2004 Ford Escape Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owned a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact's son stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle and rolled. The contact stated that her son had gone unconscious and did not remember any details. The contact arrived at the scene and saw that the vehicle had rolled into a ditch. The contact stated that the vehicle had been rolled back over onto its four wheels. The contact noted that none of the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the police were on the scene but had not issued a report. The contact drove her son to a local hospital where he received stitches to close a cut over his left eye on his forehead. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was not aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V165000 (Structure). The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 217,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ASHEVILLE FORD LOCATED AT (611 BREVARD RD ASHEVILLE NC 28806 828 253 2731) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
CPSC:ABOUT A MONTH AGO I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THE SHOCK CASING ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND MY SHOCK MOUNT IS NO LONGER ATTATCHED TO MY VEHICLE. *DT *JS
PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTING AWAY. SHOCK TOWER MOUNT IS IN TREMENDOUS JEOPARDY. I HAVE LOOKED AT DOZENS OF SIMILAR MODEL YEAR ESCAPES THIS WEEKEND, INCLUDING ONE I OWN, AND THEY ARE ALL FINE. A REVIEW OF THE INTERNET SHOWS I AM NOT ALONE THOUGH. THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. WHAT TO DO?
THE TWO HINGES HOLDING THE REAR WINDOW TO THE TAILGATE ARE BADLY CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE METAL BOLTS HAVE FAILED AND THE REAR WINDOW IS NOW A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD FALL OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVING.
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ENGINE CRADLE ASSEMBLY. IT COMPLETELY RUSTED APART ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO COME LOOSE. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN IT CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE ESCAPE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THANKFULLY THERE WAS PLENTY OF SHOULDER ON THE RURAL ROAD AND NO ONE WAS HURT. HAD THIS BEEN IN TRAFFIC, AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE - NO HELP, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, WELL MAINTAINED WITH ON 70K MILES. NOTHING ELSE IS RUSTED. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. MORE DISTURBING IS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 14S04 BACK IN 2014. ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS TO ADD REINFORCEMENT CROSS BRACE IF RUST WAS PRESENT. THIS DID NOT ADDRESS THE DEFECTIVE PART, NOR, DID THE FORD DEALER NOTIFY US OF THE RUSTING PART WHICH WAS DESTINE TO FAIL. BASED ON THIS TYPE OF PRODUCT SUPPORT AND CONCERN FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY, WE WILL BE LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR VEHICLES IN THE FUTURE.
2004 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT SUB-FRAME CROSSBRACE CORROSION SEPARATION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *M UPDATED 07/20/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TOO EXTENSIVE TO BE REMEDIED PER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, ASSISTANCE WOULD BE DENIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED INDEPENDENTLY INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME FOR FREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND AFFECTED THE CONTROL ARM. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT SUBFRAME RUST; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE VIN BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,255.
PASSENGER SIDE REAR INNER WHEEL WELL AND STRUT MOUNT RUSTED OUT. HOLE THE SIZE OF A GRAPEFRUIT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS EXACT ISSUE ALL OVER THE INTERNET YET NO SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM. MY STRUT HAS NOT YET PROTRUDED AND BROKEN THROUGH THE MOUNT BUT WILL SHORTLY IF NOT ADDRESSED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED FROM A PARKING SPOT, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FRAGMENTS OF CORRODED METAL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELLS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS EXTREME CORROSION TO THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS, AND THE ENTIRE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED. SHOCK MOUNT IS NOW COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
HAD BEEN NOTICING NOISES WHEN I DROVE OVER BUMPS AND ROUGH SURFACES COMING FROM THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HIT AN UNAVOIDABLE HOLE IN THE ROAD TODAY AND HEARD A LOUD THUMP FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE WHERE MY BROTHER IN-LAW CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE STRUT/SHOCK HAD BROKE THROUGH THE HORRIBLY RUSTED WHEEL WELL AND WAS HITTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL COVER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER HAD IT HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO SEE IF IT CAN BE FIXED. IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE AS IT IS NOT DRIVABLE. I SEE FROM NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHY IS FORD NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE? I MAY HAVE TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT I AM NOT PREPARED TO DO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.
