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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004 Ford Escape looks pretty good compared to other Ford Escape model years, but still has a trend of transmission problems, and engine problems from the NHTSA complaint data — so it's not a model year we can recommend.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
22 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 1
Average Mileage:
88,134 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.

2004 Ford Escape engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 4 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #16

Jan 152010

Escape

  • 36,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While moving my 2004 Ford Escape in my driveway the vehicle suddenly accelerated without my foot on the pedal. I struck a bush in my yard and was able to stop. The bush was destroyed and there was approx. $500 damage to my vehicle. A recall repair on the accelerator cable was performed by Ford in March of 2005. I brought the vehicle to a Ford dealer who would not even look at the vehicle without charging me. I reported the incident to Ford Motor Co. Who stated that they repaired the accelerator cable when it was recalled and would not repair it again. I have since had the bumper damage repaired and will have the accelerator cable inspected by an independent garage. I am lucky that no one was hurt during this incident. I am hesitant to drive this car again and I am very careful when I have to. I am a retired police officer and have seen what M/V crashes can do.

- Wilmington, MA, USA

problem #15

Oct 122007

Escape

  • miles
Ford 2004 Escape - slowly making ascent up a driveway - suddenly accelerator pedal sticks, engine racing, car begins rapid acceleration - driver able to slam on brakes with extreme pressure to stop car - engine continues to race - driver able to put car in park with engine still racing - turns off car. He then turns car back on, only to have engine still racing - immediately turns off again. Dealership called to come pick up car.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #14

Jan 082010

Escape

  • 38,000 miles
The engine revs in below zero weather ever since I bought the Escape in 2003. I'll be driving on the freeway at 60 mph and the only way I can slow the speed of the car is by applying the brakes and the engine continues revving as if it were still going 60. Then when I get off the freeway the car continues to rev like that and I stop at stop signs and it revs and only by pushing down hard on the brake can I control the car as it continues to rev as if going about 60mph. Often when I start it in the morning it revs (when below zero) and continues to rev as I drive a mile or so to have coffee. This has been the case since I got the car. I initially took it in to tousley Ford in white bear, Minnesota. They said it was fixed and charged something like $186 and it did the same thing on driving it home (about 12 miles). I took it back then and there as it was dangerous and they tried to fix it again and it still revved. Attempted fixes: Feb 18, 08 replaced iac, replaced 1L8Z*9F715 X-valve. Then Feb. 19, '08 replaced iac again per invoice. I just gave up and due to finances decided to take my chances driving it as is (still revs). What do I do now? the date of incident instead of Jan. 8, 2010 should be stated as "every winter since 2003". never has been fixed.

- St. Paul, MN, USA

problem #13

Oct 182009

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 10/18/09 my son was in control of the vehicle when the accelerator stuck the vehicle would not respond to braking and eventually ran into a parked vehicle one person injured and the vehicle parked received damage my 2004ford Escape total loss.

- District Heights, MD, USA

problem #12

Dec 152007

Escape

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly. As a result, the stopping distance increased. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 04V574000 (vehicle speed control:cables). The manufacturer would not assume responsibility for the repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000 and current mileage was 82,000.

- Henning, MN, USA

problem #11

Apr 132009

Escape

  • 40,000 miles
Accelerating up hill to posted 50mph when accelerator pedal punched to the floor on it's own. Vehicle reached 85mph and slowed to approx 55mph when downshifted to 1st while simultaneously pressing brake pedal and pulling up on emergency brake. Accelerator pedal wouldn't come up despite attempts with foot. Ultimately crashed, vehicle totaled, property damage to a house and neighbor's yard, personal injuries sustained by driver only; no passengers.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #10

Dec 202008

Escape

  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving home last winter my accelerator pedal stuck open and would not release. I approached the exit at approximately 55 mph and had to push the brakes to the floor to stop the vehicle. After letting the car set for approximately 10 minutes everything worked fine again until the morning when I started the engine and it stayed at 3000 RPM until the car warmed completely up.

- Ithaca, MI, USA

problem #9

Jan 012009

Escape 6-cyl

  • 7,620 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving less than 40 mph, the contact placed the vehicle into drive and proceeded to depress the accelerator pedal. The pedal became stuck and the vehicle proceeded forward. She attempted to depress the brake pedal, but there was no response. The vehicle crashed into a plowed area of snow. There were no injuries. The roads were not icy at the time of the crash. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V574000 (vehicle speed control:cables), although the failures were identical. Updated 02-23-09 updated 02/24/09.

