Problems · by component

2003 Ford Escape service brakes, hydraulic problems

44 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Escape cite service brakes, hydraulic, 7% of all 598 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
44
7% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE ABS BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,063.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2014Service brakes, hydraulicFire reportedODI 10609301
“MY CAR IS A PART OF A RECALL FOR RUST AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, BUT I THINK THAT SCOPE IS TOO NARROW. MY ESCAPE HAS RUSTED WHEEL WELLS AND A RUSTED GAS TANK COVER THAT I CAN SEE. I HAVE ALSO READY HAD TO REPLACE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FOR RUST, ALONG WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALL OF ITS PARTS, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, SWAY BAR LINKS AND ALL PARTS OF THE OIL PAN. ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO RUST. THIS WAS AT THE MILEAGE OF 58,465. I STILL HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR THE 90 MILES FROM MY HOME TO THE JERSEY SHORE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 30, 2014Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureODI 10595174
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BOUNCED ABNORMALLY WHEN DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR RELEASED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ABS MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE A WARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicFire reportedODI 10455477
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAKAGE ON HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE BRAKE HOSE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 13, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureODI 10447780
“ABS LIGHT ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE KEEPS COMING ON....WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY FORD ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS...ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE IN IT ONLY HAD IT FOR 37,000 MILES WHEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE....FORD DOES NOT NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10421657
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT MODULE WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRUALIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10421357

Showing 6 of 44 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Service brakes

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Apr 10, 2007NHTSA 07V156000

Service brakes

Free remedy

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Mar 29, 2007NHTSA 07E023000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.