2005 Ford Escape

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CAR SHOOK AND DIED. I PULLED INTO THE TURN LANE AND SOME HELPFUL PEOPLE ASSISTED ME IN PUSHING MY CAR TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY ENGINE COILS AND PLUGS REPLACED AND THAT FORD HAD PUT OUT A BULLETIN EXPLAINING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THEY FIXED THAT, I LEARNED THAT I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE COMPUTER REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE COILS AND PLUGS CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. I DECIDED TO SEARCH THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND MANY WEBSITES AND FORUMS EXPLAINING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING IN OTHER 2005 FORD ESCAPES. IT SEEMS THAT IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM (ENOUGH FOR FORD TO PUT OUT A BULLETIN EXPLAINING HOW TO FIX IT), THEN FORD SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. FROM THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND, THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT DOES NOT SHOW UP UNTIL WELL AFTER THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER GOOD. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING TO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAR AND FORD SHOULD DO MORE THAN EXPLAIN HOW TO FIX IT. A RECALL IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS THE CAUSED BY FAULTY MANUFACTURING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I WENT TO ACCELERATE. UPON REACHING 40. I HEARD A SUBSTANTIAL BACKFIRE NOISE, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD CAUSING ME TO BLOCK TRAFFIC AS I COASTED ALMOST INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER COASTING FOR 100+ FEET. AFTER WHICH, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND RUGGED NEVER BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE ABOUT 30 MPH AND CAUSING MAJOR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP (VARSITY FORD IN ANN ARBOR, MI) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS IN TROUBLE. APPARENTLY, MY SPARK PLUG AFTER BEING CLOGGED, CAUSED A BACKFIRE WHICH BLEW MY IGNITION COILS AND SPARKPLUGS AND MY PCM. I AM BEING QUOTED $2,200. AT MY LAST OIL CHANGE (3 MONTHS AGO) VARSITY FORD TOLD ME I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO NEEDING A TUNE UP BUT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY THAT DAY AND THAT I COULD WAIT UNTIL MY NEXT OIL CHANGE. I WAS PLANNING ON GOING THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE I WAS HEADING OUT OF TOWN. HAD I BEEN TOLD THE RISK WAS A $400 TUNE UP VS. A $2,200 BLOWN ENGINE, MAYBE I WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS. I'M VERY DISTRAUGHT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND NOW AM QUESTIONING WHETHER I WILL EVER BUY A FORD OR WORK WITH A FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

CAR SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN IT IS TURNED ON, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER, THE ACCELERATOR STICKS TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO PUT FULL FORCE TO JAM THE PEDAL DOWN TO TAKE OFF. IF I AM AT A LIGHT AND STOPPED, THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I HAVE THE REPAIR SHOP FIX THIS ISSUE TWICE BUT DECIDED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT BASED UPON NEWS REPORTS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER ISSUE WITH THE SUV AND I LOVE MY FORD. I AM NOT SURE THAT HIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, MY GAS PEDAL SNAPPED FORWARD BY ITSELF AND ACCELERATED MY CAR. THEN SNAPPED BACK AND HIT MY FOOT IN THE POSITION IT WAS ALREADY IN. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR. (I BOUGHT IT NEW) I IGNORED IT THE FIRST FEW TIMES BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO BEING ON CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. I SAW ON FOX NEWS THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION; AND CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR MY CAR AND THEY SAID NO. I AM HOPING THEY WILL HAVE A RECALL, BECAUSE I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR FOR AWHILE, AND DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THANKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL OF THE ACCELERATOR HAD BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. HE HAD TO PLACE HIS FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR FOR IT TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE A SPRING IN THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY REPORT ON THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 82,000.

THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP 10 TO 15 MPH BY ITSELF FOR 5 TO 7 SECONDS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED AND, THEN, SLOWS DOWN TO ORIGINAL SET SPEED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE GAS PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN AND KICK BACK WHEN IT RELEASES AND MAKING SOUNDS WHEN HITS HARD THE SHOE. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE NOVEMBER 2011 ONLY WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS BEING USE AND NOT ALL THE TIME. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 2 EACH MONTH SINCE THEN. IT WAS REPORTED JULY 18 AROUND 9:45AM TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AFTER RECALL NEWS ABOUT FORD ESCAPES 2002-2004 WITH V6 ENGINES (LIKE MINE) SUFFER FROM MECHANICAL FLAW THAT LEADS TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. AT THE TIME, THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR MY VIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SAME FAILURE WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY STARTED EXHIBIT THE SAME ISSUES. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE SECOND FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE EITHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. THIS SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. YOU START OUT DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PEDAL WON'T MOVE. YOU CAN'T ACCELERATE AT ALL. THE PEDAL IS STUCK. AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND THE CAR WARMS UP THE PEDAL USUALLY WILL START MOVING AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER WHEN THEY GET THE CAR IT'S USUALLY WARM. ONE MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL PANEL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. I MADE SURE THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT INTERFERING TOO. LUCKILY WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE IT WOULD CAUSE A CRASH. WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR THE PEDAL TO FREE ITSELF. *TR

OUR 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2005. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED BY FORD TECHNICIANS AT FORD DEALERSHIPS EVERY 5,000 MILES, INCLUDING A RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH LAST YEAR. ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP, THE SUV'S TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A PROBLEM FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FMC) KNOWS AS ENGINE STALLING ON ENGAGEMENT/STOPPING. ACCORDING TO A SERVICE BULLETIN DATED MARCH 19, 2007, SUVS WITH THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION "EXHIBIT AN ENGINE STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN ENGAGING THE ENGINE INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONDITION MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND OFTEN OCCURS AFTER EXTENDED DRIVES. THERE MAY BE NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES STORED. THIS MAY BE CAUSE BY INTERNAL WEAR IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH PREVENTS IT FROM LOCKING." THIS EXACT FAILURE CAUSED US TO BE STRANDED IN DANGEROUS HEAT CONDITIONS FOR HOURS AS WE WAITED FOR HELP. HOWEVER, FMC HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TRANSMISSION SINCE 2007, YET AS AN OWNER OF A CAR LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD, I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. IF I HAD BEEN INFORMED, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT YEARS AGO FOR REPAIR PRIOR TO GOING ON AN EXTENDED TRIP AND PUTTING MY FAMILY IN DANGER. INSTEAD, FMC KNOWINGLY ALLOWED VEHICLE OWNERS TO DRIVE WITH THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. FORD-CERTIFIED TECH'S FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE GIVEN THE EXACT SYMPTOMS AND THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE TORQUE CONVERTER. AFTER TECHS TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE, THE STALL OCCURRED REPEATEDLY UNTIL TOTAL FAILURE JUST OVER 1,200 MILES LATER, AGAIN, STRANDING MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. I BECAME AWARE OF THE FAULT ONLY AFTER A SEARCH OF OTHER DRIVERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. FMC BEHAVED NEGLIGENTLY IN FAILING TO INFORM CUSTOMERS LIKE ME, LIKELY TO SHIELD ITSELF FROM COSTLY REPAIRS. IN 2007, MY CAR ONLY HAD 24,500 MILES??WELL WITHIN WARRANTY LIMITS. A RECALL FOR VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL YEAR SHOULD BE ORDERED AND I SHOULD BE REFUNDED COST OF REPAIR. *TR

WE WERE ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE WERE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. WE COASTED TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER WHO STATED THE COMPUTER (PCM), ALL THE COIL OVER PLUGS (COP) AND SPARK PLUGS WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS IT IS DESCRIBED EXACTLY IN FORD SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 09-2-6. THE SPARK PLUGS IN THE 2005 AND 2006 CAUSE RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE WITH THE PCM WHICH DAMAGES THE PCM AND THE OTHER COMPONENTS. THE LEAST FORD COULD HAVE DONE WAS NOTIFY US THAT REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THE PROBLEMS DON'T END THERE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR WE WERE AGAIN ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 50MPH. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHO STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (THERE ARE 3 OF THEM) WERE CLOGGED DUE TO RAW FUEL COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE CONVERTERS PROBABLY DUE TO THE PREVIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE COST TO FIX THE CONVERTERS IS EVEN MORE THAN THE COST OF THE INITIAL REPAIR. WE'VE DECIDED TO NOT HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS THE TOTAL COST OF ALL THE REPAIRS WOULD EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. WE CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP IN THIS SITUATION. I THINK FORD SHOULD COVER THE COSTS OF THESE REPAIRS FOR AN ISSUE KNEW EXISTED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS I SEE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF OTHER 2005 ESCAPES LISTED IN YOUR DATABASE. I IMAGINE WE WILL MORE OF THESE FAILURES AS THESE VEHICLES AGE. *TR