8.2
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$516.00
Average Mileage:
64,796 miles
Total Complaints:
32 complaints
Most common solutions:
- entire vehicle needs repainting (17 reports)
- not sure (9 reports)
- paint the top of the vehicle (3 reports)
- rear tailgate needs to be repainted (3 reports)
body / paint problem
Helpful Websites About 2003 Ford Escape paint is peeling off
2006Sep 01
Escape Limited 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 64,720 miles
I bought my 2003 escape limited brand new. In 2006 I started to notice what looked like rock damage on the front of the hood. So, I ordered a pen of touch up paint from the dealership. Then, I noticed the problem getting worse and over the last year it has spread to the front of the roof and slightly beneath the rear window on the tailgate. After google searching, I found this site and figured why bother. I have had an estimate of $3000-$4000 form a local body shop. I don't know if my insurance company will cover something that is clearly a defective paint job. However, I don't have that kind of money. Mechanically, this car runs great. I have just over 119000 miles and have performed all necessary maintenance to the vehicle. The painter at the body shop suggested I take a can of rustoleum paint and spray it on to prevent further damage. Of course, no one makes gold ash so I went with white. I guess we'll see how that goes.
2006Mar 01
Escape 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 18,641 miles
click to see larger images
Complaint Photos
We purchased our 2003 Escape Limited (Golden Ash) SUV brand new Dec 2003 for my wife, she absolutely loves it. We also purchased paint protection and rust proofing $600.00, because we intended to keep this vehicle for a long time. We have not had any mechanical issues what so ever. In 2006 (30K km), we noticed a small peice of paint peeling on the left hand corner of the rear hatch.
Took it to the dealer to have it repaired, but because we missed our paint inspection for 2005, it wasn't covered and it was past the ford warranty period. So basically we were screwed and it was written off as being our problem.
Two weeks ago, Oct 10, 2009, a 2003 Ford Escape XLT with the exact same colour (Golden Ash) had the exact same paint peeling in the exact same corner on the rear hatch. That's when I became really upset and discovered we weren't the only victims.
I decided to check the internet to see if there were other people that have experienced the same problem with paint peeling off their 2003 Escape models with (Golden Ash) paint. Low and behold, they are numerous. I am a retired Ford of Canada engineer, loyal to our company. I will now write my company and clearly point out to them this is a Ford manufacturing problem within their paint and or preing process.
I will reply back to this forum once I receive a response from Ford.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Aug 12
Escape XLT 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 44,150 miles
I have only owed this escape for 3 months. when i noticed the paint peeling off the roof. igot with my salesman and i heard the same old sh*t ! it,s out of warranty. there's no recall on paint so your just going to have to fixe it yourself.
2009Sep 02
Escape XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 42,000 miles
Bought my vehicle new in 03 and have loved it ever since. Except for the whole paint deal! I started having a problem in 06 with paint blistering and peeling on on the roof. Withing a matter of days it went from several dime-sized spots to numerous dollar-sized or larger spots all over the roof and the back hatch. This garage is vehicle kept!! Notified my dealership and like all other complaints listed on this forum, they said that they had not heard of any problems or recalls with the paint, that it was not covered by the warranty...blah blah blah. Ended up having the roof and hatch repainted at an expense of about $300-400. NOW as of yesterday (9-2-09) it is PEELING UP AGAIN!! I am awaiting yet another phone call from Ford. I can guarantee you that I will not be paying for the repainting this time, they will.
I like many others have not had any mechanical problems with vehicle and plan on driving it until it can no longer be driven. But when it comes time to purchase a new vehicle, I am sad to say that it will most likely not be Ford; not only for the paint defect problem but our local dealership who "prides themselves on their service" has been nothing but troublesome from the day that this vehicle was purchased. They titled me to another vehicle on the lot and then were deceptive about it when they realized the mistake 4 months later. Their mistake cost me more in taxes as well as the loan, then they tried to get to hand over the keys and just take the other vehicle (which was a lesser model, different color); it also screwed up all the paperwork to the extended warranty I purchased (7yrs/70k miles)...I am still fighting this mistake and is has especially made the paint concerns an even bigger hassle. Let's just say that I am finding it very difficult to stay calm, composed and tactful while addressing my concerns when I all really want to do is knock somebody out.
Wish me luck everyone! Oh, and I have printed out all the complaints listed on the forum and I WILL take it with me when I take my truck back in this afternoon!!
2008Aug 01
Escape V6
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
same problem as others on here with a 2003 Escape with Gold Ash paint. Last year the paint on the back started bubbling, then spread and kept peeling off. Same thing on the front hood. Just yesterday found a new bubble on the side near the back window. Looks like these spots will keep popping up over the years in different areas of the car. I can't afford to get a whole new paint job, so I'm going to attempt to paint the spots myself although I know it wont look great. Wanted to drive this car for 10+ years, but now because of a cosmetic problem I don't think I can. Not many other significant problems with the vehicle that I have owned for almost 7 years. Anyone that has had luck dealing with Ford customer service let me know.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2005Sep 20
Escape V6
- Automatic transmission
- 35,000 miles
My Ford started to loose paint in the rear on the hatch door after i had it for a few months, even though I had an extended warranty the ford dealership refused to do anything about it!!! I have meet 3 other people with the same car, same year and color(GOLD ASH) with the same problems. the too had no luck with ford! This is outrageous! I feel like a piece of white trash driving around in my car!! Can't wait til the payments are done...so long ford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2009Jul 08
Escape XLT 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 66,512 miles
I was very happy with my Ford Escape. When I bought it, the paint was perfect, no scratches, dents, nothing -- mint condition. At the beginning of this summer the paint (yellow-gold color) started to peel off the hood and the trunk. Now the affected areas are around a 16 inches diameter. I talked to a body shop and they asked me $2500 to fix it. I was planning on selling it to buy a newer one and now the car depreciated so much and I don't know what to do. I wrote to Ford and I am waiting for their answer.
2008Apr 19
Escape XLT 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
This is typical for all automobile manufacturer's refusal to fix anything when the vehicle is out of warranty. Good luck to all of you attempting to get any satisfaction from Ford. There was definitley something wrong with the paint process on these vehicles. This is the first time I've ever had any problems with paint on a Ford and I'm wondering if other models have the same problem.
2009May 27
Escape V6
- Automatic transmission
- 83,000 miles
Paint is peeling off the back hatch. Everyone who sees my car asks me if I've said anything to Ford about having it fixed. I tell them that Ford won't do anything about it, the dealer won't do anything about it. They all tell me they thought the paint warranty was for 10 years. I tell them that since the original warranty is out, so are my chances of getting it fixed by them.
Apparently, I'm not the only person to have this as I see there are hundreds of complaints out on the internet.
Guess Ford doesn't care. Guess I don't care to buy a Ford ever again. And since I'm not buying a government car, I guess this will be my last American car I will own.
Thanks Ford.
Buy the way...the FTC and all consumer groups I could find are aware of it now. Great way to run a business.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Nov 05
Escape LX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
Paint is peeling off all over the place...FORD HAS TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM
2007Aug 28
(reported on)Escape XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 76,000 miles
I recently discovered the paint peeling off the roof of my car in two spots: a huge spot above the windshield and a smaller spot on the top of my back hatch. When I contacted Ford Motor company, they said it wasn't their problem because the 3 year warranty was up. I am fighting this. Ford won't acknowledge the problem. I have started a petition. If you want on it, please contact me. Ford is going to pay for my paint!
2007Aug 05
Escape XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
Same as others here, happy with the Escape...no mechanical issues. The appearance of the vehicle due to the paint coming off, starting with the panel between the windshield and sunroof is a different story. Mine started here and now it's coming off on the back hatch below the window on the passenger side, it is coming off underneath the rear passenger side door and also on the top of the rear hatch. The spots in front of the sunroof began to rust badly. The entire car needs to be repainted or it will just keep on coming off. My first contact with the dealership was a phone call when it initially started happening, I had an extended warranty, but the person who answered the phone told me that wouldn't cover it and basically 'good luck, bud'. It got worse and the rust started and I then went to the stealership where they took photos and made an official entry to Ford corporate. I finally got a reply and they basically said 'out of warranty, too bad'. This made me real mad because it eluded to the possibility that if that previous dude had told me to bring it in, I might have gotten my car back in good condition.
Oh well, my currently plan is to take it to the paint shop at my county's high school shop and have them do it where it will only cost about $1000.
