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

120,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015

SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

SUB-FRAME RUST PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2001 TO 2004 FORD ESCAPE FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RECALLED ESCAPE CROSSOVERS FROM MODEL YEARS 2001-2004 IN STATES THAT USE A LOT OF ROAD SALT. IN AFFECTED VEHICLES, PART OF THE CAR COULD SUFFER DAMAGE FROM RUST AND EVEN LOSE STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #10746694

168,000 miles · Aug 5, 2015

Unknown Or Other

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WHILE DRIVING I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE REAR SHOCK TOWER BROKE AWAY FROM THE CAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST.AFTER DOING RESERCH ON THIS I HAVE FOUND THAT ISN'T AN UNCOMMON THING WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. NO RECALLS NOTHING AND OF COURSE ITS NOT AN EASY OR CHEAP FIX AND MY INSURANCE AT LEAST WILL NOT COVER IT CAUSE IT WAS MECHANICAL AND DIDNT HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT. SO NOW I WILL HAVE A CAR I CAN'T FIX BUT STILL HAVE TO PAY FORAND CANT DRIVE. I WOULD LOVE TO POST THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE BUT I'M UNABLE TO DO SO CAUSE I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO SEE THE DANGER THIS IS CAUSING.

NHTSA ODI #10746604

142,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015

Suspension

REAR WHEEL WELLS RUSTED AWAY ALLOWING STRUTS TO MOVE. VERY UNSTABLE! AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI #10745341

152,000 miles · Jul 29, 2015

StructureSuspension

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I HEARD A LOAD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. AFTER STOPPING TO LOOK AT IT MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AND STRUT WERE COMPLETELY CRUMBLED AND MY STRUT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED. I KNOW MY VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD, BUT THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT EVER ON A CAR THAT OLD. HE HAS BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 40 YEARS. AFTER RESEARCHING A LITTLE IT SEEMS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. ALL ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. THESE COMPLAINTS RANGE FROM DIFFERENT STATES AND EVEN OTHER COUNTRIES. TO ME IF MANY MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLE IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE PARTS. I JUST THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND HIT A POT HOLE OR SOMETHING. SOMETHING SHOULD REALLY BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10744824

179,787 miles · Jul 28, 2015

Unknown Or Other

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WHILE DRIVING IN LIVONIA, MICHIGAN OUT OF NO WHERE MY SUN VISOR BURST, GETTING GLASS ON ME, BUT MORE IMPORTANT IT BURST ON THE SEAT WHERE MY TODDLER DAUGHTER USUALLY SIT . THERE WAS NO ONE AROUND AND NO TRUCK WHERE AN OBJECT COULD HAVE DROPPED SOMETHING ON MY CAR, I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO AVIS FORD IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR DOWN THE STREET TO AVIS BODY SHOP. I FILED AN CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND IT IS BEING FIXED NOW. I WANT FORD TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HEAR, THIS IS ONE OF MANY INSTANCES THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH A SUNROOF ON AN 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND OTHER FORD CARS. THIS IS DANGEROUS! MY WIFE HAS JUST HAD MAJOR SURGERY. AND THERE WERE MANY RUNS FOR HER THAT I COULD NOT MAKE BECAUSE OF THIS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. AND BE BLESSED. [XXX]

NHTSA ODI #10744442

142,017 miles · Jul 28, 2015

Suspension

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I HAD MY DAUGHTER'S CAR IN THE SHOP AND NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE WHEEL WELL ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR WAS ROTTING AWAY. THIS AFFECTS THE SUSPENSION DRAMATICALLY. IT APPEARS THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT WHERE SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTS WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL AND COULD HAVE DISASTROUS RESULTS. THIS DEGRADATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO FORD'S RECALL #13-S-01 ON SELECT MINI VANS AND WHERE THE REAR WHEEL WELLS ARE ROTTING AWAY. IN MY MIND THIS ISSUE POSES JUST AS SERIOUS A THREAT. UPON SEEING MY DAUGHTER'S CAR I'VE HAD OCCASION TO LOOK AT SIMILAR AGE ESCAPES AND MANY HAVE THIS CONDITION ON THEM AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10744415

