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.
There are two specific but related problems reported to Ford without resolution: 1. dome light assembly - switch burnt: In early 2014 the manual slide switch on the dome light shorted out and melted ? burning the inside of the assembly. Thus, the switch would no longer operate properly. It was disconnected by the owner. A Ford replacement assembly was purchased in September, 2014, which replaced the defective assembly. The assembly had an engineering change which eliminated the manual slide switch. Owner has pictures and has retained the defective assembly. Note: The melting of the slide switch and burning of the plastic housing could have ignited the headliner. Very dangerous. 2. air bag fuse: When replacing the dome light assembly, it was noticed that a fuse had blow due to the switch melting. The fuse panel was accessed and it was verified that fuse #25 (demand lamps) was open. A spare fuse, per the owner?S manual, was moved from position #32 (spare) to position #25. The new dome light now worked properly. However, the next day it was noticed that the SRS (safety restraint system) light was on which indicated a possible problem with the SRS. The car was brought to the dealer on September 30, 2014. It was determined by the dealer that fuse position #32 is really not a spare as indicated in the owner"S manual " it is instead the fuse that controls the restraints control module circuit which when it was removed caused the SRS light to appear. (of course the dealer charged for the service!) subject vehicle owner?S manual can be found online.) note: The owner?S manual must be changed to reflect the appropriate fuse locations. If someone had to use the spare fuse incorrectly marked, while driving remotely, and then subsequently got into an accident, the airbags would not deploy! very dangerous.
When I started my vehicle, a warning light in the shape of a wrench stayed on. I look in the manual and this said powertrain. Upon further checking, I found this is a problem in these Escapes. When I stop at the railroad track or at a red light, the vehicle will surge forward when I take off. The shifting is rough at times. I also just had to have the dome light in the vehicle replaced. This, too, I was told was a common problem. The lights would not work when I opened the door and also the dash lights would go off and on. This was a $103.88 repair job and the dome light, after being replaced, is loose and does not fit properly. When this having to be replaced frequently, I would think there would be a replacement light that fit the roof correctly.
This is an update to previous incident. $10486901 having spent the previous ($900) to find the problem, customer took the vehicle to a Ford dealership repair shop. They agreed with the other mechanics that the instrument cluster was defective, but said that they could not give anything in writing till I paid their diagnostic fee ($135) and saw for themselves. I agreed. Now I have spent another ($1120) to replace the instrument cluster. I also have in writing from the Ford dealership that the speed cannot be viewed while driving (it reads 0 mph) and is a safety issue. Contact me for the next step.
- Mississauga, NY, USA
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When driving the instrument cluster fails. All the dashboard lights come on, the speedometer/fuel gauge/etc move to 0 or the far left. Looking online for Ford instrument panel failure, there are hundreds of complaints about it. Checked with the mechanic who says it is a common failure with Ford. They have a bulletin about it but it will not construe a recall until a death or injury from a crash related to the defective equipment. This may also fall under a tort lawsuit.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tampa, FL, USA