2004 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

MY DAUGHTER COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOUD CLANGING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF HER CAR. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER AND IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE AND USED SPARINGLY. UPON INSPECTION I NOTED THAT THE RIGHT REAR STRUT HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN FREE DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST OF THE WHEEL WELL. I CANNOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION. NOT SURE IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED YET OR WHETHER IT WILL COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. I NOW RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WITH SO MANY OWNERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *JS

I BOUGHT MY 04 ESCAPE BRAND NEW, AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER CAR GARAGE KEPT, THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE!! RUSTED OUT WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK MOUNT WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING AT ONLY 15 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER MOUNT COMPLETELY BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE SUBFRAME DUE TO CORROSION/RUST. THIS CAUSED THE SHOCK TO LEAN OUTWARD TOWARD THE TIRE. THIS COULD NOT BE SEEN BY THE UNDERCOATING AS A PROBLEM PREVIOUS AND APPARENTLY ALLOWED IT TO CORRODE TO THE POINT THAT IT BROKE FREE. THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN MY INSURANCE LADY'S FORD ESCAPE, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS ONLY ONE MODEL YEAR DIFFERENT. ALSO ONLY ON THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER. IN SPEAKING WITH THE BODY SHOP ON THE REPAIR, THEY HAVE ALSO HEARD OF THIS ISSUE AND STATE THAT FORD HAS NOT RECOGNIZED IT AS A RECALL ISSUE. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR, AND TIME CONSUMING REPAIR AS THE VEHICLE IS GONE FOR ALMOST A WEEK. THIS IS ALSO A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE DUE TO HOW IT FALLS APART. WE ARE LUCKY WE WERE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN IT OCCURRED. *TR

2004 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRUISE CONTROL CABLE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, IN 2013, AND THE PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

2004 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOWER CONTROL ARM RUST RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL WELL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE PULLED OVER, AND DISCOVERED THE SHOCK WAS HANGING DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL IT OF. SO HE DROVE BACK HOME, AND UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO FENDER LEFT ON THE SHOCK. ALSO, THE TRUNK LID WAS RUSTING. *JB THE CONSUMER HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND PLACED THE KEYS IN THE CONSOLE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE BACK SEAT. SOON AFTER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. UPDATED 06/01/16.*JB

RUSTED OUT RIGHT WHEEL WELL WITH STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER IN APRIL OF 2013. THIS CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A FREEWAY ON JUNE 15, 2014 WHEN A LOUD THUMPING STARTED IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL ON . ON INSPECTION THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED OUT. THE SUPPORT THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS ATTACHED TO WAS COMPLETELY ERODED AND A PART OF IT PUNCHED THROUGH THE WALL INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUNK AREA. WE FELT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $2259. REVIEW OF THE NHTSA COMPLAINT WEB SITE REVEALS MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. PULLED INTO REST AREA, AND LET CAR SIT A FEW MINUTES. STARTED IT UP AGAIN, AND NO NOISE. STARTED BACK ON THE INTERSTATE, AND NOISE STARTED AGAIN. PULLED OFF AGAIN, AND NOTICED RIGHT WHEEL WAS WOBBLING. LOOKED AT WHEEL AND LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE, AND WHEEL WAS NOW DEFORMED. HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL. FACILITY INSTALLED IT AND TIGHTENED ALL LUG NUTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED, WITH THE LUG NUTS REQUIRING TIGHTENING MONTHLY. ACCOMPANYING RUST IN THE WHEEL WELL IS A PROBLEM. HUB IS NOT HOLDING WHEEL CORRECTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AROUND A TURN ABOUT CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE NOR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I FIRST NOTICED A SURGING AND SQUEAL TYPE NOISE WHILE COMING TO A STOP. SPOUSE HAD REPAIRED 3 TIMES YET IT CONTINUES. DURING THIS TIME I ALSO HEARD A CLANKING NOISE FROM REAR END AS IF HATCH (WINDOW/DOOR) WAS NOT SECURELY CLOSED BUT THEN ASSUMED IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE AFOREMENTIONED ISSUE. I MENTIONED NOISE INCREASED, LOUD, FRIGHTENING (STEERING DIFFICULTIES). HE CONTACTED FORD BY PHONE (X3) AND EMAILED HOWEVER THEIR REPLY WAS NO FATALITIES OR INCIDENTS HAD BEEN REPORTED THEREFORE WE HAVE 2 OPTIONS. 1) TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR AT OUR EXPENSE, 2) TRADE IN FOR A NEW FORD VEHICLE. BOTH SCHOOL/CITY/GOVT EMPLOYED AND CANNOT AFFORD 2000.00 TO REPAIR. YESTERDAY MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE ENTIRE RIGHT SHOCK WHEN I RETURNED HOME FROM WORK AFTER A 12 HR DAY & TOLD HIM I FELT AS IF THE BACK END WAS GOING TO FALL OFF & CLANKING SOUND INTENSIFIED. AT 8PM HE WAS LAYING UNDER CAR ON GARAGE FLOOR AND FOUND THE SHOCK HANGING! HE WAS FORCED TO REMOVE AS I HAD TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AT 6AM. I AM DRIVING WITHOUT ONE SHOCK, NEW TIRES, RUSTED REAR FRAME AND SURGE CONTINUES. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO OTHER AVENUES FOR REPORTING. I HAVE 2 COWORKERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES, BOTH ESCAPES. THE REMOVED SHOCK IS RUSTED, NEAR CRUMBLING OF SORT BUT SAVED ALONG WITH SEVERAL PHOTOS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR REVIEWING MY LENGTHY EMAIL AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 1/21/15 *JS

I HAVE A HOLE AND RUST FORMING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. THIS IS BEGINNING TO EXPOSE THE SHOCK AREA. I LIVE IN A HIGH SALT AREA. *TR