2005 Ford Escape

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, OIL, AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE COILS AND PCM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

IN MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE XLT V6 3.0L ON 11/16/11, I WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND ON I55 TOWARDS CHICAGO AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED BAD MISFIRING AND THE COMPLETELY DIED (NO POWER OR ENGINE). WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO BRAKES, I ATTEMPTED TO STEERED TOWARD THE SHOULDER. I WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND TRIED TO RESTART AND WAS UNABLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ROESCH FORD 333 W GRAND AVE BENSENVILLE, IL 60106. I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING ON 4 OF THE 6 CYLINDERS AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE PCM, 6 COILS, 6 PLUGS AND CALIBRATE, TOTAL $2,114.21. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE MULTIPLE TSB: TSB 05-11-1,TSB 09-02-06 TSB 09-02-06 AND TSB 10-18-10. THE PROBLEM IS: THE WRONG SPARK PLUGS WERE INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THIS COMBO OF WRONG PLUGS CAUSES THE COILS TO SEND EMI/RFI BACK TO THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) BURNING OUT THE PCM.EMI/RFI IS EMITTED FROM SPARKING DEVICE,IN THIS CASE A SET OF BAD SPARK PLUGS. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO MISS-FIRE, LOSE POWER, OR IN MANY CASES, HAVE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. WRONG SPARK PLUGS/BAD COP'S/UN-SHIELDED PCM BOX/POORLY ENGINEERED & UN-TESTED, MULTI-CHANGED, RARE PCM AND IT'S THE $12.50 RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE DEVICE. MULTIPLE ONLINE COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/ESCAPE/2005/ELECTRICAL/POWERTRAIN_CONTROL_MODULE_PCM_FAILURE.SHTML HTTP://WWW.FORDFORUMSONLINE.COM/FORUM/FORD-ESCAPE/643-2005-FORD-ESCAPE-PCM-ECM-COMPUTER-FAILURE.HTML HTTP://WWW.YELLOWBULLET.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=199403 REPAIRED. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOW IT NEEDS 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS $2,500 BECAUSE OF PCM/COIL. TOTAL $4,500 NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS BOUGHT NEW. THE FIRST SITUATION OCCURRED IN 2007. CAR STARTED MISFIRING ON MAJOR NYC HIGHWAY AT 50 MILES AN HOUR AT NIGHT AND FINALLY STALLED OUT. MADE IT TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. THAT SITUATION COST ME A NEW COMPUTER COILS AND WHATEVER ELSE WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO REPAIR CAR ADDING UP TO 1300. AFTER THAT AND AT THE PRESENT TIME, NOVEMBER 20011 I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL STALLINGS ON HIGHWAYS LEAVING ME IN UNSAFE SCENARIOS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPLACED COUNTLESS COILS, PLUGS, HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES, ALONG WITH ALARM TRIPPING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON AND NOW AFTER A TRIP FROM NY TO VA MY CAR LET ME DOWN AGAIN. DELAYING MY TRAVEL HOME AND HAVING TO STAY IN VA FOR REPAIR FINDING OUT I NEED ANOTHER COMPUTER. MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT AND A MONEY PIT. ATTENTION HAS TO BE BROUGHT TO THIS MATTER AND THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION. FORD HAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS AND MOVE IN A DIRECTION TO REMEDY THEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S NOT ONE CAR FAILING ON THE HIGHWAY IT'S MULTIPLE AND THE EVIDENCE IS IN THE REVIEWS. THE CAR HAS 92,000 MILES AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I HAVE DUMPED INTO IT I SHOULD HAVE A LUXURY AUTOMOBILE SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY. I CAN NO LONGER PUT UP WITH THIS AND HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ESCAPE FROM MY FORD ESCAPE. IT'S NOT SAFE! AND I DEMAND ACTION BE TAKEN AND WANT TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTACTED. *TR

THE PCM MODULE ON THE FORD ESCAPE DIES DURING OPERATION. WHILE DRIVING IN MID TRANSIT THE CAR DIED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HEARD OTHER STORIES OF PEOPLE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN TO THEM GOING 60,70, AND EVEN 80 MPH. MINE WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30, AND NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME. THE MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF DIED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE. *TT

ON SEVERAL AT LEAST 12 OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-65 MPH THE CAR (2005 FORD ESCAPE) STUBBLES AND THE THEFT LIGHT APPEARS. IN ONE CASE WE WERE ABOUT TO PASS A VEHICLE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BRAKE AND SWERVE SUDDENLY TO AVOID A HEAD-ON COLLISION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND NO CODES WERE FOUND AND THEY HAVE STILL NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH WHICH APPEARS THAT THE PCM IS LIKELY DAMAGED DUE TO A RF ISSUE WITH THE INCORRECT SPARK PLUGS BEING INSTALLED ON THE EARLY MANUFACTURED 2005 FORD ESCAPES. UNFORTUNATELY FORD WILL NOT DOING ANYTHING UNTIL THE COMPUTER ACTUALLY IS DESTROYED, WHICH ALSO FRIES THE COILS (APPROX. $3,000). DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR US AND THE CORPORATE OFFICE TOLD US THE SAME. WE NOW HAVE A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE THAT CANNOT BE TRUSTED SAFELY THAT CANNOT BE FIXED WITHOUT SPENDING $3,000+ FOR A PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *TR

I AM A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AND WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 4.5 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME TO SHOOT A WEDDING I HAD PROBLEMS ABOUT 2 HOURS INTO MY TRIP. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 20 JUST OUTSIDE OF COLUMBIA, SC. I WAS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE BEHIND A SEMI TRUCK, THERE WAS ANOTHER SEMI TRUCK IN THE RIGHT LANE BESIDE ME AND BEHIND ME I HAD A LARGE VAN. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65-70 WHEN SUDDENLY, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING THE STEERING AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED ON. I SOMEHOW REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR BY SHIFTING IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACT AS FAST AS I DID AS THE VAN BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BREAKS TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. ONCE THE SEMI TRUCK WAS CLEARED OF THE RIGHT LANE I GOT OVER AND TURNED ON MY FLASHERS. SINCE I HAD IT RUNNING I WAS TOO SCARED TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE. I GOT TO MY NEAREST EXIT AND PULLED OVER. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF EXCEPT THE ABS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I RESTARTED AND DROVE ABOUT A MILE TO A MECHANIC. THEY COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG BUT HEARD THE MISFIRE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO CLASSIC FORD IN COLUMBIA, SC. I HAD TO RENT A CAR TO FINISH MY TRIP AS I COULDN'T LET DOWN A COUPLE ABOUT TO BE MARRIED. I JUST GOT THE ESTIMATE TO THE TUNE OF OVER $2700.00. IT'S THE PCM MODULE ALONG WITH COIL, SPARK PLUGS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. I AM NOW DEBATING ABOUT WEATHER TO FIX IT OR NOT AS ALL THE REVIEWS I HAVE READ IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER IT'S FIXED. IT SOUNDS LIKE FORD REALLY NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIX THIS CHRONIC PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN AN ACCIDENT.

2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR CUT OUT, CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SAID IT WAS THE COILS. THE COILS WERE REPAIRED AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MISFIRE. IT WAS LATER KNOWN THAT THE COMPUTER WAS FRIED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCAPE. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING FROM PA TO GA FOR A WEDDING IN MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE 65,000 MILES ON MY ESCAPE. THE ENTIRE CAR LOST ALL POWER...NO POWER STEERING, GAS, ABS, ETC. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE CAR CAME ON AND WE LOST EVERYTHING GOING 75 ON A HIGHWAY IN N.C. WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A SERVICE STATION WHO THEN REPLACED 2 COILS AND 2 SPARK PLUGS. THEN THEY REALIZED THAT THE ENTIRE COMPUTER WAS DEAD, THE "PCM". FORD SAID THEY WERE ON BACKORDER SO IT WOULD BE ABOUT A WEEK, AS THEY "MOVED US TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE". WE HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE PART...FINISHING OUR TRIP TO GA FOR THE WEDDING, THEN BACK UP TO PA THE NEXT DAY (OUR HOME). WE HAD TO GO BACK TO N.C. IN THE RENTAL CAR (ANOTHER 114 HOURS ROUND TRIP) TO EXCHANGE CARS BACK WHEN MINE WAS FINALLY FIXED. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE PCM BUT AT THE SAME TIME SAID THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER COIL BAD...ANOTHER $350 ON TOP OF THE $750 I ALREADY PAID (PLUS $400 FOR THE RENTAL CAR). AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I HAVE REALIZED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE...AND TO EXPECT THE COILS AND COMPUTER TO GO OUT AGAIN, EVEN AFTER REPLACING THEM. APPARENTLY THE 2005 ESCAPE WAS MADE WITH A FAULTY COIL PACK, AND THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. WHEN CALLING FORD, THEY JUST SAY, "SORRY ABOUT THAT, THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WE CAN DO". THERE ARE 6 COILS IN THE ESCAPE...I HAVE NOW HAD 3 REPLACED...WHEN THE OTHERS GO OUT, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE PCM WILL ALSO GO OUT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, AS I DO NOT TRUST IT...I NEVER KNOW WHEN I MAY LOSE POWER. WE WERE "LUCKY" THAT SOMETHING WORSE DID NOT HAPPEN, AS MY SON WAS ALSO IN THE CAR WITH US. *TR