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:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
101,249 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.
Mid day, mild weather in the 70's, power steering went out without warning, almost had an accident as I was in a turn, it's really hard to turn this vehicle. Why is there not a recall for this significant safety issue?
Sub-frame rust problem. There was a recall on 2001 to 2004 Ford Escape for this problem. Ford Motor Company has recalled Escape crossovers from model years 2001-2004 in states that use a lot of road salt. In affected vehicles, part of the car could suffer damage from rust and even lose steering control.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving at 35 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the rear of the vehicle failed to stay in position and veered left or right. The engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact noticed that there was corrosion around the rear passenger shocks and wheel house area. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000.
While driving, I noticed that my steering wheel was not aligned. I didn't notice it was like this until I was already driving down the road. When I stopped, I checked my tires and thought that they looked slightly off. It seemed as if the passenger side tire was pointed slightly outward. The car sat in my driveway for the next couple of days and it appeared to have gotten worse. I took my car out for a test drive and noticed that each time I turned the wheel, the tires screeched. I took the car to a shop and after giving it an evaluation, they said that the control rod was rusted and starting to break. After some research online, it looked like there was a recall on 2001-2004 Ford Escapes for the same issue that I was having.
I had purchased a used Escape, in very good condition, in Aug 2014. I bought from the original owner, a family member, with only 55K mileage over their 10 years of ownership (they were upgrading). I drove the car an additional 1,500 miles here (to 56K, total) over my first two months of ownership, and the car had passed all its regular annual inspections. Suddenly one night on the road the car's engine began chugging when I attempted to travel beyond 45mph, and a blinking yellow check engine light appeared. Upon restarting that indicator did not come back on, but the engine was still sluggish and so I attempted to coast home at managed speeds (as I was only a mile away) to have a mechanic check it out during business hours. I didn't even make it home. The engine light went on full and I soon lost power completely, with barely enough notice to pull off the 6 lane highway. The sudden power loss seemed very unsafe as I had to steer manually with no power steering nor acceleration. After the car stalled out it would not even restart for a long period of time. I towed it to a mechanic the next day and they read me a long list of error codes that had been identified, all of which went back to the power control module (PCM) failure, apparently, as described in tsb 10-18-10. I have been told by two different mechanics, including my local Ford dealership, that it would cost at least $2,000 to service the PCM and replace all affected spark plugs, coils and cylinders. Despite the very low mileage below the 80K PCM warranty, the vehicle reacted rather sporadically and unpredictably and it created an unsafe condition. I would have liked to have been informed sooner of this known issue. There should have been a recall notice since the PCM is known to cause a hazard. I now see that there are 113 complaints logged at carcomplaints.com, citing similar PCM and/or engine problems.
- Haddon Township, NJ, USA
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I was driving on the freeway in the fast lane at 60mph and a car cut me short and brake so I applied my brake my wheel had yanked to the left and I tried to gain control of the wheel by pulling it to the right but it yanked again to the left causing me to hit into the median due to the impact my car turned over and dragged across the other 3 lanes and titled back over. Although my car is totaled I sustained minor injury to my neck and left side. Also my airbags did not deploy.
While traveling approximately 35 mph, the rear passenger side shock punctured through a completely rusted out rear wheel well on my 2005 Ford Escape. The car is undrivable and the auto repair/body shop quoted me $3,000 to repair this. I contacted Ford and they stated that only the 2001-2004 models are covered under a recall for this exact same problem. I have researched this problem and have read hundreds of people with the same problem..
The vehicle's rear passenger wheel well rusted out completely. This allowed the rear shock to become dangerously loose and produced a loud banging noise. Had the shock come loose there would have been a substantial loss of steering. Car is now unsafe to drive.
Based on local service of my vehicle, I was informed that the power return line must be replaced at the dealership. There is information from Ford corporation that describes a steering noise (clunk and rattle) for all Ford Escapes (2005 models) stated in a document (#tsb 06-17-3) by Ford. Part number to be replaced is 6L8Z-3A713-K is this something that is dangerous and has the company made a decision on recalling the vehicle?
