2001 Ford Escape Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS LATER THE DRIVER CAME OUTSIDE TO DISCOVER FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE FIRE MARSHAL EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK ON REAR DRIVER SIDE QUIT OPERATING CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO USE DUCT TAPE TO KEEP WINDOW IN PLACE AND DOOR CLOSED. THIS HAS NOW BEEN FIXED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST. NOW AM UNABLE TO USE EITHER DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. NO PROBLEM WITH WINDOWS AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER, AM UNABLE TO OPEN EITHER OF THE TWO DOORS. QUITE INCONVENIENT WITH OTHER PASSENGERS, PARTICULARLY WHERE THE FRONT SEAT IS INVOLVED...A LITTLE DIFFICULT CLIMBING OVER THE CONSOLE AREA FROM THE DRIVER SIDE TO GET TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND VICE VERSA...BACK SEATING AREA NOT QUITE SO BAD...STILL INCONVENIENT. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL REGARDING THIS AND/OR ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM? RIGHT NOW, THE EXPENSE TO REPAIR IS HONESTLY MORE THAN IT'S WORTH TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE...ANOTHER $400-500+. DOES MAKE IT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO LOAD AND UNLOAD---ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN! *TR

THIS MODEL HAS CHRONIC ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORKING. FREQUENT COMPLAINTS OF DOME LIGHT, DOOR LOCKS, AND RADIO NOT WORKING, ALTERNATOR/BATTERY REPLACEMENTS. IT SEEMS TO DRAIN FREQUENTLY AND EITHER NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER, AND/OR BLOW FUSES. THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AND WOULD SEEM FIT FOR A RECALL. *TR

AFTER DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR 6 YEARS, IT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER SO MUCH THAT THE DASH LIGHTS FADE AND THE CAR ALMOST STALLS. THIS IS WORSE AT LOWER SPEEDS, COASTING, AND IDLING. THE ENGINE MISSES OUT SO BADLY THAT THE CAR JERKS FORWARD IF THE BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED FIRMLY TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN IT'S WORST AT IDLE, IT SHAKES HORRIBLY. I HAD THE PLUGS REPLACED (NOT CHEAP) BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ERROR SHOWING WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER I STARTED HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND A MECHANIC HAD ALREADY LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. AFTER HAVING THE PLUGS REPLACED, I HAD A LOT FEWER PROBLEMS BUT COULD STILL TELL THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS COLDER OUTSIDE AND/OR WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT THEN BEGAN TO GET WORSE AGAIN AND IS JUST AS BAD NOW AS IT WAS BEFORE I HAD THE PLUGS REPLACED. I DON'T WANT TO KEEP REPLACING THEM IF IT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING AGAIN. WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT ON AN UPHILL INTERSECTION JUST LAST WEEK, I PRESSED THE GAS TO PULL THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND BARELY ANY POWER RESULTED. I LET OFF THE GAS AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN, AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, JUST TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT IT DYING OR LAUNCHING MYSELF INTO ANOTHER CAR. IT SEEMS THIS MODEL YEAR MAY HAVE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES, BUT I'VE HAD ALL OF THE RECALL ISSUES ADDRESSED AND I'M STILL HAVING MAJOR ISSUES THAT AREN'T CHEAP TO FIX. I'VE ALSO HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING ENGAGED TWICE DURING THE TIME I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE AND THE INDICATOR GOES AWAY JUST AS QUICKLY AS IT APPEARED WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. *TR

REAR LEFT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. 5TH DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WINDSHIELD WIPER IN REAR STOPPED WORKING. *TR

I WENT TO START THE CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A BAD SMELL. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE AREA UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS ON FIRE. LUCKILY I HAD A SMALL CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT IT OUT. THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS IS BURNED RIGHT OFF WHERE IT PLUGS INTO THE ANS MODULE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY I HAD TO PUT BRAKE FLUID IN TWICE PER YEAR. I HOPE THE DEALER DOESN'T TRY TO RIP ME OFF AND SAY IT'S NOT COVERED FOR SOME REASON. THEY DO NOT LIKE TO FIX FACTORY RECALLS. *TR

CANNOT REMOVE IGNITION KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT DISCONNECTING BATTERY. *TR

STARTED VEHICLE APPROX 7AM DROVE 40MILES WITH NO EVIDENT PROBLEMS TO VEHICLE. STOPPED VEHICLE FOR APPROX 15MINS, UPON STARTING VEHICLE UP AGAIN HAZARD WARNING ON CONTROL PANAL BEGAN TO FLASH. ABS,AIR BAGS,BRAKE,WERE FLASHING ON/OFF.TURNED CAR OFF,THEN ON AGAIN,WARNING LIGHTS DID COME BACK ON. DROVE APPROX 3MILES,CAR THEN STARTED TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IMMADITATLY PULLED OVER ,TURNED OFF ENGINE. SMOKE CONT TO BILLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOR ALEAST 15-20 MINS. *TT

WE BOUGHT OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE NEW. ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER, 2011 IT WAS PARKED IN OUR DOUBLE CAR ATTACHED GARAGE. MY SON CAME HOME AROUND 11:30 P.M. GOING THROUGH THE GARAGE AND DID NOT SEE OR SMELL ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND AND I, HIS YOUNGEST SON WERE ASLEEP ALREADY FROM THE FUMES. WE HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF OUR BEDS BY MY OLDER STEP-SON. HE SAW SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE DOOR GOING TO THE GARAGE. WE HE OPENED THE DOOR HE SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE ESCAPE. HE TRIED TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR BUT BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAD TO GET MY DOG OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND ESCAPE THROUGH MY BEDROOM WINDOW. AS A RESULT THE WHOLE HOME WAS BURNED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDERS IT A TOTAL LOSS. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND SIMILAR INCIDENTS FROM OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. I FORGOT TO SAY THAT WE RECEIVED OUR RECALL ON JANUARY 31ST OF 2012. ABOUT A MONTH TOO LATE TO TELL US NOT TO PARK IT IN OR NEAR A DWELLING. THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST HORRIFIC THING I HAVE EVER GONE THROUGH AND BELIEVE ME, I HAVE GONE THROUGH A WHOLE LOT IN MY LIFE. I WANT TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AS THAT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS THE ONLY RECOURSE I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT DOING THIS. *TR

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, CAUSING POWER STEERING AND BREAKS TO STOP WORKING.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE KEY WOULD TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AND THE TIRES LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON MARCH 2008 OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE SELF IGNITED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AFTER BEING SHUT OFF FOR OVER 2 HOURS AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION STATES" THE FIRE IN THE VEHICLE ORIGINATED AT THE ABS MODULE AND WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION THAT RESULTED IN AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION" THE CAR HAD GONE IN FOR ALL RECALLS UP TO THAT DATE. SO EITHER THE REPAIR FAILED OR THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THEIR CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START IT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AGAIN AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED A THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

MY DAUGHTER HAD A 2001 FORD ESCAPE, APPROX.98,000 MILES, PURCHASED USED. SERVICED & INSPECTED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. SHE PARKED IT IN FRONT OF HER HOME ON APRIL 30TH AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM A TRIP TO TOWN WITH HER 9 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. APPROX. 10 MINUTES AFTER ENTERING HER HOME, SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM OUTSIDE AND SAW HER VEHICLE SMOKING , THEN FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. FIRE MARSHAL ATTRIBUTED TO "ELECTRICAL PROBLEM" SOME DAMAGE ALSO TO HER HOME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SHE ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE A HOME FIRE EXTINGUISHER; HOWEVER, THE FIRE WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT IS AWAITING TO HEAR IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL CLASSIFY THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE IS ALSO AWAITING AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE SMELL WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 150,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AN 40 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ,BY MYSELF, WERE FOR NAUGHT. A NEARBY GARAGE INITIALLY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS A TIMING BELT ISSUE, BUT FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS WITH A POSSIBLE SHORT. A BIT STRANGE FOR A NON-MOVING PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

MY COOLANT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ENOUGH COOLANT. *JB

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES WITH ENGINE OFF WHEN A FIRE IGNITED IN THE ENGINE, ENGULFING AND DESTROYING THE ENTIRE CAR. FORD ESCAPE XLT 2001. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE ALTERNATOR WAS BURNT AND WAS REPLACED. NINE MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND A BURNING SMELL WAS OBSERVED. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO BUILT A CASING AROUND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP THE BURNING. TWO YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. TWO YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED AND THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED.

I NOTICED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE WITH A BRAKE HISSING PROBLEM AT 74K I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT 40K. I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAT I AM CONSIDERING NOT TO EVER BY A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN. THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLS ON THESE SO THE CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES. *NM

I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO LOCKED. I HAD TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME TO START IT. THE LOCKSMITH SAID THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH ALL FORD IGNITIONS. I HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SAID HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS RELATED TO IGNITIONS IN THE ESCAPE. I LEARNED FROM A FOCUS OWNER THAT THE FOCUS CARS HAD BEEN RECALLED IN LATE 2000/EARLY 2001 FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I LATER LEARNED BY CALLING ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE SAME PART IS USED FOR BOTH THE FOCUS AND THE ESCAPE. WHY HAVEN'T THE ESCAPES BEEN RECALLED? *NM

THE SUV SAT PARKED FOR A 3 DAY PERIOD. HEAVY RAIN STORMS MOVED THROUGH AREA FOR 1 AND 1/2 DAYS OF THAT TIME HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN. AFTER THE 3RD DAY, THE SUV WAS STARTED AT WHICH TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK AND WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED FOR POWER, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A 'BAD COIL PACK". IT WAS REPLACED AND GIVEN BACK. AFTER 3 DAYS OF DRIVING, THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE "COIL PACK" AND THE WIRING HARNESS. JUST OVER 6 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME SITUATION OCCURED WITH THE VEHICLE. IT SAT FOR 4 DAYS IN WHICH TIME A SEVERE RAIN STORM CAME THROUGH HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN NOR STANDING IN WATER. STARTED THE VEHICLE ON THE 4TH DAY WITH THE EXACT SAME RESULT. VEHICLE IS IN FORD GARAGE AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE COIL PACK WAS DAMAGED DUE TO MOISTURE. THESE FAILURES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND SHOULD BE HAPPENING.

CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE 3 HOURS AFTER BEING DRIVEN. I BELIEVE FORD IS TRYING TO COVER-UP WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BY FEEDING ME LINES OF BS. INCIDENTALLY, FORD COVERED 90% OF THE COSTS FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.

MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION.THE DEALER EXPLAINED IT AS A" ANTI- THEFT SYSTEM" GONE BAD.SO MY IGNITION HAD TO BE RE-KEYED.(HAD TO BUY NEW KEYS). OF COURSE THAT TOOK 3 DAYS. I CALLED FORDS AND THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CODE IN THERE COMPUTER FOR THIS.NO RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK