2003 Ford Escape Structure

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front wheel would extend outward while turning the vehicle, braking, or during acceleration, causing the vehicle to slightly veer to the right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side control arm had slightly detached. The dealer informed the contact the failure was a result of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V165000 (Structure) and the vehicle was included; however, the fix needed exceeded the repair stated in the recall remedy. The dealer diagnosed that the front subframe was extremely rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened. The contact was also referred to NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUBFRAME WOULD RUB AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART FORD (4255 S HAMILTON RD, GROVEPORT, OH 43125, (614) 836-6260) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF $2,000 TO HAVE THE FRAME REPLACED. SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS WERE CONTACTED AND QUOTED REPAIRS COSTS AS HIGH AS $4,800. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED NEAR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (BALISE FORD OF CAPE COD IN HYANNIS, MA) WERE BOTH NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT SUBFRAME CROSSBRACE RECALL ISSUES. *SMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD POP WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OURISMAN FORD & LINCOLN OF ALEXANDRIA (6129 RICHMOND HWY, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22303, (703) 660-9000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARK THOMAS FORD (LOCATED AT 3098 ELM RD EXT NE CORTLAND, OH 44410) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS13677317. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,522.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY VEERED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME TO A FAMILY MEMBER'S HOME WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A CRACKED SUBFRAME DUE TO EXTREME CORROSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

THE FRONT FRAME OF THE CAR HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAS COME LOOSE AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. THERE IS A RECALL OF THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR BUT I AM BEING TOLD MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. THE CONTROL ARM DETACHED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I HAD THE DAMAGE ASSES BY A LOCAL MECHANINC, WHO INFORMED ME OF THE RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE #CAS13006709 AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FOLLOW UP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THAT WHEN DRIVING IT FELT ABNORMAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DROVE ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) PRIOR TO BEING PURCHASED. THE ONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD CORRODED WHERE THE SUPPORT BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED FROM THE PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. ..UPDATED 02/09/17 *BF

MY FATHER TOOK MY ESCAPE TO HAVE THE BRAKES ASSESSED AND WHILE IT WAS UP ON THE LIFT, THE OWNER OF THE SERVICE STATION MADE MENTION TO THE EXCESSIVE, ABNORMAL RUST IN THE CHASSIS. HE STATED THAT THE CONDITION OF THE CHASSIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THAT THE SUPPORT ARM, THAT WAS INSTALLED DUE TO THE RECALL #14V165000 AND 14S02, IS ATTACHED TO RUST AND NOT SUPPORTING ANYTHING TO MAKE THE TRUCK SAFE. I HAVE TRIED A NUMBER OF TIMES TO ASK FOR HELP FROM FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. THIS TRUCK WAS WELL CARED FOR AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE IN GREAT WORKING ORDER. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE RUST ISSUE, THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. UNDERTAKING A NEW CAR PAYMENT WOULD BE A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD AT THIS TIME. IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING THAT A LARGE CORPORATION SUCH AS FORD MANUFACTURED A SUBSTANDARD VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD RATHER ITS CUSTOMER(S) DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR THAN MAINTAIN RESPONSIBILITY AND OFFER SOME KIND OF ASSISTANCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO A MECHANIC. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL STARTED MAKING NOISE AND GOT WOBBLY. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK A DAY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE NOT SECURE IN THE SUB-FRAME AND MAY SEPARATE ANYTIME. THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS PER THE RECALL SAYING THAT THEY PUT A CROSS BRACE AND THE RECALL IS FIXED. THE CROSS BRACE THAT WAS PUT, IS A BAND-AID FIX AND DOES NOT ADDRESS THE FAILURE OF THE DEFECTIVE SUB-FRAME. THE SUB-FRAME WILL FAIL EVEN AFTER INSTALLING THE CROSS BRACE THAT FORD SEEMS TO THINK WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL SEPARATE AND THE CROSS BRACE WILL NOT PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD RESULT FROM LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION.

2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HIS WIFE HEARD A TERRIBLE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE CONSUMER ARRIVED TO WHERE HIS WIFE WAS AND DID AN INSPECTION, AND DISCOVERED THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN IN HALF. THE NEXT DAY, A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATLY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE APPRUPTLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME FRACTURED NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING AND VIBRATIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACTWAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS INSPECTION DUE TO RUST ON THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL, THE RIGHT FENDER, THE CROSS MEMBER AND THE FRAME. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THE COMPONENTS DETERIORATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,600. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN UPDATED 05/26/15*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL FRACTURED AND DAMAGED THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXCESSIVE RUST ON VEHICLE SUB-FRAME RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ARM CROSS BAR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SUBFRAME WAS NOT COVERED. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT GETTING THE SUB FRAME REPLACED, BECAUSE NO WAS WILLING TO SELL THE PART. THE PART WAS BEING USED FOR CERTAIN VIN'S. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 14V165000. *JB

LAST YEAR I RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE SUB FRAME RECALL. I HAD THE NEW SUPPORT INSTALLED. THIS YEAR WHEN I WENT FOR MY ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION I WAS TOLD TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS MY SUBFRAME WAS SO BADLY RUSTED THAT IT COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME. WHY WAS THE SUBFRAME REPLACEMENT NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. MA 08/10/15 THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE REAR FRAME WAS IN THE PROCESS OF RUSTING. HOWEVER, THE FRONT FRAME WAS ALREADY RUSTED. UPDATED 08/18/15*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,994. UPDATED 3/12/15*CN UPDATED 9/11/2017*CN