RIGHT REAR INNER FENDER WELL RUSTED OUT. CAUSING SHOCK NOT TO BE ATTACHED. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IS. FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). WHILE HAVING THE REPAIRS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE NOTICED OCCURRED. DUE TO CORROSION, THE CROSS BRACE THAT WAS INSTALLED FAILED TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT AND FRACTURED, RENDERING THE PART UNUSABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY PROVIDE RECALL REPAIRS ONCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
2004 FORD ESCAPE. REAR RIGHT WHEEL HUB RUST/CORROSION AROUND STRUT ASSEMBLY. SAFETY ISSUE WITH REAR SHOCK. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2004 TO 2006 FORD ESCAPE DESPITE RUST PROOFING. RUSTS AROUND AREA FOR STRUT LEADING TO STRUCTURAL COMPROMISE OF THIS ASSEMBLY. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE LEANED OUTWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
OUR 2004 FORD ESCAPE IS MAKING METALLIC CREAKING, SQUEAKING AND GROANING SOUNDS FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THE SOUND IS TRIGGERED BY JUST SITTING IN THE STATIONARY CAR AND ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. IT BECOMES CONSTANT AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING. THERE ARE ALSO OCCASIONAL HEAVY METALLIC THUMPS OR KNOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OR UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, AND THE RIDE IS ROUGH. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR INNER METAL WHEELHOUSE IS EXTREMELY RUSTY. A FEW HOLES ARE SEVERAL INCHES SQUARE & GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. PART OF THE RUST IS VERY NEAR WHERE THE TOP OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER BOLTS INTO THE WHEELHOUSE. THE WHEELHOUSE METAL IS SO RUSTY THAT I CAN FLEX IT WITH MY HAND AND CAUSE THE CREAKING SOUNDS. I BELIEVE THE HEAVY METALLIC THUMPS ARE CAUSED WHEN THE CONICAL BUMPER INSIDE THE TOP OF THE SPRING BOTTOMS OUT AND HITS THE SUSPENSION MOUNTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING. THIS LIKELY HAPPENS BECAUSE THE SHOCK ABSORBER CANNOT STOP IT, SINCE THE RUSTY WHEELHOUSE BENDS SO MUCH. THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM IS HEAVILY DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET BY A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THE TOP OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER COULD CRASH THROUGH THE WHEELHOUSE AND PROTRUDE INTO THE CAR INTERIOR, INJURING OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. THIS WOULD MAKE LOSS OF CONTROL MORE LIKELY. IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THE SHOCK ABSORBER BREAKS FREE AND BECOMES TANGLED UP WITH THE REAR WHEEL OR PUNCTURES THE TIRE. THIS CAR IS A UNIBODY CONSTRUCTION, SO THIS WHEELHOUSE IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE STRUCTURAL STRENGTH FOR THAT PART OF THE CAR. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THIS RUSTY WHEELHOUSE WILL DISINTEGRATE AND NOT PROPERLY ABSORB THE CRASH ENERGY LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. THIS MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT THE OCCUPANTS WILL GET INJURED. PLEASE FORCE A VEHICLE RECALL ASAP WHICH MAKES FORD MOTOR CO. REPLACE THIS DANGEROUS WHEELHOUSE WITH ONE THAT HAS A SAFER, NON-RUSTING DESIGN.
I WAS DRIVING AND THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS FALLING APART. WHEN I STOPPED AND LOOKED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT AND THE METAL PLATE THAT HOLDS THE SHOCK IN PLACE WAS HANGING AND BANGING AROUND. THE LEFT SIDE IS COMPLETELY INTACT. I TOOK IT TO CAUSEWAY COLLISION TO LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID ITS A DEFECT AND PROBABLY NOT FIXABLE. THE TRUCK HAS HIGH MILEAGE BUT RUNS GREAT. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Ford Escape has 51 Structure complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.