A lack of clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector meant the throttle could get stick open when the accelerator was fully depressed. Following a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, NHTSA opened an investigation and eventually issued a recall to fix the sticky throttles in the 2001–2004 model years.
Even with the throttles fixed, the 2001 model year could still have trouble stopping due to multiple problems with leaking brakes.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 19
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
87,301 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owned a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic), 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling), and 14V165000 (structure, vehicle speed control). The contact did not receive any recall notifications. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated for an extended period of time. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic. While the vehicle was parked in a residental parking space, a security guard noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. After making a second round, the guard informed the vehicle owner that the vehicle was consumed by flames. The fire department extinguished the flames. A fire report was filed and the contact took pictures. The vehicle was parked and had not been inspected by a dealer or manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that they would follow-up in writing, but did not provide a time frame for the recall repair. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While accelerating from a stop light, the vehicle shook, stalled, and all the lights on the instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure recurred twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V175000 (power train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. Updated 09/08/16
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the key was out the ignition switch, the vehicle remained on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
- Hixson, TN, USA
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The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While driving at 45 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and the battery light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle stalled and was able to be restarted after several attempts. The contact was able to drive for approximately five more minutes before the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While driving at 55 mph, the ABS warning light illuminated and would not shut off. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07V156000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 09/03/15
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the key fob failed to function properly. As a result, the contact was unable to unlock and lock the hatch door. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that whenever it rained or snowed, the vehicle would stutter and fail to accelerate over 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the coil pack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired numerous times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the driver exited the vehicle and approximately 5 hours later the driver came outside to discover flames coming from the front end of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene to extinguish the flames. The fire marshal examined the vehicle and determined that the fire was due to an electronic failure. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 156,000.
On my 2001 Ford Escape my driver side rear door I put child safety on worked fine next day went to open door and would not open so we took door panel off tried doing everything possible even sprayed with WD40 did not work we think it the lock mechanism in between door and body.my name is [xxx] how do I go about fixing this I have 2 young children I need to be able to uses all the doors my contact number is [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This model has chronic issues with electrical components not working. Frequent complaints of dome light, door locks, and radio not working, alternator/battery replacements. It seems to drain frequently and either not have enough power, and/or blow fuses. This is a very frequent occurrence and would seem fit for a recall.
I bought my Ford Escape on August 16th of 2009, all the doors worked fine. I have not been in any kind of accident. About a year after buying my car the back driver door stopped opening, for no reason. Then the window in the same door stopped working. I didn't make a big deal about this, even though I had two small children in the back. Then shortly after, the other back door seized to open. This happened in the summer when the temperatures are warm. When I push unlock I hear clicking from the doors. Then not to long ago my fiance and I went out to dinner and locked the car doors, after leaving the restaurant he tried to unlock the doors and they wouldn't open. He had to crawl through the window that is broken to get the passenger door open for me. The driver door now don't open. The only door that works now is the passenger door and the back hatch. I also have other recalls I need to get repaired and have not brought it in cause of the driver door not opening. I know I didn't do anything to cause this problem and when I researched it online I found that a lot of people with my car are having the same problem. Therefore I feel this needs to be addressed. I'm afraid to drive my car and if there was an accident I wouldn't be able to Escape my Ford Escape. In addition I just want to say that even though my vehicle has a lot of miles on it, still runs good. Thank you for your consideration, sincere consumer.
Window and door lock on rear driver side quit operating causing me to have to use duct tape to keep window in place and door closed. This has now been fixed at substantial cost. Now am unable to use either door on passenger side. No problem with windows at this point, however, am unable to open either of the two doors. Quite inconvenient with other passengers, particularly where the front seat is involved...a little difficult climbing over the console area from the driver side to get to the passenger side and vice versa...back seating area not quite so bad...still inconvenient. Has there been a recall regarding this and/or anyone else experiencing the same problem? right now, the expense to repair is honestly more than it's worth to resolve the issue...another $400-500+. does make it particularly difficult to load and unload---especially the children!
Shortly after being parked and shut off the vehicle caught fire within the engine compartment and destroyed everything in the front end of the vehicle.
After driving my car without incident for 6 years, it began to intermittently lose power so much that the dash lights fade and the car almost stalls. This is worse at lower speeds, coasting, and idling. The engine misses out so badly that the car jerks forward if the brake is not pressed firmly to the floor and when it's worst at idle, it shakes horribly. I had the plugs replaced (not cheap) because that was the error showing when the check engine light finally came on several weeks after I started having this issue, and a mechanic had already looked at it and thought it was fixed. After having the plugs replaced, I had a lot fewer problems but could still tell there was a problem when it was colder outside and/or when I first started my car for a couple of months. It then began to get worse again and is just as bad now as it was before I had the plugs replaced. I don't want to keep replacing them if it's just going to keep happening again. While waiting at a red light on an uphill intersection just last week, I pressed the gas to pull through the intersection and barely any power resulted. I let off the gas and depressed it again, at least 3 different times, just to get through the intersection without it dying or launching myself into another car. It seems this model year may have a lot of electrical issues, but I've had all of the recall issues addressed and I'm still having major issues that aren't cheap to fix. I've also had the emergency brake indicator light come on without the brake being engaged twice during the time I've owned this vehicle and the indicator goes away just as quickly as it appeared within a couple of weeks.
On October 10th, 2013, my wife and I had met for her birthday dinner at a restaurant in our town. My wife drove the 2001 Ford Escape to the restaurant, about 5 miles, from our home and parked the car. We had been at dinner for approximately 25 minutes when the waitress asked us if we drove a red SUV. We were led to the vehicle that was on fire and in the process of being extinguished by the fire department. The fire investigator said that it looked as if the fire had started on the driver's side of the engine compartment and that nothing else looked suspicious. He pointed out that the wire insulation on that side of the engine compartment was all melted away to bare copper and that the passenger side wiring was still more intact. The fire destroyed the entire front end of the car, the engine compartment, the driver's side fender, the driver's side tire and rim and melted the driver's side dashboard. The entire inside of the vehicle is smoke damaged since the car was locked up. The vehicle is a total loss. Just grateful that my daughter or wife weren't driving it at the time of the fire.
Fifth time vehicle has been to the dealership for the same problem. Vehicle is stopped at a red light or in traffic, the vehicle lunges forward with the brakes applied. Daughter took it back to the same dealership and they thought they fixed the problem. She was on her way back to college...4 miles from the house at a red light. She called and said the vehicle was still doing what it was doing before. This needs to be investigated and a recall issued.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oklahoma City, OK, USA