2003 Ford Escape Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

42Steering complaints

7.5%Of all 558 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION79 · 14.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL65 · 11.6%

STRUCTURE:BODY50 · 9%

STEERING42 · 7.5%

AIR BAGS38 · 6.8%

Share of the 558 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS…”NHTSA complaint 10051611 — filed 12/16/2003

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Ford Escape have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2003 Ford Escape: 42 of 558 complaints on file (7.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2003 Ford Escape have in total?

558 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 43 involved a crash, 27 involved a fire, 31 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.