2008Nov 03
Escape XLT 3.0L Dohc V6
- Automatic transmission
- 51,213 miles
First i have to say, that I love my Escape. It is a vehicle I have wanted ever since I saw it being towed on the highway in the Fall of 1999, since it had no markings I assumed it was a new vehicle going to an area Ford dealership for testing. With that said, it is quite disheartening to to see the list of complaints that have been dismissed and/or ignored by the Ford Corp. Currently my problem is at the back window, a relatively small swatch size area of paint has been peeling off. Though the paint is also bubbling up in the groove area of the back window. I am hoping that it goes no further but based on everyone else's e-mail I fear it is a waste of time and energy.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2006Jun 01
Escape V6
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
My Escape started to flake about a month after my lease was up and I decided to buy it. I went back to my Ford dealer who told me that the warranty was up and that there was nothing that they could do for me!!! I called Ford corporate office and asked for help--they told me the same thing and that there were NO other reports of paint problems !!! Now my car is starting to RUST all over and it looks horrible!!! I have gotten an estimate to have it fixed and it will cost over $3000!!!! If anyone out there has any suggestions I would really appreciate them!! Thanks!
2007Dec 05
Escape Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
My vehicle looks like crap! (Or is going to very soon.) Paint flaking away from the roof, the back of the vehicle, the side... I regret buying Ford and now I can't even sell it to get my money back because it needs a whole new paint job! God forbid I wash it and take off more chunks of paint.
Totally disgusted by this!
2007Sep 22
Escape LX 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 95,691 miles
Based on other complaints, I feel Ford had problems with the paint on the 2003 Escapes and they are choosing to ignore the issue.
2008Mar 23
Escape XLT 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
Now there is another quarter size blister on the roof. The original blister is now open and the bare metal is showing and getting bigger. Is there a solution to at least keep it from spreading? Thanks for any advice....JOHN
2008Jul 01
Escape XLT 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
Another new blister on the passenger side of the hood close to the leading edge. This is nuts. I am really going to have a hard time justifying buying another Ford product.
The other blisters, now gaping holes, are just getting worse.
Looking at the other complaints, it is hard to believe that Ford isn't willing to do anything.
Thanks for any advice....JOHN
2007Feb 01
Escape LTD V6
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
In Feb 2007 I noticed the paint peeling on the hatchback of my Gold Ash Escape. Within a week what started around the window took over the entire back hatch. I contacted my local dealer & off course no warranty left & no recalls. They did pay a portion but it cost me $150. I was told the paint had separated from the primer. Well now it's started again this time on the roof right next to the window. I took it to Ford yesterday & it's the same thing. I am trying to get them to help me out with the paint again but I have little faith in that. I've read so many complaints on this I can't believe Ford isn't doing something about their crap!!!
2008Jul 23
Escape XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 105,000 miles
We own a 2003 Ford Escape with light gold/beige paint that has begun to peel off in large sheets on several areas/panels of the vehicle. There is no obvious cause, and the vehicle has not been subjected to any unusual environmental or chemical hazards.
Dealer & Ford Motor say there are no recalls, service bulletins, or other actions to cover this, and that given the age and mileage there is nothing they can do.
A quick internet search reveals hundreds of other complaints for the same problem, same model/year, and same color, with similar descriptions of the damage and the response from Ford.
This is an obvious flaw that Ford shown own up to.
2005Jul 31
Escape Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
When we bought our Escape in 2005, I was very excited because I had been wanting a SUV for a long time. Shortly after we purchased it I noticed that the paint was bubbling around the rear window. So of course the first thing I did was contact the dealer as we had purchased an extended warranty which we were told "would cover anything that went wrong". Yeah right. As I was very rudely advised when I contacted the service department, paint isn't covered under your extended warranty. So, I wait a little while and was walking from my back yard and discovered the paint in front of and behind my sun roof was peeling off. I can be riding down the road with my sunroof open and pieces of paint fly in on me. So, then I call Ford Customer Service. I get sorry its environmental and we're not responsible. So I get to continue paying almost $400 a month for a vehicle that looks like crap. I hate to even wash it because the paint comes off worse when I do. I have been told by 2 different individuals that work for Ford in the paint dept that the car was not "prepped properly" and that the problem is not environmental. No wonder Ford is in the financial trouble they're in if this is the quality of their product. I will definitely be looking else where on my next vehicle purchase and will tell everyone I know that Ford definitely does not take care of the customers.
2008Feb 04
Escape Limited 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 62,137 miles
The paint is peeling off my 2003 Ford Escape Limited all along the seams on the doors & hatch & above tires. So far I am told this is not a reported problem in the Escapes, and as this over the warranty there is nothing Ford will do. It looks like a defect to me, but I am in the beginning phases of getting this checked out..
Is anybody getting anywhere with getting Ford to financially compensate or fix this obvious defect in the paint job? Any suggestions on how to do this effectively? What does it take for Ford to recognize this as an actual reported problem or defect?
2005Feb 20
Escape XLS 3.2L
- CVT transmission
- 35,000 miles
I've had several fords never had any peel the way the escape does.It started out small.Used touch up paint.It looks really tacky now.It started peeling the first year I had it.I looked at the top the other day 04/12/2008 I couldn't believe my eye's the whole top of the escape is peeling in sheets.The hatch back is also peeling real bad.Is their any one out there for suggestion's what to do.My father said to write the ford company a letter and that will get them to paint my car for me.From what I seen on this complaint sight that isn't going to work either.Please let me know what to do.
2007Aug 01
Escape Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
I am just in the beginning stages of this battle. The dealer says they want fix the problem. I'm going to the Ford co. next. I have asked for help from one of our fellow members AutoBeef. We need to help each other as much as possible. Lets pull together. Power in numbers. Aco. as large as Ford should know how to paint a car by now. I bet Henry is tossing in his grave.
2006Mar 01
Escape Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 30,000 miles
Just to support my fellow owners receiving a GIANT CORNHOLE from FORD. My 2003 Ford Escape Limited started losing paint in the Spring of 06 just out of warranty. I had it repaired. Now it is peeling off of the roof like sheets of paper.....FORD SUCKS. Buy Toyota.
I did contact Ford over a year ago and the response I got was "what do you want us to do about it" can you believe that crap! I sent another letter and I am sure I will get a blowoff.
2007Nov 21
Escape XLT
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
We discovered this problem six months ago. Went to our local Ford dealer said there was nothing they could do other than repaint the car and charge us out the ass. We have owned Fords for quite some time but will not be buying another one. Gee you wonder why their business is so lousy? Duhhh maybe because their product has become sloppy and they don't take care of their customers like they should!!!!!! Really disappointed in them. WARNING!!! DON'T GET SCREWED DON'T BUY A FORD!!!!
2007Aug 28
(reported on)Escape Limited 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
Paint peeling on front of hood. Ford told me it was bad paint. They told me they couldn't do nothing it was off warranty,2 month's but I told them it started about a year before. They said they would like to help me if the warranty was still in effect. I told them I'll never buy another Ford and I will help them with their advertising, All Free And All Bad! I thought it would be nice if they would fix their mistakes, I guess they don't care if they never sale another car. I'm Pissed.
2007Sep 24
(reported on)Escape
- Automatic transmission
- 99,419 miles
my 2003 escape paint started peeling in May on the roof, front hood and rear - patches keep growing - ford body shop insists it is from stone chips, whereas I have 3 estimates from body shops that say it is a defect from the manufacturer. I am trying to fight it out with head office and now finally have the right contact person-if you want this info email me back at joannejames@sympatico. ca
Joanne
2007Jul 03
(reported on)Escape Limited 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 106,000 miles
Paint is peeling over front windshield. Approximately 6x4 inches. Have others encountered this problem??
2007Jun 26
(reported on)Escape XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 54,000 miles
Spring of 2006, I noticed the paint chipping off the hood in several places. I thought they were stone chips and touched them up which always looks crappy. The edges continued to sort of blister and chip away. In May of 2007, I noticed the same thing happening on the right rear corner where the roof line meets the main body. I went to a dealer and the service advisor blew me off saying he never heard of a paint problem with Fords. He gave me the 800 number for customer service. Calling that got me a cheerful rep who listened, put me on hold for a few minutes, then came back on saying there were no recalls, service bulletins, yada, yada, yada, and Ford could do nothing to help me since the warranty is only for 3 yrs. I told him the Escape looks worse than my '94 Ranger but he said there was nothing he could do.
2007Jun 13
(reported on)Escape LX
- Automatic transmission
- 95,000 miles
The paint in the last 4 weeks over the windshield has started peeling like a banana, Ford says it is from a stone chip - the patch is now approx 12 inches by 10 inches and is coming off in hunks. There is a patch starting on the front hood and the rear end door, other body shops say it was a bad paint job and Ford will not touch the problem.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your body / paint problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jul 01
Escape LX V6
I first noticed the paint peeling by the rear window on the hatchback. I now have two huge spots on the roof, one right at the top of the windshield and one further back. has anyone been able to get Ford to help with this? My car is Gold Ash, as it looks like a lot of the other ones are on this website.
marthafetters
Eastport, MI, USA
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