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:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
88,068 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.
This is 2nd time this week car gives no warning, stalls, shuts down while driving for no reason. Happened to a friend about 1 mile from our home. Just totally shuts down. After about up to 10 minutes, able to restart and return home, was mid morning. Last night at 9pm we were driving down about 1 mile from home, no warning and stalled and shut down. We were terrified, was pitch black, no lights and almost ran off into a ditch! Had to used the light on my phone to shine in case traffic was coming. After about 10 terrifying minutes, car restarted and we were able to turn around and return home. This 2005 Ford Escape is unsafe to be on the road or driven. Its unknown what the problem is and in frar for my life and others if its out on the roads.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" Sudden unintended acceleration How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The breaks wouldn't take and I ended up stopping when I hit a house Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Called Ford for help and they said to file a report here. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" No my car has been always in great working condition
My 2005 ford escape was sitting in my carport for 2 days. I went out to go to the store and the back window was shattered in a million pieces all over the driveway and back bumper. That was also glass inside the car. I called the police and they came out and looked at it and took pictures and I took pictures also they said it had not been vandalized that it must have exploded from the inside out. I read about a lot of other people having the same problem. Ford needs to have a recall on this. It could have happened while I was driving or children could have been hurt sitting in the backseat this is not like
When going to pull out of the gas station with my 2 youngest children my Ford Escape would not go into any gear or reverse. Never gave a warning sign sound or anything just would not go into gear. Below is the recall information and what the part is and what the problem is and can cause. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) Recall for 2005 Ford Escape Recall Announced SEPTEMBER 29 2015 NHTSA Reference #15V606000 If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT Recall for 2005 Ford Escape Recall Announced SEPTEMBER 29 2015 NHTSA Reference #15V606000
- Somerset, KY, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, there was an unknown warning light with a red triangle displayed. The contact turned off the vehicle and waited for approximately 15-30 minutes before the vehicle would restart and function correctly. The contact replaced the battery however, the failure persisted. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the shift lever would disengage and that the hybrid battery needed to be replaced or the vehicle would no longer be operable. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
Rust through on right rear wheel well and shock tower. Car only has 100,089 miles. Has been kept clean and was bought from carmax IN2013 in excellent condition. All repairs, maintenance performed by professionals since bought. Research shows this to be a common problem with this model. (in addition to the door open/alarm problem others and I experience) this is a safety issue that could result in serious injury or death as it involves the rear shock possibly dislodging and rear end collapsing. Please look into this and make Ford fix this problem! many owners bought these vehicles used and we cannot afford to fix these( if they can be fixed at all) much less buy a new vehicle.
2005 Ford Escape. Purchased with a car loan in 2012. @ 40,000 miles.$$ kept all regular maintenance up. $$replaced battery & had $$all brakes done front & back in 2014. $$paid off loan in 2015, & 2016 rolled over to 95,000 miles.. $$had to replace alternator & battery & $$redo the brakes in 2016. $$in 2018 had to replace alternator again..(note: During all these years the check engine light was constantly coming on & showing 'check emissions system'.. bringing up all sorts of fuel & emissions codes. $$replaced 4 different fuel related parts as well). In 2019 all brakes failed! & had a near crash! $$having to replace the brake lines. Then in April 2019 driving an Alaska mountain pass in a spring winter storm! major breakdown!! lost all power with no control of steering or braking.. panel was lighting up on & off like a christmas tree! engine chugging & sputtering like getting no fuel but also not getting the power to keep running.. $$left stranded 500 miles from home. $$had to get towed back home! to have a PCM burn up! $$new/remanufactured PCM, $$new alternator, $$new battery, $$new coils!! still did not run right! check engine light still coming on only showing check emissions system, but all parts replaced! engine sputtering but no code on diagnostic machine to give right correct problem or how to fix!$$$!! 6 months later, replacing alternator yet again!! $$4 alternators one in 3 years!! $$3 coils replaced. & engine is still not running right!! seems once this PCM goes out.. it's all over for this vehicle!! nothing is keeping it going anymore, $$just a moneypit of endless fixing & breaking down on the road! not to mention how it stalls out in mid driving at high speeds! leaving you with no steering or brakes or power to stop! and then crash!?! I'm feeling left in the dust by Ford company with no compensation on over $20,000 spent on a Ford Escape that can't run!
Passenger side frame fender well gas tank strap shock mount have all rusted out. The shock mount has almost come inside the car insulation is hanging out and the wire harness is starting to hang out not normal for a car with only 114023 miles
Back window latches metal on the hinges of window completely rotted out, every time car is driven I have to worry about the window sliding out, I cannot open the window because it will fall right out. I know other years of the same make have had the same issue.
Cross over on passenger side rusted in half, the exact same thing that waste called on the 2001-2004, my wife was driving with two of my grandchildren with her when it broke, this is very dangerous and serious situation, I feel Ford should fix my vehicle, it was manufactured IN2004, I will take it to court if necessary, innocent people could get killed, it is the exact same recall as the year before and was manufactured in that year of the recall my Escape has no other rust on it anywhere, I have pics to prove it, my wife was just getting ready to turn into a driveway from a city street
There were a few incidents where my 2005 Ford Escape was stationary/ in park and it said that my car was in reverse. When I put my car in reverse sometimes it would go into drive. There was another incident where I was in park and my car randomly went from park to reverse to neutral and back to park on its own. Lastly, when I try to reverse it would not reverse and stay in neutral.
This 2005 Ford Escape(and others according to the internet) completely shut off while I was driving. I was merging onto a highway going 60 mph and it just shut off. Luckily I was able to pull over and 2 cars narrowly missed me. It just completely killed w/O any notice which is an extremely dangerous condition because I, or someone else, could've easily have been hurt.
Excessive wheel well/shock tower rust located in the rear passenger side. I have heard a clunking sound when driving; brought it to my garage; they showed me the pictures of huge gaps in the wheel well that were completely rusted out. My understanding is there was a recall on Ford Escapes (2001-2004) but Ford forgot to do a recall on the 2005 Escape model. This is a very common problem with my vehicle.
Driving 65 mph on the interstate my 05 Escape began to skip, stall & died, anti theft light came on. I drive for 20 miles slow with it skipping and stalling. When I left off on gas it would continue to run until I made it to safe place. Attempted to drive for repair on state hwy it stalled and went dead. Ford dealership reprog keys- repaired drive off, barely off the lot and it quit again. Now I see this is a manufactures issue with 05 Escapes after an online search. New Ford diagnosis- new plugs & coil pack, intake gasket. 170,000 miles. My alarm randomly goes off too which could be related to electrical issues. Ford motor is liable if someone's vehicle stalls and is killed due to this problem they know about but have not corrected or recalled.
I have had to replace the flex pipe at exactly once a year, every October for the last 7 years. I think this may be something to look into. Also the rear wheel wells rusting out along with shocks. I once again have holes in the right wheel well
Last year I noticed the rust around doors and wheels, im retired & a disabled 77 yr old man so I drive it once a week. Over the summer I notice it handling funny, had it serviced and inspected. I was on route 30 a mile from my house it started shaking & making a horrible noise, the steering wheel was vibrating, I barely managed getting wheels to turn it off the hwy, I thought to myself, this [xxx] thing feels like it's gonna fall apart, home was 1/4 mile, noise & vibrating continued, struggled turning wheel into my driveway, parked it, got out and front passenger side wheel is tilted way out. My son jacked it up and said my lower control arm is completely rusted out or thru and broken off and it is all rusted bad underneath & said it's scrape. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Akron, OH, USA