There are 4 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2003 Ford Escapein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
JUST AS I PARKED MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE IN MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A HUGE CRASHING SOUND. THE BACK WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. I CALLED FORD COMPANY OF CANADA. WHILE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT AND A RECURRING PROBLEM, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR ($360) SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MAN WHO FIXED THE WINDSHIELD TOLD ME THAT THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODING HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPE--- MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAR/TRUCK/SUV ON THE ROAD TODAY. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? *TR
I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS AND DECIDED TO WASH POLLEN OFF CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN, SO I JUST "SPRINKLED" WATER ON THE CAR AND WHEN IT HIT THE SUNROOF, I HEARD A POP. LOOKING AT TOP OF SUNROOF I SAW NOTHING UNUSUAL. WHEN I OPENED THE INSIDE ROOF, I SAW THE GLASS WAS ALL SPLINTERED. AS I CLOSED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE GLASS ALL FELL ONTO THE INSIDE ROOF. GUY AT FORD TOLD ME I MUST'VE HAD A CRACK IN THE SUNROOF & WHEN THE WATER HIT, IT SHATTERED. MY WINDSHIELD DID HAVE A CRACK IN IT, AND THAT DIDN'T SHATTER SO THAT BLOWS THAT THEORY! 70 DEGREES THAT DAY.
SITTING IN VEHICLE IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND HEARD LOUD POP SOUND. I NOTICED THE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED. I LATER CONCLUDED THAT THE REAR WINDOW SHOCKS HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED THE REAR WINDOW.
THE SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE CONSUMER STATED PIECES OF GLASS FELL INTO THE FRONT SEAT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026