2003 Ford Escort Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 1about this part
- Share
- 10%of 10 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 30,724miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Ford Escort, 10% of the 10 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 30,724 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10244249, filed 2008-10, 30,724 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 | 10% |
| 2002 | 5 | 15% |
| 2001 | 13 | 19% |
| 2000 | 18 | 18% |
| 1999 | 35 | 11% |
| 1998 | 43 | 11% |
| 1997 | 29 | 5% |
| 1996 | 19 | 9% |
| 1995 | 36 | 6% |
| 1994 | 19 | 7% |
| 1993 | 30 | 8% |
| 1992 | 8 | 5% |
| 1991 | 30 | 9% |
| 1990 | 4 | 4% |
| 1989 | 8 | 5% |
| 1988 | 7 | 5% |
| 1987 | 1 | 2% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 3 | 12% |
Other parts of the 2003 Ford Escort
2 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Escort
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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