2001 Ford Escape vs 2003 Ford Escape
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Ford Escape | 2003 Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 996 | 558 |
| Recall campaigns | 13 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 158 | 72 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 76 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 58 | 27 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–23 | 18–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 90,375 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 282 | 47 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 107 | 90 |
| Power Train | 128 | 55 |
| Electrical System | 136 | 39 |
| Structure | 54 | 121 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 122 | 41 |
| Suspension | 42 | 90 |
| Air Bags | 63 | 60 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 243 | 83 |
| Loss of power | 43 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 35 | 11 |
| Rust / corrosion | 34 | 120 |
| Check engine light | 23 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 23 | 11 |
| Hesitation / surging | 21 | 14 |
| Brake problems | 19 | 0 |
2001 Ford Escape
2003 Ford Escape
Compare all Ford Escape vs Ford Escape years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.