2005 Ford Escape Structure

LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 ESCAPE MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL BASICALLY ROTTED OUT AND HAS MESSED UP THE SHOCK AND STRUT ASSEMBLY AND KNOCKED THE TIRE LOOSE CAUSING TO RUB AGAINST THE SHOCK AND SMOKE, AND ALL YOU COULD SMELL WAS BURNING RUBBER. . AS I AM READING ALL THE FORUMS OUT THERE IS SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND POTENTLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 115,200 MILES ON IT, NO WAY SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND PURCHASED THE WARRANTY (HOPING THEY COVER REPAIRS), MY QUESTION IS WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE WHY ISN'T FORD DOING A RECALL THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING A LAWYER TO SEE IF ANY LEGAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN. VERY SAD FORD!!!!! I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 3 WORKING TWO JOBS AND IS NOW WITHOUT A CAR, HAVING TO RENT A CAR AT $300/WK...ON TOP OF OTHER BILLS AND BUYING GROCERIES, HMMM.. SO FORD YOU TELL ME IF THIS WAS ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU KNEW THEY HAD TO CHOOSE TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AND KIDS TO SCHOOL OR BUYING GROCERIES?? ALL BECAUSE OF A KNOW DEFECT WITH YOUR PRODUCT!

RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, DETACHING THE SHOCK WHERE IT ATTACHES AT THE TOP. ENTIRE INNER WHEEL WELL NEEDS REPLACEMENT TO REPAIR.

WHEEL WELLS ON MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE ARE FAILING. HAD AT $1,200 EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK UNIT BECAUSE IT RUSTED OUT. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO JUNK THE VEHICLE SOON BECAUSE OF ALL THE RUST DAMAGE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. DUE TO AGGRESSIVE BRAKING, THE STEERING BECAME OFF-CENTERED AT A NINETY DEGREE ANGLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A 2005 SUBFRAME WAS ORDERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT FIT AND HAD TO BE CHANGED OUT FOR A 2004 SUBFRAME. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

PASSENGERS SIDE WHEEL WELL HAS DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE RUST. SUPPORT FOR SHOCK/STRUT ASSEMBLY INTEGRITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT REPAIR. RUST DAMAGE WAS CONCEALED UNDER RUST PROOFING MATERIAL.

DESPITE MANY, MANY OWNER COMPLAINTS, FORD HAS NEVER BEEN MADE TO RECALL THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THERE ARE RUST ISSUES IN THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT COULD LEAD TO UNSAFE OPERATION. ONE EXAMPLE IS SHOCK ABSORBERS THAT COULD COME LOOSE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. FORD HAS ISSUED SUCH A RECALL FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, SO THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY NEVER MADE ANY REPAIRS TO THE 2005 ESCAPE MODELS. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY REFERRED ME TO YOU (THEY WERE QUITE HATEFUL). PLEASE HELP. I AM ON DISABILITY AND WE CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS AND WE BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED SHOCK ABSORBERS. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PANELS SURROUNDING THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAD RUSTED AND LOOSENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAPID FORD (1510 S POKEGAMA AVE, GRAND RAPIDS, MN 55744) WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ALSO CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND PROVIDED A REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,475.

BACK PASENGER WHEEL WELL IS ALL RUSTED OUT, THE BO;TS EVEN RUSTED OUT AND ARE MISSING THE TRUCK IS UNDRIVABLE AND IS NOT SAFE. I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED ALOT OF BANGING, PULLED OVER THINKING THE BACK DOOR WASNT CLOSED PROPERLY. BUT FOUND THE RUSTED WHEEL WELL. I CAN PUSH ON THE WELL AND IT JUST CRUMBLES! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME RAIL THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE BOLTED TO WAS RUSTED SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR FENDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,076.

REAR WINDOW JUST EXPLODED. CAR WAS PARKED AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. CAMPUS SECURITY CALLED HER OUT OF CLASS THINKING SOMEONE HIT HER CAR. SECURITY CAMERAS SHOWED NOTHING. SHE HAD USED REAR DEFROSTER ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL. CAR WAS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES BEFORE WINDOW EXPLODED. TEMPERATURE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING.

WHILE DRIVING WE NOTICED A REALLY LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. UPON LOOKING AROUND WE NOTICED SIGNIFICANT RUST INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL AREA. TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE SHOCK MOUNT IS RUSTED OUT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SAID THAT THEY GET A COUPLE OF THESE A WEEK. THE COST IS AT LEAST $1.500 PER SHOCK MOUNT. IF THERE'S A SEPARATION FROM THE SHOCK MOUNT IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO LOOSE CONTROL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WITH THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS "KNOWN PROBLEM " FORD ISN'T DOING A RECALL! APPARENTLY THE RUST HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE BUT WE NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT UNTIL THE LOUD NOISE. OUR MECHANIC ADVISED US THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE WHEEL WELL HAD RUSTED A HOLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 01/10/17*LJ

THE BACK REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SHOCK WENT THROUGH THE "FLOOR" AND PANEL OF THE SUV. I BOUGHT THIS WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAS 89,000 AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT AND NO ONE WILL FIX IT. I PAID $8500. FOR A SUV THAT I ONLY DROVE FOR 11/2 YEARS. I DRIVING AND HEARD A THUMPING SOUND SO I STOPPED AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I DROVE 1/2 MILE TO MY HOUSE AND THE NOISE WAS VERY LOUD, I LOOKED AGAIN TO SEE THAT THE SHOCK BROKE THROUGH THE PANEL AND NOT ANY OF IT IS CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. I GOT ON A COMPLAINT WEBSITE AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME SPOT ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE SUV MY HUSBAND GOT ON HIS BACK AND LOOKED AT THE UNDERCOATING AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE MUFFLER BROKE AND THE MECHANIC HAD MY HUSBAND TO LOOK UNDER THE SUV AND EVERYTHING IS RUSTED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE UNDERCOAT WAS FAULTY AND TRAPPED MOISTURE BETWEEN IT AND THE BODY OF THE SUV. THIS THING IS FALLING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME. THE LEFT REAR IS RUSTED OUT AND THIS ONLY STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. EVERYWHERE THERE IS A SEAM, RUST IS FORMING. I BLAMED IN ON THE DEALER FOR SELLING ME A FLOOD CAR, UNTIL I DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY DID THEY KEEP DOING THE SAME THING? I AM UNEMPLOYED AND THIS IS MY TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT, HOPEFULLY I WON'T KILL MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE WHEN IT FALLS APART ON THE ROAD.

RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE SHOCK HAS FORCED THE TOWER UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL, THROUGH THE PLASTIC IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FOR 2001-2004 ESCAPE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED, BUT NOT FOR THE 2005 MODEL WHICH HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HAS EXCESSIVE FENDER WELL RUST, A DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE SHOCK TOWER TO DISLODGE FROM THE FRAME, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. IT HAPPENS FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND WHEN A THUNKING NOISE BEGINS, IT'S TOO LATE. $8000 TO REPAIR A VEHICLE THAT I WAS TOLD BY EVERY LOCAL BODY SHOP, WOULDN'T EVEN REALLY CORRECT IT. IT'S A STRUCTURAL DEFECT. THE SHOCK TOWER IS NOW COMING THROUGH THE CARGO AREA OF MY CAR

THIS VEHICLE AND EVERY OTHER ONE I HAVE SEEN HAS HAD THE REAR WHEEL WELL RUST OUT AND HAVE THE SHOCK GO UP THROUGH THE SHOCK TOWER..IT DOES NOT MATTER THE BRAND EITHER.. FORD CHEVY OR DODGE, THEY ALL DO IT.. WHY CAN'T YOU GUYS HELP US OUT, AND MAKE THESE CAR COMPANIES STAND BEHIND THERE SHEET METAL FOR AT LEAST A 100 THOUSAND MILES.. WE PAY ENOUGH FOR THESE VEHICLES.. I AM NOT RICH YOU KNOW..

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INNER FENDER WELL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HAD RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE AXLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK MOUNTING BRACKET DETACHED FROM THE INNER FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

RUST FRAME ON WHEEL WELLS AND OTHER FRAME ISSUES ...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE EXHAUST SERVICED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC WOULD NOT LIFT THE VEHICLE TO DO THE EXHAUST SERVICING STATING THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THERE WAS A CHANCE THE FRAME WOULD FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT

I BOUGHT MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP 15 MONTHS, AND 6000 MILES AGO. I NOTICED THAT IT JUST ALWAYS FELT "RICKETY", AND HAD IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT THREE TIMES DURING THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS, AND NEW TIRES, AN "EXCITER RING" AND SWAY BARS DIDN'T SEEM TO REALLY DO MUCH. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LLAST MONTH, I NOTICED A LOUD "KNOCKING SOUND" COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE GATE WASN'T SHUT ALL THE WAY. THAT WASN'T IT. I STARTED DRIVING WITH THE SEATS DOWN IN THE BACK, TRYING TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. I LOOKED UP UNDER THE WHEEL WELL, AND WAS SHOCKED AT THE CORROSION, AND TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL MUFFLER MAN. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS "EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION IN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE", AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID. I WAS SENT TO A BODY SHOP AND TOLD TO "RAISE HELL WITH FORD", BECAUSE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. I GOT A QUOTE OF $8000 TO FIX IT. I STILL OWE $6000... I OPENED A CASE WITH FORD MOTORS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE "GIVING THE DEALERSHIP THE GREEN LIGHT TO MAKE IT RIGHT", AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS OBLIGATED TO TAKE PHOTOS. NO PHOTOS WERE TAKEN, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE RESPONDED TO MY CASE, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT WAS GOING TO BE DONE. AND THAT "EVEN IF ONE OF THE BODY SHOPS IN TOWN WOULD WORK ON IT, IT WOULDN'T BE UNTIL AT THE EARLIEST NOVEMBER". HE THEN SMIRKED AT ME, AND SAID "SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO"? WELL. HERE WE ARE. THIS WAS JULY 25, 2016. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE, AND THAT IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT MY INSURANCE WOULDN'T COVER IT BECAUSE OF THE SHOCK TOWER COMING UP THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ( THAT STARTED JULY 22, THE DAY I STOPPED DRIVING IT, EXCEPT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP) THAT I NOW KNEW ABOUT BUT CANNOT FIX.

THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED AND THE SUSPENSION BROKE FREE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. FORD HAS RECALLED UP THE MODEL YEAR OF 2004 BECAUSE OF FRAME RUST THROUGH IN THE NORTHERN STATES . IN SPEAKING WITH THE REPAIR SHOP HE SAID HE HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE PROBLEMS. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD MY CAR HAS NO KNOWN ISSUES.

109,000 MILES ON MY CAR, HAD A SLIGHT RUMBLING SOUND IN TRUNK AREA, SOUND RECENTLY GOT MUCH LOUDER. BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN ANNUAL NYS INSPECTION AND CAR WOULD NOT PASS DUE TO RIGHT WHEEL HULL RUST. LARGE HOLE IN WHEEL WELL, WAS ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND CONTACT A BODY SHOP. QUOTED $600-$800 FOR THE REPAIR. UPON RESEARCH IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL CAR. 2001-2004 ESCAPES WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME REASON BUT NOT THE 2005.

THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED AND THE SHOCK FELL OFF. IT IS DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THE MATRRIAL USED IN BUILDING IT IS VERY POOR