While traveling in Virginia last summer on I-81, the body end of the rear passenger side shock-absorber came loose from the frame. We stopped shortly after we felt and heard something that was clearly abnormal and a mechanic told us the car was so rusted in that wheel well that the top of the shock had nothing to hold to. We were on a long trip, so we had the shock cut out until we got home. None of the other underbody areas showed significant rust, according to the mechanics we consulted, so we subsequently paid several hundred dollars to have a new wheel well fabricated and installed along with new rear shocks on both sides. We see no recall for this problem but on the web we quickly found several owners of the same model car describing the same problem - the passenger side rear wheel well rusting out. How can this not be a design issue? certainly it's significant a safety issue, especially since the area of severe rust was not apparent from looking at the car. Now the driver side is showing significant exterior rust at the lip of the wheel well, so we will be sending it in to have our mechanic see if the same problem is happening on the rear driver side. Help! thank you for anything you can do.

- Rome, NY, USA

The right rear shock broke loose as a result of extreme rust in the right rear wheel well around the shock tower.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

Right, rear wheel well is completely rusted out. Shock has become detached. Loud banging noise. Shock poking through to the trunk. Unsafe to drive.

- Campus, IL, USA

Ford Escape 2005 was up for inspection/emissions in pa. It was found to have excessive rust and corrosion to both rear wheel wells, needing full replacement prior to passing inspection. This is an issue that has been found repeatedly with 04-06 models. It is a safety hazard, as gone unnoticed, can cause the shocks to break through while driving. The expense of repair is estimated at over $1400. There is no current recall by Ford, yet, they are noted to have implemented body changes to fix this issue on subsequent model Escapes. An otherwise 'healthy' low mileage var could be deemed "totaled" due to such damage, yet no recall.

- Pgh, PA, USA

My wife was driving her 2005 Ford Escape and noticed a loud noise coming from the passenger side rear of the vehicle. The noise happened when she was hitting bumps in the road. Upon inspection of the vehicle, I notice a hole rusted through the wheel well on the rear passenger side. I removed the interior panel to discover the wheel well completely rusted through around the shock mount. This is an extremely dangerous situation!. I thoroughly checked all of the other shocks on the vehicle. This area is the only one affected.

- Howell, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear wheel well rusted through and punctured the suspension. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the wheel well needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 135,000. Updated 10/07/14 the consumer stated the shock absorber support tower broke free from the wheel well. Updated 03/12/2015

- Shell Lake , WI, USA

While driving the vehicle we noticed a noise from the front end. Took it to a local mechanic who stated the wheel veering was bad, though he could not change it do to the frame was rotted. Upon further inspection we noticed several locations on the frame are rotted through and the vehicle will not pass inspection.

- Winchester, NH, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact heard a loud clanking noise from the rear of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the rear passenger side wheel well was corroded and caused the shock absorber to separate from the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic, but parts were not available to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Veedersburg, IN, USA

I was driving when very loud banging start in the rear trunk area. I thought it was a worn shock. It was much worse than that. The shock mount was completely rusted away from the body. There is a large hole in the trunk area where you can see the tire from inside.

- Poplar Grove, IL, USA

While driving the 2005 Escape a noise was starting to come from the right rear of the car. Suddenly there was a loud clanking when ever a bump or even slight change in the road occurred. Almost ran off the road it was so sudden. It sounded like something was coming through the back of the car. When I got to work I couldn't find anything, but it continued. Finally I had someone look it over closely and they found that the right rear well was rusted out and the shock was not connected to anything on the car as there was nothing for it to connect to. Took it to 2 different body shops to check on the repairs needed one quoted $3-$5,000 the other said at least $3,000. Both said they had seen this exact same problem on this year vehicle several times in the past month! what is going on? the Ford dealership acted like they didn't know anything about it. Come on! something is up. Very disappointed in Ford. We have always had Ford, all of our vehicles are Ford and until recently we had not had any issues. Now we are questioning our loyalty, big time.

