While driving hit a pot hole and heard a loud noise coming from the rear of the car. Upon inspection the entire passenger side wheel house is rusted out, causing the shock to break loose from the body and tear into the rear compartment. Vehicle is not drivable until fixed. Part is on backorder.

- New Martinsville, WV, USA

Purchased June 2005 as a used vehicle w/ 18,000 miles. Always garage kept. Noticed a popping noise from the passage rear. Investigated and found the inner wheel well. Area were the shock bolt's to has almost completely rusted out. Read of other people having same issues on the internet. Car is unsafe to drive until repaired. Will consult a body shop on repairs. Ford needs to man up and offer a fix for this issue!

- Sardinia, OH, USA

One day I noticed that some of the undercoating in the rear right when was gone, upon further inspection I noticed that there was hole in the wheel well. After researching online, I learned that this is a common problem. Although my problem is not as serious as some of the stories I read, I still feel that it is safety issue and an accident waiting to happen. As time goes by the rust will continue to grow and I'm afraid of the consequences. I called Ford to voice my concern, but they said that they are not doing anything to repair the problem. Just like everyone, I want people to be aware of the issue and hopefully Ford will realized that this is a safety issue.

- Clifton, NJ, USA

We started to notice a "clunky" noise coming from the right rear wheel hub. Upon inspection, the right rear wheel hub is over 50% rusted out. The left rear wheel hub is intact. We can not drive vehicle fearing a structural failure will result in an accident or injury. After researching this issue on the internet, it seems to be a common problem for this model, and other Ford models.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair and it was discovered that the rear passenger side wheel well was completely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

- Warsaw, IN, USA

I have a 2005 Ford Escape took it to a shop today because of the banging from the suspension. When the mechanic put the car on the lift he saw that the entire wheel well around the shock absorber was rusted completely out. The extra stress on the shock absorber caused the bolt on the top to break off. The stress also caused the rear break line to fray almost to the point of breaking completely. This car is no longer safe to drive. I am just happy that my break line didn't break while I was on the road. I do not really know what options I have with the car since it is the only car I own and I have no other way to get to and from work.

- Lees Summit , MO, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While traveling at an unknown speed, a loud noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the inner rear fender and the rear shocks deteriorated without warning. The contact stated that the parts were rusted and could fracture at any moment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

While driving down the road going approx. 40 mph, I heard a loud noise from by back passenger side tired. I immediately pulled over to see what caused the noise. Upon inspection, I noticed the wheel well that supports the back shock was completely rusted. The shock had broke through the rusted wheel well and was pressed up against the inside interior of my car. The rest of my wheel wells are in fine condition. When I researched this problem online, there are many, many customers that have had this exact problem with 2005 Ford Escapes. It is only the rear passenger side. This needs to be researched and corrected before someone gets hurt.

- Clay, WV, USA

I was driving and began to hear a loud noise I stopped and looked, the fender well had fallen half way off. It was rusted all the way through. I had to call a tow truck and still cannot use my car because I cant afford to replace this part. Shouldn't Ford be responsible for this it is a flaw in the body.

- Chicago, IL, USA

The right rear wheel well and shock mount is completely rusted out. When I bought the vehicle used, I drove it and heard a slight clunking somewhere in the rear end of the vehicle. I thought maybe the shocks were bad. I continued to drive it, hoping to replace the shocks. Recently the noise became very loud and disturbing. I looked at the shock area and discovered the whole area on the right rear wheel well and shock mount are rusted through and breaking apart. The left side is fine. I am afraid to drive it this way and believe it is an unsafe condition. I looked up the problem on the internet and found a multitude of the same problem with other owners of 2005 Ford Escapes. To my knowledge, Ford will only fix 2001-2004 Escapes, but not 2005. Why not? it clearly is a defect in material and workmanship. It has rusted prematurely and causes a hazardous safety situation. If this was an isolated incident, I would understand. But from what I have learned, it has happened to all 2005 Ford Escapes.

- Melrose, WI, USA

My 2005 Ford Escape's passenger side rear wheel well completely rusted out and the shock broke through to the inside of the vehicle as it was being driven! this is completely dangerous - we could have been severely injured. I searched this issue on-line, and it is extremely prevalent on these vehicles. Ford needs a recall on this - it is a known issue. When I took my vehicle to a Ford dealer, I was told this is a known issue and dangerous and Ford refuses to do anything about it. I went to a welding shop in my area, and the problem is so common, that they even have a poster with pictures of the problem and how they fix it. This is so dangerous. Ford appears not to care about this issue. Please review it. Thank you.

- Copley, OH, USA

Have found the right rear strut mount almost rusted away and the left side is on its way. I hear there is a recall for 2001-2004 for this and from all the complaints I see on-line this should include 2005-2006 and unless they did something to actually stop this, even later years should be included. If a person hits a chuck hole this could cause a bad accident., I see a lot of people can't even drive their vehicles. I have owned many older, vehicles including a 1995 Ford Taurus I traded in on this Escape that didn't have this problem.

- Edwardsburg , MI, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear driver side wheel well was corroded. The contact mentioned that a thumping noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that due to the failure, the struts were exposed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Unionville, IN, USA

While driving down the freeway I hit a small bump in the road and heard a loud clunk from the right rear area. I wasn't sure what it was and was within 5 miles of home. The rest of the trip home every time I came to a small bump's the clunk was getting worse. I looked in the right rear fender well and noticed the whole area around the right rear shock is completely rusted out.

- London, OH, USA

While driving the car, whenever we would hit a bump of any kind the passenger side rear of the car made a horrible rattling/banging noise. I took it to the dealer and they told and showed me where the part that connected the shock to the wheel well had pretty much rusted away and was no longer safe to drive. The service writers and the body man all said this is a very common issue with this year and model. They conjectured that since we get snow in pittsburgh the roads are salted. Since the roads are slanted to the right to help drainage, that side is bathed in salt water. However I am also developing rust on the outside edge of the body panel on the opposite side. Why then is this not happening to other model years" since it is not drivable I have had to schedule the repairs. At the time of the repairs I am going to have the car completely gone over by the dealers mechanics and body man to validate the condition and document any further required repairs. This is a total engineering screwup by Ford and they should be required to recall all of this model and year and either repair them at no cost to the owner or reimburse the owners who already had to have the repairs done. Do people have to die before action is taken? is no one held accountable for their actions in today's society"

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, a loud noise emitted from the rear end of the vehicle when the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and they informed that the rear of the frame was completely rusted. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 135,230.

- Rensselaer, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side wheel well was corroded and deteriorated. Also, the contact mentioned that the shock mount fractured. The contact stated that the failure caused the shock mount to puncture the trunk. The contact stated that there was a loud noise each time the vehicle drove over a bump due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician performed an alignment and the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- Duluth, MN, USA

The right rear shock plunged through the right rear wheel well (rusted away) and rattles at low speeds. Steering pulls to left and shakes.

- Duluth, MN, USA

I noticed a loud banging in the rear passenger side of the vehicle, and discovered that the inner wheel house was completely rusted out around the shock mount. It became undriveable and completely unsafe, and I was forced to repair the area. The Ford certified replacement part cost me around $130, and the service to repair it cost around $880. Approximately 3 months later the driver side started to make the same sounds, and was beginning to rust out the same as the other side. I also repaired this side, to a cost of $650, also using a Ford certified part. Now not even 2 months later, both certified replacement parts are beginning to split apart due to the force of the shock that is attached to this flimsy metal. The truck has become unsafe to drive, and I'm being forced to purchase a new vehicle. I've been reading around the internet, and this issue for extremely common on this year of the Ford Escape. I am astonished and disgusted that Ford will not make it right on part of their customers.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 15 mph, he heard an abnormal noise that came from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear fender well needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- East Moline, IL, USA