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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Escape has problems where the engine shuts down while driving. Ford finally issued a September 2014 recall. Time will tell if the recall fix really solves the problem.

However the 2005 Escape also has a defect where the PCM (Power Control Module) fries at around 100k miles. Ford extended the PCM warranty to 80,000 miles, but only after most owners were past the mileage limit. Now owners are on the hook for the average repair cost of over $2,000 (!!)

8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$600
Average Mileage:
84,900 miles
Total Complaints:
19 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (11 reports)
  2. Ford should recall and fix this potentially deadly problem (4 reports)
  3. keeping the heat on all the time (1 reports)
  4. replacement of cable line (1 reports)
  5. throttle body cable (1 reports)
  6. throttle body replaced (1 reports)
2005 Ford Escape engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #19

Jun 172017

Escape LS 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 137,000 miles

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

This has happened briefly off and on over the last year; some repairs were done, gasket replaced?

It began happening again but briefly; however today it just stuck and wouldn't go up or down for several minutes while I was in middle of arterial road...very dangerous! Luckily it was so early little traffic. After several pumps and tries it finally started working again and I got home.

It is a Saturday and no one open or available to fix today and I work next week!

Very dangerous problem. I never got any recall info on it. I see per internet complaints lots of complaints on this for 2005 model year Ford Escape.

- Frances M., University Place, US

problem #18

Nov 012016

Escape 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Have had problems with a sticky gas pedal that would not budge when I went to accelerate. My gas pedal got so bad it would stick and not move. My problem occurs while I'm driving and while the car is turned off and it always happens when it's cold outside. I called Ford and found out that it is a "non-finalized recall" and they won't do anything about it. I took it to my local shop and got it fixed, turns out it is the Throttle body cable. I hope this is now fixed once and for all. The cost was around $600. It is a serious issue and is something that has to be fixed. Good luck!

- bettywa, Vancouver, WA, US

problem #17

May 142011

Escape 3.1L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 394,000 miles

I notice tis sticking of the gas pedal a few months after I bought it from a friend in 2010 it was a private deal..the person that sold it to me seemed to mention any problems but never this..It happened a few times but never thought much of it . One day I did mention it to the person at a shop and said it was probably just your mat there n it was getting stuck on it..I never did anything about it because I assumed he was right Nothing happened for a few years until I started noticing it when it has been just getting colder like fall.It is scary and I really don't know the procedures cause I have never experienced this..it worries me and I'm scared to drive it. Please help me on what I should do or anything on this problem.

- shortcake07, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

problem #16

Nov 232013

Escape

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

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

Saturday, November 23, 2013 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TRIED TO PUSH IT WITH TWO FEET BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I'M SITTING AT A GREEN LIGHT WITH TEN VEHICLES BEHIND ME BLOWING THEIR HORNS.

FINALLY, AS I CONTINUE TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION HOWEVER, AS I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE PEDAL STUCK AGAIN. I KNOW THE THREE/FIVE MINUTES IT WOULD USUALLY TAKE TO RETURN HOME BECAUSE I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN THIS STATE TOOK NEARLY FIFTEEN MINUTES TO GET ME BACK HOME DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

IF FORD DOESN'T DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT SO MANY OF US ARE EXPERIENCING THERE WILL BE A FATAL ACCIDENT!!

- vphipps125, Fairfax, VA, US

problem #15

Feb 152009

Escape LX 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

My accelerator stick especially in the winter. It also sticks in th summer but not as bad. Sometime when I am driving I have to jam on the accelerator with full force in order for the care to move. I do not know if this is a dangerous situation or not.

- Sylvia P., Glenwood, MD, US

problem #14

Oct 292011

Escape

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

I am so sick of this problem especially when I am by myself late at night going to work and when I have kids in the car, and this problem happens and I am afraid I will get in a serious car accident.

- Veronica H., Rowland, NC, US

problem #13

Oct 152011

Escape

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

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

I just bought this car used a little over 4 months ago. Now that the weather is getting cold the gas pedal is sticking at random times. I almost got hit yesterday and now my daughter was almost hit at an intersection today. Obviously, this is a known problem with this car. Why hasn't Ford recalled it. I guess they are waiting for more casualties!

- lhuzzard, Spring City, PA, US

problem #12

Oct 102005

Escape

  • Manual transmission
  • 2,000 miles

I also have had problems with the gas pedal sticking. I noticed that this only happens when it gets really cold outside and as I live in Minnesota it has become a big problem. I have had to pound on the gas pedal while my other foot holds in the clutch until it finally presses down. Then, the engine races because I have to hold the gas pedal part way down while I lift up on the clutch and so the car takes off racing. I took it to the dealership and they could not figure out what was wrong with it. But of course, since it was already warmed up when I got there, that makes perfect sense.

Thank God I have a manual transmission or I would be dead. After many years of owning this car, I have figured out a solution. I need to keep the heat on all the time and warm it up in the morning before I leave for the day. I love my car and have no other problems but this one. I wish Ford would put some good insulation around the gas pedal to prevent the cold from freezing the moving mechanism of the pedal.