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.
I purchased car in January 2005, first time of this incident was in 2007, November, but it has been an ongoing problem during the winter months more so than summer. I am so nervous about having an accident I just want it fixed. I have it at a Ford dealer right now and it is going to cost me $650 to have this repaired. I certainly hope this will fix the problem, but I do not have faith here.
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.
This safety issue requires immediate attention by both the NHTSA and Ford: 61 NHTSA complaints filed to date: '04- 16; '05- 45. Vehicle taken to Ford dealership for service. Service notified that a forward lower ball joint was failing, no other defects were noted in the detailed visual inspection. It was replaced two days later. The following day of the repair, on a daily commute between tol to dtw, the right rear shock tower separated while driving at 70 mph. Vehicle began dog-tracking. Initial inspection did not reveal the hidden damage caused by corrosion at the welded seams of the inner wheel well due to an underbody coating. Upon removing the undercoating, very easily by hand, two large sections removed, revealed the shock was penetrating the interior of the vehicle and was no longer being structurally supported by the vehicles uni-body frame. The large sections removed would have caused tire failure at highway speeds by puncture or hazard to other following vehicles. The separation of the shock tower from the body, did cause the vehicle to jerk at the time of failure, creating a loud popping sound and causing potential hazard as the vehicle steered into other lanes of traffic at highway speeds (70 mph). The vehicle is rendered inoperable due to the catastrophic nature of the failure. Local Ford dealership states they are uncomfortable repairing the structure and not aware of any manufacture recalls. In contacting their sister dealership, they have previously repaired this defect, and continued on stating this failure is a known issue with 2004 - 2006 Escapes. The failed panel is available, P/N:part 7L827827886A. A reinforcement piece is also available. See example picture here: imageshack.us/A/img854/6430/wheelwell2.jpg facebook site concerning this safety issue: www.facebook.com/pages/2005-Ford-Escape-2004-2006/397923900236108.
The right rear upper shock mount completely rusted thru the trunk area&was protruding up about a foot into trunk area-very glad I wasn't going fast when this happened!!most likely would have lost control of vehicle!!!!!!!!!this is one of Ford best ideas ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!very thin sheet metal with a thicker piece welded to it to support 1 side of a vehicle.yeah, that is common sense at the finest!!!!! thankyou Ford engineers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!&designers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! these same common sense people hopefully put out a recall so people can get it fixed&get some money back!! I did have mine fixed right away_it's the only vehicle I have.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was an oil leak from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the high power steering hose needed to be replaced. The contact was unable to have the vehicle repaired because the parts needed to complete the repair were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 90,000.
Was on an access road onto interstate 4 in tampa, car completely shut down and I was able to barely steer it to the side of the road, since it was a large overpass I had more than typical room to get the car stopped. Later I was told by the Ford dealership that coils were damaged and PCM computer went out. I checked carcomplaints.com and I found numerous complaints for this same issue with cost to fix it from $1300 to $2700. Evidently Ford is aware of this total engine shut down problem that is caused by a computer failure. In most cases people are driving the car and it completely stalls with little or no warning and minimal maneuverability. I was fortunate it happened on the overpass and not on the busy interstate.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was very difficult to steer and would sporadically shake violently. The dealer made two attempts to duplicate the failure by replacing the rack and pinion however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 203,481 and the approximate failure mileage was 79,500.
Loud squeaky noise from right front end. Took to mechanic. They say both front grease boots are cracked which allows dirt, dust, etc. To get in and up around the ball joints and tie rod assemblies. The right front ball joint had gone bad due to this boot crack so we had to replace it. They recommend replacing both tie rods, boots and ball joints, but we could only afford to replace the ball joint that was bad at this time because we just spent $3350 putting a new transmission in the car. This vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it. Unbelievable!!!! what is Ford building these cars with"?" I suspect the cheapest parts they can get regardless of their quality so they can make more money. In the meantime the average working family has to pay twice for a vehicle's parts that should not go bad so quickly.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oakland, CA, USA