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CarComplaints.com Notes: With questionable safety ratings, a faulty power control module (PCM) and a rear subframe that can rust out, the first model year Escape is known for problems. But the worst one of all? A design flaw that carried through multiple model years and caused dangerous unintended acceleration.

A lack of clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector meant the throttle could get stick open when the accelerator was fully depressed. Following a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, NHTSA opened an investigation and eventually issued a recall to fix the sticky throttles in the 2001–2004 model years.

Even with the throttles fixed, the 2001 model year could still have trouble stopping due to multiple problems with leaking brakes.

2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,697 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.

2001 Ford Escape windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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2001 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #3

Oct 032011

Escape

  • 120,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle in rainy conditions, she noticed that the windshield wipers would not function. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that a plastic piece within the windshield wiper's motor assembly failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 00V387002 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Bullhead City , AZ, USA

problem #2

Jan 012010

Escape

  • 95,000 miles
The rear window of my 2001 Ford Escape that was parked in my attached garage exploded sometime during the night. The window was not cracked at any time. I drove it at around 10:30pm less than 1/4 mile the previous night and parked it in the garage. The next day around 1:30pm, upon entering my garage, I noticed something black behind my car - turned out to be pieces of my rear window on the floor and inside the vehicle. I noticed many customer complaints on line regarding this problem. Ford has not issued any type of recall or offered any legitimate explanation. Called avis Ford in southfield, mi - no satisfactory result - only $402 cost of repair - claims never heard of this problem before. I am concerned about the possible danger of injury to passengers in the rear seat if someone had been in the car.

- Lathrup Village, MI, USA

problem #1

Jan 222002

Escape 6-cyl

  • 92 miles
There were numerous problems. The egr sensor (dpfe) was replaced along with the sop driver side outer belt molding, fuel pump, sway bar links and iac. There was a loud noise coming from the driver's side window, water leaked around the tailgate window, the vehicle was hard to start, the iac was sticking, the driver's side window squeaked and rattled, the vehicle hesitated upon starting, there was play in the front sway bar links, the coolant light stayed on, there was a crack around the oil pan and the oil drain plug was problematic, and the accelerator pedal was sticking.

- Mound, MN, USA

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