FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) · model year

2003 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT)

7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003FORDZX2 (ESCORT) carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 ZX2 (ESCORT) is engine and engine cooling:engine with 1 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2003 ZX2 (ESCORT), and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

7
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

7 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
AIR BAGS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1

Recent Complaints

20071215POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

Mileage: 63,000

20061109CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

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

Mileage: 2,090

20060625AIR BAGS

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

20060301ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

20060301ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20050605VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Mileage: 11

20040713ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 ABOU

Mileage: 10,000

Compare 2003FORDZX2 (ESCORT) to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) have?
The 2003 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) has 7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT)?
The most-complained component for the 2003 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 2003 FORD ZX2 (ESCORT) safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.