NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Ford Escort Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Ford Escort has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 10 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Ford Escort. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2003 Ford Escort owner complaints

Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Escort, describing incidents dated October 9, 2003 to May 1, 2016.

Most-cited components

Engine 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Of the 10 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 10 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10994729 · Filed March 19, 2018
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
ODI #10669710 · Filed January 2, 2015
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…
ODI #10437947 · Filed December 1, 2011
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…

Read all 10 complaints

TRW/FMVSS 209/SEAT BELT/NO LOCK CONDITION

NHTSA #04E048000 · Seat Belts — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported July 12, 2004 · TRW OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEMS

Potentially affected: 388 vehicles

Owners notified August 27, 2004

Defect description

CERTAIN 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 STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN 1997-2003 MODEL YEAR FORD ESCORT AND MERCURY TRACER 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON VEHICLES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN FORD VEHICLES BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.FOR MORE INFORMATION CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Ford Escort. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

10 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Ford Escort.

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10994729

Incident: May 1, 2016 · Filed: March 19, 2018

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

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10669710

Incident: September 1, 2014 · Filed: January 2, 2015

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10437947

Incident: November 23, 2011 · Filed: December 1, 2011

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

Power Train

ODI #10244249

Incident: October 1, 2008 · Filed: October 2, 2008

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.

Service Brakes, Air

ODI #10189739

Incident: October 18, 2004 · Filed: May 4, 2007

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Engine and Engine Cooling; Visibility; Structure

ODI #10173398

Incident: November 13, 2006 · Filed: November 13, 2006

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

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10134201

Incident: February 25, 2005 · Filed: August 25, 2005

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

Tires

ODI #10116587

Incident: April 7, 2005 · Filed: April 7, 2005

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

Suspension

ODI #10097577

Incident: October 9, 2003 · Filed: October 25, 2004

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

Air Bags

ODI #10089490

Crash 1 injury

Incident: August 13, 2004 · Filed: August 23, 2004

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

Other Ford Escort model years

Check your 2003 Ford Escort VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Escort at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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