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:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
111,019 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.
Rusted out passenger side rear wheel well. I do* live in the rust belt. Was driving on residential street and heard a loud noise from the affected area when going over a bump. The noises increased during driving for the next 2 days. I finally got under there to look at it and found the shock tower mount had nearly separated from the rest of the wheel well, and the entire wheel well is completed rotted and deteriorating. The vehicle is unsafe to drive in this condition.
After hitting a bump in the road loud noises started coming from the rear passenger wheel area. After getting home I discovered that the rear passenger wheel well was completely rusted out and the shock absorber is no longer attached to the vehicle body. I have found multiple issues identical to this in an online search. This is a known issue with the 2005 Escape and should be covered under a safety recall. There are existing recalls on 2001-2005 Ford Escapes for rust issues.
The rear shock tower blew completely threw inside of SUV blowing debris everywhere my daughter's car seat was located on that side she could have been hurt or killed an SUV began hopping to that side when it happened an almost lost control the metal it was mounted to is paper thin the title is thicker. This a serious safety issue its structural an a recall should be made it is a common problem from what I've read why has nothing been done an when I went to local dealer I was told 6 grand to fix it it only books at highest 4500 for the value of SUV I feel very disrespected an brushed off an they didn't even look at SUV Ford or someone needs to do something about this no one should have to experience this or pay mine is in mint condition other than this an great SUV the drive side is starting to crack as well this side contains fuel hose an I don't believe they even sell replacement panel for driver side I may be wrong. An I was driving on main road with my family taking a normal left hand turn no bumps or sharp turn at speed of 35 to 40 posted highway speed
Driving down the road and truck starting making a loud knocking noise in the back. When we got home, we looked underneath and found major rusting in passenger wheel well. Shock completely rusted free and bouncing up to hit the plastic inside the vehicle. Took it to body shop mechanic and upon inspection, he showed us that the frame itself is rusted through and vehicle cannot legally be fixed and is technically not even safe to drive. Less than 133,000 miles and bought used 2 years ago, we are very frustrated with the quality of this vehicle. Searched online and found that this is a common problem with this truck and should have be recalled. They recalled years 2001-2004 for the same issues, but did not include the 2005. Shame on Ford Motor Company for such poor workmanship! please help!!!
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
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2005 Ford Escape. Consumer writes seeking reimbursement for vehicle repairs. The consumer stated the computer control module caused the coils to fail. The consumer stated the there was a tsb for the failure and believed this should be a recall. The vehicle had to be pushed out of the highway and into a parking lot.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 5 mph, a whistling noise and a burning odor emitted through the vents of the vehicle. The contact coasted to the side of the road and noticed that the inner wheel well on the rear passenger side was corroded. The contact immediately called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall, and did not offer further assistance. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 177,250.
Purchased vehicle in April 2017 2 months later heard a banging noise from rear passenger side upon further investigation discovered the wheel well rusted out and the shock had came through. I continued driving it because I couldn't afford to fix it and it was my only car now there is no wheel well left and had to remove the shock.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving 15 mph over a bump in the road, the contact heard an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to lasco Ford (2525 owen rd, fenton, mi) where it was diagnosed that the shock absorber went through the wheel well and would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
2005 Ford Escape. Heard bump followed by noise while driving. Checked car, found passenger side rear wheel well broken, upper attachment plate for shock absorber now in vehicle interior. Appears that wheel well rusted out from the inside: Hidden from outside by undercoating in wheel well and hidden from inside by vehicle interior panels. 04 and earlier models recalled for same problem. Why no recall on 05 and newer? many hundreds of complaints online for this problem.
Was driving at 40 miles an hour hit slight bump in road.sounded like whole back end falling off with loud bang. Stopped got out checked back end on right rear subframe holding strutt tower had seperated from frame causing shock and housing to come up inside of car. This complaint has been brought to Ford attention. An they refuse to do anything about it. They should be made to fix this as many people are being forced to get rid of a good vehicle that would still be drivable if this was repaired. We shouldn;T be forced to get rid of a good car because they don;T want to make it right. I am filing this complaint like many others have I hope you just don't file it away. They honored this problem in 2001-2004 but then after that ended recalls for it this is not right.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving 55 mph, the front passenger wheel protruded outward without warning. The contact was able to safely pull the vehicle off the road. The vehicle was not towed. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact reached out to an independent mechanic who went to the scene and diagnosed that the lower control arm failed due to corrosion of the front subframe. The lower control arm needed to be replaced, which caused the wheel to wobble. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 163,000.
When I was driving I heard some loud noise and when I stopped I found that the rear passenger strut shot up thru the back interior of the car.this was due to the entire wheel well rusting out.I also was driving another time when the front end started to shake.I stopped and got out and seen that the front tires were facing sideways.the tie rod broke.I could have been seriously hurt or killed.
Front subframe (cradle) rusted through directly adjacent to the front mounting location for the lower control arm. Have only owned the vehicle for several months. Purchased from pallotta Ford in wooster, Ohio. Vehicle was being driven when the failure occurred. Fortunately, it was at low speed as the right front wheel jammed into the rear of the wheel well and brought the vehicle to an abrupt halt. Had it towed to my house where I inspected the front suspension and thereby observed the wastage of the front subframe.
Rust caused the separation of the lower control arm from the subframe of the vehicle. The vehicle was primarily used in a salt-belt state. The issue became evident after a small pothole caused the rear frame to puncture through the passenger rear wheelhouse into the cab of the vehicle causing a high-pitched squeal and steering difficulties..
The rear passenger wheel well has rotted out, leaving the shock hanging freely above the wheel, unattached. I first became aware of the issue as the car was driving on a city street, where I heard a loud bang in the back right of the car, and the noise continued as the car went over bumps. It was impossible to see the damage the rust was causing to the area until the shock mount came free, as the sealant used in the wheel well hid the damage-- approximately every 3-6 months I examine the car for rust and noticed no extreme damage to this area previously.
The rear passenger strut was completely rusted out of the wheel well. The vehicle was sent to a Ford dealer to install a "kit" and weld the strut bracket to the wheel well. I found the problem after hearing significant clunking noise in the back as I drove.
Heard a banging in the trunk area on the passenger side, checked it out and the whole wheel well was rusted out, the shock was barley on. I was on a city street. Took it to where I bought it and they gave me an estamet of $1,145.99. I am wondering why this VIN is not covered in a recall.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bailey, CO, USA