145,000 miles · Jul 28, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

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OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2005 FORD ESCAPE. SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN ON THE TURNPIKE - AS SHE WAS DRIVING THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN - THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR DIED. SHE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS NOT HURT. IT WAS ABOUT 99 DEGREES OUTSIDE AT 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. WE HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS AND COIL HAD BURNED UP AND IT WOULD BE $2,200 TO REPAIR THE CAR. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THIS IS S COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005 FORD ESCAPES. THERE ARE NO RECALLS. FORD HAS SAID TO KEEP THE RECEIPT IN CASE THERE ARE RECALLS IN THE FUTURE. THAT IS LITTLE RELIEF FROM THE FACT THAT WE ARE OUT $2200 NOW AND DON'T FEEL SAFE HAVING OUR DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER. SHE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON HER CAR. ONE OTHER PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE IS THAT THE LEATHER INTERIOR HAS STARTED COMING OFF THE SIDE DOOR PANELS - IT'S LIKE THE ADHESIVE HAS JUST WORN OUT. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS BUT IT LOOKS BAD AND NO ONE WILL GUARANTEE A REPAIR ON IT BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND IT IS A DIFFICULT REPAIR. THIS 2005 FORD ESCAPE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEMON!! WE HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN FORDS WITH NO PROBLEMS - VERY DISAPPOINTING.

NHTSA ODI #10744160

120,200 miles · Jul 26, 2015

Suspension

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WHILE DRIVING LAST WEEK I HEARD A "RATTLING" I HAD NOT HEARD PREVIOUSLY.I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED MY WHEELS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL ABOVE THE TOP OF THE TIRE HAD RUSTED OUT.CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE STRUT MOUNT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE STRUT HAD "SPEARED" THRU THE INTERIOR PLASTIC SIDEWALL, THUS RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE.I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND WE WERE TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY.UPON RESEARCHING ON YOU TUBE HOW TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM,I WAS ASTOUNDED TO FIND OUT THAT THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO 2005-06 FORD ESCAPES,WAS VERY SPECIFIC IN STATING THAT THE REAR-PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTING AND CORRODING ON THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES,SOMETIMES RESULTING IN THE STRUT TO BECOME DISENGAGED.THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE,BUT FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TOLD ME "SORRY,BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME.AS A SINGLE DAD,MILITARY VETERAN,AND LOW-INCOME EARNER,I AM LOOKING FOR HELP FOR MYSELF AND FELLOW FORD ESCAPE OWNERS BECAUSE THIS SOUNDS LIKE SHODDY CAR CONSTRUCTION FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I CAN'T WORK AT THE MOMENT UNTIL THIS VEHICLE IS REPAIRED,AND I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR BILL UNTIL I GET BACK TO WORK,I AM DISHEARTENED AND UPSET ABOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL.PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10743514

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2015

Unknown Or Other

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I WAS WASHING MY FORD ESCAPE WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS RUST ON ALL OF THE DOORS ON THE INSIDE I JUST BOUGHT ITAND CHECKED THE CARFAX IT SAID THERE WAS NO RUST AND IT LOOKED LIKED A NEW CAR UNTIL ABOUT THREE WEEK OF HAVEING IT AND NOW I'M FOUNDING RUST ON THE ALL OF THEE DOORS AND ON ONE OF THE WHEEL WELL I CHECKED ONLINE BY GOING TO GOOGLE.COM AND PUTTING IN 2005 FORD ESCAPE RUST AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEING PROBLEMS WITH RUST SOME OF THEM EVEN SAY THEY CAN SEE THE INSIDE OF THERE ESCAPE AND FORD WILL NOT RECALL IT AND IT COST A LOT TO FIX. SOME COST MORE THEN THE VALUE OF THERE ESCAPE

NHTSA ODI #10735872

158,000 miles · Jul 22, 2015

SteeringStructure

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STAY IN POSITION AND VEERED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION AROUND THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCKS AND WHEEL HOUSE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ODI #10735701

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 →