2003 Ford Escape Suspension

Driver had uneasy feeling with stability of vehicle as if it was swaying. He got it looked at and was told he probably needed lower control arm and links to take care of the problem. After ordering parts, the vehicle, while driving to work, a loud popping sound was heard and then the vehicle dropped down and had to be towed home (thank God this didn't happen on the expressway). I then looked up any recalls on this vehicle and low and behold there was a recall on this year, make and model car BUT not on this VIN number (Ford's number for this recall is 14S02. Recall date 2014-04-02 Recall no.14V165000). This vehicle suddenly and dangerously broke down from this same problem, and has the same issue that was recalled by Ford on this make, model and year described in their recall (14S02) but the VIN number seems to say otherwise when I looked it up. This needs to be investgated before this happens to someone while driving in snow or rainy condtions or while driving on the expressway. Please investigate!

WHILE REPLACING THE CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4X4 I NOTICED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THERE WAS ALOT OF CORROSION SO MUCH SO THE CONTROL ARM IS BARELY HANGING ON THERE IS A FLAT BAR RUNNING FROM DRIVERS SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE WHICH HAS BEEN RENDERED USELESS BECAUSE THE BOLT THAT IS USED TO HOLD IT IN PLACE HAS NOTHING TO BOLT TO THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH CORROSION WELL IT HASN'T ITS NOW GONNA COST ME GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH TO FIX I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS ISSUE IS STILL COVERED UNDER, THE RECALL

RECALL #14S02 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V165000) COVERED REPLACEMENT OF LOWER CONTROL ARM & BALLPOINT FOR EVERY NEARBY STATE, BUT NOT VIRGINIA. BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY VEHICLE ARE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, BUT THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL FOR MY VIN BECAUSE 14S02 DID NOT INCLUDE VIRGINIA. DRIVING VEHICLE WITH CORRODED CONTROL ARMS IS DEEMED DANGEROUS, BUT COSTS OF REPLACING APPROACH VEHICLE VALUE.

FORD ESCAPES FROM THE 2001 THROUGH 2004 MODEL YEARS FOR CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. THE SUBFRAME CARRIES THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, STEERING GEAR AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BRAKES AND WHEELS FORD SAYS THE CORROSION CAN LEAD TO SEPARATION OF A CONTROL ARM -- PART OF THE SUSPENSION THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL AND TIRE IN THE RIGHT PLACE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON MY CAR. IT'S CORRODED BY A MECHANIC. THAN I READ THE USA TODAY 2014 ARTICLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I JUST TOOK VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THE PART. ON MY CELL PHONE I CAN SUBMITT. ACCORDING TO THIS ARTICLE FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS. WHAT R MY OPTION TO GET THE REPAIR.

THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS BROKEN AND WOULD BE ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A DIRT ROAD , IT WAS A LITTLE BUMPY AND THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE FRAME BREAKING. THE 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAS 124,000 MILES ON IT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT, BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THE FRAME OF N SUV COULD BREAK SO EASILY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TAKING HIS VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED SEVERE CORROSION ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL TUBULAR FRAME. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE THE COLLAPSE OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL. PRIOR TO THE DISCOVERY, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000(STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH GERMAIN FORD OF COLUMBUS (7250 SAWMILL RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43235, (614) 356-9743) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO THEN REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 254,000.

MY CAR HAD A RECALL #14S02 FOR A RUSTED SUBFRAME. FORDS FIX WAS TO PUT A $20 PIECE OF METAL THAT THEY CALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACE. THIS REINFORCED BRACE HAS FAILED AND THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. THE ORIGINAL RECALL PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CAR WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. NOW FORD IS TELLING MY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THEY PUT THE CHEAP REINFORCEMENT BRACE! NOW I HAVE AN UNDRIVEABLE VEHICLE THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ORIGINAL RECALL! I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE WHAT THEY DID TO FIX THE RECALL HAS LITERALLY FAILED AGAIN!

HELLO THE CAR IS MAKING A NOISE LIKE BEARING WHEN I DRIVE MORE THAN 35 MILES IT GOING WORSE WHEN YOU MOVE A LITTLE BIT THE STEARIN WEELL AND NEVER END JUST WHEN GET LESS THAN 30 OR 35 MILES SOMTIMES IT DOIT LESS THAN 30 MILES AND EVERYDAY IT GOING WORSE PLEASE CAN YOU DOBLE CHECK RECALL FOR FROM BEARING I REALLY APPRECIATE

BEARING HAVE A WIRED NOISE ON FROM OF VEHICLE WHEN I GET 35 MILES OR MORE

BEARING ARE MAKING NOISE

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED OFF CENTER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CORRECTLY STEER THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE SUB FRAME RUSTED AND CRACKED IN HALF.

THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM BROKE THROUGH THE SUBFRAME, CAUSING A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. MY FATHER WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME. WHEN HE WENT TO ACCELERATE ON A STATE HI WAY IT PULLED VERY HARD TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, NEARLY ENDING IN A BAD WAY. I SUBSEQUENTLY TEST DROVE IT AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED FOR ANY RECALL INFORMATION AND FOUND THIS SPECIFIC INFORMATION. MY FATHER HAD TAKEN IT TO HIS LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK AS OF 2014.I NOTICED ONLY SOME MODELS WERE INCLUDED IN THE 2014 RECALL. THE SUBFRAME IN THE LEFT FRONT IS SOFT AND ROTTED OUT, WHILE THE RIGHT FRONT AND THE REAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION. I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND FOUND NO RELIEF OR EVEN A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION WHY MY FATHER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. I'M QUITE APPALLED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S LAME EXPLANATION OF HOW VEHICLE DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT. WITHOUT BEING OVERLY DRAMATIC, MY FATHER OR I COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES TO TO THIS RARE TYPE OF DAMAGE. THIS ESCAPE HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION FOR A 2003 FROM THE RUST BELT. I'VE OWNED DOZENS OF VEHICLES, AS HAS MY WHOLE FAMILY, WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I AM HOPING OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL IN HOPES OF SPARKING AN EXPANDED RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I INCLUDED A COUPLE OF GENERAL PICTURES FOR NOW AS THE ESCAPE IS AT A REPAIR SHOP. 2003 XLT V6 3.0 WITH AVAILABLE FULL 4X4 CAPABILITY. APPROXIMATELY 165,000 MILES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

CONTROL ARMS ARE IN TERRIBLE CONDITION. PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM DISLOCATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DUE TO CORROSION AND POOR MANUFACTURING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT ON SOME ESCAPES DURING THOSE YEARS BUT SINCE MY VIN NUMBER ISNT ON THEIR RECALL LISTS FOR IT IM NOT COVERED. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. HOW ARE ONLY SOME OF THE FORD ESCAPES DURING THOSE YEARS COVERED FOR BAD CONTROL ARMS? PLEASE HELP AND HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WENT OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND THE WHOLE FRONT END FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO COLLAPSE THE STEERING GOT THROWN WAY OFF AND WHEN SHE WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT THE LIGHT SHE ALMOST WENT THROUGH THEM BECAUSE OF THE FRONT-END BEING WAY OUT OF LINE. WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK UNDERNEATH IT THE NEXT DAY IT IS SO CORRODED AND SPLIT AND CRACKED WHERE THE CROSSMEMBER IS. AND THESE RAILROAD TRACKS SHE WENT OVER EVERY DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS THAT ARE VERY SMOOTH EXCEPT FOR THAT NIGHT WHEN THEY JUST GAVE OUT. YOU CAN TELL THAT THE METAL FOR THE VEHICLE IS NOT QUALITY

2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4X4 REAR FRAME RUSTS CAUSING CONTROL ARM BRACKET TO RIP FRONT THE FRAME. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAME UP TO A STOP LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP GOT OUT AND LOOKED TOO SEE THE FRAME HAD RUSTED ALLOWING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TO RIP THE BRACKET FROM THE FRAME.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE STEERING STARTED TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND LOOSE. MOMENTS LATER THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (SUB-FRAME) ON PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL ALMOST ENDING IN CRASH. NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL BELOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH WAS ISSUED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED. THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER THEY'LL FIX. RECALL # 14S02 2001-'04 FORD ESCAPE RECALLED FOR RUST, STEERING PROBLEM FORD IS RECALLING 385,762 2001-'04 FORD ESCAPE SUVS BECAUSE A RUST PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STEERING CONTROL. | APRIL 8, 2014 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL TITLE: FRONT SUBFRAME CROSSBRACE INSTALLATION NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V165000 FORD RECALL NUMBER: 14S02

