2003 Ford Escape Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 4%of 558 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 103,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2003 Ford Escape, 4% of the 558 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 103,500 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10836543, filed 2016-02, 80,000 miles“We had a recall done for the frame on our 2003 Ford Escape in april, 2014. On monday, april 3, 2017 I was driving home from work on excelsior blvd (about a 40 MPH road) and heard a loud noise in the front of the truck and could hardly steer. We had it towed to metropolitan Ford in eden prairie, minnesota and to find out that the frame was broke. They said they will not cover it. They replaced it and cost us $1,300.00 we feel like they should pay for this since the damage was from the recall that they had done.”
NHTSA complaint #10979323, filed 2017-04, 117,000 miles“My Escape started to miss, first it wasn't bad then started jerking and it started idling rough when I stopped at red light. When I started moving again it acted as if it would die and would go. If I get to 40 MPH it is really bad. But this happened on main highway with other vehicles all around me and had 18 wheeler behind me and all of sudden my speed decreased and me and my children almost was in accident because of decrease in speed. It scared me and my two children. When I got it looked at the codes said it was missing on one cylinder then at one point all cylinders.”
NHTSA complaint #11186621, filed 2019-03, 238,000 miles“I've a 2003 Ford Escape that I purchased from a dealer in 2004. About a year ago, I noticed the paint chipping and peeling from the hood which I attributed to stone chips from highway driving but now, the paint is coming off on the right rear of the car where the roof section meets the main body.”
NHTSA complaint #10188548, filed 2007-04, 53,000 miles“There is a regional recall #14s02 ref# 14v165000. The recall is for the structure and members. The lower control arm corrosion. The frame is rusted out where the lower control arm bushing is connected. I cannot drive my vehicle at this time. I was doing a complete repair myself of the lower control arm, ball joints, tie rod ends to remedy the steering issue and irregular tire wear, I repaired the drivers side but did not notice any issues but when I took the wheel off the passenger side I saw the frame is rusting out at the point I mentioned earlier. …”
NHTSA complaint #10935184, filed 2016-12, 151,000 milesOther or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 19% |
| 2024 | 16 | 21% |
| 2023 | 9 | 9% |
| 2022 | 25 | 11% |
| 2021 | 59 | 17% |
| 2020 | 313 | 19% |
| 2019 | 42 | 7% |
| 2018 | 109 | 6% |
| 2017 | 158 | 6% |
| 2016 | 158 | 13% |
| 2015 | 149 | 13% |
| 2014 | 275 | 13% |
| 2013 | 303 | 11% |
| 2012 | 46 | 8% |
| 2011 | 58 | 4% |
| 2010 | 94 | 5% |
| 2009 | 58 | 3% |
| 2008 | 60 | 3% |
| 2007 | 18 | 7% |
| 2006 | 13 | 3% |
| 2005 | 76 | 5% |
| 2004 | 15 | 3% |
| 2003 | 24 | 4% |
| 2002 | 36 | 4% |
| 2001 | 31 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2003 Ford Escape
121 complaintsSuspension
90 complaintsVehicle speed control
90 complaintsAir bags
60 complaintsBrakes
57 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
55 complaintsEngine cooling
47 complaintsSteering
44 complaintsElectrical system
39 complaintsEngine
24 complaintsTires
17 complaintsFuel system
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Escape
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology