2005 Ford Escape Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 42 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER HAD DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE EVEN AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.*DT *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS CORRODED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED THROUGH THE ENTIRE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. ...UPDATED 05/17/17 *BF *CN

I OWN A 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND RECENTLY BEGAN HEARING A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WELL HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK WAS NOW COMING THROUGH THE REAR WELL INTO MY CAR. THIS HAS MADE MY CAR COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD AS WELL AS ON HERE IN HOPES THAT FORD WOULD DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND TAKE CARE OF IT. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IT IS HARD TO MISS THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. NOT TO MENTION FORD HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE 2001-04 FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. FOR THE ABSOLUTE RIDICULOUS AMOUNT THAT IT COSTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE, I PERSONALLY WOULD FEEL MUCH SAFER PUTTING MY TIME AND MONEY INTO A NEW VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY, THAT VEHICLE WILL NOT BE A FORD.

STARTED HEARING A CLUNKING SOUND ON THE REAR SHOCK. BACK REAR SHOCK TOWER ROTTED OUT. NOT EVEN ANYTHING TO WELD IT TOO. HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT.

RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL ROTTED OUT CAUSING SHOCK TO BREAK THROUGH TRUNK AND CAUSE LOUD BANGING. FORD CHARGES $1,548.40 TO FIX. NOW AS IN OTHER ESCAPES, YEARS 2001-2004, THE 2005 SUB FRAME OR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM IS RUSTED THAT HOLDS UP THE ENGINE AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR! THERE IS A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE THAT SHOWS THE CORROSION ON THE PARTICULAR SPOT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HIT ONE POTHOLE OR BUMP AND ENTIRE ENGINE AND FRONT OF CAR CAN COLLAPSE! FACEBOOK HAS ENTIRE PAGE FOR 2005 FORD ESCAPE SUB FRAME RUSTING!!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT!

BACK PASSENGER SHOCK MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND FOUND OVER 500 COMPAINTS FOR SAME EXACT PROBLEM.

LAST MONDAY MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE CARGO AREA ITEMS STARTED BUMPING SEVERELY WHEN GOING OVER ROAD IMPERFECTIONS. BY FRIDAY THE SUSPENSION WAS SHIFTING WHEN DRIVING OVER SAME IMPERFECTIONS. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE BACK END AND FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAS RUSTED COMPLETED THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. I ONLY HAVE 114,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND LIKE SO MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THE MECHANIC I HAD LOOK AT IT SAID THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AND SURELY THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET, NO RECALL. I'M VERY NERVOUS DRIVING, BUT HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS AT THIS POINT.

THE SHOCK MODULE ON THE RIGHT REAR PASSANGER SIDE HAS DETERIORATED AND HAS BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THIS HAS MADE THE SUV UNDRIVABLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A NEWLY PAVED ROAD, GOING OVER A GENTLE HILL. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVER THE HILL, THERE WAS A LOUD CLANK AND THE VEHICLE SERVED SLIGHTLY (THANKFULLY NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS PRESENT). UPON DRIVING HOME THERE IS AN EVIDENT CLANKING HEARD IN THE REAR AND THE SUV CAN BE FELT TO SWERVE SLIGHTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THIS OCCURRENCE HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL AND IS NOT EVIDENT IN ANY OTHER WHEEL WELL. IF ROAD SALT OR WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE TO BLAME, EQUAL DISTRIBUTION AT ALL 4 WHEEL WELLS WOULD BE EVIDENT, BUT THE OTHER 3 ARE FINE WITH NO RUST OR DETERIORATION PRESENT. SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, ALONG WITH PICTURES AND THE DAMAGE ALL APPEARS TO BE THE SAME - AND ALSO APPLIES TO MODEL YEARS 2004, 2005, AND 2006.

VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED MAKING A BANGING SOUND SO I TOOK VEHICLE INTO OUR MECHANIC. APPARENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND THE SHEET METAL IN THE WHEEL WELL HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT IN WHICH THE SHOCK TOWER HAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME. I WAS REFEREED TO A AUTO WELDING SHOP BY MY MECHANIC AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THERE WERE TWO OF THE SAME VEHICLES AT THE FACILITY HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM RESOLVED. THE MECHANIC AT THIS WELDING SHOP SAYS THAT HE IS REPAIRING PERSONALLY 3 FORD ESCAPES PER WEEK FOR THE EXACT ISSUE AND HE WAS ABLE TO SHOW ME THE TWO THAT HE HAD JUST REPAIRED OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS. I AM NOW MORE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE ARE OVER 500 COMPLAINTS WITH THIS EXACT SAME COMPLAINT JUST AT THIS NHTSA.GOV SIGHT AND THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FACT IS THAT THE LOUD BANGING NOISE IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE MOST OWNERS TO PAUSE AND TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND THUS TYPICALLY THIS ISSUE DOES NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, SAFETY ISSUES AND RECALLS SHOULD NOT ONLY INVOLVE ACCIDENTS OR CASUALTIES. THIS IS A VERY REAL PROBLEM IMPACTING EVERY SINGLE 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND COSTING CONSUMERS HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS THAT FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE.

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH; LEAVING THE STRUT BOUNCING FREELY. THE CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT THIS TIME. AT THE TIME IT BROKE, IT ALMOST BOUNCED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT HAPPENS TO ALL 2004-2006 ESCAPES. ....UPDATED 07/11/16 *BF

THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE SHOCK MOUNT AND WHEEL WELL TOTALLY RUSTED AND HANGING ON BY A THREAD. MY 18 YEAR OLD SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD WE NOT DISCOVERED IT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS WHICH IS HOW WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS THE SAME NOISE WE WERE HEARING AND DECIDED TO LOOK AT RIGHT SIDE BACK DOOR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. WE CAN LITERALLY MOVE IT UP AND DOWN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED FROM THIS BECAUSE THE WHEEL CAN FALL OFF!!!! THANK GOODNESS WE HEARD THE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND INVESTIGATED IT.

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK TOWER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE TOP OF THE SHOCK IS NOT SECURED TO THE UNI-BODY FRAME. WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP THERE IS METAL TO METAL CONTACT. WHILE NOT RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, A SCREWDRIVER CAN BE EASILY POKED THROUGH THE RUSTY METAL ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SHOCK TOWER AS WELL. THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN SLOWLY RUSTING THE LAST FEW YEARS BUT WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL THE INNER PANELS WERE REMOVED ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE INNER WHEEL WELLS. MY GRANDCHILDREN HAD BEEN RIDING IN THEIR CAR SEATS IN THIS VEHICLE. A REAR OR REAR SIDE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

RUSTED OUT WHEEL WELL EFFECTING THE SHOCK ABSORBER TOP MOUNT COULD BREAK FREE WHILE DRIVING. I HEARD A NEW RATTLE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND MY WHOLE WHEEL WELL ABOVE THE TOP SHOCK MOUNT IS RUSTED OUT. GOT PRICES FROM FOUR FORD DEALERS RANGING FROM 900.00 TO 4000.00 TO REPAIR IT ALL OF THE DEALERS WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HERD OF MANY OTHER EXAMPLES. I AM WONDERING WAY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL?

THE REAR PASSENGER-SIDE SHOCK MOUNT (WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE UNIBODY) HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY AWAY. THE TOP OF THE SHOCK IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE.

REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED THRU TO THE INTERIOR. SHOCK ABSORBER IS ABOUT TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. QUOTED $2,200 TO REPAIR.

THE SHOCK MOUNT ON THE RIGHT REAR RUSTED OUT DETACHING THE SHOCK FROM THE BODY AND PIERCING THROUGH THE UPPER PLASTIC COVER IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FORD SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE HAD IT BROKE AND SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL! SECOND, FORD DOES NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF 2005 ESCAPES ON THE ROAD. ALSO AUTO BODYSHOPS ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANY MODIFICATIONS OR WIELDING DUE TO THE LIABILITY OF THE LOCATION AND IMPORTANCE OF THAT PIECE. SO THE VEHICLE IS UN REPAIRABLE AT THIS TIME!

THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY BECAUSE OF RUST...EARLY YEARS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM

WHILE I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED A BANGING NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE THAT WAS GETTING LOUDER, WHEN I LOOKED AT BOTH SIDES I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I TOOK MY ESCAPE TO THE CAR REPAIR SHOP AND WAS QUOTED $1000 FOR THE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 AND 2005 FORD ESCAPE THAT THEY DIDN'T PROPERLY SEAL ONE SIDE OF THE CAR, AND THAT THEY HAD ONLY RECALLED THE 2004. I HAD CONTRACTED THE FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I THEN INFORMED THEM THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND SHE SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORDS. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THEY HAD WITH THE 2004 FORD ESCAPE. MY CAR ONLY HAS ONLY 93,000 MILES WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS SUV IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK MOUNT BRACKET RUSTED AND DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER STRUTS CORRODED CAUSING THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCKS TO FRACTURE, SEPARATING FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

SON CAME HOME ONE DAY SAID THERE IS A LOT OF NOISE IN THE BACK OF THE ESCAPE. ONCE LOOKING INSIDE THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, I NOTICED I COULD SEE THE DRIVEWAY AND TIRE. ONCE I WENT TO LOOK IN THE WHEEL WELL, I COULD SEE A VERY LARGE HOLE IN THE WHEEL. TOTAL RUST OUT OF PASSENGER SIDE INNER WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK TOWER. THE HOLE HAS TO TO BE AT LEAST 16" WIDE AND 13" HEIGHT. THE REAR SHOCK IS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY SHEET METAL. IT IS ONLY BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE LOWER SHOCK ABSORBER BOLT AND NUT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILES. TOTALLY AFRAID TO LET MY SON DRIVE THIS TO COLLEGE. SITTING IN DRIVEWAY UNTIL I CAN FIND SOMEONE TO FIX IT. CALLED TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS AND SAID THERE IS NOT RECALL AND IT IS UP TO ME TO FIND SOMEONE TO FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE IT WOULD BE $5,000 TO REPAIR THIS. THIS WILL BE THE LAST FORD WE EVER BUY IF WE HAVE TO SCRAPE THIS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY SLIGHTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK TOWER ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH TO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

HEARD RATTLING SOUND OVER RIGHT REAR TIRE. UPON INSPECTION THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD COMPLETELY CRACKED DUE TO RUST, MAKING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. WHEN I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE I SAW THAT MANY OTHERS REPORT THIS EXACT SAME DEFECT IN THE SAME LOCATION.

I HAD BEEN HEARING A LARGE CLUNK ON MY PASSENGER SIDE IN THE BACK. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY SHOVEL HITTING. HOWEVER, I FINALLY REALLY TOOK A LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BACK AND WHEEL AND NOTICE IT COMPLETELY ROTTED UNDER AND EVEN BROKE THROUGH MY TRUNK. I TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SUSPENSION/SHOCK THAT HAS RUSTED AND ROTTED AWAY. IT WASN'T SUPPOSE TO DO THAT. I HAVE A WELDER PRICING IT OUT BECAUSE BOTH OTHER GARAGES SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX. I FEEL COMPLETELY UNSAFE DRIVING THINKING THE CAR COULD GO FLAT OUT ANYTIME. THE CAR IS IN REALLY GOOD CONDITION OTHERWISE, AND FROM THE SOUND OF IT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2004 AND 2005 ESCAPES. IF THIS KEEPS HAPPENING SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. AND IT SHOULD BE FORDS RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HEARD A LOAD BANG IN THE BACK OF THE CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE INNER WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE. LOOKS LIKE THE FRAME MAY BE CRACKED UNDER THE ATTACH POINT OF THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT.