2003 Ford Escape Complaint Log

A WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG/SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE FREQUENTLY HAS PROBLEMS CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE -- AND ACCORDING TO FORD THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON SINCE APPROXIMATELY 2005. FORD IS AWARE THAT THIS MODEL YEAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH THIS WIRING HARNESS AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT OWNERS MUST REPLACE THE HARNESS. IF WIRING HARNESS IS FAULTY AND CAUSES AIRBAGS TO DISABLE, SHOULDN'T THIS BE A SAFETY RECALL INSTEAD OF A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR CONSUMERS TO REPAIR AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE? *TR

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V165000, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO MISS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STRUCK A TREE. CONSUMER MENTIONED THE ENGINE STALLING. *AK

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2003 CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STARTING PROBLEMS. THERE HAD BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS, AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION SEVEN TIMES. COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIST OF RECALLS. RECALL 04S13 OCCURED BACK IN APR 2004, AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND IF MY VEHICLE IS STILL IN NEED OF REPAIR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FROM I66 TO VA28 N AFTER REGAINING 60 MPH THE CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP, APPLIED BRAKES BUT BRAKES OVERHEATED AND CAR KEPT GAINING SPEED. THEN REALIZED GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK OPEN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHUT ENGINE DOWN, RESTARTED AND QUICKLY MOVED TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD (HAD TO, CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC) RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THROTTLE CABLE. THEY SAID CABLE BECAME JAMMED. I CAN FIND NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE ONLINE DATABASE. I THINK THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND PERHAPS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.*AK

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A 4 LANE URBAN STREET (ON A RAINY DAY) AND APPROACHED AS "S" CURVE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING FORWARD AND SLID INTO THE NEXT LANE TO THE LEFT. NOT REALIZING WHAT WAS GOING ON, I GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND SLID TWO LANES TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN, MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN AND CROSSED ALL 4 LANES AND HIT A CONCRETE ABUTMENT, GOING UP THE ABUTMENT UNTIL I THOUGHT THE CAR WOULD GO OVER IT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THEN THE CAR CAME DOWN FROM THE ABUTMENT, SLID BACKWARDS SO THE REAR END THEN HIT THE ABUTMENT AND THEN THE CAR FLEW ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FOUR LANES WHERE IT STOPPED, FACING TRAFFIC. ONLY BECAUSE OF GOOD LUCK AND IT BEING EARLY IN THE MORNING DID THE CAR HIT NO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DAMAGE EXCEEDED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. JUST LAST WEEK I RECEIVED THE RECALL ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP (OVER 7 WEEKS LATER) AND WILL THEN GO TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED. HOWEVER, MY CAR'S VALUE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY PLUMMETED. I WILL PURSUE THIS WITH FORD.*AK

FORD ESCAPE XLT 2003 RAKE PADS WORN TO LESS THAN 4 MPH AND ROTORS WORN TO .910 AT 15,153 MILES. I CONSIDER THIS EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR TWO DAYS OR MORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE LOUD GRAINING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLEAN THE EXCESSIVE RUST BUILD UP AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES THAT WOULD HELP REMOVED THE EXCESSIVE RUST BUILD UP. *NM

MY WIFE, DONNA P. WRIGHT, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 12/10/2004 AT APPROX. 7:15 AM ON MARRIOTTSVILLE ROAD # 2 IN ELDERSBURG, MD. THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND FORD F350 TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER WITH A BOBCAT HEAVY EQUIPMENT. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AT THE TIME. THE FORD TRUCK WAS APPROACHING A CURVE WHEN ITS TRAILER JACKNIFED AND HIT MY WIFE'S FORD ESCAPE HEAD ON. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP OWNER WHO TOWED OUR CAR, THE FRAME WAS BENT IN TWO FEET. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, BUMPER, HOOD, RADIATOR AND BUMPER. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEEPLY. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES (CUTS AND BRUISES). I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT IF I WANTED TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND PAY FOR THE TEST OF THE SENSOR. I FIND THAT RATHER RIDICULOUS.*JB

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

1. VEHICLE HAD RECALL 04S13 PERFORMED FOR POSIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHEN DECELERATING. VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. VEHICLE WAS 19 MONTHS OLD WITH 3600 MILES AND HAD NOT HAD ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS.*AKI 2. 2 WEEKS AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE EXACT CONDITIONS THAT THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES USUALLY WHEN BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE EVERY TIME. THE LAST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AND ABOUT HALF WAY INTO A PARKING SPACE AND IT ACCELERATED OWN ITS OWN, THE FRONT WHEELS JUMPED A 6 INCH VERTICLE CURB, AND LEFT 5 FOOT SKID MARKS IN THE GRASS WHILE TRYING TO STOP. 3. THE DEALER HAS DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR. DEALER INSTALLED FLIGHT RECORDER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR. THEY REMOVED FLIGHT RECORDER AND A TECHNICIAN RODE IN VEHICLE THE PROBLEM OCCURED AND TECHNICIAN HAD VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO SHOP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND RETURNED VEHICLE. ACCELERATION OCCURED AGAIN THEY REINSTALLED FLIGHT RECORDER AND SAID THEY NEEDED THREE RECORDING TO DIAGNOIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT OCCURED YET AND DEALER IS CALKLING TO GET FLIGHT RECORDER BACK.

WHILE ACCELERATING AT A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ON 10/15/04 I HAD JUST ENTERED A 6 LANE INTERSTATE (HIGH SPEED URBAN TRAFFIC) AND HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE OVER 3 LANES AS THE RIGHT 2 LANES WERE EXIT ONLY ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM MY ENTRANCE POINT. AFTER ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO A GAP TO THE LEFT I FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND WAS ABOUT TO REAR END A FLATBED TRUCK. THE BRAKES HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON SLOWING THE CAR. AFTER SOME VIOLENT MANEUVERING AND SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND SWITCH THE IGNITION OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE PLASTIC COVERING HAD FRAYED/DISINTEGRATED, JAMMING THE CABLE SUCH THAT THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING(S) WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE THE THROTTLE. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID HE HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. HOWEVER, I DID A CURSORY SEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SIMILAR AND IDENTICAL INCIDENTS (ONLY SEARCHED 2003 MODEL YEAR AND ONLY "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL" COMPONENT). THERE WERE 8 INCIDENTS THAT WERE CLEARLY THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLES (10068000, 10015965, 10047388, 10023519, 10051175, 10024424, 10026817 AND 10082787) AND 6 THAT WERE PROBABLY/POSSIBLY THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLES (10018602, 10043060, 10062971, 10015506, 10092028 AND 10040552). THE SERIOUSNESS AND NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WOULD SEEM TO WARRANT INVESTIGATION/RECALL. I REQUESTED THE DEFECTIVE CABLE FROM THE SERVICE WRITER, BUT HE INDICATED THAT AS IT WAS A WARRANTY ITEM IT HAD TO BE RETURNED TO FORD. HOWEVER, I DID TAKE 2 PICTURES IF THEY WOULD BE OF ANY HELP.*AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS, FROM A STOPPED POSITION. VERY HARD TO PUSH THEN THE TRUCK JERKS FORWARD. *JB

NHTSA RECALL 04V165000 SUBJECT: ENGINE STALLING. AFTER HAVING THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WITH THE APPROPRIATE CALIBRATION REPROGRAMMED, THE VEHICLE STALL. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

2001-2003 FORD ESCAPE RECALL FOR ENGINE STALL DOES NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH. DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE WAS MADE AFTER THE PROBLEM VEHICLES - BUT I PERIODICALLY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM, AND FORD WON'T DO A THING ABOUT IT. I JUST HAPPENED TO LEARN OF THE RECALL THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE.*AK

COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKES - PADS AND ROTORS - WITH ONLY 19,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. REPLACED AT MY COST - ZERO ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM FORD. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ORIGINAL FORD BRAKES - REPLACEMENTS GENERALLY LAST LONGER.*AK

WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE RACED AND SURGED INTO THE INTERSECTION. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

WHILE ON A RETURN LONG DISTANCE ROAD TRIP MY ABS DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE LIGHT DID NOT RETURN UNTIL FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT A SPEED SENSOR HAD GONE BAD.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED NECK AND HEMATOMA CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT. *NM THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND EVENTUALLY STAYING ON. CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. *TC

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN HIS 2003 FORD ESCAPE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 6 SIX OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

CABLE ON VEHICLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE AND CAR ACCELERATOR UNCHECKED. I NEEDED TO"STAND" HARD ON MY BRAKES TO GET ANY CONTOL OF THE SPEED. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND TRANSITIONING TO ANOTHER FREEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP THE CAR WAS TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR ONCE I GOT NEAR THE SHOULDER AND USE THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. THE POWER FORD VALENCIA FORD DEALER, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, FOUND THE BROKEN CABLE AND NOW TELLS ME THAT FORD DOES NOT COVER THIS TYPE OF FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER MADE A TURN AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. FORD STATED THAT RECALL04V165000 WAS ISSUED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. GENERAL TIRES, AMERITRAC, M+S, P225/70R15 100'S, DOT 0215041 CK 37710-34752, TREAD WEAR 420, TRACK A, TEMPERATURE B. *AK

THE PRESENT IS IN REFERENCE TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE 2003 FORD ESCAPE. I PURCHASED THIS SAID VEHICLE ON MAY 05, 2004, WHICH WAS SOLD TO ME AS A DEMO. SINCE THEN I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT YET HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED DUE TO THE FACT, THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ITS SOURCE. SINCE AUGUST 2004 I'VE BEEN REPORTING THAT WHEN MY CAR SITS FOR A WHILE EITHER IN THE MORNING OR IN THE AFTERNOON IT GIVES ME A HARD TIME TO START UP, THIS IS NOT A SEQUENCE LIKE PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT FINDING THE PROBLEM IT CAN'T BE DIAGNOSED, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND I CAN'T AFFORD BEING IN THE DEALER ALL THE TIME MISSING HOURS OF WORK WITHOUT PAY AND ALSO STAYING WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. NOT TO MENTION THAT I'M HAVING EXTRA EXPENSES WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD AND ALSO MANAGE TO PAY FOR THE CAR MONTHLY. BEING THAT ALL MY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS I RESORT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS. ON FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2005, I SPOKE TO MR. ESCOBAR WHICH IS A TECHNICIAN FROM PUERTO RICO AND HE ARRANGED THAT ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2005 I LEAVE MY VEHICLE ON THE PREMISES OF METRO MOTORS OVERNIGHT AND THEY WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A LONER FOR THE TIME BEING. MANAGEMENT CHANGED THE DATES AND MY CAR STAYED ON THE DEALERS PREMISES ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2005 TIL MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2005. YET STILL NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. THANKS GOD I HAVEN'T HAD NO ACCIDENTS BUT I WOULD REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT WHATS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM FOR MY OWN SAFETY.

THE ACCELARATOR CABLE ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE STUCK AT 65 MPH. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY VERY HARD BRAKING AND THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIKE CASTRUCCI FORD IN MILFORD, OHIO. IT WAS LIKE TRYING TO BRAK WHILE I HAVE TO GAS FLOORED. VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

NEW CAR, OWNED 10 MONTHS. 16,000 MILES ON IT. SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE, NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER, IE; NO OVERHEATING, ALARM ETC. ENGINE REPLACED, 10 DAYS LATER DROVE ONLY 12 MILES ON NEW ENGINE. BLEW HEAD GASKET, AND ENGINE BEGAN TO BURN. AGAIN NO WARNING. *JB

THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED 6 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF HER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

DT: THE TIRES SIDEWALL BLEW OUT ON TWO DIFFERENT TIRES ON PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE.. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. CALLER HAS NOT CALLED DEALER OR MANUFACTURER YET. A RECALL ON A SIMILAR TIRE BUT NOT ON THESE TIRES. TIRE SIZE P235/70R16.*AK

THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE (V6, AUTOMATIC) DIES WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE OCCASIONALLY. SINCE MID OF JUNE, 2004, IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES (TODAY IS JULY 25, 2004). WE HAVE SENT THE CAR TO FORD DEALER THREE TIMES ALREADY. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HENCE COULD NOT FIX IT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A DEFECT, BUT SEEMS TO ME WITH A 2003 SUV SHOULD NOT HAVE PAINT CHIPPING OFF (VERY SMALL ) , SO I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *AK

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

ON MY WAY TO WORK YESTERDAY, I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY ONTO AN OFF-RAMP. I DID NOT HAVE THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED, YET THE TRUCK WAS ACCELERATING TO SPEEDS OVER 70 MPH. I TRIED PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE TRUCK. I FINALLY PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WHILE SITTING AT THE INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, STILL IN NEUTRAL, THE TRUCK'S ENGINE WAS REVVING HIGHER & HIGHER. THE TRUCK WAS LITERALLY ROCKING BACK & FORTH. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE & IT RACED ON. I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO ALLOW AMPLE SPACE IN-BETWEEN MY TRUCK & OTHER DRIVERS. I HAD 2 OTHER INTERSECTIONS TO GO THROUGH BEFORE ARRIVING AT MY WORK LOCATION. I WOULD CONTINUE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. IF I HADN'T OF REACTED SO QUICKLY, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO OTHER VEHICLES AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS IN THE STOP & GO TRAFFIC CLOSER TO MY HOME. THIS EXPERIENCE SHOOK ME UP FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I CONTACTED THE NEAREST FORD DEALER & WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEARLERSHIP. WITHIN MINUTES THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED & TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE UNDER WARRANTY & WITHIN A FEW HOURS, I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AGAIN. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO RESISTANCE WHILE PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. THEREFORE, I DID NOT NOTICE THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. AFTER MY EXPERIENCE, I NOW SEE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES SUCH AS MINE. I WAS LUCKY. HOW MANY OTHERS WON'T BE?

HOW CAN I GET A LIST OF VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS TO FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE IS EFFECTED IN A FORD RECALL. *JB

ENGINE STALLS AND HAS A LOSS OF POWER AT TIMES UNDER ACCELERATION. *AK

DT: THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DISENGAGED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN ONE WEEK.. FIFTH TIME TOTAL. THE DEALER SAID THEY WILL FIX IT BY FIXING A BROKEN WIRE OR RESETTING THE COMPUTER. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WILL TRY TO FIX IT. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN RT 10 W AT 50 MPH MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE STALLED. I HAD TO SIT WITH MY HAZARDS ON, IN THE LEFT LANE OF THIS BUSY HIGHWAY, UNTIL THE POLICE COULD COME AND MOVE ME TO A SAFE PLACE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD IT IN REPAIR FOR15 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CHANGE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE TIRE. CONTINENTAL, SIZE P235/70R16. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TIRE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED. *JB

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. WHEN PLACING VEHICLE INTO GEAR CONSUMER MUST APPLY PRESSURE TO ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT RELEASES SUDDENLY IN A WAY WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHEN CONDITIONS ARE ICY THIS COMMON PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED. *AK

I PURCHED MY NEW VEHICLE ON 7/12/03 AND ON 3/3/04 UPON OPENING MY DRIVER DOOR, I HEARD A CLANKING NOISE AND THE DRIVER DOOR FELL OFF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I LOCATED THE TOP PIN INSIDE THE CAR BUT THE CLIP WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. I CLOSED THE DOOR & CLIMED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER (NOT WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM) TO GET IT FIXED. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND THEY WERE VERY SUPRISED. BUT, FROM WHAT I JUST READ.... ITS HAPPENED BEFORE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CLIP SO THEY JERRY-RIGGED SOMETHING TO HOLD THE PIN IN PLACE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WORE A SEAT BELT. *AK

