45 complaints reported

2003 Ford Escape Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
45
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2021

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF THE SHIFTER CABLES. THE CABLES TO ALLOW THE TRUCK TO GO FROM PRND12.ON THE DASHBOARD IF THE BLACK BOLD SQUARE ISN'T AROUND THE P WHEN I TURN OFF THE TRUCK THEN I CANNOT TAKE MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN PARKED.I DO NOT WANT THE VEHICLE TO KEEP MOVING .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2020
Jun 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MARK MCLARTY FORD LOCATED AT 4400 LANDERS RD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 72117, (501) 945-1200, WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2020
May 2020

VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD WHEN IN REVERSE GEAR WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP AT WORK. I HAD TO HAVE PEOPLE AT WORK COME HELP ME PULL THE VEHICLE BACKWARDS TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE WALL. IT STILL ONLY GOES FORWARD, EVEN IN REVERSE GEAR. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2020
Apr 2020

WHILE MY 2003 ESCAPE WAS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND KICKED AD I PRESSED ACCELERATING ON A HEAVY CITY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE COULDN'T DRIVE OR MOVE FORWARD. I BELIEVE IT IS THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING OR NOT GOING IN POSITION. I WAS USING MORE GAS, HAVING A RECALL ON TRANSMISSION WAS ANNOUNCED ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. RECALL ID 234608 ON POWERTRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AND RECALL ID 234607 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION. RECALL ID 234607 I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD NO RECALLS UNDER MY VIN NUMBER. I ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIX MY TRANSMISSION. NO WAS ANSWER. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO PLACE I PURCHASED IT CARTER'S RADIATOR, PURCHASED 5-8-2020. CARTER RADIATOR DID DIAGNOSE, FOUND IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEARS. 4TH GEAR IS IN-OPERATIVE. ONY 1ST & 2ND GEARS OPERATING. TO REPAIR FAULTY TRANSMISSION WILL COST $3900, BUT BECAUSE I PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM THEM, REPAIR COST IS $2400.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2020
Sep 2019

O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TRANSMISSION COLUMN SHIFTER MOVES PROPERLY IN ALL GEARS P,R,N,D,2,1 BUT VEHICLE ONLY MOVES IN REVERSE AND ENGAGES IN PARK AND NEUTRAL. VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE IN DRIVE, 2 OR 1. TRANSMISSION FLUID CONDITION AND LEVEL IS NORMAL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2019
Jan 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN AND COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR DID NOT ENGAGE IN THE SELECTED GEAR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2016
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUGS, AND MANIFOLD GASKET WERE REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE THE IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUGS, AND MANIFOLD GASKET WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2015
Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER BECAME CRACKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,085 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2011
Mar 2013 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND LUNGE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE BUT AFTER RESTARTING, HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2013
Sep 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:04V165000(POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE(TCM.PCM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2012
Nov 2011

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) BUT DOSE NOT HAVE ONE OF THE VINS THAT FALL INTO THE LIST. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2011
Jul 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC STATED ALSO THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2010
Jul 2011

THE VEHICLE STALLS (LOSES ALL POWER AND COMES TO A HALT) AT LOW SPEEDS EVEN SOMETIMES IN REVERSE GEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED AT PARKING LOTS AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN I AM JUST ABOUT TO TAKE OFF AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ONLY HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, HAVE GOTTEN THE COMPUTER MODULE REPROGRAMMED, CHANGED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, IDLER CONTROLLER VALVE AND RELAY SO FAR. NONE OF THESE HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, THE CAR IS BACK WITH THE MECHANIC FOR OTHER CHECKS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERY INTERMITTENT, IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT!. TAKING THE KEY OUT AND PUTTING IT BACK AND STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN GETS ME MOVING AGAIN!. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY NOT TO BE HIT BY ANYONE FROM BEHIND!. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2009
May 2011

WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND I HAD TO COAST OFF THE EXIT RAMP, GETTING STUCK AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, AND I HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE RAMP AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS WAS AT 5PM ON A WEEKDAY, AND HAD SOMEONE NOT COME TO HELP ME PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2010
Dec 2010

I HAVE NEVER TRUSTED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. AFTER FIRST WINTER USAGE, THE SOUNDS IT MADE WHEN ENGAGED AND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL SOUNDED LIKE A RUBBING BUSHING OR SOMETHING WITHIN THE GEARBOX. 2 DEALERS SAID YOU COULDN'T REALLY TEST IT IN THE SUMMER, AS YOU NEEDED THE SNOW FOR IT TO ACTIVATE PROPERLY, BUT IT STILL BUCKS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, SO MUCH SO, THAT I DO NOT TRUST IT TO USE. I'VE OWNED JEEP 4WHEEL AND ALL- WHEEL VERSIONS, SO THAT IS WHY I DON'T TRUST IT. I KNOW FORD HAS OVER THE YEARS UPGRADED THIS SYSTEM, BUT IT WAS STILL A $1600 OPTION WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AND EXPECT IT TO WORK. HAVE THERE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AS I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAVE HAD 2 OTHER RECALL FIXES MADE. AFTER THE TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEM, I FEEL THIS IS OF EQUAL CONSEQUENCE. IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE WORSE WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2004
Jun 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATED THE FAILURE.THE FAILURE RECURRED ON JUNE 27,2010 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED,THEY STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NO OPEN RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V165000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2010
Apr 2010

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS FAILED TWICE. TALKING WITH MY TRANSMISSION GUY I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT HEAVY DUTY ENOUGH TO HANDLE THIS USAGE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2010
Sep 2009

FORD ESCAPE 2003 80 000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE AND NOW SLIPS AND MAKES NOISE IN ALL GEARS. ONLY FORD I'VE EVER OWNED....MIGHT BE THE LAST UNLESS THIS IS RESOLVED TO MY SATISFACTION. NO SPECIFIC EVENT TO DETERMINE WHY TRANNY IS GOING..SEEMS LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2009
Jul 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. SPORADICALLY, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE STALLS. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY HER LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2008
Feb 2009

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, AS VEHICLE STALLED WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, BUT WAS ASSURED THE PCM JUST NEEDED TO BE REFLASHED. 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT STALLED OUT ON ME WHEN TURNING A CORNER, FOOT NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED AFTER REALLY REVVING ENGINE HARD. TOOK IT BACK, ASSURED ME IT WAS MY "ANTI-THEFT DEVICE" TWO DAYS AFTER GETTING VEHICLE BACK, STALLED YET AGAIN WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. SYMPTOMS ARE MUCH LIKE THE RECALL LISTED FOR 2003 ESCAPES BUT OF COURSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY "CAN'T GET IT TO STALL" BUT REPLACED THIS TIME THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. PICKED IT UP, NEXT DAY STALLED OUT AS I TURNED CORNER INTO PARKING LOT. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2009
Jan 2009

2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 30,000 MILES NEEDED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED. OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF AGE. I PAID OVER $4K TO HAVE IT REPLACED. FORD REFUSED TO COMPENSATE FOR OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING / DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2008
Sep 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL THEN SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V165000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AS OF APRIL 9, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 50 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
Mar 2008

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 53,576 MILES ON IT AND SHOWED NO WARNINGS OF FAILURE. WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND NO MOVEMENT FROM VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY EXIT DRIVE LANES , AND MAY CAUSE REAR END COLLISIONS. THE CD4E TRANSMISSION HAS MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS KNOWN BY FORD HENCE THE CONVERSION OF TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURERS FROM BATAVIA, OHIO TO LIVONIA, MICHIGAN IN 2006. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AS I MAY BE USING THE VEHICLE FOR EXPLANATORY PROOF OF POOR QUALITY AND ENGINEERING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2008

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Ford Escape has 45 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.