17 of the
736 complaints about the 2003 Ford Escape are about the
tires — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
22,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER M+S SPORT TIRES, SIZE: 235/70R16. WHILE DRIVING OVER 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM AROUND THE TIRE, WHICH DAMAGED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND FRACTURED THE BULB. ALSO, THE REAR BUMPER AND BODY OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED NEAR THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. AAA ARRIVED AND REPLACED THE SHREDDED TIRE WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE REPAIR FACILITY AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO HEAR IF THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL. THE VIN AND TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *BF
NHTSA complaint #11155068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murphy, NC
TIRES
2003 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TIRES ISSUE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 33,000 MILES OF DRIVING, WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE AN 85,000 MILE TREAD WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10693487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 122,000 milesEnglewood, COCrash1 injured
TIRES
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, BACK TIRE BLEW OUT, CAR SPUN, LOST CONTROL, ROLLED X 2. CAR LANDED ON ROOF. DRIVER HAD MINER INJURIES, CUTS, BRUISES, TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, RELEASED FROM E.D. IN 2 HOURS.CAR IS TOTAL LOSS. TIRES ALL WITH MINIMAL WEAR, LOTS OF TREAD, WARRATIED FOR 60,000 MILES, THIS TIRE FAILED AT 30,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10430718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chattanooga, TN, TN
TIRES
IN AUGUST, 2009 I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT FROM ECONOMY HONDA IN CHATTANOOGA, TN. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTITEC P235/70R16 TIRES ON IT. A ROUTINE OVERALL VEHICLE INSPECTION WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL LUBE SHOP TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND WHEN THE ATTENDANT PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, HE NOTICED CRACKS AND TREAD WAS PULLING AWAY FROM ALL FOUR TIRES AND ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE TOO FAR BEFORE I REPLACED THEM (I HAD PLANS TO GO TO NC THIS WEEKEND). THE FOLLOWING MORNING I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CONTINENTAL TIRE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES AND RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT, WHICH I DID FOR $483.00. I SEE SEVERAL RECALLS OF CONTITEC TIRES ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR VARIOUS REASONS. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THESE TIRES. THE CAR ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 45,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT ESPECIALLY UPSETS ME TO KNOW MY GRANDSON HAS BEEN IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ME RIDING ON POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TIRE. THANKS. *TR TAHONA TATE
NHTSA complaint #10293111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesPowhatan, VACrash4 injured
TIRES
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE FAILED ON 2003 FORD ESCAPE. TIRES IN QUESTION ARE FIRESTONE DESTINATION LE, (DOT VN08, 0107) JUST DAYS AND ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE NEW. AFTER TIRE FAILURE VEHICLE ONE VEERED VIOLENTLY INTO LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE TWO COLLIDED WITH VEHICLE ONE SENDING VEHICLE ONE SKIDDING ON ITS DRIVERS SIDE BEFORE COMING TO A REST ON THE RIGHT BREAKDOWN LANE. TOTAL TIME WHEN VEHICLE ONE NOTICED A NOISE TO END OF INCIDENT WAS LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, SPEED TRAVELING AT TIME OF MISHAP WAS APPROXIMATELY FOUR MPH ABOVE POSTED 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES AMBIENT FAHRENHEIT ON A CLEAR VISIBLE DAY. TIRE IN QUESTION WERE PURCHASED AS A SET OF TWO TOTALLY FOUR JUNE 5, 2007 AND ACCIDENT OCCURRED JUNE 22, 2008. TIRE ROTATION IN OR AROUND 6000 MILES WAS PERFORMED AT PLACE OF PURCHASE. AIR PRESSURES WERE CHECKED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH TIRE SIDEWALL SPECIFICATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10232139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,250 milesSpring Branch, TX
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO OF THE OEM TIRES ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT WERE REPLACED ON 8-12-05 BECAUSE OF TREAD/SHOULD SEPARATION. THEY WERE CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV 235/70-16 (DOT#A3084533602). THE TIRES HAD 17,250 MILES ON THEM AND HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON PAVEMENT AND NOT FASTER THAN 70 MILES PER HOUR. THEY HAD NEVER BEEN UNDER INFLATED NOR DRIVE FOR LONG DISTANCES. THE OTHER TWO TIRES ON THE ESCAPE ARE LOSING CHUNKS OF RUBBER, BUT THE CONTINENTAL ADJUSTER AT DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY SAID THEY ARE NOT SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE CARCASS SO CONTINENTAL WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. HE ATTRIBUTED THE LOSS OF CHUNKS OF RUBBER TO DRIVING ON GRAVEL ROADS. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVE ON GRAVEL ROADS.
NHTSA complaint #10132791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bessemer, AL
TIRES
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. SHE STATES VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD HER THAT TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED. HAS PURCHASED ONE NEW TIRE, BUT SHE WAS GOING TO PURCHASE THE OTHER NEW TIRES TOMORROW.
NHTSA complaint #10124606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, VT
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT: THE TIRES SIDEWALL BLEW OUT ON TWO DIFFERENT TIRES ON PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE.. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. CALLER HAS NOT CALLED DEALER OR MANUFACTURER YET. A RECALL ON A SIMILAR TIRE BUT NOT ON THESE TIRES. TIRE SIZE P235/70R16.
NHTSA complaint #10124065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Springs, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. GENERAL TIRES, AMERITRAC, M+S, P225/70R15 100'S, DOT 0215041 CK 37710-34752, TREAD WEAR 420, TRACK A, TEMPERATURE B.
NHTSA complaint #10091603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,149 milesAngola, NY
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CHANGE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE TIRE. CONTINENTAL, SIZE P235/70R16. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TIRE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED.
NHTSA complaint #10065271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,400 milesST. George, UT
TIRES
MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP. THE CONTINENTAL TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10045793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK, THE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY CAME OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10044032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,000 milesHondo, TX
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (TIRE SIZE P235.70R16) . DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE BRAKES AND ROTORS FAILED WHICH CAUSED NOISE WHILE BRAKING. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10037870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hondo, TX
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING FORD ESCAPE 2003 SUV,THE LEFT TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL(ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT,TIRE SIZEP235/70R16,DOT#UNAVAILABLE) DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE
NHTSA complaint #10037797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,000 milesPlattsmouth, NE
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. CONTINENTAL SUV TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10034568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 280 milesColton, CA
TIRES
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR AAA TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. CONTINENTAL, CONTITRAC SUV. *AK CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE TIRE WAS RIPPED IN A CIRCULAR TEAR. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T SUSTAIN ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE NOR DID THE VEHICLE. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10026284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,012 milesBethel Park, PA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. *AK *TS
NHTSA complaint #10025019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.