Model year

2003 Ford Escort

Coupe, gasoline, built in Mexico. Owner complaints on file from Aug 23, 2004 to Mar 19, 2018.

Recall campaigns covering this model year1388 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints10Close to the median 2003 coupe
Severity index10.02003 coupes average 11.8
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2003 Ford Escort peaked in 2004, with 2 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

00.511.522004220062008201020122014201620182020202220242026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

20% of complaints about the 2003 Ford Escort name engine and cooling

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Engine and cooling
2
Brakes
2
Speed control
2
Airbags
1
Latches and locks
1
Powertrain
1
Structure
1
Suspension
1
Tires
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

One recall campaign covers the 2003 Ford Escort

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2003 Ford Escort
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
04E-048Jul 12, 2004Certain trw driver's side seat belts manufactured on december 6 and 9, 2002, for use as replacement equipment for 1997 ford escort 4-door and…Seat belts388Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2003 Ford Escort

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

10 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Mar 19, 2018Failure May 1, 2016Granger, IALatches/locks/linkages

    2003 FORD ESCORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR HINGE/LATCH PROBLEMS RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ARTEMIS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

    NHTSA complaint 10994729
  2. Filed Jan 2, 2015Failure Sep 1, 2014115,000 milesNewbury Park, CAVehicle speed control

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 (NA) FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10669710
  3. Filed Dec 1, 2011Failure Nov 23, 201185,000 milesPueblo, COEngine

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL DIP STICK FRACTURED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THE DEFECT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE DIP STICK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/12/12

    NHTSA complaint 10437947
  4. Filed Oct 2, 2008Failure Oct 1, 200830,724 milesSycracuse, NYAutomatic transmission

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION RATTLES AND SHAKES, AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FORD DEALER TESTED AND REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION IN 2007, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A 80,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO FOUR DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE FEELS THAT BECAUSE HER VEHICLE HAS SO FEW MILEAGE AND IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,724.

    NHTSA complaint 10244249
  5. Filed May 4, 2007Failure Oct 18, 2004Chilowie, VAService brakes, Abs warning light

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. IN 2004, THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED RECALL # 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER PERFORMED THE REPAIR, HOWEVER, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE SHE LEFT THE PARKING LOT. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 49,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

    NHTSA complaint 10189739
  6. Filed Nov 13, 2006Failure Nov 13, 200623,600 milesBridgeport, CTEngine, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Frame and members

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE IDLE WAS ROUGH. THERE WAS ALSO A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO THE WAY THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED, AND THAT SOME VIBRATION WAS INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WHILE IN REVERSE. THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT LEAKING. THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10173398
  7. Filed Aug 25, 2005Failure Feb 25, 200512,000 milesUnion City, PAVehicle speed control

    DT: THE CALLER SAYS VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN IT IS IN IDLE. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGNS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND IT BECAME WORSE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX IT. THE MANUFACTURER SAID IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10134201
  8. Filed Apr 7, 2005Failure Apr 7, 200513,970 milesAiea, HITread/belt

    WHILE DRIVING 2003, FORD, ESCAPE WITH 13.970 MILE WITH GENERAL AMERI - TRAC, 225/70R15 PASSENGER REAR TIRE THREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO UNDER CARRIAGE AND BUMPER. WHILE REPLACING TIRE WITH SPARE NOTICED DRIVER'S REAR TIRE ALSO STARTED TO SEPARATE. ESCAPE WAS TO UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO CUTTER FORD DEALERSHIP, AIEA HAWAII. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING, SAYING TIRES WERE ON FOR 12,000 MILES OR 1 YEAR. TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED WHICH COST LITTLE OVER 250.00, BUT THIS DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY BODY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TIRE. IT APPEARED TO M THAT DEALERSHIP WISH TO AVOILD ANY PROBLEMS WITH TIRES, LIKE PREVIOUS TIRE PROBLEMS. TIRES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. HAVE RETAINED THE PAPERWORK FROM SEARS ON THE CONDITION OF TIRES.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10116587
  9. Filed Oct 25, 2004Failure Oct 9, 20033,000 milesWashington, DCFront

    VEHICLE SEVERELY VIBRATED WHILE IN MOTION AT 70 MPH, AND IN NON MOTION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10097577
  10. Filed Aug 23, 2004Failure Aug 13, 200412,000 milesBuena Vista, VAFrontalCrash1 injured

    WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10089490
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

3 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • 19016 Jan 1, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    REPLACE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY DURING 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT
  • 02208 Oct 14, 2002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH
  • 04V09 Aug 12, 2004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN SERVICE REPLACEMENT SEATBELT RETRACTORS (DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT RETRACTOR IN GRAY) MANUFACTURED IN DECEMBER 2002 AND SOLD AS A SERVICE REPLACEMENT PART BETWEEN DECEMBER 2002 AND JULY 2004. *TT
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.