2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CRASH OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EN ROUTE TO COCCIA FORD LINCOLN INC (LOCATED AT 577 E MAIN ST, WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702, (570) 823-8888) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ISSUED CASE NUMBER: CAS-14733790. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,109.

THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS CORRODED VERY SEVERELY. THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS PUSHING INTO THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER, CAUSING IT TO BECOME DISLODGED. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF MY ESCAPE. I NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER WAS DISLODGED AND MOVING AROUND. I PULLED OVER INTO A LOCAL PARK TO EXAMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VERY LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. I COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA WAS VERY RUSTED AND FLAKY. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 10-15 MPH, ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD BUMPING AND SCRAPING SOUND. I CONSULTED A FORD MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE MANY HUNDREDS OF FORD ESCAPES THAT HAVE RUSTED OUT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELLS, THAT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE SHOCK ABSORBER PUSHES INTO THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE COLLAPSES ONTO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL.

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL COMPLETELY FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY AND A YELLOW WRENCH WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT COMES UNEXPECTEDLY BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MUSCLE THROUGH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE STEERING CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON AND IT HAPPENS ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME THAT I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN HOT WEATHER.

THE CAR HAS TWICE LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THE RED WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR LOSES POWER BUT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES REMAIN FUNCTIONAL. THE CAR WAS ON RECALL FOR THIS EXACT THING AND I TOOK THE CAR IN. THE DEALER TELLS ME I HAVE THE BRUSHLESS COOLANT PUMP SO IT'S NOT DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT PUMP AND HE'S NOT REPLACING IT. BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT AND NOTHING ELSE IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THE SHOCK LEANING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND A HOLE WHERE THE MOUNTED BRACKET WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT CALLED LOVELAND FORD (999 E EISENHOWER BLVD, LOVELAND, CO 80537, (970) 744-7101) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM BOB WONDRIES FORD IN ALHAMBRA, CA IN 2008 STARTING THE SECOND WEEK I HAD IT, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAY. IT HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I TOLD THEM THIS EVERY TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. THEY ALWAYS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I'VE REPORTED THIS TO FORD MO. CO. AND YOU BEFORE. 2008-2011 ESCAPES GOT RECALL AND REPLACEMENTS FOR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. I WANT THE SAME CONSIDERATION FOR ME AND OTHER 2005-2006 OWNERS WHO HAVE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEM. WOULD IT HELP IF ONE OF US DIED BECAUSE OF THIS?

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY ROADS MY DAUGHTER NOTICE THAT THE CAR WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHIKE SKING WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALSO NOTICED INCREASE RPM. THE SYMPTOMA KEPT GETTING WORSE UNTIL WE TOOK IT TO LES SCHWAB FOR DETAILED INPECRION.

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATE (WITH SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM DISPLAYED) AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES FAIL TO MANUAL BRAKES ONLY, VERY SENSITIVE AND WILL LOCK THE WHEELS UP; TOUCHY WITH NO REAL FEED BACK, JUST APPLIED OR OFF WITH SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE REQUIRED. HAPPENED WHEN PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AND NEARLY WENT PAST THE PUMP, BUT SKIDDED TO A STOP INSTEAD. SYSTEM RESETS WITH EACH KEY CYCLE ON/OFF. IT IS SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENT. WHILE WAITING FOR MY FORD APPOINTMENT (CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE, VA), I DUPLICATED THE EVENT SEVERAL TIMES UNDER A CONTROLLED, OPEN PARKING LOT TEST AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTICS, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THE RECOMMEND REPLACING BRAKE LINES, THEN MASTER CYLINDER, THEN HCU. REPAIRS IN ORDER ARE $615, $1400, AND OVER $4900. DIAGNOSTICS RAN $130...WITH NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO MY PROBLEM.

RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT AREA RUSTED OUT AND CRACKED. HOLES AND CRACKS IN RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT WHEEL WELL AREA. LOTS OF NOISE AND METAL SHIFTING FROM THAT AREA.

SHOCK TOWER ON BACK PASSENGER SIDE RUSTING OUT. LEARNED OF THIS FROM DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS AGO.