2003 Ford Escape Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK, THE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY CAME OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. *AK

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMER, THE ESCAPE INTERMITTEDLY WILL NOT START. TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7 TIMES OF CRANKING BEFORE SUV STARTS. OCCURED FIRST IN AUG., THE FORD SHOP REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. ONE MONTH LATER DOESN'T START AGAIN. FORD SHOP LEFT TICKET OPEN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. IN OCTOBER, HAPPENS AGAIN. NOW THEY HAVE INSTALLED A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT I HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON AS I'M CRANKING IF THE CAR DOESN'T START. THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS ONLY GOOD FOR 1 WEEK, HAVE TO KEEP GOING IN TO HAVE IT RESET.

HELLO. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW FORD ESCAPE WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES IN JUNE 2003. TIRE MODEL: CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV TIRE MODEL #: 235/70R16 WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, WITH SIDEWALL AND TREAD SEPARATION, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPLEASANT SITUATION, THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE VEHICLE (AND TIRES) HAVE 5K MILES. THERE WAS NO LOAD OR OTHER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME. I AM WRITING FOR SEVERAL REASONS: 1. WHERE DO I OFFICIALLY REPORT SUCH AN INCIDENT AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE? 2. WHERE CAN I OBTAIN SAFETY RATINGS REGARDING THIS TIRE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SUV TIRES? THANK YOU, SINCERELY, JOHN W. COLE, MD DETAILS OF INCIDENT: FORD ESCAPE TIRE BLOWOUT FORD ESCAPE, PURCHASED JUNE 2003, APPROX 4900 TOTAL MILES CONTINENTAL TIRES (STOCK TIRE WITH VEHICLE) DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT: 9/25/03, 8:20 PM WIFE AND SON (10 WEEKS OLD) DRIVING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 50, CROSSING SEVERN RIVER BRIDGE. TRAVELING AT 60 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. LOUD POP HEARD BY WIFE AND DRIVER REAR TIRE BLOWS OUT. WIFE AND INFANT SON TRAPPED AT FAR SIDE OF BRIDGE, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. POLICE CALLED, SET UP FLARES, AND NOTIFIED TOW COMPANY. TOW COMPANY STATED SUPPLIED JACK WOULD NOT LIFT THE TRUCK CHASSIS HIGH ENOUGH TO PUT ON SPARE!! TOW COMPANY USED ADDITIONAL JACK TO RAISE CHASSIS. KEY ISSUES: SUV PURCHASED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. TIRE NEW, WITH LITTLE MILEAGE. BLOWOUT OCCURS ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT REASON. TRUCK WITH NO LOAD, LESS PASSENGERS, AT THE TIME. TIRE JACK DID NOT WORK ADEQUATELY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION! IF THIS HAD OF BEEN A FRONT TIRE, VEHICLE MAY HAVE ROLLED? *JB

EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS RADIATE EXCESSIVE HEAT WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED. HEADER, MANIFOLD, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMBINED TEMPERATURES CAUSE SCORCHING OF GRASS WHEN PARKED IN A LOWLY-CUT, GRASSY AREA. RAMIFICATIONS COULD BE SAFETY IMPACTS TO OCCUPANTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL.

WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, IT MOVED ONLY IN REVERSE, REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SELECTION. THIS WAS ONLY REMEDIED AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. *JB

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE WHICH I PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2003 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE FUEL INJECTORS. WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND DESTROYED. THE FLAMES ALSO PENETRATED THROUGH THE FIRE WALL WITHIN LITTLE TIME. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. AT THIS TIME I HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE TO MY CALLS TO FORD REGARDING THIS EXTREME MALFUNCTION.

WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM VENT AREA INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A BAD SMELL. *AK

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. AFTER THE 2ND TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER, IT IS STILL HAPPENING. NOW IT IS HAPPENING IN DRIVE AS WELL. I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE DECEMBER 2002 AND IT HAS STALLED OUT A TOTAL OF 11 TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS 8000 MILES ON IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (TIRE SIZE P235.70R16) . DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE BRAKES AND ROTORS FAILED WHICH CAUSED NOISE WHILE BRAKING. *AK *NLM

WHILE DRIVING FORD ESCAPE 2003 SUV,THE LEFT TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL(ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT,TIRE SIZEP235/70R16,DOT#UNAVAILABLE) DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. CONTINENTAL SUV TIRE.*AK

I HAVE COMPLAINED TWICE BEFORE ABOUT MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS NOW DONE IT A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS. THE MOST UNNERVING WAS WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15 MPH. IT HAS ALSO HESITATED AND BUCKED INTO AN INTERSECTION ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I CONTACTED THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND EXPRESSED MY SAFETY CONCERNS, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPRODUCABLE THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. MY DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPRODUCE THE STALL AND ARE UNABLE, AS AM I. THEY HAVE PERFORMED A TSB, INSTALLED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND A NEW CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. I NOW HAVE A VDR IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS A MAJOR DANGER TO MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS AND ANYONE WHO IS AROUND THE VEHICLE WHEN IT MAY STALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN I LOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I DO NOT TRUST THE VEHICLE AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN IT.*AK

ESCAPE STALLED FOR THE FOURTH TIME. I DID HAVE A VDR IN THE VEHICLE FOR 5 WEEKS BUT IT DID NOT STALL DURING THAT TIME. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS SAFE TO TAKE IT OUT BECAUSE IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. WELL IT DID AND I LOST ALL BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY. *PH

WE BOUGHT MY ESCAPE XLT ON 5/26/03. ON 7/30/03, UPON EXITING MY VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FELL OFF. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT ISSUE ME A DIFFERENT ESCAPE UNLESS WE PAID $9K TOWARDS A NEW ONE AND I'VE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON MY NEW VEHICLE. THEY SAID THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE AND IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY MARKINGS IT RECEIVED FROM CONSUMER REPORTS. I FOUND THAT ON MARCH OF 2003 ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE LIKELY NOT THE ONLY ONES TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO US, LIKE THE FORD DEALERSHIPS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE. AFTER THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME, THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED, BUT UPON EXAMINATION WE NOTICED A PART HAD BEEN LEFT OFF AND MY DOOR WAS DAMAGED AND SCUFFED. WE HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND ARE PERSUING OUR OPTIONS. *JT

2003 FORD ESCAPE SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT LOCK INTO PARK WITHOUT PUSHING LEVER FORWARD, DEALER REPLACED PARTS AND NOW CONDITION IS WORSE THAN BEFORE. SERVICE MANAGER STATES OTHER VEHICLES SAME YEAR MODEL CHECKED AND ALL PERFORM SIMULARLY. ALSO STATED FORD ENGINEERS ADVISED HIM THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE.*AK

3 WEEKS AFTER BUYING VEHICLE IT STARTED MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT WAS NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR. *AK

2003 FORD ESCAPE V-6 AUTOMATIC VEHICLE STALLED ON FREEWAY FOR NO REASON. *AK

PREVIOUS COMPLAINT: STALLING OF 2003 ESCAPE. I RETURNED VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW EEC AND TROUBLE SHOT THE SYSTEM. THE WORK PERFORMED DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW IT IS SEVEN DAYS LATER AND THE STALLING HAS RETURNED. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT REVEL ANY PROBLEMS SO THIS MORE THAN LIKELY WILL BE AN ONGOING ISSUE. *JB

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. IT HAS STALLED AT LEAST TEN TO TWELVE TIMES IN THE LAST 14 DAYS. THE CONDITIONS DURING THE STALLING VARY: ON AN INCLINE, COMING TO STOP AND ON STRAIGHT AWAY LEVEL TERRAIN. IT HAS ALSO STALLED AND RESTARTED MUCH LIKE A HESITATION. *AK

SIZZLING NOISE WHEN AIR CONDITION IS USED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN TO 2 SEPARATE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS. KEARNY MESA FORD (ORIGINAL DEALER) AND NORTH COUNTY FORD BOTH CLAIM NOT TO BE ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST!!! *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 50/55 MPH VEHICLE DIED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.THE COST FOR REPAIRS WERE $114.21. *AK *CB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH AND THE THROTTLE STUCK. DRIVER HAD TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WASN'T SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN.*AK

I OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE, RECENTLY PURCHASED PRE-OWNED. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS, WHILE PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP, SUDDENLY IT WAS AS IF THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, THE MOTOR WAS REVVING UP TO 4 GRAND....I PUT THE VEHICLE DRIVE THINKING MAYBE MY FLOOR MAT WAS STUCK UNDER IT, AS I PULLED TO A REDLIGHT, I ALMOST RAN THROUGH THE REDLIGHT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE ACCELERATION INCREASED AND IT TOOK ALL I HAD TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AS HARD AS I COULD. THE FLOORMATS WERE NOT THE PROBLEM.... I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD BABY IN THE BACK SEAT. I THEN TURNED THE ESCAPE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT, THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO BLOW, IT WAS REVVING UP TO 4 AND 5 GRAND. I THEN CALLED A MECHANIC I KNEW, HE CAME TO GET MY VEHICLE TO DRIVE IT BACK TO HIS SHOP. DURING HIS VERY VERY SHORT DRIVE, HE NEVER HAD TO PUT HIS FOOT ON THE GAS AT ALL, AND THE VEHICLE DROVE 40 MILES PER HOUR BY ITSELF... SO FAR, ALL WE KNOW IS THAT THE IAC VALVE HAD WENT BAD...(IDLE AIR CONTROL)....I HAVE HAD IT BACK A FEW DAYS AND NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME, ALTHOUGH I AM VERY CAREFUL AND SCARED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.... DURING RESEARCH, I FOUND THEIR WERE ALMOST 500,000 2003 MODEL FORD ESCAPES RECALLED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION. I CONTACTED 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, EXPLAINING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY BOTH ASSURED ME THAT "MY VEHICLE" WAS NOT ONE OF THE HALF MILLION INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I FIND SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT JUST A FREAK THING THAT HAPPENED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY BABY OUR LIVES. THERE ARE TO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT THIN THAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM, AND THEY ARE BEING TOLD THE SAME STORIES. SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT, AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER INTO THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP. THE CONTINENTAL TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR AAA TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. CONTINENTAL, CONTITRAC SUV. *AK CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE TIRE WAS RIPPED IN A CIRCULAR TEAR. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T SUSTAIN ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE NOR DID THE VEHICLE. *PH *JB

AFTER DRIVING CAR, PARKING AND STARTING AGAIN, IT WILL START BUT WILL NOT KEEP RUNNING. USUALLY CAN WAIT A FEW MINUTES WITH HOOD UP AND WILL BE OK. TODAY (10/26/2019) IT WOULD NOT KEEP RUNNING. HAD IT TOWED. PURCHASED NEW 06/2003 AND HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED. FORD MECHANICS OTHER MECHANICS DO NOT KNOW WHY.

PLUG ON WIRE TO DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATES WHEN ADJUSTING SEAT. MUST BE RECONNECTED EACH TIME. PURCHASED NEW AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE KNUCKLE SEPARATION OFF THE SUSPENSION CAUSED ACCIDENT. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMP IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER, HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM

MY ESCAPE STALLED 2 TIMES LAST MONTH. I TOOK IT INTO BE SERVICED WHERE I WAS ASSURED THEY DID EVERYTHING NECESSARY ON THE TSB. IT STALLED AGAIN TODAY AND I TOOK IT BACK. I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS STALLING AND THEY HAVE EQUIPPED THE CAR WITH A BUTTON THAT I AM TO PUSH WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEN RETURN. THIS DOES NOT SOUND SAFE TO ME CONSIDERING I DRIVE ALMOST 50 MILES A DAY, PLUS IT IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. *NLM

GAS PEDAL STUCK AND THERE WA SSUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM SIMILAR TO ODI 10018602, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES A "SIZZLING" NOISE WAS HEARD. THE MUFFLER LOOKED LIKE IT TURNED A REDDISH COLOR. CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT MUFFLER WAS CORRODED. *AK

ENGINE STALLING. *AK

REAR HATCH - SHEET METAL AROUND PLASTIC TRIM PIECE USED FOR HANDLE AND SPACE BETWEEN WINDOW AND HANDLE DENT EASILY DURING NORMAL OPENING AND CLOSING. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FOR ESTIMATES SAYS THIS HAPPENS ALOT. AREA SHOULD BE REINFORCED OR HATCH SHOULD BE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL LIKE THE MINI-VANS. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO START UP THE VEHICLE AGAIN. *TT

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. *AK *TS *JB

BINDING OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM IDLE; PEDAL DIFFICULT AT TIMES [INTERMITTENT PROBLEM] TO PUSH SMOOTHLY, CAUSING UNEVEN AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *NLM

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. ON APRIL 17, 2003 I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN VACAVILLE WITH A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES MAKING A GRINDING NOISE (25,503 MILES). THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE AND CHECKED THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE MEASURED THE BRAKE PADS AT ABOVE 5MM OF PAD REMAINING. THE NOISE CONTINUED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 27, 2003 (28,720 MILES). THIS TIME THEY HEARD THE NOISE AS WELL AS A BEARING NOISE. THEY MEASURED THE BRAKES AT 3MM AND TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS MAY BE WARPED. I LEFT THE VEHICLE FOR THE BEARING REPAIR AND RECEIVED A PHONE MESSAGE (ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE) THAT THEY RE-MEASURED THAT BRAKE PADS AND FOUND THEM TO BE 2MM NOT 3MM. THEY DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE ROTORS. I ASKED ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PADS OR THE ROTORS. I CALLED MY BROTHER-IN-LAW THAT WORKS FOR FORD AND TOLD HIM ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE. HE MADE SOME PHONE CALLS AND FOUND OUT FROM ONE OF FORD'S ENGINEERS THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE WEAR (BOTH PADS AND ROTORS) ON THE ESCAPE AND THE FORD FOCUS. TODAY (30,270 MILES) I TOOK MY ESCAPE TO MIDAS AND HAD A BRAKE INSPECTION. THE MIDAS EMPLOYEE SAID THAT THE ROTORS ARE WORN DOWN BELOW SPECS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT WEAR THAT QUICKLY. AS TO THE PADS HE SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE CERAMIC PADS. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN VACAVILLE WITH THIS INFORMATION. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT FORD COULD DO FOR ME ABOUT THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE INDIVIDUAL TOLD ME THAT FORD USES SOFT ALUMINUM ROTORS ON BOTH THE ESCAPE AND THE FOCUS AND THEY WEAR OUT VERY QUICKLY. MY CONCERN FOR FORD IS THAT IF THEY USE SUBSTANDARD EQUIPMENT AND DO NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED, ARE THEY NOT OPENING THEMSELVES UP TO A LAW SUIT IF THEIR "SOFT ROTORS" FAIL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM IN MARCH 2003. THE THROTTLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE IT WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I'VE HAD MY NEW SUV FOR 4 DAYS (270 MILES) - IT STALLED WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC. LOST ALL POWER. MANAGED TO GET IT OVER IN A EMPTY TURNING LANE, TURNED EVERYTHING OFF, PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY 2 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BEFORE PURCHASING, SALESMAN ASSURED ME THAT THE "STALLING" PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED ON EARLIER MODELS WAS CORRECTED WITH THE 2003 MODEL. APPARENTLY NOT. I DRIVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO AND FROM WORK - THIS HAPPENED GOING TO WORK, BEEN IN VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *NLM

I WENT TO SHUT MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND IT FELT A LITTLE FUNNY. I OPENED IT AGAIN AND WHEN I SHUT IT I HEARD A CLANKING NOISE. WHEN I OPENED MY DOOR AGAIN THE PIN AND CLIP FELL OUT AND THE DOOR (THE TOP HINGE) CAME OFF. I HAD TO REMOVE THE BOTTOM PIN AND CLIP TO RE- HANG MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IN ORDER TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DO NOTHING AND TELL ME THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON THEY HAVE EVER SEEN IT HAPPEN TOO AND THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I DROVE IT 8 DAYS AND 650 MILES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 6 DAYS. I AM REQUESTING FROM FORD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WHICH THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE. THEY ARE FIXING THE DIRECT CLUTCH WHICH FAILED. I DO NOT THINK AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UNREASONABLE. I KNOW GM WOULD PROVIDE ONE SHOULD THE SITUATION BE THE SAME. *NLM

IN MARCH 2003 VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND ACCELERATE, MAINTAIN SPEEDS WHILE FOOT OFF THE GAS (ONCE AT 65 MPH), & SHAKE LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL. A COUPLE TIMES IT EVEN SPED UP WHILE I WAS BRAKING AT RED LIGHTS. ON 4-10-03 SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DUPLICATE SYMPTOMS SINCE THEY ARE PARTICULARLY EXAGGERATED AFTER PARKED FOR AN HOUR OR SO. STATED THAT I COULD LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT (NO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OFFERED) OR WAIT UNTIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE THE CAR DID NOT FEEL SAFE, I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHICH OFFERED ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION. THE PROBLEMS SEEMED TO IMPROVE FOR A WEEK OR 2 BEFORE RETURNING, FOLLOWING EACH OF THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: 5/16/03 REPLACED THROTTLE BODY/IDLE AIR CONTROL/PCM REPROGRAMING; 6/6/03 REPAIR VACUUM TUBE/HOSE; 6/25/03 REPLACE PCM WITH NEW UPDATED PCM. TWO WEEKS LATER 7/12/03 OPERATION OF POWER LOCKS/WINDOWS, AND REAR WIPERS/DEFROST WERE GOING IN AND OUT WITH DASH ABS, BRAKE, AND BATTERY LIGHTS COMING ON CONCURRENTLY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN UNTIL 9 DAYS LATER WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO COME GET THE VEHICLE. THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED THE CAR UP TO LEAVE. 7/21/03 ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. HESITATION, ACCELERATION, SHAKING, AND MAINTAINING SPEEDS, ALTHOUGH NOT AS FREQUENT, CONTINUE AND COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED BY FORD REPRESENTATIVE ON 8/4/03. I AM NOW CONTINUING TO PURSUE LEMON LAW PROCEDURES. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. I HAVE TAKEN NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY I NEED TO USE DIFFERENT GAS WHICH I DID. THEY TOLD ME TO CHANGE MY FUEL FILTER, WHICH I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS TIMES. AND IT STILL STICKS. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. WHEN I SAY IT STICKS, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL YOU HAVE TO PUSH IT DOWN HARD THEN LET UP OR YOU GO TO FAST. I AM GETTING NO WHERE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT EVER. I REALLY NEED HELP IN THIS MATTER. I SEE ALL THIS ON TOYOTA, AND I CAN'T GET ANY WERE WITH FORD. HELP! *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *NLM *SCC

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ENGINE, AND WINDOWS.*MR PRIOR TO DATE, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SIX TIMES FOR: DIFFICULTY IN CRANKING, CLINKING NOISES IN THE ENGINE AND DIFFICULTY WITH THE IDLE. DESPITE THE LATEST SERVICE, CRANKING AND IDLING CONTINUED. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE RECURRING PROBLEMS WHICH CONTINUED TO EXIST. CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED THE REAR WINDOW LEAKED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE IS A DEFECTIVE AND INFERIOR PRODUCT. *PH *NLM

2003 FORD ESCAPE LEAKS DIRT INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN DRIVING DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD, AT TIMES THE DUST INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN IS SO THICK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ROAD OR INSTRUMENTS. ROAD DUST IS VISIBLE PASSING BY DOOR AND SEALS. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS CONDITION. LAST VISIT THE DEALER SUGGESTED THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO CLEAN THE VEHICLE OUT ANYTIME WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE, AND WE SHOULD NOT OPERATE THE HEATER/AIR ON GRAVEL ROADS( WE LIVE ON A GRAVEL ROAD). FORD CUSTOMER CARE WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NEVER RESPONDED.

COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *TS *JB

CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW IF AIR BAGS FOR 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. **CC THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS ON THEN OFF. CONSUMER NOT SURE WHAT THIS INDICATES. *NM