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2003 Ford Escort

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
10Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
98
200068
200133
200210
2003
Compare all Escort years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Air Bags
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Power Train
1
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1Suspension
1Tires
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
30,724 miles · Oct 2, 2008
Power Train

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 A…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10244249

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.