2005 Ford Escape SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND ON THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND MOST OF THE REAR WHEEL WELL WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTS TO BE RUSTED, AND PARTS OF THE METAL ACTUALLY GONE. THE TOP OF THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK IS BASICALLY NOT ATTACHED TO ANY STRUCTURE, AS THE METAL AROUND THE MOUNT HAS COMPLETED RUSTED. COULD SEE THE BACKSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERIOR WHERE THE METAL HAS RUSTED AWAY. *TR

NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON A RURAL ROAD ABOUT 50 MPH. WHEN ARRIVED AT DESTINATION, NOTICED SEVERE RUST IN WHEEL WELL NEAR SHOCK MOUNT AND THROUGH TO STORAGE COMPARTMENT. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR OWNERS YET. *TR

I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SHOCKS ON THIS VEHICLE. IN DOING SO THE AUTO REPAIR FATALITY SHOWED ME THAT THE ENTIRE CENTER OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL WAS CORRODED AWAY, LEAVING BIG HOLE. THE GARAGE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS ON SEVERAL OF THIS MODE (2001-2007) I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF DEALERS THAT TOLD ME THE SAME THING. ONE EVEN TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN ROAD HIT SOME UNEVEN ROAD REPAIRS AND STARTED TO HEAR A METAL ON METAL SOUND. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR SO STOPPED TO CHECK BUT IT WAS LOCKED. DROVE HOME AND NOISE SEEMED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I STARTED TO CHECK SHOCKS AND TIRES AND SAW A CRACK IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL THROUGH THE RUST PROOFING.I MOVED IT AWAY FROM THE FENDER AND SAW A HOLE INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR BY THE TOP OF THE SHOCK. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH FORD ESCAPE AND THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE. I WILL BE CONTACTING A DEALER FOR HELP AND PARTS IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 FORD ESCAPE THAT GOT A SEVERE SHOCK DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. THERE IS SO MUCH DAMAGE FROM THE RUST, INSIDE THE INSULATION, THAT THE SHOCKS ARE NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AND CONTINUALLY RAM INTO THE INTERIOR PANELS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2005. ALL OTHER WHEEL WELLS ARE IN GREAT CONDITION AS WELL AS THE CAR. THIS IS A CLEAR MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE SHOCK WOULD HAVE CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 60MPH AND HIT THE ROAD OR SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR IT. *TR

I OWN A 2005 FORD ESCAPE 87,00 MILES, GARAGE KEPT. I BOUGHT IT NEW FROM THE FORD DEALER. SO I HEAR A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND TAKE IT INTO A SHOP TO GET CHECKED OUT. SHOP CALLS ME IN AWE? HE SAID THAT RIGHT SIDE INTER FENDER WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK TOWER HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND IS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE?HE ALSO SAID YOU CAN SEE TO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE SAID IN ALL HIS YEARS, HES NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. HE SAID THAT A 1990 CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS DAMAGE. SO I START TO GOOGLE AND LOW AND BEHOLD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH 2004, 2005 AND SOME 2006 FORD ESCAPE MODELS AND FORD WILL NOT RECALL OR MAKE GOOD ON THEIR POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE AND SPOKE TO A REPAIR MANAGER WHO SAID HE WILL CALL ME BACK?SO AFTER A FEW HOURS (HE GOOGLED HIMSELF), HE CALLS AND SAYS TOUGH LUCK?HAVE A NICE DAY. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PICTURES ON THE NET THAT LOOK LIKE MY CAR?.I TOOK MY OWN PICTURES BUT THIS IS APPALLING AND FORD NEEDS TO BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A STRUCTURE PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING SOMEONE TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THIS AS THE DON'T WANT THE LIABILITY (ESPECIALLY SEEING I HAVE 2 CAR SEATS IN MY VEHICLE.) *TR

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK TOWER DISCONNECTED TO FRAME. RUSTED OUT FENDERWELL. *TR

LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL SOUNDING LIKE LOOSE MUFFLER UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE INNER WHEEL WELL WITH THE SHOCK MOUNT TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. TRYING TO GET IT FIXED AND NO ONE CAN PUT A PRICE ON THE REPAIR AND MOST BODY SHOPS ARE AFRAID TO DO IT. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. *TR

