I was recently driving on the interstate and the gas pedal got stuck so the car started speeding up very fast and the brakes and emergency brake would not make it slow down. After this i found out there was a recall about this problem and it says the previous owner of the vehicle fixed it but it’s happened while i owned it so i don’t think it was fixed correctly.
2003 Ford Escape acceleration problems
90 complaints (16% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 86,900. 13 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 90
- of this car's complaints
- 16%
- typical mileage
- 86,900
- crashes
- 13
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Cables11
- Accelerator pedal11
- Cruise control4
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ford Escape acceleration problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Ford Escape acceleration
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control: cables
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
- Risk
- A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 12V353000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: cables
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles built with 3.0l v6 engines, the accelerator cable may prevent the throttle from returning to the idle position.
- Risk
- An unexpected increase in engine idle speed may increase stopping distance and may result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the accelerator cable. The recall began on january 10, 2005. Owners should contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 04V574000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Cruise Control Cable
On July 8, 2012, The Center for Auto Safety has petitioned the federal safety agency to open defect investigations on Model Year (MY) 2002 ? 2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute vehicles with certain cruise control cables.The Center for Auto Safety has also petitioned for a hearing to address whether Ford Motor Company (Ford) and Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) met their obligations to notify owners and correct a defect in certain Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute vehicles.The petitions to open investigations are denied as unnecessary and the petitions to conduct hearingsare denied.ODI IDs referenced above are: 10109921, 10116267, 10116574,10121108, 10125928, 10128545, 10130133,10137520, 10153327, 10155295, 10155817, 10159048, 10164205, 10165007, 10177337, 10184382, 10195378,10199728, 10201424, 10203178, 10204179, 10207677, 10214472, 10218668, 10222869, 10229600, 10255417,10256387, 10258046, 10259777, 10260591, 10266150, 10273613, 10291508, 10303282, 10303434, 10316154,10321828, 10323339, 10325817, 10331278, 10334038, 10335779, 10341773, 10342450, 10345004, 10363982,10370338, 10379444, 10432635, 10451652, 10466261, 891605, 10053779, 10125132, 10146998, 10149101,10160004, 10161052, 10170988, 10178811, 10204780, 10215610, 10222996, 10239609, 10252790, 10253666,10262773, 10264280, 10280669, 10289784, 10294932, 10312464, 10316440, 10343662, 10354530, 10413665,10461195
DP12005
Stuck Throttle
In a letter dated July 25, 2012 Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), the federal safety agency Recall No. 12V‑353 to the federal safety agency identifying a safety defect involving inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, which could result in a stuck throttle condition.The vehicles involved are model year (MY) 2001 through MY 2004 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed (cruise) control.A redesigned engine cover was implemented in production beginning in MY 2005, which provided additional clearance of the speed control cable to the engine cover.Similarly on July 26, 2012 Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) on behalf of Mazda Motor Corporation of Hiroshima, Japan submitted a DIR to the federal safety agency, the federal safety agency Recall No. 12V‑357, identifying the safety defect described above in MY 2001 through MY 2006 and MY 2008 Mazda Tribute vehicles (no Tribute vehicles were produced in MY 2007) equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control.Unlike the Ford Escape recall scope, the Mazda Tribute scope is broader as Mazda Tribute vehicles incorporated a similar engine cover design as related to the clearance to the speed control cable in MYs 2001 through 2006 and MY 2008.The failure report summary above reflects reports identified by ODI in review of data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and reports submitted to Ford and to Mazda.ODI identified 44 reports likely related to the safety defect described in the DIRs; 39 involving Ford Escape vehicles and 5 involving Mazda Tribute vehicles. This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10116267, 10128545, 10128681, 10137520, 10153327, 10165007, 10199728, 10234846, 10335779, 10466261, and 10468307.
PE12019
What 2003 Ford Escape owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Driving down the interstate coming from georgia, it would downshift suddenly without warning. I have not been able to drive it in about 4 months.I thought I had everything repaired, then my truck stopped pulling in drive at a red light. My safety neutral switch is brand new and the position sensor. 10/12/2020 when problem arose after replacing sensors 02/09/2021 any ideas why it is doing this?
While I was driving on hwy 45 my escape jumped out of gear and overdrive indicator showed it had turned off at the same time. Also it caused my vehicle to almost stoll while traffic was behind me and beside me. I had to shift gear shift until light showed again then shift it to drive. Also had to click overdrive back on several times until it kicked on. I had my sister and my 2 children 9yrs and 10 yrs old in vehicle when it happened. Also had my vehicle to start jumping and shaking like it was missing . Engine light is on all the time now, and airbag light. Is it safe to drive?
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 60 MPH and passing another vehicle, the contact raised her foot off the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle accelerated independently to 75 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle slowed down to 70 MPH. When the brake pedal was released, the vehicle began to accelerated to 75 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal again with excessive force, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle slowed down to 45 MPH, but the engine was still revving. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road at 40 MPH and quickly powered off the engine. Due to depressing the brake pedal with excessive force, there was a burning odor coming from the brake pedal. The vehicle was restarted while in the park position and the engine started to accelerate. The contact quickly powered off the engine. The contact's father inspected the vehicle and noticed that the cable connected to the throttle was caught in between the engine and the plastic engine cover. The contact's father maneuvered the cable and the vehicle drove normally. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact noticed that the k frame was corroded and the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. In addition, while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the k frame needed to be replaced, the power control module needed to be repaired, and the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,470.
The air bag stay on and keeps blinking and won't turn off. I have done everything possible to check this issue out, having no luck so far.
My escape started to miss, first it wasn't bad then started jerking and it started idling rough when I stopped at red light. When I started moving again it acted as if it would die and would go. If I get to 40 MPH it is really bad. But this happened on main highway with other vehicles all around me and had 18 wheeler behind me and all of sudden my speed decreased and me and my children almost was in accident because of decrease in speed. It scared me and my two children. When I got it looked at the codes said it was missing on one cylinder then at one point all cylinders.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control) and 14v165000 (structure); however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the undercarriage of the vehicle, especially near the control arm, was corroded to the point that it failed inspection. Also, the vehicle's RPM monitor fluctuated between 0-5, failing to correctly indicate an increase in rpms. The failure caused the vehicle to rev up without the contact purposely causing an increase. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 244,310. Parts distribution disconnect.
I began merging onto I 820 when my vehicle (by itself) floored the accelerator. I tried pressing the brake (it wouldnt press down, it was hard as a rock). I used both feet to no avail. At 75-80 MPH I jammed it into neutral. The RPM's were still at max. By this time it had slowed (I was on the shoulder of the hiway) to about 20 MPH, then jammed it in park. I looked at the instrument panel and all the instruments were on 0. I hesitated then gave the car some gas, it was still running! I couldnt even hear the engine until I revved it. I proceeded to turn off the ignition. The car did turn off. I noticed a 17 yr old boy dying back in 2012 -13 from the same act my car did. Its bad enough to lose a child but to lose a child because of a malfunction from a vehicle and the company stating they will have to look into it further, is nothing short of total negligence and refusal to accept responsibility for ones error and we want to know what has happened to our youth? Look who's raising them and giving them excuses.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving at 65 MPH, the cruise control failed to engage without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle speed control cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v353000 (engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,496. Updated 11/23/15*lj
Questions about the 2003 Ford Escape acceleration
Does the 2003 Ford Escape have acceleration problems?
Owners have filed 90 complaints about the acceleration of the 2003 Ford Escape, 16% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Escape acceleration problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 86,900 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford Escape acceleration?
Yes, 2 recalls: 12V353000, 04V574000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ford Escape have the most acceleration problems?
The Ford Escape model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2010 (558 complaints), 2009 (279 complaints) and 2011 (245 complaints).
Other 2003 Ford Escape problems
Body 121Suspension 90Engine 70Airbags 60Brakes 57Transmission 55Steering 44Electrical 39Tires 17Fuel system 14Wheels 12Locks 7Visibility 5Seat belts 4Driver assistance 2Lights 1
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