The 2003 Ford Escape has 598 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are structure and suspension. Owners most often flag catastrophic engine failure (coolant intrusion into cylinders) – affects 1.5l, 1.6l, and some 2.0l ecoboost engines. described as a design defect leading to eventual engine replacement. frequency: very frequent.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2003 Ford Escape vehicles (US, public record).
Across the 9 Escape model years we track, complaint volume runs from 5 (2000) to 4,828 (2008). With 598 complaints, the 2003 Escape sits belowthe model's median of 1,749.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Campaign 15V606000Ford 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 3.0…
suspension:front:wheel bearing
Campaign 15E045000The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tr…
structure:frame and members
Campaign 14V165000Ford 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, I…
engine and engine cooling
Campaign 12V353000Ford 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 betw…
Sentiment is sharply divided by generation and powertrain, with no single consensus. Long-term owners of the first-generation (circa 2001-2007) and second-generation (circa 2008-2012) models with V6 engines report them as durable "tanks"…
Owner insights cover all generations of the Escape. See the full Escape owner picture and every model year.
Used Escape listings typically run $21,780–$28,463 across 2015 to 2026 model years.
Compare every Escape year side by side to see how 2003 ranks against the rest.