# 2003 FORD ESCAPE — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `705950` · 2009-01-28 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** ESCAPE
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 68,000
## Narrative
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE.  THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE EMISSIONS INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED.  THE REPAIR SHOP KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS DUE TO THE PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE ORDERED.  WHEN THE GASKET WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BECAME VERY HOT AND THE CORKING (USED TO SEAL THE GASKET) MELTED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.  THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WOULD COST $3,700 JUST TO START THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE WHAT OTHER MALFUNCTIONS WERE OCCURRING.  THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.  THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*