The rear passenger side wheel well rusted out where the shock attaches. The shock assembly is now just loose and rattling. Looking online, many many people are experiencing the same failure on 2004, 2005, and 2006 Escapes. This makes the vehicle unsafe to drive.

- Saint Clairsville, OH, USA

While driving on the highway, we hit a bump in the road and almost immediately there was a loud banging noise. Upon inspection, I found that the rear right wheel well was completely rusted out. The shock strut is now loose and banging against the car's frame, the tire and the interior of the rear cargo area. I've been researching this online and notice that this is a rather common problem with other Ford Escapes in the midwest. It is always the same complaint, rusted out wheel well on the rear passenger side. Someone need to investigate Ford because this is too common an issue and is clearly a design flaw. Repair for this issue can run up to $2,000.

- Lombard, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving at various speeds, a loud noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the shocks were corroded through to the wheel well. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

- Mars, PA, USA

Driving down street and ran over rough spot in pavement and heard a thump from the back of the vehicle. Next day drove over railroad tracks and there was a loud banging noise. I checked under vehicle at right rear wheel opening (passenger side) to find most of the wheel well rusted and gone from the shock mount location to the rear most part of the wheel well. The bucket or bracket that mounts the top of the shock absorber to the wheel well and chassis is just floating in mid air. When I look through the side compartment in the back of the vehicle I can see the top of the tire and the pavement and shock absorber.

- Egin, IL, 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 rear right upper shock mount felt off so there is no where we can put the shock. Therefore, it has a big hole on the fender well that you can see the inside this is something that should not had happen plus on the left side you can see rust cracks in the fender well and continues to the upper shock mount. I think this is something that the company has to address and fixed it because it is a safety issue.

- Genoa, IL, 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

Had rear shocks replaced on my 2005 Ford Escape and was told that mounts for the shocks are rusted out. The shocks are detached from the frame due to poor design by Ford. The car is not safe to drive as the shock bounces into the rear interior when moving. There is a recall from 2001 - 2004 Escapes but not 2005! for the exact same problem!

- Wheaton, IL, USA

Passenger side rear wheel well has rusted through compromising the connection to the strut.

- Euclid, OH, USA

Driving less than 30mph-hit a manhole cover and heard very loud bang in back of car. Discovered inside rear passenger side wheel well completely disintegrated. Shock barely holding on. Still waiting on estimate to fix. Based on the other over 100 complaints of the same nature, not going to bother calling Ford.

- New Brighton, PA, USA

I was traveling at 60 mph on a highway interchange. I hydroplaned, lost control of my vehicle, and hit a guard rail with the front driver's side head on. My vehicle bounced off the guard rail, traveled backwards, and hit the guardrail on the other side of the road on the driver's side rear. The car spun 90 degrees and came to a rest with the passenger side against the guard rail, opposing highway traffic flow. The airbags did not deploy, despite a 60-mph collision. The suspension, wheel, and shock fell off in the collision.

- Dayton, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger shock fractured without any warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who indicated that the failure was not rust related but rather that there was a manufacturer defect with the drive train. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V165000 (structure). The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was not available.

- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA

While traveling approximately 35 mph, the rear passenger side shock punctured through a completely rusted out rear wheel well on my 2005 Ford Escape. The car is undrivable and the auto repair/body shop quoted me $3,000 to repair this. I contacted Ford and they stated that only the 2001-2004 models are covered under a recall for this exact same problem. I have researched this problem and have read hundreds of people with the same problem..

- Kenosha, WI, USA

Right rear wheel rusted apart and shock absorber is not attached any longer. The car is not drivable to safety concern.

- Ingleside , IL, USA

We noticed a noise coming from the back right rear side of our Ford Escape especially when you would go over small bumps in the road. A quick look underneath, we noticed a lot of rust. We called the Ford dealership to get it in to be checked out and upon us describing the problem, they said it is most likely the right rear shock mount. A couple of days later, we received a call and found out that is the problem along with an estimate to repair it (15 hours and $1,200 approx.). the dealership said that this is a very common problem that they see in Escapes from years 2005-07. We reached out to Ford because this is not only a major safety issue but the vehicle will not pass our state inspection. We were told that there is no recall at this time nor would they help assist with any of the repairs, at this time. They told us to hold on to our receipt and if there is a recall, that they would reimburse us. Very disappointed.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The vehicle's rear passenger wheel well rusted out completely. This allowed the rear shock to become dangerously loose and produced a loud banging noise. Had the shock come loose there would have been a substantial loss of steering. Car is now unsafe to drive.

- Oregon, OH, USA

The right rear wheel well has rusted out. The strut is no longer attached to the vehicle. When driving there is a knocking sound. When investigated at the repair shop, this was the diagnosis.

- Flossmoor, IL, USA

Back right passenger wheel well rusted through. Shock is holding on by a thread. Makes loud banging noise when any bump is hit. I was told vehicle is unsafe to drive by local mechanic.

- Westville, NJ, USA

The passenger side rear shock tower completely rusted away making the vehicle unsafe to drive.the rest of the vehicle is spotless and we keep it very clean.this is a manufacturing defect.

- Monongahela, PA, USA