- Morrow, OH, USA

While driving our 2005 Ford Escape we heard loud banging noises coming from the right rear of the vehicle whenever we went over a bump. We inspected our Escape and discovered the right rear fender well is severely rusted out. We were extremely upset to realize our son had been driving this car and could have suffered a severe injury due to this structural defect. We researched this and discovered many other Ford Escape owners have had this same experience. With no official recall, we are forced to research possible repair; however, even is we repair this vehicle, we are not sure we would put our son or ourselves behind the wheel again.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger wheel well and shocks steel metal corroded and fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 117,000.

- Champion , MI, USA

My 2005 Ford Escape began making a rattling noise in the back passenger side of the vehicle. When I went over bumps, the noise became louder. I was unable to determine the problem until I noticed that the wheel well of my vehicle completely corroded away. Quickly the shock tower has gone through my trunk leaving a hole in my trunk into the wheel well of my vehicle. I learned of this when I was walking to my vehicle and saw some clothes from my trunk hanging out of the car through the wheel well. Through my research I have found that the Escapes from 2001-2004 have had these same issues, but have been recalled. I am confused as to why the 2005S have not yet been recalled. I have children that could literally fall through the vehicle from inside. This website, www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Escape/2005/body_paint/excessive_wheel_well_rust.shtml, describes the same issues I have encountered.

- Allen Park, MI, USA

I discovered that my rear passenger wheel well has completely rusted through. It is also rusting the frame of my Ford Escape. Rust seems to be a common problem with the Escape and there was a recall on the 01-04 models. Not sure why 05 is being ignored. This is a very very dangerous situation. My shock does not appear to even be connected at this point. There is nothing that I did to cause this problem. I took pictures and can send them to the proper person. I took it to a body shop and they told me the car is very dangerous to drive. I really have no choice at this point. If something terrible was to happen then I guess my next step would be to talk to a lawyer. I hope that this matter is looked into on the 2005 Ford Escape and the proper recall is placed immediately. I am not sure what is causing the rust and corrosion issue on the Escapes, but I can assure you that the 2005 models are just as damaged as the 2001-2004 models. I am very nervous to drive my car, but I also have to go to work to make a living and pay for the car. I hope this message gets to the right person and I hope immediate action is taken. A wreck, injury, or fatality can be prevented if something is done about this now. Please contact me for pictures of my wheel well and rust on the car. I hope to hear from someone soon.

- New Albany, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side wheel well was corroded and caused the shocks to detach from the vehicle. The dealer confirmed that the shocks were detached. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Youngsville, PA, USA

The vehicle had excessive rust especially in the wheel wells. This rust was so excessive that it caused the shocks and struts to break away from the car body itself. Multiple body shops and car dealers informed me that there was no way to repair the card since the rust damage was so severe there would be no way to correct the damage.

- Darien, IL, USA

While driving my Escape I heard a loud metal banging. Upon further investigation the entire wheel well is rotted out on the back passenger side. It's so bad that the entire shock is no longer connected. This vehicle only has 75,000 miles on it and has no real rust problem besides this. I feel like this should be a huge recall. I had my two year old in the backseat when it happened. Thankfully no accident was involved.

- New Castle, PA, USA

I drive a 2005 Ford Escape in a 'salt belt' state - New York. I was recently made aware per my former mechanic by right rear well / sub frame has completely corroded to where my shock tower hits the inside of my trunk. The replacement is over $1050. I know that the 2001-2004 Ford Escapes were recalled for this same reason. This is highly dangerous to myself and other drivers on the road. It is unacceptable for the 2005's to not be recalled. See link below: www.carcomplaints.com/news/2014/Ford-recalls-Escape-rusted-subframe.shtml.

- Penfield, NY, USA

While washing the vehicle I noticed that the right rear inner wheel well had a large hole rusted through. It appears that it will soon affect the shock mount and cause the shock to break loose from the vehicle at the top mount, which could prove quite dangerous. In researching the problem, it seems there are many complaints for the same issue. Ford needs to issue a recall to remedy the problem.

- Waterford, MI, USA

Found rust hole in inner fender on passenger side wheel..then heard noise such as door not shut.reinspected to see shock not attached as rust ate away the support.all Escapes of this year have the same problem..Ford should be held accountable for this and any damage that occurs.very dangerous.

- Massillon, OH, USA