2003 Ford Escape Reliability
The 2003 Ford Escape has 598 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2001–2005), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Escape's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
598
NHTSA owner complaints
9
Recall campaigns
44
Complaints citing a crash
29
Complaints citing a fire
2003 Ford Escape complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 model year, filed between 2003 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 121 | 20% |
| Suspension | 92 | 15% |
| Speed control / throttle | 91 | 15% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 64 | 11% |
| Air bags | 62 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 61 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 9% |
| Engine & cooling | 52 | 9% |
2003 Ford Escape recalls
9 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2003 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V165000 | Apr 6, 2004 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0l v6 engines, during deceleration, the engine can stall. |
| 04V574000 | Dec 7, 2004 | Speed control / throttle — cables | On certain sport utility vehicles built with 3.0l v6 engines, the accelerator cable may prevent the throttle from returning to the idle position. |
| 04V602000 | Dec 20, 2004 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | 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… |
| 07E023000 | Mar 29, 2007 | Service brakes — foundation components / master cylinder | Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987mza, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than dca7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed… |
| 07V156000 | Apr 10, 2007 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | 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. |
| 12V353000 | Jul 26, 2012 | Engine & cooling | 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… |
| 14V165000 | Apr 2, 2014 | Body structure — frame and members | 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,… |
| 15E045000 | Jun 3, 2015 | Suspension — front / wheel bearing | The 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 Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner… |
| 15V606000 | Sep 29, 2015 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / floor shift | 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… |
How the 2003 compares with nearby Escape years
Verdicts compare these Escape model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,027 | 15 | Engine & cooling | Caution |
| 2002 | 1,070 | 10 | Engine & cooling | Caution |
| 2003 (this page) | 598 | 9 | Body structure | Solid |
| 2004 | 499 | 8 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2005 | 1,584 | 5 | Suspension | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2003 Ford Escape
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 9 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2003 Ford Escape can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2003 Ford Escape reliability FAQ
Is the 2003 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2003 Ford Escape has 598 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2001–2005), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Escape's typical year.
What are the most common 2003 Ford Escape problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Escape are body structure (121), suspension (92), speed control / throttle (91), powertrain / transmission (64). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2003 Ford Escape have recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2003 Ford Escape, including 04V165000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)) and 04V574000 (speed control / throttle — cables). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2003 Ford Escape compare with the 2002 and 2004 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2002 has 1,070 complaints and 10 recalls (caution); the 2004 has 499 complaints and 8 recalls (solid). The 2003 has 598 complaints and 9 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2003 Ford Escape?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Escape research
Other Ford Escape model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2003 Escape, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.