AFTER SEEING POST FROM FRIEND THAT HER RIGHT REAR WELL ON HER 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS RUSTED THROUGH, IT MADE ME GO LOOK IN THE GARAGE AT MY SAME VEHICLE. UPON REVIEW I HAVE A LARGE HOLE INTO MY SPARE TIRE TOOLS BOX. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RUSTING AND CRACKS IN AND AROUND THE SHOCK AS WELL. LEFT REAR WELL DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT WENT THROUGH RUSTED WHEEL WELL AND INTO TRUNK. *TR

THERE STARTED TO BE A BANGING NOISE IN RIGHT REAR AREA OF VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK HAD SEPARATED ITS MOUNT FROM THE WHEEL WELL DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN A RURAL ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND HIT A POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION AFTER THE INCIDENT, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE REAR STRUT MOUNT FOR THE SHOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BECOME DETACHED. THERE WAS SOME RUST PRESENT IN THAT WHEEL WELL AROUND THE STRUT HOUSING. THE SUPPORTING METAL CRACKED THE ENTIRE WAY AROUND THE STRUT HOUSING, DETACHING IT FROM THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THE OPPOSITE WHEEL WELL AND STRUT MOUNT ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION WITH THE FACTORY UNDERCOATING STILL IN TACT. THERE IS NO UNDERCOATING PRESENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE SAME AREA. WE WERE TOLD BY A MECHANIC AND AUTO BODY SPECIALIST THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS ONLY COSMETICALLY REPAIRABLE, NOT STRUCTURALLY REPAIRABLE. *TR

2005 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE NOTICED RUST ON REAR FENDER WELLS IN THE PAST. IN SUMMER 2013, I FOUND A HOLE INTO THE PASSENGER AREA FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. FILLED HOLE AND ATTEMPTED TO UNDERCOAT TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL RUST. DECEMBER 26, 2013, WHILE DRIVING I HIT A BUMP AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN BACK RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVING BECAME DIFFICULT AFTER THE BUMP, SO I STOPPED TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THE SHOCK HAD SEPARATED FROM THE UNI-BODY/WHEEL WELL DUE TO CORROSION. THE NOISE WAS THE SHOCK HITTING THE PLASTIC INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON A REPLACEMENT PANEL AND I FOUND THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPE WITH NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THIS SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL OF THE FORD ESCAPE HAS A DESIGN FLAW CAUSING THE SHOCK TO SEPARATE FROM THE UNI-BODY. DRIVING BECOME DIFFICULT DURING THIS FAILURE AS THE VEHICLE IS RIDING ON THE SPRING AND THE SHOCK IS NOT ABLE TO REDUCE THE TIRE BOUNCE. *TR

WHEN I OPENED THE REAR HATCH ON MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE I NOTICED THE PLASTIC MOLDING WAS CRACKED, AFTER LOOKING AT IT CLOSER I NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT WAS RUSTED OUT ANT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. I HAVE CONTACTED MANY BODY SHOPS THAT SAY THE PROBLEM IS FIXABLE BUT DO TO LIABILITY THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. AFTER RESEARCHING IT ONLINE ON THE FORD FORUM I FOUND OUT THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. ONE POST ON THE FORUM SAYS THAT THE ENGINEERS OF THE ESCAPE SAID IT IS A DESIGN FLAW CAUSING THE PROBLEM BUT THEY WON'T PUT IT IN WRITING FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR IT. IF THE SHOCK WOULD HAVE CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND HIT THE ROAD OR SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT. I WOULD TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM ? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, HE NOTICED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INNER QUARTER PANEL AND WHEEL HOUSE PANEL WERE CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE SHOCK HAD BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. . ..UPDATED 01-10-14 *BF

2005 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED HAS A SAFETY ISSUE SO BAD THAT IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE RIGHT REAR FENDER WELL HAS RUSTED OUT AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT, READY OR CLOSE TO BREAKING FREE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, HIT A BUMP AND HEARD LOUD SOUND ON RIGHT REAR SIDE OF VEHICLE. AFTER I STOPPED TO INSPECT, FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR STRUT HAD NO SUPPORT AS THE RIGHT REAR INNER PANEL WAS CORRODED ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH VERY THIN METAL AROUND THE ENTIRE AREA. LUCKILY THE STRUT DID NOT COME UP THROUGH INTERIOR. SEEMS VERY UNSAFE AND LIKELY TO CAUSE ACCIDENT IF DRIVEN. THIS APPEARS TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AS THE CORROSION PROTECTION WAS NOT APPLIED CORRECTLY. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY JUST INDICATED THAT THERE WE NO RECALLS YET ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON THE 2004-2005 FORD ESCAPES ON THE RIGHT REAR. I TOOK TO BODY SHOP AND HAVE ESTIMATES FROM $1,400 TO $1,700 TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE OBVIOUS DEFECT. *TR

THE REAR WHEEL WELL WHERE THE SHOCK IS LOCATED THE WHOLE FRAME PANEL IS CRACKED, IT WAS COVERED UP FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER OR COMPANY. THE CAR DEALERSHIP I'M PURCHASING FROM WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND I EXPLAINED THE HAZARD IN ME DRIVING OR KEEPING THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL BODY SHOPS AND WAS TOLD IT HAPPENS WITH THESE VEHICLES FREQUENTLY AND ONE SHOP HAD ALREADY DONE 3 OF THE SAME AREAS. THERE IS NO RECALL OR INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLES ISSUES BUT THIS IS A DANGER TO DRIVE. *TR

THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL CORRODED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE METAL AND ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE UPPER SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING POINT. NOTHING IS HOLDING THE UPPER SHOCK ABSORBER ATTACHMENT IN PLACE. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED OUT. THIS MAKES IT A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR BECAUSE AT ANYTIME THE SHOCKS CAN BREAK FREE AND BUST UPWARD INTO MY TRUCK. I TOOK MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS HE HAD SEEN 4-5 2005 FORD ESCAPES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS ALL THE SAME RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. THERE IS A FACEBOOK PAGE WITH 195000 MEMBERS FOLLOWING IT SO I KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE. PROBLEM IS THAT HALF OF THE COUNTRY IS NOT IN AN AREA THAT HAS RUST. SO SOUTHERN FORD ESCAPE OWNERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS. THIS CANNOT BE IGNORED BECAUSE NOT ALL 2005 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WOULD SHOW YOU THAT ALL 2005 FORD ESCAPES WOULD HAVE THIS IF PUT TO THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. THIS NEEDS A RECALL. IT IS AN EASY FIX. FORD ALREADY FIXED IT WITH THE NEWER MODELS. JUST WELD IN A NEW RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. THIS IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, BUT THE ENVIRONMENT IS WHAT IS SAVING THIS FROM BEING A NATIONAL ISSUE. *TR

I WAS EN ROUTE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO CHECK A POSSIBLE U-JOINT NOISE, AND HIT A REPAIR BUMP IN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR MADE A VERY SCARY CLUNK AT THE RIGHT/REAR WHEEL. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE A BANGING /CLUNKING NOISE. I CONTINUED ON TO THE REPAIR SHOP TRAVELING AT 25MPH WITH MY FLASHERS ON. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TEST DRIVE AND CONFIRMED THE BANGING/CLUNKING NOISE. THEY THEN PUT THE VEHICLE ON A HOIST FOR A VISUAL INSPECTION AND FOUND THE UNDER-BODY FRAME AROUND THE RIGHT/REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD RUSTED AWAY, AND THE REMAINING PORTION THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE SHOCK WAS SNAPPING AND BANGING WITH ANY MOVEMENT OF THE RIGHT/REAR WHEEL. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 5 MORE ESCAPES SINCE THEN ,AND ONLY ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS ALSO AN ESCAPE HYBRID. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT YOUR WEBSITE AND MAKE A COMPLAINT. *TR

THE LEFT PASSENGER REAR FENDER WELL HAS RUSTED OUT AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT, READY TO BREAK FREE. *TR

THUMPING SOUND FROM RIGHT REAR OF CARGO DECK. UPON INTERIOR INSPECTION, NO LOOSE ITEMS IN CARGO AREA, NO LOOSE PANELS, AND JACK WAS NOT LOOSE. UPON EXTERIOR INSPECTION NOTICED RUSTED OUT PORTION OF WHEEL WELL. CAN SEE INTO INTERIOR (BACK OF INTERIOR PANEL, CARPETING, ETC.). SEEMS THAT THUMPING IS DUE TO WHEEL OR SUSPENSION PARTS BEING IMPROPERLY SUPPORTED DUE TO CORROSION OF/IN AREA OF WHEEL WELL. SPECIFICALLY, SHOCK AND/OR LARGE COIL SPRING ARE HITTING INTERIOR PANEL(S) OF VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SHOCK HAD PENETRATED THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAS RUSTED OUT, AND NOW BANGS AGAINST THE WHEEL HOUSING. *TR