Suspension. Review the 459 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 434 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 153 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports20 fire reports20 injury reports

What owners actually said

1,394 reports

121,150 miles · Jan 26, 2016

Structure

THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL IS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE SHOCK MOUNT IS DETACHED FROM THE BODY AND FRAME. THE SHOCK IS LOOSE AND FELL OFF. THERE IS NO WAY TO WELD THE MOUNT TO THE FRAME. THE REPAIR WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND TEH VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ODI #10822430

188,120 miles · Jan 16, 2016

StructureSuspension

LOUD BANGING COMING FROM RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE DRIVING DOWN CITY STREET. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SHOCK TOWER WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH THE VEHICLE BODY TO THE POINT OF ENTERING THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. I AM TOLD THAT THE REAR AXLE CAN TEAR AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN ACCIDENT A…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10820635

59,000 miles · Jan 13, 2016

StructureSuspension

RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW, ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT . COME TO FIND OUT ALL FORD ESCAPES THIS YEAR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS A SUSPENSION AND HANDLING ISSUE, CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND KEEP IN LANE. THE PROBLEM HAS IT'S OWN FACEBOOK PAGE…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10819939

127,144 miles · Jan 6, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK - AT FIRST IF DIDN'T WANT TO START BUT CRANKED FINE. LET IT SIT IDLE AND HEADED TO WORK - 1/2 TO WORK STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHERE IT STARTED TO SHUDDER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL (NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES BEFORE AND STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS). GOT THRU THE INTERSECTION AND LOSS ALL POWER ON THE BUSIEST STREET IN BOWLING GREEN. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH POWER FOR MY EMERGENCY BLINKERS. STUCK WHERE I WAS WAS A HAZARD OF ME BEING HIT - HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC THINKING IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. ALTERNATOR AND STARTER BOTH GOOD - ONCE PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE - THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKING. END RESULT - I HAVE AT LEAST 3 COILS, POTENTIAL FRIED WIRE HARNESS AND PCM FAILURE (A LOGGED COMPLAINT BUT NEVER A RECALL). THE POTENTIAL FIX WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IS 5-8K. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HURT IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE PLOWED INTO US. THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE AT ALL!

NHTSA ODI #10818302

117,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016

StructureSuspension

Read full complaint

MY SON WAS COMPLAINING THAT THE BACK END OF THE CAR BEGAN RATTLING AND "JUMPING" WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY IN NOV OF 2015. WE HAD IT CHECKED OUT IN DEC AND WAS TOLD AND SHOWN HOW UNSAFE THE CAR WAS TO DRIVE,DUE TO THE ENTIRE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AND STRUT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HOLDING THE WHEEL TO THE CAR WAS THE PLASTIC MOLDING OF THE TRUNK AREA WHICH WAS ALSO MELTING AWAY FROM THE HEAT.I COULD NOT BELIEVE A CAR COULD DISINTEGRATE AND DETERIORATE SO BADLY. IN GOOD CONSCIOUS THE AUTO REPAIR OWNER WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. NOR WOULD I WANT TO. PLUS, THE COST TO FIX IT WAS NOT WORTH THE PRICE OF THE CAR,AND HE COULDNT FIX IT. HE TOLD ME TO LIST IT ON CRAIGS LIST TO SELL THE CAR IN PARTS. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION , AFTER I SPENT $6000, TO BUY THE CAR IN AUG OF 2014, THEN ANOTHER $2000 FOR 4 NEW TIRES, BRAKE LINES, AND OIL LEAKS!! WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WOULD HAVE COME UP. I JUST GLAD MY SON DID NOT GET HURT DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE 21/2 HRS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WISH I KNEW ABOUT THIS EXACT COMMON PROBLEM OF 1000 OTHER PEOPLES COMPLAINTS. FORD NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE OF THE PARTICULAR PROBLEM OF FAULTY MATERIAL. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN HURT, AND HOW MANY MORE NEED TO GET HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE,

NHTSA ODI #10818277

169,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016

StructureSuspension

THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK TOWER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND THE BODY IS COMING AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND THE SHOCK TOWER IS LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ESCAPE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURIED.

NHTSA ODI #10818176

65,000 miles · Jan 1, 2016

Seats

THE LAST FEW TIMES I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEAT WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GETTING EXTREMELY HOT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO LIFT MY UPPER LEG UP OFF THE SEAT. I'M SURE THAT IF I HADN'T SHUT IT OFF IT WOULD HAVE BURNT ME. THERE IS NO WARNING SYSTEM TO INDICATE THE HEATED SEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING OR GETTING TOO HOT…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10817343

141,000 miles · Dec 17, 2015

StructureSuspension

Read full complaint

I'VE BEEN TOLD THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAS RUSTED OUT ON THIS UNIBODY CONSTRUCTED VECHICLE. WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR, AND IF I HIT ANY SORT OF A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HUGE SOUND FROM THE BACK AS IF THE REAR END OF THE CAR IS GOING TO FALL OFF. I UNDERSTAND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM. COST TO FIX, IF POSSIBLE IS ABOUT $4000. CAR IS WORTH ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT. I WAS TOLD BY AUTO BODY GUY THAT A RECALL ON THIS MAY EXIST OR THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MAY BE OFFERING UP A FIX.

NHTSA ODI #10810933

148,000 miles · Dec 14, 2015

Structure

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WELL WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. AS RESULT, THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 03/10/16*LJ VIN INVALID UPDATED 05/10/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10809967

99,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015

Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF VEHICLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10809074

Official recalls

15V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 29, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

Sep 3, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.

06V111000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

Apr 7, 2006

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITHOUT SIDE AIR CURTAINS OR MOONROOFS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE FREE MOTION HEAD FORM REGISTERED A MEASUREMENT ABOVE THE PERMITTED LIMIT AT THE LEFT HAND A-PILLAR TRIM AREA.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLINER IN THE AFFECTED AREA FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 19, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

04V602000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Dec 20, 2004

CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTIITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.

AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

Ford Escape transmission problems →Ford Escape electrical problems →