Five problems related to warning light on have been reported for the 2003 Ford Escape. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford Escape based on all problems reported for the 2003 Escape.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Escape XLT. The contact was traveling 35 mph when the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 133,000 and the current mileage was 133,400. Updated 8/28/12 cn updated 08/29/12.
Airbag warning light repeatedly flashes warning code#47. Lic mech can clean connector contacts and reset computer code but if won't reset, bag(s) may not deploy. Mech advises prob is well known occurrence w/ 1999-2005 Ford Escapes. Codes#46/47 (drivers seat/rt frt passenger seat) appearing as a result of original equipment defective wiring harnesses for airbag/pretensioner seat belt system. Only fix if light stays on and can't be reset is to replace wire harnesses; cost $550+ (must remove seats, pull up carpet to gain access to harness and replace same) . Nhtsa investigated issue in 1999 (action# sq99026 Nov. '99-may. -2000) but closed case with no further action. Internet inquiry indicates large number of complaints about above and also failure of airbag deployment in accidents. Internet indicates issue involves Mazda tributes also as Ford associated with Mazda and uses same harness and system. Ford apparently has a replacement harness to fix problem but owners must pay for part and labor as Ford doesn't acknowledge defective original equipment.
Aug 2007- air bag warning light came on. Dealership found defect in driver/passenger air bag circuit located under front seats (dtc code - d1990/d1994). Replaced connectors & harness($490). Suggested cause was motion of adjusting power seat. Now, oct 2009 (mileage - 85,000) air bag warning light is on again. First flashing, then off for a few days, then solidly on again. Is this circuit located in a place where it shouldn't be? is this why there are complaints about Escape air bags not opening in a crash? can someone check out the location of the wiring for this circuit? is it causing air bag failure in Escapes? do we need deaths? has Ford made changes in the new Escapes?.
Beginning in April 2007, my 2003 Ford Escape XLT (current mileage 118754) experienced an intermittent problem with the air bag warning light. If the power driver's seat had been moved, then the light would appear and flash on the instrument panel for a period of time, then disappear without any action taken. This series of event happened 2-3 times between April - June, 2007. The last time the problem surfaced was June 25, 2007. The light was flashing when I started my vehicle on June 26, 2007. Approximately 5 minutes after starting my vehicle on that date, I was stopped at an intersection when a truck approaching from my left lost its trailer. The trailer crashed into the front driver's side of my vehicle at approximately 60 miles per hour. None of the air bags within my vehicle deployed. My vehicle sustained severe damage to the front end. Although no injuries were sustained as a result of this accident, I believe that an impact of this force into my front bumper should have deployed my front air bags, and that the failure to deploy can be attributed to the faulty sensor on my instrument panel.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Escape. While in park, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on two separate occasions where it was diagnosed that the air bag connector underneath the front passenger side seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired both times; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.