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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 (!!)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,969 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.

2005 Ford Escape engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #88

Aug 142013

Escape

  • 87,000 miles

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

The gas pedal sticks some time, both when starting out and or trying to accelerate. The gas pedal sticks and if you apply a little more pressure it then kind of click past the place where it sticks, often causing the engine to race. It is uncomfortable trying to start-up in traffic, or keeping a constant speed, as the pedal seems to have that resistance just when you need to give it just a little gas, but suddenly you have given it too much in overcoming the sticking. It actually started at about 30,000 miles, and seems to get worse when it is colder.

- Greenfield, IN, USA

problem #87

Jul 052013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 104,000 miles
1. while driving on freeway using cruise control, I tapped the brake to disengage. Cruise control did not disengage but instead the car accelerated and I almost hit the car in front of me. Very scary and dangerous. 2. two days later when I got in my car to leave, the gas pedal was completely stuck like there was an invisible rock under the pedal. My friend followed the gas pedal cable under the hood and removed the black cover and un-froze (un-stuck) the end of the cable so I can at least get the car back home. I was up-North at that time and very scared driving the car home because what if this happens when I'm going at a freeway speed. I promptly leased a new car because these two issues scared the heck out of me. I still have the car but would like it to get repaired. I contacted Ford hqs on 10/25/2013 to communicate the issues I experienced and to assist in resolution as I do know there were re-calls on other Escapes with the same issue. They stated my car was not one of the cars under re-call for this issue. I further expressed that the car should as there are many others with a 2005 Escape with the same complaints as I researched the web. She stated if there is a recall in the future I would receive a letter in the mail. I asked is there anyone else I could accelerate this issue to and she stated my issue is documented in the system. The repair for this issue is very expensive. Why is the re-call not covered on 2005 Escapes but on 2004 Escapes" my 2005 Escape was actually built in 2004. According to Ford hqs, my VIN# does not come up for the re-call!!! can you help me out on this and for others with the same issue" just search the web and you will see many people with the same complaints and dangers of this. Thank you.

- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA

problem #86

Aug 012013

Escape

  • 79,000 miles
I have had problems with my Ford Escape for a few months. Generally when at a stop my engine would rev really high. After this went on for awhile now when applying the brake or at a stop the idling goes so low I'm afraid it's going to stall. I have had a mechanic test it and put it on an analyzer but the analyzer doesn't show a problem. I finally had the throttle motor replaced but it is still idling too low at times. This problem is intermittent and seems to be no rhyme or reason when it will start doing it. I'm at a loss on how to fix it but it's pretty unsafe to be driving at times.

- Glen Allen, VA, USA

problem #85

Apr 012012

Escape

  • 98,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal became stuck to the floor board when parking or in reverse. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal several times for it to release. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000 and the current mileage was 123,000.

- Pembrooke Pines, FL, USA

problem #84

Aug 072013

Escape

  • 152,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration power. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the throttle body needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 152,000.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #83

Apr 022012

Escape

  • miles
I sometimes can not get my gas pedal unstuck. I have to keep tapping it and then press really hard. It gets stuck usually when the weather is colder out. Sometimes it takes me a minute or two to get it going and then when I do I almost get whip lash taking off.

- Pinckneyville, IL, USA

problem #82

May 252013

Escape

  • 100,738 miles

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

My wife was driving all of sudden vehicle kept accelerating without her foot being on the gas pedal. She was traveling at 25mph when vehicle accelerated to 45mph on its own. She had to take action to avoid having an accident. The vehicle now will rev high when first turning on vehicle. The longer vehicle runs the higher the engine revs and increases speed on its own.

- Tarboro, NC, USA

problem #81

Dec 302010

Escape 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
When the weather is cold, the gas pedal sticks when you try to accelerate from standing still. When it does kick in the car jumps and could cause an accident. I have looked this up and it seems to be a recurring problem, however, Ford has stated that it is based on VIN and March - April of 2004 was a problem but June 04 (my man date?) was not. This has happened repeatedly since about a year or two after I got the car. It appears to be a carbon build up problem, however, it is ridiculous to have to go in once a month to have it cleaned.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #80

Jan 012013

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
My gas peddle sticks, it is happening more and more. I almost got rear ended by another vehicle the other day, it is sticking on a daily basis now.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #79

Sep 272012

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
It was two days after I got the car, I was driving home from manassas to fairfax, all of a sudden the engine light came on the truck started to sputter and I lost acceleration in my truck. I was on 495 at night and the dash board stated that the car would shut down so that the engine would not over heat. I had to call a tow truck to pep boys in annandale, va and they fixed the problem. But, I still have acceleration problems after it was fixed. I will take it back to pepboys to find out if it is the same problem.

- Annandale, VA, USA

problem #78

Feb 052013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 115,000 miles

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

2005 Ford Escape has a critical safety issue with the gas pedal completely locking up. Sometimes tapping pedal will free it. As of 3/5/2013 I am not allowing my daughter to use this vehicle. This has been an ongoing problem. We have had the vehicle towed only to have the mechanic unable to identify the cause. From what I have seen on the web, this appears to be a very common issue. Ford should be responsible for determining the cause and issue a recall asap, before someone is seriously injured or worse.

- Moseley, VA, USA

problem #77

Feb 252013

Escape

  • miles
I have a random incident with my Ford Escape 2005, where at times when on cruise control, the engine will accelerate unexpectedly. After many years of driving, and attempting to file a complaint about the issue with Ford but refused as it wasn't reproducible when allotted, I think this issue occurs because the cruise control has self adjusted itself when towing a trailer. But after detaching the trailer and taking the truck for a long hilly ride, the engine computer may think it's still towing a trailer and strongly accelerate the engine when going uphill with the cruise control on. This is only based on what I have experience, and include no computer log examination. Not the best thing to happen if a police car is around, and being a safe driver. I'm not too concerned about this issue, as I self manage the issue. (tend to self manage a lot of things these days.) this vehicle has served me quite well, except for a loud knock on the front drive axle on this AWD - likely a bad bearing that they didn't fix when they fixed it initially. Shrugs.

- North Pole, AK, USA

problem #76

Jan 292013

Escape 6-cyl

  • 117,320 miles
Our 2005 Ford Escape has a surging problem.when stopped at a light, every once in a while the engine will suddenly speed up.to keep it from moving forward you have to press hard on the brake pedal.a Ford dealership wanted $85 to diagnose the problem.this is unacceptable for a safety problem.

- Springville, IN, USA

problem #75

Jan 012011

Escape

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that during cold weather and when trying to accelerate, the vehicle would hesitate for approximately 5 seconds. The failure recurred on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they advised him that the throttle body failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000. The current mileage was approximately 128,000.

- Delano, MN, USA

problem #74

Nov 012012

Escape

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated the accelerator pedal was stuck to the floor while the vehicle on and while driving at low speeds. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 12V353000 (vehicle speed control: Cables) (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 95,000. The current mileage was 98,000.

- Hagerstown , MD, USA

problem #73

Dec 102012

Escape

  • miles
My car's gas pedal felt like it became stuck, almost feeling like the car was in neutral even though it was in drive. I was on a hill. Then suddenly it sped off fast with a jolt. Our mechanic said it needs a new throttle. After doing research on my car's make & model, it appears that this has been an ongoing concern. It's very dangerous.

- Easton, PA, USA

problem #72

Dec 232012

Escape 6-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
While traveling northbound on interstate 476 car suddenly lost power and would refuse to accelerate over 10 mph. Luckily it was early on a Sunday morning, and not high-traffic time, we successfully pulled the car over to the shoulder. Our mechanic has been working on and researching the issue. Turns out Ford is aware and has issued a "service bulletin" that the computer is faulty, and affects the catalytic converters, spark plugs, and coils. A quick search on car complaints told us we were not the only ones, and it appears to be a time rather than mileage failure. While most are complaining about the minimum $2,000 fix, we are thankful it did not cause harm to us or anyone else. How many 2005 Ford Escapes are on the roads these days?

- Media, PA, USA

problem #71

Jan 012013

Escape

  • 86,000 miles
The gas pedal is "sticking." It won't depress. Throttle body problem.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #70

Dec 112012

Escape

  • 80,000 miles
Several times, the accelerator pedal would stick to the point that I could stand on it and it would not budge. It happens most frequently in colder weather but the temperature of the car has no effect. There is no real pattern to when it won't work. Ford recommended replacing the throttle body, however after researching, the throttle body is not something that is normally replaced at this mileage.

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #69

Dec 282012

Escape

  • 160,000 miles
I was driving up to a stop light so I removed my foot from the gas and to the brake, before I could get to the red light it changed to green, I went to press on the gas and the pedal was stuck. It would not go down nothing. I coasted to the side of the busy highway kept trying to press it and it wouldn't go down. After about 5 mins of just sitting there I tried it again and it went down without a problem. This vehicle was recalled in the prior years for this exact issue 2004 and below. However my 2005 is not recalled. It is now at the Ford dealership and I am waiting on a cost estimate. The vehcile did tend to do this from time to time only when its cold outside. I took it in several years ago to be repaird and when they test drove it, it woudn't stick for them so no issue was found for them to repair.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

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