- big0jake, Monticello, MN, US

problem #11

May 082009

Escape XLT 2.3L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I bought the Escape used, with 40,000 miles. I noticed that the gas pedal was hard to operate occasionally, and would sometimes require stomping on the pedal to leave a stop light. I meant to get it looked at, but being intermittent I couldn't be sure when it would happen. After a year of driving, the pedal stuck hard as I was pulling into a driveway, and I couldn't move uphill. Eventually, it worked well enough to drive to the dealership a few miles away. They confirmed that the throttle body was bad, and said they hadn't seen this problem before. They also checked for service notices and recalls, but found none.

- Deke T., Wallingford, CT, US

problem #10

Nov 282010

Escape 4c

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

I have been experiencing problems with my gas pedal sticking for the last couple months. It's pretty scary, but if I tap it real quick, it unsticks, so I didn't think it was something that I had to deal with right now. But, today, when I was driving home from vacation with my family, THE MOST FRIGHTENING THING HAPPENED.....As I was merging onto the highway (the car got to about 40mph) the gas pedal pressed all the way to the floor all on its own!!! It was similar to what it does when you use cruise control....only I have never used the cruise control on this car. I tried to press on the brakes and it wouldn't even slow down!!! My kids were in the car and I couldn't stop it!!! I tried hitting the cruise control OFF button...nothing. I pumped on the brakes...nothing. I threw the car in neutral and starting looking for a spot to CRASH!!! I used both feet and pressed AS HARD AS I COULD on the brakes (it felt like I lost power in the brakes) and headed to the shoulder. It finally started to slow down. I finally got it to stop but the gas pedal was still on the floor...engine revving like I was at a car race. I shut the car off and the pedal let up. I restarted it and everything was back to normal.

All I could think was.... Thank GOD my kids are safe and what if this had happened on a city street!!! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!! It was like I was in the movie Speed - driving CHRISTINE!

I don't know if the sticking gas pedal has anything to do with what happened, but I will find out when I take the car in. Up til now, I loved my Escape. Now, I'm terrified to drive it!

- JoMarie W., Chicago Ridge, IL, US

problem #9

Jul 202005

Escape LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

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

My 2005 Ford Escape has a sticking as peddle. I took it into the deaalership when the problem first started happenning, they told me, "They had heard of the problem, but did know what was causing it." Now when the sticking begins, it is very persistant. What is a permanent fix?

- Charlene P., Kitimat, BC, Canada

problem #8

Oct 302005

Escape 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles

Numerous times I've had the accelerator pedal stick -- one time so severely that I called for a tow truck when I had driven no more than 1/4 mile from home. The guy arrived and said it sounded like a stuck cable. I popped the hood, he removed the cover and was able to release the pedal. Early when this began happening, I took my car to the local dealer. They said it was a spring and did whatever they did. When the weather turns chilly (not just when it is cold) the sticking problem continues. Yesterday morning after a really cool night, the pedal stuck three times in a two-mile distance on a very curvy road that has no shoulder and nowhere to pull off. I was able to get it moving again each time, but took it to the dealership in the town where I work. They said it would cost $382 to replace the throttle box butterfly (whatever that is). I opted to check with my local mechanic for another opinion, which I did this morning.

They agreed it is the butterfly, but confirmed my suspicion that it is a design flaw. They are ordering a new part, but I think it will simply be another butterfly like the one in the throttle box now. I plan to complain to Ford. I have been driving Fords for more than 20 years -- many of them. I love my Escape except for this one problem, which could be life threatening. That's a terrible thought to have every time I drive my vehicle!

- Maxine K., Marysville, CA, US

problem #7

Nov 022009

Escape XLT V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

I have been having exactly the same problem as everyone else here. My gas pedal would stick when I would come to a complete stop or press the brake. I would only happen in the mornings when it was really cold. It happened for several month on diffrent days sometimes it would not happen for weeks then again it would happen. I never really never new what the problem was but now...

Just yesterday I was on a red light and my car shut off. I was able to turn the car on and press on the gas while on Park or Neutral. The moment I put it on Drive or Reverse the car would shut off again. I don't know if this has anything to do with the issue I would have in the mornings when the gas pedal would stick. This is the first time it has actually shut off. The only way I get it to run is I put the car on Neutral pressed on the gas and quickly shifted to Drive, and the car went I was able to get it to a safe place and park it. But it still does not work. I don't know what the problem could be I wonder if anyone else has had this problem and how you fixed it.

