2001 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

FORD MAY HAVE ANOTHER SUCH PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO CHECK TO SEE IF THEY DO. I OWN A FORD 2001 ESCAPE. SORT OF A SMALL EXPLORER. ITS OEM TIRES ARE GENERAL GRABBER AW. MINE ARE SIZED P225/70/15. ONE JUNE 21, WITH LESS THAN 16000 MILES, FOR NO APPARENT REASON IT BLEW OUT. LUCKILY I WAS ON LOCAL STREETS AT ~20 MPH. HAD I BEEN ON LOOP 610 AT ~55 MPH POSSIBLY THE VEHICLE (AS SUVS ARE WONT TO DO) WOULD HAVE FLIPPED AND INJURED OR KILLED MY WIFE AND I. I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT TO CHANGE THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED THE FORD SUPPLIED JACK AT ITS MAXIMUM TRAVEL DID NOT RAISE THE CAR HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE TIRE. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO GO GET A PUMP JACK THAT ALLOWED ME TO INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE. AS IT WAS PAST NOON ON A SATURDAY I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH HAS STONEWALLED ME AND REFUSED TO HELP. THE MOST I HAVE HEARD IS WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE JACK, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT USING IT CORRECTLY, HOWEVER A LOCAL MICHELIN DEALER TELLS ME YEAH WE HEAR THAT PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. FORD REFUSES TO ESCALATE AND NOW IGNORES MY EMAIL. AS FOR THE TIRE I'M TOLD: IT MAY BE COVERED UNDER YOUR 36000, 3 YEAR WARRANTY, CHECK WITH GENERAL TIRE. I CHECK WITH GENERAL TIRE, AND FIND OUT A LARGER SIZE OF THAT MODEL TIRE ON FORD EXPEDITIONS IS ALREADY BEING RECALLED, BUT GENERAL DENIES EVER HAVING ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ESCAPES, AND TELLS ME TO CALL FORD. I CALL CHAMPION FORD (FORMERLY CHARLIE THOMAS FORD) ON THE GULF FREEWAY WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL MANAGER I'M THE FIRST ONE WITH SUCH PROBLEM(S). I SHOULD LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER. I DO THAT BUT AM NEVER CALLED BACK. THE DEALER TELLS ME THERE IS NO ONE HIGHER AT FORD TO CALL ANYMORE. SOUNDS LIKE FORD IS ACTIVELY KEEPING ITS HEAD IN THE SAND. VIN NUMBER: [XXX] MILEAGE: 15491 NAME: [XXX] LAST NAME:[XXX] ADDRESS:[XXX] CITY: [XXX] STATE: TX ZIP:[XXX] EMAIL ADDRESS: [XXX]TELEPHONE NUMBER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND IT DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. ONE TIME ON OCTOBER 19, 2002 AND ANOTHER TIME ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2003. THIS CAR HAS ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS AND PCM MODULE.

2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4WD STALLED WHILE DRIVING. HAS DONE THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ALSO, OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT START. USUALLY WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE FOR SEVERAL HOURS IN RAIN. REQUIRES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 2001 FORD ESCAPE AT AVERAGE 50-60 MPH SPEED OK. UPON DECELERATION, CAR DIES. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY (DIED 3 MORE TIMES). DEALER IS SAYING 2 CYLINDER HEADS NEED TO BE REPLACED; 2 CAMSHAFTS AND BASICALLY NEED NEW ENGINE INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. DEALER HAS REQUESTED MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS (I HAVE SUPPLIED ALL). NOW WAITING TO SEE IF FORD WILL ASSIST IN REPAIRS. HAVE CALLED FORD 6 TIMES TO FILE COMPLAINT STATING SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE NEW IN DEC 2000, HAVE HAD NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED (WARRANTY COVERED); NEW FUEL PUMP (WARRANTY COVERED); AND NEW MASTER CYLINDER (PAID OUT OF POCKET). ESCAPE IS NOT SAFE AND NOT RELIABLE.*AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS IN IDLE WHILE VEHICLE STOPS. DRIVER MUST "JAB" ACCELERATOR TO GET IT OUT OF IDLE AND START VEHICLE MOVING IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. PROBLEM IS CONSTANT SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IN DEC 2002.*AK

IT TAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP.SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTS FROM STICKING GAS PEDAL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE ENGAGED IN NEUTRAL. DRIVER BEHIND HIM HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE OF $2400. THERE ARE TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS CONTAINING INFORMATION ON HOW TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *PH *NM

ENGINE STALLING, INTERMITTENT, UNPREDICTABLE. DURING VARIOUS TIMES, DAYS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. SINCE 09/25/01 TILL LAST TIME WAS 12/01/03.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE WENT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. *AK *NM

LINKAGE CABLE FROM COLUMN SHIFTER BROKE, RENDERING VEHICLE NON DRIVABLE. SAME VEHICLE HAD CABLE UNJAMMED FROM COLUMN ASSEMBLY APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR EARLIER. *LA