2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

I HAVE @75000 MILES ON MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 4WD. I STARTED HEARING A NOISE AND STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT 50 MPH AND A NOISE AS I SLOW DOWN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO AND THEY EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED IT AS BEING THE TRANSFER CASE. ON SEPT 15, 2011, THE DEALERSHIP SAID AT THAT TIME TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE WOULD BE @$1500-1600. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID IT WAS BACK ORDERED UNTIL OCT 10, 2011. THEY SAID IT OBVIOUSLY WAS A PROBLEM WITH MANY ESCAPES SINCE IT WAS BACK ORDERED AT FORD. I HAVE ASKED FORD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED. I WENT ON LINE AND THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE ESCAPE, NOT JUST 2005. ONE OWNER SAID IT HAPPENED AT 60,000 MI. I FEEL IT IS A FLAW AND THAT THEY SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE IT. *KB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START. I RECEIVED WARNINGS ON THE DASH AND THE INFORMATION PANEL STATING TO SLOW TO A STOP AND SERVICE THE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING OPERATED NORMALLY. AFTER GETTING HOME AND RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS EVERYTHING CAME BACK NORMAL. LATER THAT DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN WITH THE SAME WARNINGS AND IT WAS MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE WORKING AGAIN. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE 12V BATTERY SEEMED TO BE LEAKING SO I INSPECTED AND CLEANED IT. THE NEXT DAY (MONDAY) I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE LEAKING BATTERY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE 12 V BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID MY PROBLEMS SHOULD BE FIXED BUT THEY WOULD CHECK FOR FAULT CODES. THE DEALER FOUND ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BUT COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. THE CAR WAS LEFT FOR ANOTHER DAY AND EVENTUALLY I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) WITH WAS APPROXIMATELY A $4500 PART. I HAVE READ STORIES ONLINE THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR ESCAPE HYBRID AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING TO CORRECT IT OTHER THAN MAKING THE OWNERS BUY $4500 REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TT

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON HEARD A BEEP AND HAD NO BRAKES WHAT SO EVER . I EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY ENTERING THE CAR IN TO NEUTRAL AND HITTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TURNED ON AGAIN IT WENT AWAY, MY MECHANIC SAYS ITS GOING TO COST $1000 MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THANKS FORD FOR YOUR ASUPPORT WITH THIS OBVIOUS ISSUE YOU NEED TO ADDRESS. *TR

I TOOK MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID TO THE DEALER ON AUG. 4TH/2011 FOR 30K MAINTENANCE AT A COST OF $715 + $100 COUPON. IMMEDIATELY UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL SLUGGISHNESS ABOUT IT. I DRIVE VERY LITTLE, SO IT TOOK A FEW MORE DAYS (8/4) FOR THE CAR TO BREAK DOWN. IT WAS RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC, AND CARS WHIZZED BY ME WITH KAMIKAZE MANEUVERS IN A PSYCHOTIC URGE TO PASS ME, AS MY VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING A FEW MPH. AS THE FREEWAY BEGAN TO RISE, MY CAR SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO ROLL BACKWARD. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE AND KILL OTHERS. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. I HAD TO FEVERISHLY PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TODAY (8/4/11) THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE BAD. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE, AND IT'S NOT A PART THAT 'GOES BAD'...BUT IT DOES REQUIRE CLEANING. UNFORTUNATELY MAINTENANCE OF THE THROTTLE BODY IS NOT A PART OF FORD'S MAINTENANCE PROTOCOL. I READ MANY OTHER HARROWING STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. AT LEAST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE EVEN HAD WRECKS. EVENTUALLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS SUCH A PART IN A CAR...I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT IF I PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I DO EXPECT A MECHANIC TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM! IT WAS HORRIBLE AND VERY FRIGHTENING. I'M JUST GLAD THAT I DIDN'T HURT ANYONE. FORD NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A FATALITY. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE FORD MOTOR CO. COMPLAINT LINE, SO HOPEFULLY THEY WILL LISTEN TO US. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI BRAKING SYSTEM COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,137. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/23/11

AS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TOWARDS THE SHOULDER. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. TEN MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, STILL DRIVING THE HIGHWAY @60 MPH. LUCKILY, NO CARS WERE BEHIND, AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THREE TIMES . CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE HAD ANOTHER CAR THE SAME MORNING, WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. DIAGNOSTICS: NEED TO REPLACE BOTH HIGH VOLTAGE TRACTION BATTERY COOLING FANS AND TO REPLACE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLING PUMP. WHEN DEALER SEARCHED FOR PARTS, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY IN MN, BECAUSE APPARENTLY ALL DEALERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL THEY WOULD GET THE PART FROM CA. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. FORD EVEN ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSB 08-24-5 AND TSB 09-17-7) ADDRESSING BOTH ISSUES. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, GIVEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE CAR NEEDS TO BE MOVED RIGHT AWAY TOWARDS THE SHOULDER. CAR COULD BE HIT FROM BEHIND FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC, GIVEN THE SUDDEN SPEED CHANGE, AND COULD CAUSE FATALITIES. DON'T WANT TO HAVE FOR ANOTHER FIRESTONE - FORD EXPLORER FIASCO.

WE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL GOOD FORD VEHICLES IN THE PAST, UP UNTIL NOW. THE SUBJECT: 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID AND PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS. WE NOW UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS DEFECTIVE IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH ALL OF THE FORD'S HYBRID ESCORT LINE...DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE. THE COST OF REPAIRS CAN RANGE FROM $1500-4000 AND AS A CONSUMER'S RIGHTS ADVOCATE I WON'T HESITATE TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON THIS ONE...MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR, AND SHE ALMOST HAD WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS IF NOT A FATAL ACCIDENT...;NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP.. AND WE CAN'T AFFORD FOR HER NOT TO CONTINUE TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY HER A NEW CAR. WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE...THE ONLY RESPONSE EVER FROM THEM TO ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, HAS BEEN A WEAK APOLOGY. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO INITIATE A RECALL OR AT LEAST A RESPONSIBLE REPLY FROM FORD. I CAN'T EVEN FEEL GOOD ABOUT SELLING THIS CAR TO ANYONE ELSE UNTIL THIS DEFECT IS RESOLVED. AT LEAST TOYOTA DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO WHEN THEY HAD THE "STUCK" ACCELERATION ISSUE...BUT FORD - AN AMERICAN (?) COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME...WITH SHABBINESS LIKE THIS IT'S NO WONDER OUR TECHNOLOGIES BEING CONSTANTLY "SOLD (OUT)" ) AND EXPORTED OVERSEAS. ON BEHALF OF ALL AMERICANS WHO PREFER TO PURCHASE USA MADE PRODUCTS AND EXPECT THE QUALITY WE DESERVE, I EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM YOU THAT ADDRESSES THIS HORRENDOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE DEATH ON THE HIGHWAYS, IF NOT ALREADY...IT SURELY WILL IN TIME. HOW EFFECTIVE AND INFLUENTIAL IS YOUR ORGANIZATION, OR IS IT ANOTHER FACADE THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO MAKE US THINK OUR SAFETY RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED FROM THE FLAWS OF BIG BUSINESS WHEN THEY REALLY A? FORTUNATELY, I KNOW SEVERAL CONGRESSMEN WHO WILL NOT LIKE TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS MESSAGE BUT ULTIMATELY WILL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AFTER AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING ON THE BATTERY POWER AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE EXACT FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.