2005 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME I HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP OR CRACK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE BODY SHOP, THEY DISCOVERED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL IS CORRODED; RUST/ROT HAS CAUSED THE SHOCK MOUNT TO BECOME NEARLY COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND BODY SHOPS WON'T EVEN PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS AS THE DETERIORATION IS TOO EXTENSIVE, AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. A QUICK ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH 2005 ESCAPES, AND MUST BE ADDRESSED FOR SAFETY. THE BODY SHOP OWNER TOLD ME NOT TO TAKE THE CAR ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE IF I WERE TO HIT A BUMP AT 65 MPH, I WOULD BE "ASKING A LOT OF THIS CAR TO HOLD TOGETHER." THE CLUNKING SOUND IS NOW CONSISTENT NO MATTER WHAT SPEED OR SURFACE I AM DRIVING ON.

WHEN DRIVING CAR SHUTS OFF. CAR STARTS IN PARK WHEN PUT IN GEAR SHUTS OFF. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN SLOWED DOWN IN TRAFFIC CAR SHUT OFF, AND WOULD WOULD START IN PARK BUT SHUT OFF WHEN PUT IN GEAR

UPON THE OPENING OF REAR GLASS HATCH, RH HINGE SNAPPED OFF AND GLASS SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE. LUCKILY, OTHER SIDE REMAINED INTACT. SUPPORT HAD COMPLETELY CORRODED FROM RUST.

UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM TRIP, HUBBY SAID HE HAD HEARD LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE'S REAR END FELT FUNNY. INSPECTION TURNS UP A COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT PASSENGER SIDE REAR FENDER WELL.

WHEEL WELL ROTTED OUT CAUSING SHOCK TO BREAK LOOSE AND CREATE UNSAFE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN IT FINALLY LET GO AND SAW DEBRIS FALL ALL OVER ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF CAR.

MY WIFE CAME HOME AND MENTIONED IT WAS MAKING NOISE IN THE BACK. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT BOTH FENDER WELLS HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND PULLED AWAY FROM BODY. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 100,000 MILES AND IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. GOING ONLINE I READ WHERE MANY OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE AND AFTER 2005 ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M FROM OHIO AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH SURFACE RUST BUT THIS IS BOTH EXTREME AND DANGEROUS. HOW MANY YEARS AND COMPLAINTS HAVE TO PASS BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING. FORD NEEDS TO BE MADE TO OWN UP TO THIS AND FIX THIS. I HAVE A VEHICLE I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX OR DRIVE BECAUSE THE BACK SHOCK MOUNTS HAVE ROTTED AWAY.

OUR 2005 FORD ESCAPE HAS RUSTED THROUGH BEHIND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. WE HEARD LIKE A LOUD BANG WHEN DRIVING IT AND FOUND THE WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED AND BROKEN AS IS THE SHOCK TOWER AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT HAS ITS WIRES CUT DUE TO THE BROKEN FRAME. WE OWE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE AND WE CANNOT DRIVE IT RIGHT NOW. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD WITH ALL THE PERTINENT INFORMATION.

2005 FORD ESCAPE, HAVE HAD A LOT OF CLUNKING IN BACK OF CAR, AND THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL IS FALLING/RUSTING APART (OTHER WHEEL WELLS ARE NOT, JUST REAR PASSENGER SIDE) RIGHT WHERE SHOCK ABSORBER IS MOUNTED. LARGE RUSTED OUT HOLE IN WHEEL WELL, AND IF I PRESS AROUND THE WHEEL WELL, THE BLACK COATING CRUMBLES REVEALING CRUMBLING RUST BEHIND IT. MANY OTHER 2005 ESCAPE OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE. I HAVE NO MONEY TO FIX THIS; THIS IS A DANGEROUS FLAW SHOULD IT BREAK THROUGH WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY FORD. IT CAN'T BE SAID THIS IS JUST "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" WHEN ONLY THE ONE WHEEL WELL IS CONSISTENTLY THE ONE THAT IS RUSTING WHILE THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS DO NOT. I HAVE 125K ON MY ESCAPE, BUT WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THE HOLE HAS BEEN THERE.

PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL IS COMPLETETLY ROTTED/RUSTED AND INVOLVES SHOCK MOUNT. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I HEARD RATTLING WHEN I WENT OVER A BUMP AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE REAR CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE I SAW THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY RUST.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE REAR WHEEL WELLS AND THE FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO RUST PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, THE FRAME AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.