- Bowling Green, OH, USA

problem #8

Dec 222008

Escape

  • 60,000 miles
Throttle cable would not return to idle position while at highway speed. Have had numerous problems with throttle and related components recently vehicle has been towed 3 times in two weeks because throttle becomes stuck wide open and is hazardous to drive. Recall on throttle cable was completed 3 years prior. Bottom line is $1,000 plus dollars later on a four year old vehicle with 60,000 miles on it.

- Ambridge, PA, USA

problem #7

Sep 172007

Escape 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Leaving a traffic light the vehicle idle increased to over 4000 rpms after I took my foot off the accelerator pedal. I shut off the engine but the idle did not return to normal. I've been told that was an unusual case of the "idle speed control" failure. This "racing" had happened once before at 48,000 miles but after I restarted the vehicle idle speed returned to normal.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #6

Aug 082007

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle began to accelerate without warning. On August 8, 2007, the contact was involved in a crash that was related to a previous recall repair for the vehicle speed control (NHTSA campaign number 04V574000). A police report was filed. The contact was injured and the vehicle was destroyed. The recall was performed by Ford and Chevrolet. In may of 2007, the vehicle accelerated past 100 mph and began shaking as if it would flip over. The accelerator pedal became stuck to the floor and the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own. The contact was forced to stop the vehicle by placing it in park and removing the key from the ignition. When the failure occurred, no sound or warning lights were present. The contact has photos. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 66,000.

- Raytown , MO, USA

problem #5

Dec 152006

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,423 miles
- the contact was accelerating onto the interstate when the throttle became stuck. The vehicle was a 2004 Ford Escape with 47,000 miles. The contact had both feet on the brakes and the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle reached 100 mph. There were no warning signs or noises prior to the incident. The vehicle traveled at this speed for approximately 1 mile. The contact kept applying the brakes and was able to slow the vehicle to 45 mph. The contact pulled over to the shoulder and was able to stop the vehicle. The contact called the police, and the vehicle was towed to a Ford dealer. The dealer replaced the throttle cable. The contact has the repair order. A police report was not filed. The weather conditions were dry. There were no injuries. Ak updated 01/29/07.

- Eureka, MO, USA

problem #4

Jun 012006

Escape 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,700 miles
: the contact stated while driving on a highway at 70 mph the cruise control would not deactivate. Depressing the brake pedal did not slow the vehicle or turning off the cruise control. To stop the vehicle, it was placed in neutral and pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle was driven to the service dealer where they determined the cables were defective. The cruise control cable was disconnected until the ordered parts are received by the dealer.

- Hockessin, DE, USA

problem #3

Feb 142006

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I was driving to work on the highway and all of the sudden my 2004 Ford Escape began to accelerate even with my foot off the gas pedal and the floor mat was not stuck against pedal. Car continued to do so. Brought to dealer, they said it was the accelerator cable bracket broke causing the throttle to stick open.

- Hutchinson, MN, USA

problem #2

Feb 192005

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,600 miles
I was in a grocery store parking lot, looking for a parking place, went down one aisle, turned left to and started up the next aisle. Right after I made the turn I pulled into the aisles second parking spot on my left side. I never picked up speed after turning into the aisle. Just after I started into the parking spot my car literally lunged forward and "took off" all on its own. (I did not have my foot on the gas pedal)....I rushed to push down on the brake but by that time my car had already run up on the hood of the car facing me from the other aisle. I had no control over the car. I was to stunned at the time to know now if my brake stopped the car or if the car's acceleration stopped on it's own once it was on the hood of the other car. I am so thankful no one was injured and how bad this could have been if I was stopping to let a pedestrian cross and this happened at that time.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #1

Feb 052005

Escape 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 180 miles
Within 2 hours of buying a new 2004 Ford Escape and at 180 miles the throttle stuck on the highway accelerating me to nearly 90 mph before I could shift it into neutral, get it off the side of the road, and turn off the engine. Had there been any cars next to me on the highway I would have been involved in a horrible accident. The car is at the dealer to be fixed, but I read on the Ford Motor Co. Web page there is a recall for accelerator problems. How/why can a dealer sell a car with a known defect? I very easily could have been seriously injured or killed.

- Idaho Falls, ID, USA

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