2001 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY THIS EVENING. IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES, PARKED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. A PASSERBY SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND CALLED DISPATCH. THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND REPAIR. I AM AWARE OF SOME RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS WHEN A RECALL WAS ISSUED. I AM UNSURE, AT THIS TIME, AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BUT FELT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT REPORT THE INCIDENT. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE AND ENGINE FIRE? *TR

I HAVE A COMPLAINT. I OWN A FORD ESCAPE 2001. FIRST THE DRIVERS REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. NOW THE DRIVER'S DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE TO GET IN, BUT I CAN OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE TO GET OUT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESES DOORS? *TR

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE ABS TO MALFUNCTION. THIS ILLUMINATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND ENGINE FIRE. THIS CONDITION OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THE RECALLS. TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT IF THE VIN FOR MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THEN THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT OBLIGATED TO FIX THE SAFETY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANTI- LOCK BRAKES NOW BECAUSE THE CONTROL MODULE HAS BURNED UP, AND THE FUSES HAD TO BE REMOVED. THE PRICE FOR INSTALLATION OF A NEW ABS CONTROL MODULE IS ESTIMATED AT $1500 TO $2500. *TR

WHILE ATTENDING A SCHOOL PLAY, I WAS CALLED OUTSIDE B/C MY FORD ESCAPE WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ALARM WAS GOING OFF. I HAD BEEN INSIDE & THE CAR SHUT OFF FOR 25 MIN. BEFORE BEING CALLED OUT. SMOKE & FIRE WAS BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND FIRE WAS DROPPING ON THE GROUND BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE PRIED UP ON THE SIDES AND FRONT IN ORDER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. EVERYTHING INSIDE HAD MELTED. THEY ASKED IF I HAD NOTICED ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN A LITTLE SLOW TO START FOR A COUPLE DAYS, BUT SEEMED TO RUN FINE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I NEEDED TO CHECK THE SPARK PLUGS. THE FIRE DEPT. SUGGESTED I CONTACT FORD TO CHECK ON ANY POTENTIAL RECALLS. FORD MOTOR VERIFIED THAT CONFIRMED THAT RECALL #07S51 DID APPLY TO THE VEHICLE BASED ON MY VIN#. REMEMBERING BACK, EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MY ABS LIGHT DID COME ON, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS UNUSUAL. BUT IT DID NOT STAY ON LONG, SO I WAS NOT CONCERNED. I FILED A REPORT WITH FORD'S CRC. THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THE REPORT TO THEIR GENERAL COUNCIL. THEY SAID TO EXPECT UP TO 15 BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE RECEIVING A RESPONSE ON NEXT THE STEPS. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPT. PICTURES, AFFIDAVITS AND A PERSONAL WRITTEN REPORT. THIS WAS MY ONLY VEHICLE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BUT ONCE SHE ADDED BRAKE FLUID EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. UPDATED 09/14/09.*JB

MAR 27 HAD 2001 FORD ESCAPE IN DEALERSHIP FOR OIL LEAK AND ENGINE HESITATION. LEAK NOT FIXED ON 1ST TIME TAKEN TO DEALER. #3 COIL, INTAKE GASKETS REPLACED & TUNEUP DONE FOR HESITATION. MAR 31 VEHICLE TAKEN BACK FOR SAME PROBLEMS, #4 COIL WAS REPLACED AND WAS TOLD NO OIL LEAK, ALSO TOLD ENGINE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE WASHED AND WATER BLEW OUT #4 COIL. ON THE WAY HOME, STILL SMELLED BURNING OIL & ENGINE HESITATION STILL FELT. CALLED DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD TO LET THE CAR SIT FOR A DAY. CAR SAT FOR 2 DAYS. CAR STILL DROVE THE SAME, OIL LEAK & HESITATION STILL THERE. TOOK VEHICLE STRAIGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, ON THE WAY THERE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 15MPH. THEN THE EGR VALVE BLEW. AND I LIVE 2 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FROM APR 1 TO APR 15. NOW I WAS TOLD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON THE MANIFOLDS ARE PLUGGED UP AND THIS IS CAUSING THE HESITATION AND THE OIL LEAK WAS FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REMOVE THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE GASKET. WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY MISSED THIS LEAK THE OTHER 2 TIMES I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS LEAK. ONLY THING THE WARRANTY COVERED IS THE OIL LEAK. FEDERAL MANDATED EMISSION LAW IS 8YRS OR 80,000 MILES. VEHICLE IS IN THE 8 YEARS AND @ 75,500 MILES. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE CONVERTERS. TOOK ESCAPE TO LOCAL MECHANIC APR 17. EXHAUST INSPECTION SHOWED ONLY THE REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED (REPLACED NOW). #4 & #6 COILS NOT FIRING. COILS WORK CONNECTED IN OTHER SPARKPLUG LOCATIONS. WIRING FOR COILS NOT WORKING. THESE COIL LOCATIONS WORKED PRIOR TO GOING BACK TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC SAID I SHOULD SUE THE DEALERSHIP FOR MISDIAGNOSIS AND BREAKING ADDITIONAL ITEMS WHEN ENGINE WAS REMOVED. MECHANIC ALSO RAN DIAGNOSTIC, NO CODES COMING UP, DEALERSHIP RESET PCM TO OLD PROGRAMMING, SO VEHICLE NOW HESITATES & DIES. WIFE STILL WANTS TO KEEP VEHICLE. TOLD HER NO. ALREADY SHOPPING FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN FORD. *TR

DOOR LOCKS ARE ON ALL 4 DOORS ARE LOCKED AND CANNOT BE OPENED NO ACCESS TO VEHICLE EXCEPT THROUGH THE BACK HATCH OR WINDOWS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED GREATER FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V210001 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) DUE TO MODIFICATIONS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED A FEW SECONDS LATER. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FIRST BRAKE HOSE FAILED AND THE SECOND ONE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE HOSES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (ALL3) HAVE GONE BAD, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 90,000 MILES ON IT, VEHICLE BEGAN MISS FIRING SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE A YEAR AGO. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT TIMES EXHAUST IS CIRCULATED BACK INTO VEHICLE. *TR

MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE ALARM STARTED GOING OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY, UPON INVESTIGATION THERE WAS SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE OPENED THE HOOD AND USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON THE ABS BRAKE MODULE/WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ALLSTATE INSURANCE STATES THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. I HAD COMPLETED THE RECALL FOR THIS PART IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, 10 MONTHS LATER MY VEHICLE CATCHES ON FIRE. THE REPAIRS COMPLETED AT FORD SINCE THE FIRE HAVE BEEN TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS, THE HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK CONTROL UNIT/MODULE AND OTHER AFFECTED BURNT PARTS. *TR