2004 Ford Escape Suspension

CHANGED THE REAR SHOCKS AFTER A WEEK WITH THE NEW SHOCKS IN I NOTICED A NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THE SHOCK MOUNT IS RUSTED OUT AND THE CAR IS NOW UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN UNTIL IT IS FIXED AND FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING MOST SHOPS WILL NOT TOUCH IT BECAUSE OF A LIABILITY ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION IF I FIND A GARAGE THAT WILL FIX IT THE COST IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE! WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET? VERY VERY DANGEROUS!

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

CLUNKING NOISE AND ROUGH RIDE. FOUND PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL EXTREMELY RUSTED OUT AND SHOCK ESSENTIALLY DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO RUST ASIDE FROM SMALL SURFACE RUST ON NON-PAINTED PIECES. SEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY COMMON WITH THESE ESCAPES, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED DESPITE THE OBVIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HOUSING WHERE THE SHOCK MOUNT IS LOCATED RUSTED AND THERE IS A BIG HOLE. LOOKING ONLINE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THANK GOD I BROUGHT IT INTO MY MECHANIC BEFORE IT TORE MY TIRE APART. *TR

PROBLEM WITH RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED. WHEN DISCUSSING WITH MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL ESCAPES. JUST HAD THE VEHICLE OVER A YEAR AND WAS NEVER SEEN WHEN PURCHASING. WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT OF CHECKING WHEEL WELLS. SHOCK IS BARELY HANGING ON AND WAS TOLD IF DRIVEN CAN FLIP OVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUSTED AROUND THE SHOCKS AND CONTROL ARMS. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 7/7/15*CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 6/3/15*CN UPDATED 9/27/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL SHOCK WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND FRACTURED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 ESCAPE WHEN I HEARD A RATTLING ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENTIRE SHOCK TOWER HAS RUSTED OUT AND THERE IS A WHOLE IN THE WHEEL WELL. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH FORD ON 2/23/15 AND TOLD THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I TOLD THEM IT AMAZING THAT I CAN FIND ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND YOU KNOW THING. ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THE LEFT SIDE SHOCK TOWER LOOKS GOOD. SO WHY IS THE RIGHT SIDE RUSTED OUT. SHE COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. SHE SAYS SHE WILL TAKE THE COMPLAINT AND IT WILL ALSO GO TO NHTSA. WELL IT SEEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. YOUR COMPLAINTS SEEM TO BE VERY SIMILAR. I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GET THIS FIXED. BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES WENT IN MY VEHICLE AND THE MASTER CYLINDER COST ME $860. TO GET FIXED. WHICH I THINK WAS IN A RECALL THAT YOU HAD BUT FORD COMPANY DOESN'T HAVE THAT RECALL. SO KEEP RECEIPTS FORD SAYS TO GET REIMBURSED IF STUFF GETS RECALLED. PLEASE RECALL THE SHOCK TOWER ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR RUSTING OUT AND DRIVER SIDE IS OK. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG. FORD COMPANY NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THIS EVEN THOUGH THE CLAIM THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

HIT A BUMP AND VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE ON EVERY LITTLE BUMP.FOUND PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD BROKEN THROUGH BODY-RUST ALL AROUND WHEEL WELL.CHECKED DRIVERS SIDE-OK. HAVE ALWAYS WASHED ON REGULAR BASIS.HAS TO BE SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG. MAYBE HIT A SMALL POTHOLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE ENTIRE SHEET METAL SECTION WHERE THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS TO THE BODY WAS RUSTED THROUGH. ALL OTHER WHEEL WELLS DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. CLEARLY A PRODUCTION PROBLEM WITH THE UNDERBODY COATING. MANY OTHER FORMAL SAFETY COMPLAINTS TALK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR WHEEL WELL. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY IN 10/03. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A SAFETY RECALL ITEM AS IT CAN IMPACT STABILITY IN CORNERING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR HOUSE PANEL STRUCTURE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

I HEARD A LOUD THUMP IN RIGHT REAR OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE ENTIRE RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS ROTTED OUT AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL ROTTED OUT WHERE SHOCK ATTACHES TO THE BODY. SEEMS THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THIS IS PROBLEM WITH MOST OWNERS IN THE MID WEST. CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALER AND INFORMED TO CONTACT YOU AS WELL AS FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE TOOK PICTURES TO FORWARD ON TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT FORD. *TR

I HAD TO AVOID A BICYCLIST AND RAN UP OVER THE CURB AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 35, I NOTICED RIGHT AWAY UPON DRIVING AWAY THAT THERE WAS A GREAT RATTLE IN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR SUSPENSION. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY TOLD ME THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT BROKE OFF. BECAUSE OF THE RUST NOONE WILL FIX IT. THE CAR OTHERWISE IS IN PERFECT SHAPE, NO OTHER RUST PRESENT ON THE CAR. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A DEFECT IN THE FORD PRODUCT, FORD WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS! *TR

WE RECENTLY TOOK OUR 2004 FORD ESCAPE TO GET IT LOOKED AT BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE HIT A BUMP THERE WAS A LOUD THUD SOUND IN THE BACK RIGHT. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL OF OUR 2004 FORD ESCAPE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE CORROSION HAS CAUSED A MAJOR SUSPENSION PROBLEM AND IT'S BEEN DEEMED UNDRIVABLE. WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT NO MECHANIC OR BODY SHOP WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A LIABILITY ISSUE IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN THEY WOULD BE AT FAULT. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN PERFECT CONDITION, BUT BECAUSE OF ONE AWFUL DEFECT ALL WE CAN DO IS SELL IT FOR PARTS. *TR

NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. FOUND THAT REAR SHOCK TOWER HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND SHOCK WAS RUBBING ON TIRE. *TR

VEHICLE BROUGHT INTO REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND WAS ROTTED CONSIDERABLY. A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM WAS SENT TO THE CUSTOMER AND CUSTOMER TOOK INTO BRIGHT FORD, INC FOR THE RECALL. REPAIR WAS DONE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER AND RETURNED TO CUSTOMER MAY 16, 2004. THREE MONTHS LATER WE AGAIN HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP AND UPON INSPECTION THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET ROTTED OFF OF THE CRADLE AND CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BE ONLY MOUNTED BY THE REAR BOLT. THIS CAR IS CONSIDERED A HAZARD TO DRIVE DUE TO THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE MOVEMENT NOT BEING CONTROLLED BY STEERING. BRIGHTON FORD ON THEIR INVOICE #19744, FOUND THE FRONT SUB FRAME RUSTING THROUGH ON RIGHT HAND SIDE. SENT QUOTE FOR NEW SUB-FRAME AND WERE DENIED AND THEY WERE TOLD TO PUT THIS CROSS BRACE ON THE VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT THIS TIME AND BRIGHTON FORD SAYS IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT A SAFE REPAIR AND KNOWINGLY TOLD CUSTOMER THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. *TR

AFTER INVESTIGATING A LOUD NOISE. I FOUND OUT THAT MY RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER WAS RUSTED OUT AND MAKING THE NOISE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY FIX THAT FORDS SHOULD HAVE DO DO AS A RECALL. THIS IS ALSO DANGEROUS. IF THIS PART BREAKS WHILE DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT OR WORSE. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS PROBLEM AND AS A SAFETY ISSUE. RECALL THIS PROBLEM WITH FORDS. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL IS RUSTING OUT SO THAT THE SHOCK TO BREAK LOOSE. I WAS TOLD IT'S UNSAFE BY SEVERAL MECHANICS/BODY SHOPS TO DRIVE. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR THAT I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY THREE CHILDREN AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CHEAP FIX. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR WORSE!!! *TR

RIGHT SIDE SHOCK TOWER RUSTED OUT . CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL. ARRIVED HOME TO INSPECT THE AREA OF CONCERN. FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL WELL DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUSTING. THIS ALLOWED THE SHOCK TO TRAVEL UPWARD STRIKING THE PLASTIC INTERIOR TRIM PANEL. THIS VEHICLE WAS GARAGE KEPT UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO. IT ALSO PASSED STATE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS NINE MONTHS AGO. I AM NOT A MECHANICAL ENGINEER. HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE A CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENT SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO SHEET METAL THAT IS PRONE TO RUST. I HAVE TAKEN THE TIME AND MADE THE EFFORT TO INSPECT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS AND FIND THAT THEIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS CONNECTED TO A SOLID COMPONENT OF THE FRAME. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ENGINEERED DESIGN FLAW OF A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT THAT POSSIBLY COULD RESULT IN UNSAFE HANDLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WITH ONLY ONE REAR SHOCK ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AN UNCONTROLLABLE REAR SWAY COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ROLL OVER. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, WHICH GIVEN KNOWN STATISTICS IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ACTUAL CASES, I DO REQUEST A RECALL TO BE MADE. *TR

WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE CAME FROM BACK OF THE CAR. HE STOP , PULL OVER AND TAKE A LOOK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENING AND WHEN HE LOOK IN TO THE REAR WHEEL WELL HE SEE IT WAS DAMAGED BADLY . HE MADE APPOINTMENT TO TAKE CAR TO FORD DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT . THEY CHECKED IT AND TOLD HIM THAT THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE SHOCK MOUNT AND NO LONGER ATTACH TO THE CAR, THEY TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE BAD ACCIDENT AND VERY DANGEROUS . HE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE CORROSION RECALL WHICH I GOT A LETTER FROM FORD BUT THEY SAID THE RECALL IS FOR A CORROSION WITH THE SUB FRAME WHERE IT CONNECT TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM MY CAR HAVING . THEY TOLD HIM IT WILL COST ABOUT $3000 TO HAVE IT REPAIR . I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS , THE CAR ONLY 10 YEARS OLD . I CHECK ON LINE TO SEE ANYONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2004 FORD ESCAPE WITH THE SAME ISSUE I COULD NOT BELIEVED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT SAME ISSUE AND IT CAUGHT MY EYES THAT MOST PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM AT THE SAME PERIOD OF 10 YEARS . I WANT TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE FORD TO HAVE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED OR HURT . FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR QUALITY IF THEY ARE TRYING TO HIDE THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE PUNISH TO THE EXTEND OF THE LAW. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING OUT OF OUR SUBDIVISION AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE THAT CONTINUED FROM THAT POINT. WE PULLED OVER AN INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK HAD COME LOOSE AT THE TOP MOUNT. UPON FURTHER REVIEW BY A REPAIR SHOP, THE WHEEL/FENDER WELL HAS CORRODED INCLUDING THE INTEGRAL SHOCK MOUNT. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR