2004 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

View complaints related to 2004 FORD ESCAPE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 490 complaints submitted for the 2004 FORD ESCAPE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - ELMIRA, NY

    I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 11 MONTHS AGO, ON FEB 13,2015 AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A VERY LOUD NOISE AS WELL AS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE UNSTABLE. THE MECHANIC REPORT STATED THAT 3 SEPARATE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN OUT AND EJECTED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE MECHANICAL MECHANISMS TO MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UN DRIVABLE, ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON THE DASH BOARD OR THE MACHINE. ALSO PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT MY VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO IN PARK. *JS

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - RICHFIELD, OH

    I PURCHASED A 2004 ESCAPE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. MY COUSIN HAD THE SAME CAR. WE BOTH HAD TO TAKE A FEW THOUSAND LOSS AND SELL THESE VEHICLES DUE TO SEVERE, UNSAFE WHEEL WELL RUST .NOT TO MENTION CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON BOTH CARS WERE BAD. TWO ON EACH ESCAPE. I WAS READY TO DO REPAIRS, UNTIL A FRIEND WITH THE SAME ESCAPE HAD JUST REPAIRED THE BODY IN HIS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. SO WE ALL TOOK LOSS. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?? I HAD FAMILY THAT WORKED, AND RETIRED FROM FORD. I HAD SEVERAL FORD'S OVER THE YEARS. THIS HAS PUT ME IN A HOLE..BOUGHT IT FOR 6,000. JUST GAVE IT AWAY FOR 1,000. HELP. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - ALLEN PARK, MI

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,835. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - HIGHLAND, MI

    2ND ESCAPE I'VE OWNED THAT HAS HAD THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL RUST OUT, SHOCK BREAKS LOOSE. FORD SAYING IT HAS NEVER HEARD OF IT, AND YET EVERY DEALER AND BODY SHOP I'VE TALKED TO KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, FAULTY PART. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - ROSELLE, NJ

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL SHOCK WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND FRACTURED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - VAN BUREN, ME

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE COVERING THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V353000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART. UPDATED 07/28/15*JB

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - FREWSBURG, NY

    WHILE DRIVING TO MY HOME WENT OVER A SMALL DIP IN ROAD AND SUV MADE A VERY LOAD CLUNKING NOISE IN RIGHT REAR SECTION OF VEHICLE AND STARTED HANDLING POORLY GOT IT TO MY PARENTS HOME WHICH IS ONLY FEW MINUTES FROM INCIDENT,FATHER LOOKED AT AND FOUND RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT AND WHEEL TUB RUSTED OUT UNDER A THICK LAYER OF SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL APPLIED AT FACTORY MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE UNTIL IT BREAKS FREE, FATHER HAS BEEN A MECHANIC ALL HIS LIFE AND TRIED TO GET PIECES AT LOCAL SALVAGE YARDS TO REPAIR BUT FOUND ALL IN A 50 MILE RADIUS AT SALVAGE YARDS FROM YEARS 2001-2007 TO BE IN AS BAD OR WORSE CONDITION AND IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR PARTS ON LINE OUT OF THE RUSTBELT ,I BELIEVE IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A TWISTY ROAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BIGGER PROBLEM FORTUNATELY IT WAS A FAIRLY LEVEL STRAIGHT ROAD I CAN ONLY ASSUME THERE ISN'T AN INVESTIGATION ON THESE IS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T NOW WHERE TO GO TO FILE A COMPLAINT I ONLY NEW TO GO HERE BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME TOO,AS HE BELIEVES IT TO BE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT MAY OR COULD LEAD TO INJURIES *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - DES MOINES, IA

    HIT A BUMP AND VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE ON EVERY LITTLE BUMP.FOUND PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD BROKEN THROUGH BODY-RUST ALL AROUND WHEEL WELL.CHECKED DRIVERS SIDE-OK. HAVE ALWAYS WASHED ON REGULAR BASIS.HAS TO BE SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - EASTON, CT

    EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN REAR WHEEL WELLS, STRAPS HOLDING GAS TANK AND UNDERSIDE OF RUNNING BOARDS. BOTH RUNNING BOARDS COMPLETELY FELL OFF, THE STRAPS HOLDING THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TANK WAS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF. THIS CAR IS IN A COVERED GARAGE 90% OF THE TIME. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 FORD ESCAPE
    - JONES, MI

    WHEN DRIVING HOME ON 12/30/14, I HEARD A LOUD RATTLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED IN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF RUST. I DID NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED ON 1/6/15. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED AND THE STRUT COULD BREAK LOOSE. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE DO THIS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS FIXED. HE ALSO CHECKED TO SEE IF ANYONE IN THE AREA WOULD BE ABLE TO FIX IT SINCE HE IS NOT EQUIPPED TO DO SO. NO LUCK WITH THAT. AFTER SEEING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR FORD ESCAPE, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE FORD COMPANY WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT AND MAKE IT RIGHT. I AM PREPARED TO FOLLOW THROUGH TO HAVE THIS MATTER TAKEN CARE OF, EVEN IF I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO LANSING AND WASHINGTON. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE