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Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1. Home
  2. >Ford
  3. >Escape
  4. >2003
  5. >Powertrain

2003 Ford Escape Powertrain Problems

Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA

Summary

The 2003 Ford Escape has 56 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 2 powertrain-related recalls.

Problem Areas for the 2003 Ford Escape

Speed Control
77
Structure
76
Suspension
70
Engine
58
Airbags
57
Powertrain
56
Brakes
53
Steering
45
Electrical
39
Other
23
Tires
19
Fuel System
8
Latches & Locks
7
Visibility
5

56

Complaints

2

Recalls

1

Injuries Reported

Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 10, 2026

Powertrain Recalls

15V606000

POWER TRAIN: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...

04V165000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, DURING DECELERATION, THE ENGINE CAN STALL.

All Powertrain Complaints

Date ↓ComponentSummary
Dec 1, 2020POWER TRAINI HAVE A 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF THE SHIFTER CABLES. THE CABLES TO ALLOW THE...
Sep 4, 2020POWER TRAINVEHICLE MOVED FORWARD WHEN IN REVERSE GEAR WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP AT WORK. I HAD TO HAVE PEOPL...
Jul 29, 2020POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE S...
Jul 29, 2020POWER TRAINWHILE MY 2003 ESCAPE WAS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND KICKED AD I PRESSED ACCELERATING ON A HEA...
Sep 18, 2019POWER TRAINO/D OFF LIGHT FLASHES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TRANSMISSION COLUMN SHIFTER MOVES PROPERLY IN ALL GEAR...
Jul 18, 2019POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLWHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 45 MY ESCAPE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND OVERDRIVE INDICATOR SHOWED IT HAD TUR...
Apr 22, 2019POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLTHE AIR BAG STAY ON AND KEEPS BLINKING AND WON'T TURN OFF. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CHECK ...
Mar 1, 2018POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSENSE WE BOUGHT THIS 2003 FORD ESCAPE WE HAVE REPLACED 5 ALTENATORS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS .3 NEUTRAL...
Jan 1, 2017POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON IT...
Jul 9, 2016POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE ...
Jun 2, 2015POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WIT...
Sep 2, 2013POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE B...
May 2, 2012POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WAR...
Jul 11, 2011POWER TRAINMY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRA...
Apr 22, 2011POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM T...
Oct 28, 2010POWER TRAINTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITI...
Sep 7, 2010POWER TRAINWHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND I HAD TO COAST OFF THE EXIT RAM...
Jun 15, 2010POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH,...
Mar 16, 2010POWER TRAINTHE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS FAILED TWICE. TALKING WITH MY TRANSMISSION GUY I AM CON...
Feb 1, 2010POWER TRAINTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPE...

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