RoadVitals

2003 Ford ZX2 (escort)

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Dec 15, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Ford ZX2 (escort), most frequently naming the engine, airbags and brakes categories. 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine228.6%
  • Airbags114.3%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Driver assistance114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Transmission114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Dec 15, 2007

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, OR RELATED CRITICAL COMPONENT PARTS, ON THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED. IT WAS TOWED TO AVIS FORD ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE MANAGER, JOHN, WAS REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE TO REVIEW THE PROBLEM. DESPITE DAILY PROMISES OF A CALL FROM THE MANF. REP, NO CALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED, TOTALLY IGNORING OUR CONCERNS. A TRANSMISSION, OR RELATED CRITICAL COMPONENT PARTS, SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 64,000 MILES OF NORMAL USE. FORD MUST PAY ALL OR MOST OF THE REPAIR COSTS OF THIS FAILURE. THE MANF. REP MUST CALL IMMEDIATELY. THIS MESSAGE IS ALSO BEING SENT TO AVIS FORD, AND A COMPLAINT FILED WITH NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211982
Incident
Dec 1, 2007
Mileage
63,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 9, 2006
Crash reported

KINKED AND CRIMPED VACUUM BRAKE HOSE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO GO HARD AS A ROCK, LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR UPON BRAKING AND 2 ACCIDENTS. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM LEADING TO THE ACCIDENTS. ACCIDENT 1. $6,000 DAMAGE. ACCIDENT 2, $1,600 DAMAGE. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CRIMPED BRAKE HOSE CLOSED OFF UNDER THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE OPENED THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THE PROBLEM AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS WRONG. HE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT. NO INJURIES, BUT I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING KILLED HEAD ON AS I LOST CONTROL WITH THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10173025
Incident
Oct 3, 2006
Mileage
2,090 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 25, 2006
1 injury reported

THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD ZX2 AND MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF, LEAVING WITH ARM SCRAPES, BROKEN WINDSHIELD. I WAS GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE POLICE WERE SHOCKED THAT THIS HAPPEN AND SAID I SHOULD TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE IS ON MY SIDE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10160685
Incident
Jun 23, 2006
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 1, 2006

THE VEHICLE DIES/STALLS WHEN BRAKING TO TURN OFF A HIGHWAY. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING 55-60 MPH THE VEHICLE DIES WHEN BRAKING. YOU LOSE POWER STEERING. CAR WILL TURN BACK ON. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151548
Incident
Feb 15, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 5, 2005

WHENEVER THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS ON.....AND YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL....THE CAR CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED!!....JUST AS IF YOU HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. THE ONLY TIME THE VEHICLE DOES THIS IS WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS ACTIVATED. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO BOTH LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HERE AND NEITHER OF THEM WERE ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM RACING WHEN THIS HAPPENS...IS TO TURN OFF THE COMPRESSOR....OR ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND WAIT FOR THE ENGINE TO WIND DOWN.

NHTSA ID
10124239
Incident
Jun 5, 2005
Mileage
11 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 13, 2004

I HAVE A 2003 FORD ZX2 THAT HAS HAD A SEVERE IDLE VIBRATION FOR NEARLY ONE YEAR THAT FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX. THE DEFECT CAUSES A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GLOVE BOX, VENTS, AND SEATS OF THE CAR AND OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS IN ANY GEAR OR ANY DRIVING CONDITION. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DUE TO SERVICE BULLETIN 03-15-15. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIPS THAT THE VEHICLE'S EMISSIONS ARE SO LOW THE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO TURN OFF AT IDLE AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL LIKELY COME ON SOON. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS DEFECT IS MERELY "COSMETIC AND AN ANNOYANCE TO THE CUSTOMER" AND THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO 4 DEALERSHIPS AND 1 LOCAL SHOP AND FORD IS STILL REFUSING TO FIX THE DEFECT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED, AS WOULD ANYONE IN THIS SITUATION. I FEEL THAT FORD AS A COMPANY IS DOING VERY POOR BUSINESS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10080940
Incident
Jul 12, 2004
Mileage
10,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

042107

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

04189

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT

04174

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT

041514

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT

031501

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS. *TT

03181

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford ZX2 (escort) by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003Viewing600—
2002120038.2
2001180032.5
2000700—
1999150039.9
1998800—
1997000—
1996000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.