- mteran, Lake Elsinore, CA, US

problem #6

Dec 112009

Escape 2.3L

  • Manual transmission
  • 144,000 miles

when its cold, my gas petal sticks and will not allow me to drive anywhere. I have been stuck in intersections in parking structures, @ work. very much a pain in the ass. I really need to get this addressed

- Timothy S., Dearborn, MI, US

problem #5

Dec 122009

Escape XLS 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I have a 2005 Ford Escape 4cyl. automatic. I bought the car 2 years ago at Carmax. No problem with them but, I do with Ford. This is my first Ford and I will never buy one again. I have had 10 cars in my lifetime all American brands of course. I am going back to Chevy when I get rid of this thing. Anyways, the problem is a very dangerous problem and a very tedious problem to say the least. The problem started when I was in Ohio for Christmas in 2008. It was snowing an the temperature then was about 15 degrees. My sticking gas pedal happens in colder than 60 degree weather and gets worse the colder it is. I have about 65k miles on it. Still no excuse for this to happen.

I am going to raise hell at Ford tomorrow. I sure hope no one has died from this, and I hope no one will. This is one of the issues all companies should take interest in, cause it affects peoples lives.

- Hans S., Norfolk, VA, US

problem #4

Jul 072009

Escape 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 83,300 miles

I too bought my 2005 Ford Escape brand new in Aug 2005. I have had no problems with this car until recently, for the most part. Occassionally in the winter months my gas pedal would stick but I just thought it was due to the cold weather and my car warming up. All I had to do was lift my foot and repress the gas and it was fine. This past month (June 2009) my gas pedal no longer wants to push down when I try to go. So far it happens in about 1-2 miles after I first start my car in the morning. I have a 5 speed so it does not stall but when I cannot push down the gas, I pull over, turn off the car then restart it and it is fine for the rest of the day. That is until yesterday (July 6, 2009). Now when I leave work at the end of the day and the car sitting for 8 hours it is starting to have the same problem heading home. After about 1-2 miles I need to turn the car off again and back on and I can get home. I went to a dealer and he said there is no recall. This is crazy and I dont know what to do. My car has 83,300 miles on it. Anyways, just trying to get the word out and maybe Ford will help with this problem. Thanks, Kristy

- Kristy M., Cartersville, GA, US

problem #3

Mar 012007

Escape 2.3L V4

  • Manual transmission
  • 18,000 miles

I first bought our 2005 Ford Escape in Oct 2006. It had about 14000 miles on it when we bought it. A few months went by and no problems what so ever. Then around 17-18000 miles, the gas peddle starting sticking bad. It's almost as though there is a brick behind the peddle and it will not allow you to push it. Even if you slam your foot down on it, it still will not give. My wife and I both have almost had accidents with our kids in the car b/c of this issue. About a month ago I finally had enough and took it to a ford dealership. They told me that it needed a new fuel filter, and they were going to clean the injectors. Initially I called bull sh*t on that. I myself am a mechanic and know that a bad/dirty fuel filter/injectors will not cause the peddle to stick, maybe make the vehicle sluggish. I started with buying a throttle cable, that to me makes more sense. Ford charged me 120 bucks for it, yeah I got ripped off. That still didn't fix it. Where the throttle cable leads into the side of the throttle body there is a part called a butterfly. When the pedal is compressed the butterfly moves. I found on my throttle body that the butterfly was sticking to the inside of the housing that holds it. It's as almost as though the "butterfly" was made to big for the housing that holds it. When it is stuck, I had to smack it with a hammer just to get it unstuck. I myself do not know a way to fix it without replacing it. And the new one would more than likely be made the same way. I feel that Ford should correct this problem free of charge, before they get someone's family killed, and then they get sued. Should any one need anymore guidance my email is jeremy42223@yahoo.com

- lauras, Clarksville, TN, US

problem #2

Oct 302008

Escape

  • Manual transmission
  • 49,000 miles

This has happened occasionally over the almost 4 years I have had it. It never stalls while I am already moving, but if I am at a light & going to take off, it does sometimes but mostly when it is colder or wet outside. If I am driving & I go to press on the gas pedal & it sticks, I have to let off then press again quickly before it stalls. It's dangerous if you are waiting to turn at a light & your gas sticks, then releases & by then you've hesitated going through the intersection before the oncoming car crashes into you. How many are out there who have experienced the same thing?

- ivarwv, Martinsburg, WV, US

problem #1

Nov 052007

(reported on)

Escape V4

  • Manual transmission
  • 20,000 miles

I am terrified by this situation with the car. There is no apparent indication of when this shut-off will occur, which leaves you completely

vulnerable and in jeopardy of loosing your life. I was only told that there was a manufacturers defect by the local dealer, but that all they could do was to replace the part for now. Since Ford had not recognized this as a wide spread problem I was only safe due to manufacturers warranty. I shutter to think about the next time the cable line goes out and the pedal box stops working!!

Is not my life and my child's life important to warrant a better solution??? How come I am required to get licensed as an Architect for the rational of "Life Safety" but a car manufacturer is entitled to wait until enough people suffer the same defect before any action is taken??? Where is the rational in this? Life safety is life safety regardless of the individual or the masses.

So I am getting the second replacement of the two parts this year Nov. 5, 2007 in Maplewood, NJ. I bought the car in Springfield, MO two summers ago. I am not pleased at all with this turn of events. I expected for a form of reciprocity working safe car for the 20,000 I paid.

- nycpar, Brooklyn, NY, US

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