2003 Ford Escort Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Escort years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 9th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Escort. That ranks 9th out of 9 Escort model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (2 complaints, 20%), typically at around 54,300 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 10owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Ford Escort problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 20% | 54,300 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 20% | 63,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 10% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 10% | 30,724 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 10% | 23,600 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 10% | 23,600 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 10% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 10% | 13,970 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 10% | 23,600 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Ford Escort recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2003 Ford Escort.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other Ford Escort years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 Escort | 33 | 0 |
| 2001 Escort | 68 | 0 |
| 2000 Escort | 98 | 1 |
| 1999 Escort | 325 | 1 |
| 1998 Escort | 375 | 0 |
| 1997 Escort | 543 | 1 |
| 1996 Escort | 205 | 0 |
| 1995 Escort | 576 | 4 |
See all Ford Escort problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Escort?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control, air bags problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford Escort?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2003 Ford Escort a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Escort model years, the 2003 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.