · 2008-10-02 (October 2, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION RATTLES AND SHAKES, AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FORD DEALER TESTED AND REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION IN 2007, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A 80,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO FOUR DIFFERENT FORD DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,724 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437947 · 2011-12-01 (December 1, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL DIP STICK FRACTURED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THE DEFECT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE DIP STICK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/12/12
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437947 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.