2003 FORD ESCORT

1 recalls, 13 complaints - 3 TSBs

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Defect Description

CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR V... Read more

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

388 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: TRW OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEMS

Complaint Statistics

13 total complaints 1 crashes 1 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	1
SUSPENSION:FRONT	1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT	1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS	1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE	1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT	1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	1

Incident date: May 1, 2016

2003 FORD ESCORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR HINGE/LATCH PROBLEMS RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ARTEMIS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

Incident date: Sep 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 (NA) FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1... Read more

Incident date: Nov 23, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL DIP STICK FRACTURED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THE DEFECT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE DIP STICK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE... Read more

Incident date: Oct 1, 2008

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 PA... Read more

Incident date: Oct 18, 2004

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCORT. IN 2004, THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED RECALL # 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/M... Read more

Incident date: Nov 13, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE IDLE WAS ROUGH. THERE WAS ALSO A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO THE WAY THE ENGINE MO... Read more

Incident date: Nov 13, 2006

Incident date: Feb 25, 2005

DT: THE CALLER SAYS VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN IT IS IN IDLE. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGNS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND IT BECAME WORSE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX IT. THE MANUFACTURER SAID IT WAS A CHARA... Read more

Incident date: Apr 7, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 2003, FORD, ESCAPE WITH 13.970 MILE WITH GENERAL AMERI - TRAC, 225/70R15 PASSENGER REAR TIRE THREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO UNDER CARRIAGE AND BUMPER. WHILE REPLACING TIRE WITH SPARE NOTICED DRIVER'S REAR TIRE ALSO STARTED TO SEPARATE. ESCAPE WAS TO UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT T... Read more

Incident date: Oct 9, 2003

VEHICLE SEVERELY VIBRATED WHILE IN MOTION AT 70 MPH, AND IN NON MOTION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE.*AK

Incident date: Aug 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

Crash 1 injured

Technical Service Bulletins, 2003 FORD ESCORT

3 manufacturer communications from 3 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
151300 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	1
357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	1
061110 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS	1

061110 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

REPLACE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY DURING 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT

151300 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN SERVICE REPLACEMENT SEATBELT RETRACTORS (DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT RETRACTOR IN GRAY) MANUFACTURED IN DECEMBER 2002 AND SOLD AS A SERVICE REPLACEMENT PART BETWEEN DECEMBER 2002 AND JULY 2004.

357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH

NHTSA Safety Investigations, FORD ESCORT

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1997

WATER INTRUSION INTO AIRBAG MONITOR

BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 6, 2002, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON ALL 1997 FORD ESCORT AND MERCURY TRACER VEHICLES.FORD FOUND THAT ELECTRICAL SHORTING OF THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM)DUE TO LIQUID INTRUSION OF WATER OR ENGINE COOLANT CAN OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VE... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1997

INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR WATER

DP, Closed , Model Year: 1998

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1995

FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY