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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,452 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Ford Escape exhaust system problems

exhaust system problem

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2003 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #4

Jan 162011

Escape 6-cyl

  • 43,625 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a Ford 2003 Escape 6 cyl. Bought in may of 2004 new - 76 miles on it test driven from a dealer in schulenburg, tx - the check engine light came on - the PCM computer went out and blew a spark plug on 1/16/2011 - I had to replace the PCM (which I was told should have been a recall on the 2003 Ford Escape) since this should never go out on the car. The mileage was only 43,625 on 1/16/2011 when this happened. I have the car for 7-8 yrs. Now. I had to replace the PCM with a remanufactured (since it would cost way more for a new one) PCM - electronic ignition costing me just over $2,100. Again, this part was intended to never go out for the life of the car, period. This should have been a recall on Ford Motor Companies part - and I was told to complain and record this to NHTSA as others have, and if enough do, they would have to recall. I am not sure if I am in the right place to place this complaint.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #3

Dec 302009

Escape 6-cyl

  • 130,182 miles
I own a 2003 Ford Escape with a 6 cylinder engine which I bought new from harrold Ford in sacramento 11/2002. I noticed a strong oil burning smell. And oil leaking from the engine. I was unable to locate the source of the leak, so I took the vehicle into harrold Ford on 12/30/2009. The dealer informed me the oil was leaking thru the oil pan, and that Ford had a retrofit for the problem. I asked if this was a seal problem. I was told no, the material the oil pan was made of allowed the oil to eventually start leaking directly thru the material. I asked if this was a recall due to the fire danger, and was told no. The repair was completed and the oil pan was replaced. I kept the old oil pan.

- Wilton, CA, USA

problem #2

Dec 182008

Escape

  • 68,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Escape. The contact took the vehicle to a repair shop because the emissions indicator was illuminated. The repair shop kept the vehicle for two weeks due to the parts that needed to be ordered. When the gasket was installed in the vehicle, the engine became very hot and the corking (used to seal the gasket) melted onto the catalytic converter. The dealer stated that the failure was due to the catalytic converter and would cost $3,700 just to start the vehicle and determine what other malfunctions were occurring. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current mileage was approximately 70,000 and failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

- Earlton, NY, USA

problem #1

Sep 102003

Escape

  • miles
Without warning vehicle started smoking from underneath. The smoke was coming from vent area inside of vehicle. Also, there was a bad smell.

- Christiansted, VI, USA

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