TO START, MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE WITH 36,000 MILES. IT IS A COMPANY VEHICLE THAT I'M ABLE TO USE PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A QUICK TRIP TO TOWN AND THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE GAS. LUCKILY I ACTED QUICKLY AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE SAFELY. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ON THE FLOORBOARD THAT WAS CAUSING CONSTANT ACCELERATION, THERE WASN'T. I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND THE RPM'S SORED TO 4 WITH BEING IN PARK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS VEHICLE HAD PERFORMED IN THIS MANNER. I MUST SAY THAT THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTNING. I WASN'T SURE I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD ESCAPE IN NOVEMBER 2002 AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY SUV OVER 5 TIMES. RIGHT NOW, MY SUV IS IN THE SHOP FOR A COOLANT SYSTEM REPLACEMENT AND A RADIO REPLACEMENT. MY RADIO WAS REPLACED TWICE THIS YEAR ALREADY. MY SUV WOULDN'T START TWICE THIS YEAR. I BELIEVE I HAVE DRIVEN A LOANER CAR AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE NOV 2003. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH MY SUV. I FEEL IT IS A LEMON. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME SINCE DAY ONE. *LA

WHEN DRIVING OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE, THE CAR'S ENGINE SPEED WOULD SUDDENLY JUMP FROM 1,500 RPMS TO AS HIGH AS 4,000+ RPMS WHILE BRAKING. SAME DEAL WHILE TRYING TO COAST TO A STOP - THE PEDAL SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN POSITION AND ENGINE RPMS WOULD NOT DECREASE. THE CAR WAS NURSED TO THE CLOSEST TOWN AND TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THE SHOP FOREMAN DID AN ON-THE-SPOT DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT TAKING A REAL LOOK UNDER THE HOOD STATING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BINDING. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S BRAKES. WE ASKED FOR AN APPRAISAL OF THE BRAKES, AND FOUR INDIVIDUAL FORD PERSONNEL (ONE SHOP FOREMAN, ONE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, AND TWO SEPARATE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL) STATED THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED WAS UNNECESSARY WEAR DIRECTLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH FORD WERE WILLING TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY. THE FINAL PERSON WE SPOKE WITH WENT SO FAR AS TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD US THE CAR. THE ANALOGY GIVEN WAS THAT ALL FORD DEALERSHIPS ARE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS WITH A FORD VEHICLE IS THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE RELOCATING FROM THE EAST COAST TO ALASKA. IT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT FORD CARES NOT AT ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THEIR PRODUCTS - PEOPLE WHO RIGHTLY EXPECT A SAFE AND DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. FORD'S CHIEF CONCERN IS LINING THEIR POCKETS WITH MONEY, AND NOT WITH THE SAFETY OF THE CUSTOMER, THEIR FAMILY, AND THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. *LA

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

UPON TURNING THE IGNITION TO THE "ON" POSITION IN MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE, THE SUNROOF WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF BETWEEN 10-15 MINUTES, AND THEN RESTARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES WITHIN A 4 WEEK PERIOD. *NLM

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON 98% OF THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM, THAT FORD IS WORKING ON IT AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. ON A RARE OCCASION THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT. *JB

ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME, WHEN I TRY TO START UP FROM A STOP THE ACCELERATOR WILL NOT GO DOWN UNDER GRADUAL PRESSURE. I HAVE TO PUSH HARDER AND HARDER UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY JERKS DOWN AND THE CAR SURGES AHEAD AT A FAST SPEED. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AND I TRY TO SPEED UP, THE SAME THING HAPPENS. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING ON GOOD ROADS, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON SLIPPERY OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP (GERMAIN FORD OF COLUMBUS) AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS BUT HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAVE JUST PUT A RANDOM DATE DOWN BECAUSE IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. *LA