2003 Ford Escape steering problems

Filed Feb 28, 2021 · Acceleration, Steering · 150,000 miles · KY

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?

Filed Jun 4, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 175,000 miles · MI

Front sub frame rusted out and split half way across pulls vehicle when driving 14s02 complaint

Filed Jul 23, 2018 · Steering, Suspension · 192,000 miles · MN

Lower control arm separated from sub frame. High corrosion area. Separated at a speed of about 65 MPH going over highway bridge. Right front tire tipped out and sent vehicle into a uncontrolled swerve to the left and right. Ford's recall 14s02 cross brace patch was installed but still almost caused a major crash. I don't believe the inspection by ford was done properly when they installed the brace. If they had they would be replacing the sub-frame also.

Filed Jun 4, 2018 · Body, Steering · 56,000 miles · PA

My vehicle was serviced for the ford recall # 14s02 and a cross brace was installed. The recall was due to a subframe corroding away in some parts of the us including my region. My complaint is that ford did not correctly fix this problem with their cross brace. They simply bolted a cross brace from one side of the frame to the other and it does nothing when the subframe actually corrodes away. I was lucky to not get in an accident a week ago when my frame that has the cross bar installed finally gave way and my front passenger side control arm completely separated from the cross brace and subframe that has corroded to nothing. Ford has claimed that since the recall work has already been done there is nothing more they can do. I think the federal safety agency should investigate and make ford actually fix this problem before someone gets seriously hurt. It was one of the scariest moments driving that I have ever had. Driving down the road with my 7 yr old son in the car and all of a sudden I lose steering almost all together. Thankfully I was one of the lucky ones that day. If this problem is not addressed then I'm afraid many people will be hurt.

Filed May 21, 2018 · Engine, Steering · 202,871 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 20 MPH, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle lunged forward when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The only functioning warning indicator on the instrument panel was the check engine indicator. The contact stated that the vehicle leaked oil continuously. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer. The manufacturer was emailed, but did not reply. The failure mileage was 202,871.

Filed Oct 8, 2017 · Body, Steering · 107,000 miles · MA

The front sub frame is rusted and the vehicle is unsafe to drive.

Filed Aug 1, 2017 · Body, Steering · 172,907 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 45 MPH, the steering failed and the subframe fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 17653427. No further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 172,907.... .updated 11/16/17 *bf updated 11/28/2017

Filed Jul 6, 2017 · Body, Steering · 96,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle was unstable and there was loss of steering control. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (arlington heights ford located at 801 w dundee rd arlington heights, il 60004, 888 481-8607) where it was diagnosed that the subframe was cracked. The vehicle was repaired with a brace. Two months later, the vehicle was towed to a local dealer (fox ford lincoln located at 2501 n elston ave chicago, il 60647 773‑687‑7800) where it was diagnosed that the subframe was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case numbers: casdash12577845 and cas12593478. The failure mileage was 96,000.

Filed Nov 2, 2016 · Steering, Suspension · 107,317 miles · NY · crash

The front passenger side lower control arm failed while my son was driving the vehicle. He was going straight, and the right front side just buckled under while he was in motion. Luckily he wasn't on a heavily-traveled road when it happened, because there would have been a serious accident. The vehicle, although it is a 2003 ford escape, is not part of recall #14s02. Why, I don't know? No one at ford can explain this to me, as it is exactly what has been happening with this make and model/year. We had it repaired at great cost to us, with exactly the parts/labor that ford had been describing in the recall. Our mechanic even got the replacement crossmember from ford! Ford themselves wanted nothing to do with the repair. In addition to the lower control arm, and crossmember, the tire had to be replaced, along with the right front axle assembly, as they were severely damaged from the frame failure. I would really like an answer as to why my vehicle is not included in the recall, when the recall describes exactly what has happened to my vehicle.

Filed Aug 12, 2016 · Body, Steering · 64,958 miles · NY

While driving, the front right tire felt like it was going to fall off the vehicle. I took it to my mechanic who stated that the sub-frame was cracked and ford had a recall in place. I had it towed to the nearest ford dealership who stated that it would be covered under the recall. Instead, they put a cross-bar on the cracked sub frame because they determined it was "not broken" only "cracked". The sub frame had "rusted and corroded" due to ford's own admittance of "faulty parts". I asked if the vehicle was safe and they stated "no". I asked if the vehicle would pass inspection and again they stated "no". I asked if this was a "bandaid" that they put on to make themselves feel better about the fact that anyone operating the vehicle could lose total control. I asked to speak to a manager, who told me there was nothing he could do. He did state he would makes some calls and called me a day or two later to say, that his manager said if I wanted the vehicle fixed, I could pay $1,200 for the part and an additional $600-$800 in labor to fix the vehicle, or I could trade it in. I am beyond frustrated that ford will not back up their product. The vehicle has less than 65,000 miles on it!