IN MAY OF 2016, I TOOK MY FORD ESCAPE IN FOR REPAIR OF A RECALL. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT A FAILURE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS I READ THE RECALL NOTICE AND THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH REPAIR CENTER AGENT. A MONTH LATER THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATES. AFTER I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD, IT WAS EXPRESSED TO ME THAT RECALL WAS NOT TO PREVENT FAILURE BUT MERELY TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE. HAD I NOT HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED THE ESCAPE AT COST TO THEM, BUT BECAUSE I HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED THEN I MOST PAY FOR IT. WHY WOULD FORD AUTHORIZE SUCH A RIDICULOUS RECALL EFFORT. FIRST OF ALL IF IT'S KNOW ISSUE, WHY NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE. SECONDLY, HAD I KNOW THE RAMIFICATIONS, I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD THE RECALLED PERFORMED. THE CONTROL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AND I HIT A BUMP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE TIRE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION TO THE REAR AXLES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY GETTING READY TO TURN WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WHEN IT STOPPED BECAUSE I FOUND OUT LATER THE FRAME THAT KEPT THE C V JOINT IN PLACE CAME APART AND MY TIRE TWISTED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE RECALL THAT WAS TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING HAD BEEN PERFORMED BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE.

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. I PULLED THE CAR BACK IN AND IT HAS SAT THE PAST FEW DAYS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE FRONT END AND FRAME ARE RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND AM NOW AWARE OF ALL THE ISSUES THAT INVOLVE RUST ON THESE MODELS. I AM SCARED TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR IN THE SHAPE THAT IT IS IN. I WILL CALL THE RECALL HOTLINE BUT ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE READ I DON'T EXPECT MUCH HELP FROM FORD. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AND AM SORRY TO SAY THAT AS CONSUMERS WE SHOULD EXPECT THESE COMPANIES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR CHEAPLY MADE PRODUCTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) AND THE DEALER INSTALLED REINFORCEMENT CROSS BAR TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CROSS BAR WAS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

THE RIGHT FRONT SUB-FRAME IS DANGEROUSLY RUSTED THROUGH, AND MY MECHANIC SAYS IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS IT MAY COLLAPSE AN ANY MOMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH CANTON, OHIO THIS SUMMER (APPROXIMATELY JUNE OR JULY) AND THEY SAID THE VIN NUMBER WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST, SO THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THE SITUATION IS SUCH THAT I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT FIX IT. AS OF NOW, I AM AFRAID TO USE THIS VEHICLE. THE QUESTION IS: WHY HAS FORD RECALLED AND REPAIRED MOST OF THESE RUSTED SUB-FRAME PROBLEMS, BUT NOT MINE?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V165000 (LOWER CONTROL ARM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A REINFORCEMENT CROSS-BRACE WAS INSTALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS-BRACE WAS NOT WORKING FOR HIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS BEING COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED AND CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED FOR TWO MONTHS HOWEVER, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

I TOOK MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE TO DEALER TO HAVE CROSS BRACE PUT ON DUE TO RECALL. I KNOW MORE THAN LEFT THEIR PARKING LOT AND NOTICE CAR DRIVING FUNNY. EVER SINCE BEING PUT ON I HAVE TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM ON PASSENGER FRONT, NEW TIRES AND 2 ALIGNMENTS. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE CV JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. I CALLED THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT CAR DRIVING FUNNY THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME ITS NOT THERE FAULT. I HAVE SOAKED ALMOST $1000 IN REPAIRS DUE TO CROSSBAR BEING PUT ON MY CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED THERE ARE FLAWS IN THE CROSS BRACE BEING INSTALLED ON CARS. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS AND SINCE DEALER MESSED WITH MY CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. *TR