CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004 Ford Escape looks pretty good compared to other Ford Escape model years, but still has a trend of transmission problems, and engine problems from the NHTSA complaint data — so it's not a model year we can recommend.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
114,076 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.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle violently veered to the right without warning. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure) but the remedy failed to prevent the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). While having the repairs performed, the failure listed in the noticed occurred. Due to corrosion, the cross brace that was installed failed to support the weight and fractured, rendering the part unusable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the manufacturer would only provide recall repairs once. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side inner fender well was rusted due to excessive corrosion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.
- Bloomington, IN, USA
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Right rear shock breaking free due to rusted out inner fender well. Called Ford. They wont back the problem even though thousands of owners have complained and there are currently no replacement parts for repair. This is an unsafe situation and causes a swerve in stability. It is also causing repairs to be made unsafely with cob job fixes. It needs to be addressed with Ford to do something about it...updated 08/27/15 updated 12/3/15
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure) was received in may of 2014. In June of 2014, the vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the subframe and the lower control arm. The remedy included installation of a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace. The recall remedy was not performed on the vehicle. In July of 2015, while driving at various speeds an abnormal pumping sound was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the lower control arm failed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,450.
The car began making a loud creaking that I suspected was the back window or something inside. It got worse after a couple of days. I pulled over and checked those and then the wheel wells, and the back right wheel well was rusted so badly that the shock mount was nearly completely detached. It detached the rest of the way over the course of the 2 mile drive to my home. This is apparently a common problem with this make and model, especially in the 201-2004 range, and can affect handling. It has been referred to as a factory defect and a recall was issued for this in some vehicles, but not mine. The local Ford dealership will not look at it because any repair would require alteration to the body, so they've referred me to a body shop.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving at 15 mph, the vehicle independently veered to the right. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the front passenger tire leaned outwards. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The contact brought the vehicle to dealer for the recall remedy. The mechanic stated that the vehicle was unsafe to operate because the subframe was extremely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 143,000.
The right rear passenger wheel well rusted out, causing the sudden dislocation/breaking of the shock mount which in turned caused damage to my tire, and wore through the interior of the car. The damage is extensive and upon researching the issue, it appears that this exact thing has happened (only on the right rear side of the vehicle) to thousands of 2004/2005/2006 Escapes. This has been a known issue since at least 20011/2012 and is a dangerous defect that is usually not cost effective to fix, based on the mileage of the cars at the time of the problem. Because the left rear does not experience this issue, it must be a defect in manufacturing and Ford really needs to step up and offer a recall to fix it as well as reimbursing owners who've experienced the problem and chosen to do repairs to a vehicle in otherwise great running order.
Right rear wheel well completely rusted out and shock mount which was bolted to it fell and is hanging next to and on the wheel along with a ball of sharp twisted metal from the wheel well. Heard noises from back of car past month or so but thought it was something in the cargo compartment. Then went over pothole and loud bang like the exhaust pipe fell and was dragging. Then a burning rubber smell. The metal piece is about to pierce the tire and the shock itself is hanging and banging against tire. Car is undrivable and may be unfixable in that the fix would be worth more than the car. I of course can not get another car right now due to financial reasons so without a car now because of this. The other wheel wells seem fine, no rust. Though there is a few rust spots on the bottom of the running boards and one of the doors (which there should not be in this day and age any rust) to have this immense amount of rust only in one well tells me something is wrong with the design or the paint job at the factory. If a tire blows out it could kill someone traveling at highway speeds in an SUV. This is a defect, not aging. Needs to be a recall. Though the car is 11 I have less than 90,000 on it. I should not have to trash the car due to body rot at 90,000. If this was due to aging or weather all the wheel wells would be like this.
Rear passenger wheel well where the shock mounts to the body is completely rusted out and detached from the upper body of the vehicle. I was traveling on the interstate at about 65mph when this piece broke loose from the rest of the body. This is very dangerous, and almost caused me a serious accident on a busy highway. There are hundreds of other complaints filed just in this database alone with the same exact issue, rust/corrosion of the rear passenger wheel well where the shock mounts to the body. The Ford dealership that I had my vehicle towed to told us that they have recently seen 4 or 5 other Escapes that have the same exact issue. Please investigate, this is a serious safety concern.
I was driving and the rear end of the truck sounded like it was falling apart. When I stopped and looked the passenger side rear wheel well was completely rotted out and the metal plate that holds the shock in place was hanging and banging around. The left side is completely intact. I took it to causeway collision to look at it and they said its a defect and probably not fixable. The truck has high mileage but runs great.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving at approximately 40 mph, there was a loud noise emerging from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear passenger strap mount was rusted and the rear passenger wheel well needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000. Updated 6/8/15 the consumer stated the rear passenger side wheel well rusted and created a big hole, which caused the top stress mount to fall down. Updated 06/11/15
Had been noticing noises when I drove over bumps and rough surfaces coming from the back right side of the vehicle. I hit an unavoidable hole in the road today and heard a loud thump from the rear right side of the vehicle. I proceeded to my sister's house where my brother in-law checked the vehicle and found that the strut/shock had broke through the horribly rusted wheel well and was hitting the underside of the plastic wheel well cover. This could have been a disaster had it happened a few days ago while I was on the freeway. I have an appointment to take the vehicle in to see if it can be fixed. In the mean time I have no vehicle to drive as it is not drivable. I see from numerous complaints that this is a continuing problem with this vehicle. Why is Ford not being held accountable for this issue? I may have to get another vehicle that I am not prepared to do. This is a safety issue that I feel should be addressed.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving at 30 mph, the contact heard a noise coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the air bag and seat belts warning lights illuminated and the front driver side seat belt failed to retract. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the rear passenger inner fender well corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the seat belt pretensioner connectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.
Air bag light is continually on for many years - feel a safety issue I haven't received a recall notice on the airbags no crash rear inner fender wells rust through on 2004 Ford Escape models according to dealership- manufacturer issue - would like replaced - safety issue my entire family owns Ford vehicles. My father retired from Ford, canton, Ohio we have always been proud to be Ford owners.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel turned independently with a loud abnormal noise. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the passenger side control arm separated and the entire frame would need to be replaced. The failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA