2003 Ford Escape: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 736 complaints
736
Total Complaints
94,160mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION
Top Issue
55
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

50,500 25th Percentile
94,160 Median Mileage
133,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION
79
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
65
STRUCTURE:BODY
50
STEERING
42
AIR BAGS
38
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
29
STRUCTURE
29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
25
POWER TRAIN
24
ENGINE
24

Severity Assessment

55
Crashes
35
Fires
41
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"2003 FORD ESCAPE LEAKS DIRT INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN DRIVING DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD, AT TIMES THE DUST INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN IS SO THICK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ROAD OR INSTRUMENTS. ROAD DUST IS VISIBLE PASSING BY DOOR AND SEALS. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS CONDITION. LAST VI..."
"2003 FORD ESCAPE LEAKS DIRT INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN DRIVING DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD, AT TIMES THE DUST INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN IS SO THICK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ROAD OR INSTRUMENTS. ROAD DUST IS VISIBLE PASSING BY DOOR AND SEALS. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS CONDITION. LAST VI..."
"THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DESIGNED TO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THE BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED.*JB *JB"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28