2005 Ford Escape SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
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My rear passenger side rusted right out completely and the strut mount is not attached to any part of the body. It caused my vehicle to swirve off the road almost hitting another vehicle when it was raining out also in the snow this occurred several times where my rear end jerked sideways pulling my truck into a complete circle.
RUST AND CORROSION ON THE WHEEL WELL CAUSED THE SHOCK MOUNT TO COME APART. NOW IT IS LOOSE AND VERY DANGEROUS. FORD MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR TERRIBLE DESIGN.
AS I WAS DRIVING THERE WAS A REALLY LOUD CLUNKING ON THE REAR. I FIGURED IT WAS POTENTIALLY A BROKEN SHOCK. IN THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WELL WHERE THE SHOCK BOLTS TO THE FRAME WAS COPLETELY RUSTED OUT. WHEN I WAS HITTING BUMPS IT WASNT EVEN ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. THERE WAS NO WAY OF REPAIR. I AM SO GREATFUL I WAS SAFE. AND DIDNT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. ONE WRONG BUMP. AND THE WHOLE SHOCK WOULDVE WENT THROUGH THE TRUNK AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND ONE OF THE TIRES BECAME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. MIKE CASTRUCCI FORD LINCOLN OF ALEXANDRIA (7400 ALEXANDRIA PIKE, ALEXANDRIA, KY 41001, (859) 448-9400) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.
BEGAN HEARING TERRIBLE NOISE FROM REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENTIRE WHEEL WELL AND FRAME WERE RUSTED OUT. AFTER REPLACING THE WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK MOUNT TOWER, STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS DUE TO FRAME BEING RUSTED OUT. NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS AND IT IS HEADED TO THE SCRAP YARD.
THE RIGHT REAR "WHEELHOUSE PANEL" RUSTED OUT AROUND THE SHOCK ABSORBER UPPER MOUNTING BRACKET CAUSING THE SHOCK ABSORBER TO BECOME DETACHED AND NON-FUNCTIONAL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MAKING A TURN. THIS CAUSED RIDE AND HANDLING CONCERNS WHICH AFFECTED VEHICLE SAFETY. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, ~ $1,500.00.
THE ESCAPE STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS WHILE DRIVING IT ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEN IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND WAS BANGING LIKE SOMETHING BROKE LOOSE. WE THOUGHT THE SHOCKS BROKE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION WE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME AT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK HAD CAME OFF BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING FOR IT TO ATTACH TO. WE HAVE THE CAR PARKED BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. IT ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. OUR DAUGHTER HAD JUST PURCHASED IT IN MAY 2017 FROM A LOCAL CAR DEALER. I HAVE RESEARCHED BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS AND THERE VERY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES WITH DIFFERENT YEAR ESCAPES.
THE AREA AROUND THE SHOCK SUPPORT HAS SLMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THIS IS SUPER UNSAFE.
(RECOMMENDING THIS COMPLAINT BE DELETED; SAME VEHICLE AS 11110799) TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RIDING ROUGH IN THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT A REPAIR FACILITY DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK TOWER HAD EXTENSIVE RUST, CORROSION AND THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK FRACTURED SO THE SHOCK TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE A REMEDY, DID NOT SUGGEST THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE MAY BE REPAIRED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. DYD
REAR FRAME RUSTED THROUGH AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK TOWER,RUSTED SO BAD CAN SEE THROUGH TO OUTSIDE IN 2 SPOTS WHICH ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES INTO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE ,COULD CAUSE EXPHIXIATION TO OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO REAR OF VEHICLE GIVING WAY AND BREAKING IN TWO ON A ROADWAY,DAMAGE WASN'T VISIBLE UNTIL IT TOTALLY BUSTED THROUGH WHILE DRIVING! FORD SHOULD RECALL DUE TO SAFETY AS THE 2004 WAS.
OF COURSE I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS MOST FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE WITH THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTING COMPLETELY OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT ONLY EFFECTS THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL OF THESE VEHICLES AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF UNADDRESSED OWNER COMPLAINTS. FORD STILL WILL NOT DO A RECALL NOR WILL THEY DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR THOUSANDS OF AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. I DO HOPE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT I CAN JOIN BECAUSE FORD JUST WILL NOT DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I JUST HAD MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GOING OUT-OF-STATE TO VISIT MY DYING FATHER WITH MY KIDS BUT NOW I CAN'T EVEN GO DUE TO THIS UNEXPECTED DEFECT WHICH FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHICH HAS LEFT ME WITH A VEHICLE I CANT DRIVE THAT I'M STILL PAYING FOR. I CAN'T EVEN TRADE IT IN BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE! THANKS FORD! I WILL MAKE SURE TO TELL EVERYONE I CAN ABOUT FORD'S INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS ITS CUSTOMERS AND I WILL NEVER BUY FORD ANYTHING EVER AGAIN!
PASSENGER-SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED THROUGH, SHOCK TOWER IS BANGING AGAINST INNER FRAME, CHUNKS OF RUST DISLODGING AND SCRAPING AGAINST TIRE. THIS IS OCCURRING WHILE DRIVING. I PUSHED THE CHUNK BACK AND IT SEEMS TO BE STAYING OFF THE TIRE FOR NOW. FORD AUTO REPAIR SHOP QUOTED $5000 TO REPAIR. MY DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK IS ACROSS TWO MAJOR CITIES VIA A HIGH-TRAFFIC MAJOR HIGHWAY. POTENTIAL TO BE A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION SINCE IT AFFECTS NOT ONLY SUSPENSION BUT COULD CAUSE TIRE TO BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING, AS WELL AS PUNCTURING THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND EXPOSING PEOPLE IN THE CAR TO EXHAUST AND FRIGID WEATHER (MINNESOTA) IN THE WINTER. THIS RUSTING THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH FORD - THEY RECALLED THIS MAKE AND MODEL UP THROUGH 2004 FOR THIS SAME ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THE SHOCK LEANING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND A HOLE WHERE THE MOUNTED BRACKET WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT CALLED LOVELAND FORD (999 E EISENHOWER BLVD, LOVELAND, CO 80537, (970) 744-7101) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS CORRODED VERY SEVERELY. THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS PUSHING INTO THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER, CAUSING IT TO BECOME DISLODGED. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF MY ESCAPE. I NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER WAS DISLODGED AND MOVING AROUND. I PULLED OVER INTO A LOCAL PARK TO EXAMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VERY LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. I COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA WAS VERY RUSTED AND FLAKY. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 10-15 MPH, ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD BUMPING AND SCRAPING SOUND. I CONSULTED A FORD MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE MANY HUNDREDS OF FORD ESCAPES THAT HAVE RUSTED OUT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELLS, THAT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE SHOCK ABSORBER PUSHES INTO THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE COLLAPSES ONTO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE HEARD NEAR THE AREA OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST IN THAT AREA, WHICH WAS AFFECTING THE SHOCKS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD LOUD NOISES STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL AREA. AFTER GETTING HOME I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE BODY. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE ISSUES IDENTICAL TO THIS IN AN ONLINE SEARCH. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2005 ESCAPE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL. THERE ARE EXISTING RECALLS ON 2001-2005 FORD ESCAPES FOR RUST ISSUES.
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK TOWER HAS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE.
PURCHASED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2017 2 MONTHS LATER HEARD A BANGING NOISE FROM REAR PASSENGER SIDE UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THE WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK HAD CAME THROUGH. I CONTINUED DRIVING IT BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND IT WAS MY ONLY CAR NOW THERE IS NO WHEEL WELL LEFT AND HAD TO REMOVE THE SHOCK.
RUSTED OUT PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL. I DO *NOT* LIVE IN THE RUST BELT. WAS DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED AREA WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. THE NOISES INCREASED DURING DRIVING FOR THE NEXT 2 DAYS. I FINALLY GOT UNDER THERE TO LOOK AT IT AND FOUND THE SHOCK TOWER MOUNT HAD NEARLY SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE WHEEL WELL, AND THE ENTIRE WHEEL WELL IS COMPLETED ROTTED AND DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A WHISTLING NOISE AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE INNER WHEEL WELL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL, AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,250.
2005 FORD ESCAPE. HEARD BUMP FOLLOWED BY NOISE WHILE DRIVING. CHECKED CAR, FOUND PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL BROKEN, UPPER ATTACHMENT PLATE FOR SHOCK ABSORBER NOW IN VEHICLE INTERIOR. APPEARS THAT WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE: HIDDEN FROM OUTSIDE BY UNDERCOATING IN WHEEL WELL AND HIDDEN FROM INSIDE BY VEHICLE INTERIOR PANELS. 04 AND EARLIER MODELS RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM. WHY NO RECALL ON 05 AND NEWER? MANY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THIS PROBLEM.
REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT DUE TO IMPROPER POWDER COATING. STRUT MOUNT RUSTING AND SEPARATING FROM VEHICLE FRAME.
THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS ROTTED OUT, LEAVING THE SHOCK HANGING FREELY ABOVE THE WHEEL, UNATTACHED. I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS THE CAR WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, WHERE I HEARD A LOUD BANG IN THE BACK RIGHT OF THE CAR, AND THE NOISE CONTINUED AS THE CAR WENT OVER BUMPS. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE DAMAGE THE RUST WAS CAUSING TO THE AREA UNTIL THE SHOCK MOUNT CAME FREE, AS THE SEALANT USED IN THE WHEEL WELL HID THE DAMAGE-- APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3-6 MONTHS I EXAMINE THE CAR FOR RUST AND NOTICED NO EXTREME DAMAGE TO THIS AREA PREVIOUSLY.
THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS SENT TO A FORD DEALER TO INSTALL A "KIT" AND WELD THE STRUT BRACKET TO THE WHEEL WELL. I FOUND THE PROBLEM AFTER HEARING SIGNIFICANT CLUNKING NOISE IN THE BACK AS I DROVE.
WAS DRIVING AT 40 MILES AN HOUR HIT SLIGHT BUMP IN ROAD.SOUNDED LIKE WHOLE BACK END FALLING OFF WITH LOUD BANG. STOPPED GOT OUT CHECKED BACK END ON RIGHT REAR SUBFRAME HOLDING STRUTT TOWER HAD SEPERATED FROM FRAME CAUSING SHOCK AND HOUSING TO COME UP INSIDE OF CAR. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO FORDS ATTENTION. AN THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS AS MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO GET RID OF A GOOD VEHICLE THAT WOULD STILL BE DRIVABLE IF THIS WAS REPAIRED. WE SHOULDN;T BE FORCED TO GET RID OF A GOOD CAR BECAUSE THEY DON;T WANT TO MAKE IT RIGHT. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE I HOPE YOU JUST DON'T FILE IT AWAY. THEY HONORED THIS PROBLEM IN 2001-2004 BUT THEN AFTER THAT ENDED RECALLS FOR IT THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
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The 2005 Ford Escape has 189 SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.