CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Escape has problems where the engine shuts down while driving. Ford finally issued a September 2014 recall. Time will tell if the recall fix really solves the problem.
However the 2005 Escape also has a defect where the PCM (Power Control Module) fries at around 100k miles. Ford extended the PCM warranty to 80,000 miles, but only after most owners were past the mileage limit. Now owners are on the hook for the average repair cost of over $2,000 (!!)
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
116,438 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 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph over a pot hole, a loud banging noise was heard from the rear passenger's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who discovered a hole in the rear passenger's side wheel well and a detached shock absorber. The mechanic indicated the defect was due to rusting of the wheel well. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.
On 2/20/14 I was traveling 65 mph on state route 219 in boston, NY, when a loud banging noise suddenly began to occur in the rear of my vehicle. This noise scared me and forced me to pull over on the shoulder of the expressway to inspect the rear area of my vehicle (while traffic continued at 65 mph). I could not see anything at that time so I slowly and cautiously drove my vehicle home. Upon further inspection, my husband found that the right rear(passenger) side rear shock had become totally detached from the completely rusted out inner wheel well and was protruding into the inside of my vehicle. Excessive rust could be seen along with several holes that had once been part of the wheel well. My vehicle is unable to be driven and is too costly to fix. After doing some research, I found that I am not the only owner of 2005 Ford Escape with this issue. This needs to be a recall! fortunately, this defect did not cause a serious accident because this is an integral component of my vehicles suspension. This 'defect' needs to be rectified before someone dies or becomes seriously injured.
Noticed a rattling sound on the right rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection, found most of the rear wheel well where the shock absorber mounts to be rusted, and parts of the metal actually gone. The top of the right rear shock is basically not attached to any structure, as the metal around the mount has completed rusted. Could see the backside of the vehicle interior where the metal has rusted away.
Noticed a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle while traveling on a rural road about 50 mph. When arrived at destination, noticed severe rust in wheel well near shock mount and through to storage compartment. Online research indicates that this problem is common and that Ford is aware of the problem but not doing anything for owners yet.
The rear right fender well (around the shock) is rusted and has deteriorated so badly that it has become detached from the body of the car. There's a banging noise when driving the vehicle --- this problem makes for unsafe driving condition -- if something breaks or the tire blow out because of this it can cause a terrible accident.
- Chicago, IL, USA
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This is a 2005 Ford Escape with the same problem reported by hundreds of other people on facebook, Ford forums, this agencies own website etc. The rear right inner wheel well has totally disintegrated leaving the top of the shock absorber unconnected to anything. Ford have not carried out a recall for this dangerous situation though apparently the parts involved were modified on newer vehicles to prevent this happening. The problem appears worse in northern states with bad winters where salty water becomes trapped inside the waterproofing sealant and the wheel well accelerating the rusting process. Updated 04/16/14
I am here to write an incident about my my right rear suspension breaking away from the strut tower support bracket. It was all rusted out. The left side of the car is fine. I have seen quite a lot of these same problems on the internet. When we took our car in to the Ford dealership they called it a catastrophic failure. Car was unsafe too drive. We feel this is a safety concern for owners of this vehicle and, the public.
2005 Ford Escape made loud banging noise from rear passenger wheel area. Upon inspection noticed shock mount rusted away from body. Large hole that was completely rusted. Nothing structural to hold shock in place. Ford dealer couldn't fix. Told to take to auto body shop. They ordered part and Ford has it on back order.....
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear shock mount became detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the rear shock housing was perforated due to rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
I own a 2005 Ford Escape 87,00 miles, garage kept. I bought it new from the Ford dealer. So I hear a loud banging noise and take it into a shop to get checked out. Shop calls me in awe" he said that right side inter fender wheel well and shock tower has completely rusted away and is no longer connected to the vehicle?he also said you can see to the inside of the vehicle. He said in all his years, hes never seen anything like it. He said that a 1990 car should not have this damage. So I start to google and low and behold hundreds of complaints of the same thing. It seems to be a major issue with 2004, 2005 and some 2006 Ford Escape models and Ford will not recall or make good on their poor craftsmanship. I contacted the dealer where I bought my vehicle and spoke to a repair manager who said he will call me back"so after a few hours (he googled himself), he calls and says tough luck"have a nice day. There are all kinds of pictures on the net that look like my car".I took my own pictures but this is appalling and Ford needs to be help accountable. This is a structure problem and very dangerous. I will probably have a hard time finding someone to even attempt to repair this as the don't want the liability (especially seeing I have 2 car seats in my vehicle.)
The rear passenger side tire-well rusted out. It rusted where the shock is attached. This entire piece rusting caused the shock to no longer be attached to my vehicle. We later discover the accelerated corrosion was from faulty drains in the vehicle. Ford acknowledges the drain problem but will not take responsibility for the expedited rusting. With faulty drains it is only a matter of time before the other tire-well also rusts out. Luckily I discovered the problem when I did, I had been planning on towing a uhaul cross-country two days out. If I had been towing and the shock gave out, the mechanic at the dealership said my vehicle would have started to roll.
The passenger side rear wheel well rusted through causing the shock absorber to float freely. There is a section aprox 24 inches long by 2-6 inches wide where the metal has rusted out and is completely gone. This vehicle makes a hard slam whenever driven over small bumps. The shock has come through the plastic panel and put a large crack/hole in it. This vehicle has become unsafe to drive and excessively expensive to repair. This vehicle is from Michigan.
Loud banging sound from right rear wheel sounding like loose muffler upon further inspection I found the inner wheel well with the shock mount to be completely rusted away. Trying to get it fixed and no one can put a price on the repair and most body shops are afraid to do it. Called Ford customer service about this very unsafe problem and they don't want nothing to do with it.
2005 Ford Escape. I have noticed rust on rear fender wells in the past. In summer 2013, I found a hole into the passenger area from the rear passenger side wheel well. Filled hole and attempted to undercoat to prevent additional rust. December 26, 2013, while driving I hit a bump and heard a loud banging noise in back right hand side of the vehicle. Driving became difficult after the bump, so I stopped to investigate the issue. The shock had separated from the uni-body/wheel well due to corrosion. The noise was the shock hitting the plastic interior of the vehicle. I did some research on a replacement panel and I found this is an ongoing issue with the Ford Escape with numerous examples of this same issue. It appears that the right passenger side wheel well of the Ford Escape has a design flaw causing the shock to separate from the uni-body. Driving become difficult during this failure as the vehicle is riding on the spring and the shock is not able to reduce the tire bounce.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact was driving approximately 10 mph over a speed bump when a loud noise came from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that a three inch hole was discovered on the passenger's side rear wheel well, exposing a damaged shock absorber. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the defect was not repairable. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The failure mileage was 160,000.
2005 Ford Escape...the right rear fender well has rusted out around the shock mount, ready or close to breaking free. First body shop wouldn't even quote a repair. Googled issue and found 100's of other owners of 2005's with same condition...photos on facebook matched my cars situation exactly. Why no recall?
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while sitting inside of her vehicle, she began to smell exhaust fumes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they stated that the subframe had corroded and created a hole inside the rear end of the vehicle. The subframe was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
2005 Ford Escape limited has a safety issue so bad that it's unsafe to drive. The right rear fender well has rusted out around the shock mount, ready or close to breaking free.
After a recent road trip, I heard a clunking noise coming from the rear passenger side of vehicle. Checked items in cargo area, spare tire, jack and even checked to make sure back seat was secure. Clunking noise was the shock hitting the underside of vehicle. The shock assembly was no longer attached, it was rusted under the wheel well around the shock assembly. So with every bump in the road, it was clanking around. Vehicle was not safe to drive for fear that the shock would break and cause a tire blow out or worse cause an accident. I took it to a private auto body shop which cost me $900 to repair the damage. The drivers side wheel well is doing the same thing and I may not have a fuel tank eventually. This needs to be addressed and taken care of. I love my vehicle and love not having a car payment too.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sharon, WI, USA