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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE EMERGING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER STRAP MOUNT WAS RUSTED AND THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL RUSTED AND CREATED A BIG HOLE, WHICH CAUSED THE TOP STRESS MOUNT TO FALL DOWN. UPDATED 06/11/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE INNER FENDER WELL WAS RUSTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM METAL ATTACHMENT, PRESUMABLY A RUST-THROUGH FAILURE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHOCK AND TOWER WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND PENETRATED THE SUBFRAME AND FLOOR INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
RUNNING BOARD RUSTED AND FELL OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST AND HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE STARTED TO RATTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
MY DAUGHTER COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOUD CLANGING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF HER CAR. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER AND IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE AND USED SPARINGLY. UPON INSPECTION I NOTED THAT THE RIGHT REAR STRUT HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN FREE DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST OF THE WHEEL WELL. I CANNOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION. NOT SURE IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED YET OR WHETHER IT WILL COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. I NOW RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WITH SO MANY OWNERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
THE REAR PASSENGER FENDER WELL HAS RUSTED OUT. WE CAN SEE INTO OUR TRUCK. THE RUST IS SO BAD THE TOP SHOCK MOUNT IS NO LONGER CONNECT AND THE FRAME IS CRACKED. I WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS BECAUSE FORD IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING. BOTH BODY SHOPS SAID A 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT RUST LIKE THIS AND IT WOULD COST MORE THAN WHAT THE VEHICLE IS WORTH TO FIX. WE CAN NOT LONGER DRIVE OUR VEHICLE AND WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER IT AS TOTAL UNLESS FORD STANDS BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES AND CREATES A RECALL. FORD CREATED A RECALL FOR THE FRONT OF THEIR FORD ESCAPES RUSTING OUT BUT HAVE NOT DONE THE SAME FOR THE REARS. I HAVE READ ONLINE SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR FORD ESCAPE. *JS
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME WITH OUR SON AND STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE. TOOK IT TO OUR REPAIR GUY WHO STATED THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. WE THEN TOOK IT FOR A 2ND LOOK AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AND THAT ITS NOT FIXABLESO WE'LL HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR. WE'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 6 YEARS AND I BOUGHT IT FROM OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHO WHEN CONTACTED SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I'M VERY LUCKY THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T HAPPEN TO THEM. WHAT IS A RECALL GOING TO TAKE? SOMEONE GETTING HURT OR WORSE?? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE CLEARLY ITS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WHEN THERE'S 1000'S OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, SHE FOUND THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELL SUFFERED FROM SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE ABOVE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR BODY PANEL AND AS A RESULT, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIBODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL THAT SUPPORTS THE SHOCK TOWER HAS COMPLETELY RUST OUT,THIS IS COMMON IN THE 2004-2006 ESCAPES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 11/19/13*LJ UPDATED 11/29/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL ACCUMULATED WATER ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER LOCATED CORROSION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL THAT CAUSED THE SUSPENSION AND BOLTS TO CORRODE. THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR, STATING THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK BY ENGAGING THE KEY ALARM BUT THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. THE TRUNK ALSO COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. . UPDATED 07/27/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER WANTED TO CHARGER 24,500 TO REPAIR THE MOTOR AND 125.00 TO EVALUATE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE. UPDATED 08/02/2012 *JS
FOR OVER A YEAR I HAVE BEEN HEARING A RATTLING SOUND BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, FIGURED A SCREW WAS LOOSE IN THE PANELLING CAUSING A VIBRATION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER NUMEROUS TIMES COMPLAINING OF NOISE, THEY SAID THEY WOULD BALANCE THE TIRES AND CHECK THE BRAKES, BUT NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT WHEEL WELL RUSTING THROUGH. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND THE STRUT IS LOOSE DUE TO THE RUST DAMAGE THAT IS CONTINUING TO GROW. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INVESTIGATING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TRYING TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SOUND, I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO AUTO BODY SHOP ON 5/22/2012 AT 11:33 AM AND THEY WERE STUNNED TO SEE THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE APPRAISER CAME OUT AND TOOK PICTURES AND LOOKED AT IT. AFTER LOOKING IT OVER HE TURNED TO ME AND ASKED ME HOW OLD THE VEHICLE IS, I SAID IT IS A 2004. HE SAID, "I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE." HE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT MUST BE A FACTORY DEFECT. HE SAID WHEN FORD WAS PUTTING THE COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL, THEY MUST NOT HAVE COATED IT ENOUGH AND MOISTURE GOT INSIDE CAUSING IT TO RUST. HE WENT BACK INSIDE AND ONE OF THE GUYS FROM THE SHOP HAPPENED TO BE INSIDE, SO HE CAME AND LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE EITHER AND HE HAS BEEN DOING BODY WORK FOR 25 YEARS! HE ALSO SAID IT IS POSSIBLY BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE THE STRUT IS COMING LOOSE, DUE TO THE RUSTING OUT FROM AROUND THE STRUT. THIS MOVEMENT OF THE STRUT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH HANDLING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AROUND CORNERS. HE GRABBED THE STRUT AND IT SHOOK EASILY BY HAND. I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS WIND PULLING ME, BUT IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I CALLED FORD, BUT THEY SAID WARANTY RAN OUT, CANT HELP YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER DOOR LIFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 208,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IT STARTED SWAYING ABNORMALLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FENDER WELL WAS CORRODED AROUND THE STRUT MOUNT AND THE STRUT HAD COME THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
LIFT GATE GLASS HINGE BOLT CORRODED AND FELL APART LEAVING REAR GLASS HANGING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAP UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHERE THE TOW HOOK IS LOCATED IS DAMAGED. HE IS ATTEMPTING TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE AND GOT IT INSPECTED. THE INSPECTOR DISCOVERED THE DAMAGE AND STATED THAT THE TOW HOLE HOOK IS TOO LARGE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
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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.