2003 Ford Escape: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Dec 10, 2019 · Airbags · 193,481 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving approximately 10 to 20 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and the air bag indicator flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to beach ford (888‑869‑6079, located at 2717 virginia beach blvd, virginia beach, va 23452) and the contact was informed that there was no recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle failed inspection due to the air bag indicator. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 193,481.

Filed Aug 3, 2016 · Acceleration, Brakes · 182,060 miles · TX

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.

Filed Jun 28, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 166,836 miles · OH

While I was driving back from the shooting range the engine did a hesitation and then when I pushed down on the gas to see if it would clear up the instrument panel gauges went haywire. The fuel, speed, RPM and heating cluster level arms all went to the max point and when I let off the acceleration to pull over the cluster panel gauges died like there was no power and when the engine idle leveled off the gauges went back to normal. The instrument panel did it 4 more times before I actually got home. I am afraid to drive it to work and this is my only transportation. What is causing the issue with this? I need to know as soon as possible. Thanks.

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Engine · 141,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated the vehicle started hesitating and sputtering prior to the failure. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic who changed was the spark plugs and the coils were replaced prior to the catalytic converter failing. The catalytic converter failure ruined the engine. The failure mileage was 141,000 and the current mileage was 142,000.

Filed Feb 22, 2008 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · PA

About once a month, for the last four months, my 2003 ford escape will stall out. This has happened when the engine is cold and upon deceleration such as when entering or making a turn. The car restarts without hesitation. There was a safety recall issued about this problem, #04v165000, where the fix seems quite simple but ford's main customer relations dept. Says my car is not part of that recall. Same car, same problem, but not related to original recall. Seems absurd. Although there have been no accidents, the threat of one exists if the car stalls while I'm turning across oncoming traffic or, possibly, rear-ended.

Filed Dec 2, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · 54,000 miles · MO · 1 injury

I had a 2003 ford escape that started having problems starting. It was usually when I had left the vehicle for 8 or more hours. I would try to start it and it would hesitate and take a while to start it. After a few tries it would jerk back at me and start. This was a problem for about 2-months. On may 26, 2006 I left my vehicle in the parking lot at work. It was the first really hot day (90+ degrees) of the year. When I got back to my car it hesitated when I cranked it. I cranked it again and it popped back and me and then there was an explosion. There was smoke coming out of the hood. I opened the hood (burning my finger in the process) and found parts and pieces everywhere. I took it to the ford dealership and the upper intake manifold blew apart. The dealer never gave us a reason why (we pushed but we were told that it shouldn't have happened and that the engineer was on vacation). We had the upper intake manifold fixed and it cost us a lot of money out-of-pocket. I asked them for the old upper intake manifold back, but they wouldn't give it back. I was always intending to file a complaint. The ford was 3-years old with 54,000 miles on it, so it was out of warranty, although the dealer stated that it was a faulty part that caused the problem? It is possible that it was n a horrible misfire, but we aren't sure. I do know that it scared me and could have hurt someone. Luckily the vehicle did not catch on fire. The problem was fixed for 2-months when the vehicle started hesitating again when I started it. I was terrified to drive it and the dealer told me it was unrelated but I could pay (again) to have it looked at. I started having panic attacks when driving the vehicle, so we traded it in. I would like a refund and to stop this from happening to other people.

Filed Aug 13, 2003 · Acceleration, Engine · 10,460 miles · NH

I have complained twice before about my 2003 ford escape stalling without warning. It has now done it a total of 6 times. The vehicle stalls without warning in various situations. The most unnerving was when I was traveling at about 15 MPH. It has also hesitated and bucked into an intersection on 2 different occasions. I contacted the executive offices at ford motor company and expressed my safety concerns, and I was informed that because the problem is not reproducable they do not feel that they are in a position to repurchase the vehicle at this time. My dealership has attempted to reproduce the stall and are unable, as am I. They have performed a tsb, installed a new throttle body and a new crankshaft sensor. The problem continues to persist. I now have a vdr in the vehicle for the third time. This vehicle is a major danger to myself, my passengers and anyone who is around the vehicle when it may stall due to the fact that when it does happen I lose all power steering and brakes. I do not trust the vehicle and I no longer feel safe in it.

Filed Aug 9, 2003 · Acceleration · GA

In march 2003 vehicle began to hesitate and accelerate, maintain speeds while foot off the gas (once at 65 MPH), & shake like it wanted to stall. A couple times it even sped up while I was braking at red lights. On 4-10-03 service department could not duplicate symptoms since they are particularly exaggerated after parked for an hour or so. Stated that I could leave it overnight (no alternative transportation offered) or wait until engine light came on. Since the car did not feel safe, I brought it to another dealership which offered alternative transportation. The problems seemed to improve for a week or 2 before returning, following each of the following repairs: 5/16/03 replaced throttle body/idle air control/PCM reprograming; 6/6/03 repair vacuum tube/hose; 6/25/03 replace PCM with new updated PCM. Two weeks later 7/12/03 operation of power locks/windows, and rear wipers/defrost were going in and out with dash ABS, brake, and battery lights coming on concurrently. Service department could not duplicate concern until 9 days later when they asked me to come get the vehicle. The symptoms returned immediately after I started the car up to leave. 7/21/03 alternator was replaced. Hesitation, acceleration, shaking, and maintaining speeds, although not as frequent, continue and could not be reproduced by ford representative on 8/4/03. I am now continuing to pursue lemon law procedures.

Filed Jul 11, 2003 · Electrical · 11,800 miles · VA

My 2003 ford escape has a stalling problem. It has stalled at least ten to twelve times in the last 14 days. The conditions during the stalling vary: on an incline, coming to stop and on straight away level terrain. It has also stalled and restarted much like a hesitation.