RecallMyCar

2003 Ford Escape Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2003 Ford Escape, and owners have filed 558 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
558
owner complaints to NHTSA
43 / 27
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–22
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 2003 Ford Escape

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Floor shift (power train) and gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 15V606000 Reported 57 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall…

  2. Frame and members (structure)

    NHTSA 14V165000 Reported 348,950 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall…

  3. Cables (vehicle speed control) and engine and engine cooling

    NHTSA 12V353000 Reported 529,719 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August…

  4. Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module

    NHTSA 07V156000 Reported 446,460 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector may have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the module connector, creating a potential for an electrical short.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate. The dealer will also inspect the connector on the ABS…

  5. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 04V602000 Reported 262,113 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Certain 2004-2005 sport utility vehicles and certain 2001-2003 sport utiity vehicle having rear liftgate components serviced with 2004 equivalent components fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 206, 'door locks and door retention components.' the rear liftgate latching system does not meet…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear liftgate latch release rod, the release rod attachment clip and the door handle return spring. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  6. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 04V574000 Reported 470,245 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On certain sport utility vehicles built with 3.0l v6 engines, the accelerator cable may prevent the throttle from returning to the idle position.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator cable. The recall began on january 10, 2005. Owners should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.

  7. Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    NHTSA 04V165000 Reported 321,903 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0l v6 engines, during deceleration, the engine can stall.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the power control module (PCM) with the appropriate calibration. Owner notification began on april 21, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date…

558 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Ford Escape have filed 558 complaints with NHTSA; 43 describe a crash and 27 describe a fire. Reports cite 31 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 90,521 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 59 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I was doordashing as it's my job and all of sudden my car starts not idling won't stay off od off switch that switch stayed consistently flickered either the engine or transmission is slipping or misf”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 19, 2025 · Air bags

“Never received a recall letter or notice”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 4, 2024 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Ford Escape (Escape 2WD, Escape 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–22 mpg
City / Highway16–20 / 21–25
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Ford Escape model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escape model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Ford Escape05
2001 Ford Escape13996
2002 Ford Escape81,027
2003 Ford Escape7558
2004 Ford Escape6499
2005 Ford Escape41,394
2006 Ford Escape3464
2007 Ford Escape2254
2008 Ford Escape31,974
2009 Ford Escape11,693
2010 Ford Escape32,070
2011 Ford Escape21,316
2012 Ford Escape1603
2013 Ford Escape182,750
2014 Ford Escape162,088
2015 Ford Escape91,109
2016 Ford Escape41,144
2017 Ford Escape42,694
2018 Ford Escape41,810
2019 Ford Escape3592
2020 Ford Escape231,604
2021 Ford Escape19349
2022 Ford Escape19234
2023 Ford Escape11100
2024 Ford Escape876
2025 Ford Escape924
2026 Ford Escape23

Checking a specific 2003 Ford Escape

How do I know if my 2003 Ford Escape has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2003 Ford Escape; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V165000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.