2004 Ford Escape Suspension

THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SHOCK HAS COME THROUGH THE PLASTIC MOULDING. THE CAR DRIVES BUT IS UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE. *TR

I'M DRIVING ON A NEWLY PAVED STREET WHEN I HEARD A LARGE NOISE, LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF, NEAR THE RIGHT REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THEN I HEARD SOMETHING HITTING AGAINST THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL THE WELL WAS RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK AND MOUNT WAS NOW DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE FORD ESCAPE IS NOT DRIVABLE. THE REAR WHEEL WELL IS SO RUSTED OUT THERE IS A HOLE INTO THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I LOOK FROM INSIDE THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT/HATCH AREA OF THE ESCAPE I CAN SEE THE OUTSIDE THROUGH THE HOLE. *TR

TL -THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN JUNE 2014, SHE RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000(SUSPENSION). SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE; HOWEVER, FORD ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS COULD NOT PROVIDE A SOLID ANSWER ON WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE OR HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.

MY WIFE NOTICED A CLUNKING COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT THE ISSUE IS A SEPARATION IN THE WHEELHOUSE WHERE THE STRUT ATTACHES TO THE WHEEL WELL. THE FACTORY-APPLIED UNDERCOATING FAILED AND CAUSED THE METAL AREA BENEATH IT TO RUST OUT. THERE IS A VISIBLE HOLE IN THE STRUCTURE, AND WE ARE ABLE TO SEE INTO THE TRUNK AREA. OUR BODY SHOP ADVISES THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THAT FULL DETACHMENT OF THE TOP STRUT MOUNT IS IMMINENT. AFTER INVESTIGATION, HE ALSO ADVISES US THAT HE FOUND ONLINE NEARLY 100 SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON SIMILAR VEHICLES RANGING FROM 2004-2006, ALL WITH VARYING MILEAGE. IN FACT, HE HAS TWO VEHICLES ON HIS PROPERTY THAT SHARE THE SAME CONCERN: ONE LOST FULL INTEGRITY, AND THE STRUT BLEW THROUGH THE BODY INTO THE CARGO SPACE; THE OTHER SHARES A SIMILAR LEVEL OF FAILURE AS OUR CAR. IT IS ALSO HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT THIS SORT OF RUST-OUT IS NOT COMMON NOR EXPECTED OF A VEHICLE THIS AGE. AFTER EXTENSIVE LOCAL RESEARCH AND PERSONAL INVESTIGATION, I HAVE FOUND IN MY CITY ALONE A HALF DOZEN FORD ESCAPE-STYLE VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEARS-RANGE WITH SIMILAR ISSUES AT VARIOUS STAGES OF CONCERN. I ALSO HAVE RECORDED OVER 200 COMPLAINTS FROM SEVERAL BULLETIN BOARDS ACROSS THE INTERNET NOTING SIMILAR CONCERNS. WE HAVE YET TO PERSONALLY CONTACT FORD, YET WE SEE FROM THE POSTINGS THAT THE RESPONSE IS THE SAME: FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS AN ISSUE. FORD, HOWEVER, HAS SLATED LATER THIS MONTH TO ISSUE A RECALL RELATED TO A SIMILAR SUSPENSION-RUST ISSUE IN THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT WHEELHOUSE. AS THE LOSS OF AN EFFECTIVE STRUT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HANDLING, BRAKING AND SUSPENSION SAFETY ISSUES AT ANY CORNER OF THE AUTOMOBILE, THIS CONCERN FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. *TR

RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT DETACHED AND PUSHED THROUGH BODY OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE NOW IS UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK MOUNT WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

RECALL NOTICE ARRIVED IN THE MAIL ON SATURDAY MAY 31ST. CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY MORNING JUNE 2ND AT 8 AM< TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD THE EARLIEST OPENING THEY HAD WAS DECEMBER 22ND 2014- THIS IS WAY TOO FAR AWAY IF THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY VEHICLE - DEALERSHIP IS ROMANO FORD ON BURDICK STREET, FAYETTEVILLE NY 13066 - (315) 637-4668 IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET FASTER REPAIRS??? *TR

ON A FAMILY VACATION, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE, BREAKING AWAY FROM THE REAR WHEEL WELL ENTIRELY. IMAGINE MY OUTRAGE WHEN I COME TO FIND OUT THAT RUSTED OUT PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WELLS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE FORD ESCAPES FOR THIS YEAR. THE WELL-BEING OF MY FAMILY WAS PUT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE FORD HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS FLAWED ENGINEERING. THAT IS SHAMEFUL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD'VE ENDED POORLY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY! PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

THESE WAS A LOUD BANG WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. WHEN I WAS HOME I CHECKED THE WHEEL WELL AND THE TOP SHOCK MOUNT WAS TOTALLY ROTTED THROUGH TO THE TRUCK AREA. THE MOUNT HOUSE IN THE BODY HAD BROKEN OFF AND DESTROYED THE INNER WHEEL WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL SOUND THAT CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR WHEEL CONTROL ARMS HAD BECOME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO SAFETY RECALLS IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC THINKING I NEEDED SHOCKS. MY MECHANIC STATED TO ME THAT I COULD NOT PUT NEW SHOCKS ON MY ESCAPE BECAUSE MY INNER FENDER WELL WAS RUSTED OUT AND MY SHOCK WAS NO LONGER BOLTED TO THE FRAME. I THEN HAD TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. MY SHOCK WAS JUST BOUNCING AROUND AND COULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THE BACK SEAT OR BROKEN OFF ALL TOGETHER. ONCE I TOOK IT TO THE BODY SHOP I WAS TOLD I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE SHOCKS BECAUSE MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK WAS CRACKED IN HALF. I JUST PURCHASED THIS "USED" VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER AND MY HUSBAND REALLY LIKES FORD PRODUCTS BUT AFTER THIS HAPPENING TO US AND FINDING OUT THAT FORD HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. LUCKILY NOBODY IN MY FAMILY WAS INJURED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I REALIZE THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MOST VEHICLES WHERE THERE IS SNOW AND ICE HAS TO BE USED ON THE ROADS, I FEEL FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING TODAY A BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD BANGING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE WHEEL WELL IS SO RUSTED THAT THE STRUTS ARE BARELY ATTACHED. HE TOLD ME THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE I HAVE CAME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM OUTSIDE THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SHOCKS AND STRUT MOUNT WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 12/4/13*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF THE SHOCK STRUT MOUNT RUSTED AWAY. UPDATED 12/12/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR SHOCK MOUNT PENETRATED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD BECOME PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

HEARD A RATTLE IN REAR OF CAR. THOUGHT IT WAS EXHAUST SYSTEM RELATED. UPON INSPECTION FOUND REAR PASSENGER UPPER SHOCK CONNECTION HAD ROTTED COMPLETED AND THE SHOCK WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR. SHOCK IS BARELY HANGING ON THE VEHICLE AND APPEARS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS PER FORD REQUIREMENTS AT THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. NO UNUSUAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

MY DAUGHTER NOTICED HER ESCAPE WASN'T DRIVING RIGHT IT WAS TRAVELING SIDEWAY`S DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED HER FRONT TIRE`S WERE WORN, ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGER`S FRONT, IT WAS WORN ON THE OUTSIDE. I SPOKE WITH A FORD MECHANIC THAT SUGGESTED NEW TIRE`S AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, SHE HAD THAT SERVICE DONE, WHICH DID NOT MAKE THE VEHICLE DRIVE ANY DIFFERENTLY. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR SERVICE IN WHICH NOW THE VEHICLE WAS DOG TRACKING WHEN DRIVING AND WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE WHEEL WELL`S WERE TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE REAR SHOCKS BECAUSE OF IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS WHOM HAVE EXPRESSED THE SAME CONCERN. THE WHOLE REAR END HAS APPARENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF LINE, BECAUSE OF THE RUSTED OUT WHEEL WELL`S THAT ATTACH TO THE SHOCK`S TO HOLD THE REAR END IN ALIGNMENT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AND FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS ISSUE DOE`S NOT JUST INCLUDE 2004 MODEL`S , IT HAS ALSO BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, THAT EVEN A NEW 2013 MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, THE BOLT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM ROTTED/RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS A THREE YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 09/09/08 *BF UPDATED 09/09/08. *JB

MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A LOOSE WHEEL BEARING AT 21,500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN ASKED WHY THIS WASN'T FOUND DURING A COMPLETE SUSPENSION CHECK 2 MONTHS PRIOR, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS DEFECT MAY NOT BE DETECTED UNTIL THERE WAS A FAILURE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE OTHER WHEEL BEARINGS I WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL EVENT. I HAVE SINCE DISCUSSED THIS WITH ENGINEERS FROM DETROIT AND WAS TOLD THESE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE A MAJOR WARRANTY PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT MAY LOOSE CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING SHOULD OTHER BEARINGS BECOME LOOSE. SHOULD WHEEL BEARING BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES? *NM