2001 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOOSTER. THE VEHICLE MADE A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS A RAPID LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. SHE ALSO STATED THAT BRAKING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR SIX MONTHS, DIMMED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT THEN ILLUMINATED AGAIN. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE), THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER (BECAUSE OF THE LEAK) ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,129 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,080.

IN NOV. OF 2006, I TOOK MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT WAS TWISTING AND WAS NOT RETRACTING. MY CHILD'S BOOSTER SEAT WAS HELD WITH THIS BELT AND WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT DUE TO A FLAW, CONDENSATION WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE AND THAT IT HAD CAUSED AN INTERNAL SPRING TO RUST AND BREAK. THEY TOLD ME THAT IN 2002 + MODELS, IT WAS REDESIGNED AND THAT COIL OR SPRING IS NOW PROTECTED WITH A PROTECTIVE COVERING. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CORP AND THEY COVERED THE REPAIR AND I HAD TO PAY A $75.00 DEDUCTIBLE. NOW 13 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAD RE- OCCURRED. THIS TIME FORD MOTOR CORP. SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AGAIN REMINDED THEM THAT THIS FAULTY SEATBELT IS BEING USED TO SECURE MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S BOOSTER SEAT AND IT TERRIFIES ME TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HER IF I WAS IN A SERIOUS COLLISION. FORD DID HAVE A SAFETY SEATBELT RECALL ON A FRONT SEATBELT LATCH AND I COMPLIED AND I THINK THAT WAS IN 2004. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS THE PROPENSITY TO LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY IF IT IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKED AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A MEMO TO VEHICLE OWNERS STATING TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT CAP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,190 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED BOUGHT A NEW CAP AT THE COST OF $17.61. UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

I HAVE HAD BRAKE LIQUID LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE CONTAINER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AROUND 2001. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THE CAP MALFUNCTIONED AND THEY REPLACED THE CAP, THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID I OVERFILLED THE CONTAINER BUT IT NEVER STOPPED AND TO THIS DAY THE CONTAINER LEAKS. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE CAR STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I THOUGHT THIS TO BE JUST A FREAK ACCIDENT UNTIL I READ THESE POSTINGS AND IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD. ONE TIME IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 81 AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO WRECK BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER WITH OUT AN ACCIDENT. NOW MY CAR HAS A HARD TIME STARTING FOR NO REASON. AT FIRST I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM JUST GOT WORSE. NOW I SOMETIMES SPEND 20 MIN TRYING TO START THE CAR, WHEN IT FINALLY STARTS, IT STALLS AND WHEN ITS FINISHED STALLING, IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND STAYS THAT WAY FOR SEVERAL MIN. UNTIL NOW I JUST THOUGHT THESE WERE RARE OCCURRENCES BUT NOW I DON'T THINK THEY ARE. I BELIEVE THEY ARE ALL SAFETY PROBLEMS AND NOT ONCE WAS I NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL TO FIX. MY COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON OVER 8 MONTHS AGO AND IS STILL ON DESPITE HAVING IT CHECKED AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND.*CN

I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT INSTALLING SINCE 2003. RECALL 04S13 WAS FOR THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL AND STILL TODAY 12/6/07, I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR WILL STALL IN PARKING LOTS, DRIVE THRU'S, AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, AND IN TRAFFIC WHEN COASTING. WHEN I AM FINALLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, I WILL BE SUING FORD FOR FAILURE TO MEET MY NEEDS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THE DEALERS SAY I HAVE TO BRING IT IN WHEN IT HAPPENS. I CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN CONSISTENT TO MEET THIS "REQUIREMENT." I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD AS A RESULT OF THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY OR LACK OF CONCERN THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS A GOOD PRODUCT. *TR

THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN 3 TIMES. THE FIRST DATE WAS 11-12-2003. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE NOT SURE WHEN THE BAG WILL DEPLOY OR NOT. DEALER TRACED AND FOUND OPEN CIRCUIT, CONNECTOR NOT SEATED. RESECURED AND SYSTEM PASSED. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THIS DEALERSHIP UP TO FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO WORK. UPON DISASSEMBLY, WE FOUND THAT THE PART THAT CONNECTED THE HANDLE MECHANISM TO THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS A FLIMSY THIN METAL WASHER, WHICH HAD BROKE IN HALF. THIS COMPONENT IS DEFINITELY SUBSTANDARD FOR THE CONSTANT USE IT GETS. UPON CONFERRING WITH OTHER 2001 ESCAPE OWNERS AT ESCAPE-CENTRAL.COM (TECH. TIPS ), NOT ONLY DOES THIS PART FAIL, BUT THE SAME PART ON THE INTERIOR DOOR EVENTUALLY FAILS TOO, THUS YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE.' THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ALSO HAS THIS PROBLEM AS POSTED BY OTHER OWNERS. THIS CREATES THE POSSIBLILTY OF BEING TRAPPED INSIDE DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, SUCH AS A FIRE, ACCIDENT, ETC. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A MORE SUBSTANTIAL PART.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND ONCE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT RE-INSPECT THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A REPAIR THAT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

OIL COOLER FAILED, OIL WAS BURNT OFF WITH NO CHECK OIL LIGHT OR ENGINE NOTICE AND ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED. ENGINE THREW A ROD AND THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *JB