2005 FORD ESCAPE Structure Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after her father inspected the vehicle, he made her aware that there was damage to the rear subframe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear subframe needed to be replaced. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V165000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

2005 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTED SUBFRAME. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS ALSO RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A WHISTLING NOISE AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE INNER WHEEL WELL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL, AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,250.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY LOUD NOISE AS IF GLASS WERE BREAKING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TOWER WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE WELL OF THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WOULD NOT TOUCH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DANGER OF THE FAILURE. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING POSTED ON THE INTERNET AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE SHOCK ABSORBER BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME OF THE WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE EXHAUST SERVICED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC WOULD NOT LIFT THE VEHICLE TO DO THE EXHAUST SERVICING STATING THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THERE WAS A CHANCE THE FRAME WOULD FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING OVER A HUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A TEST DRIVE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAD A RUSTED HOLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS DETACHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MOUNT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER IS RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH,WHILE THE LEFT SIDE LOOKS BRAND NEW.A MECHANIC SAID HE HAS FIXED AT LEAST 20 OF THESE.THE PRICE FOR THE FIX QUOTED TO ME WAS BETWEEN $800.00 AND $1000.00.THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.WE THE ESCAPE BUT THIS JUST IS NOT FAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCK FRACTURED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RUST RELATED BUT RATHER THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

RATTLING, BANGING, RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT IS RUSTED LOOSE, COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY FROM WHEEL HOUSE. *JS

I'VE RECENTLY STARTED NOTICING A LOT OF CREAKING AND POPPING IN THE STRUCTURE / SUSPENSION OF MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE. I TOOK A FLASHLIGHT AND CRAWLED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST/ROT IN MY FRONT SUBFRAME OF MY VEHICLE. I SEE FORD HAS A RECALL FOR 2001 TO 2004 MODELS, BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO COVER ALL YEARS OF THIS CHASSIS DESIGN, AS MY 2005 SHOWS SIGNIFICANT ROT. THE RECALL SHOULD ALSO COVER REAR WHEEL WELL RUST/ROT (INCLUDING SHOCK MOUNTS), AS THIS AREA IS ALSO HEAVILY RUSTED. DEFINITE DESIGN FLAWS AND POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED ON THE FRAME/SUBFRAME. A 2005 SHOULD NOT BE RUSTING OUT THIS BAD, EVEN IN THE "SALT BELT". NOTHING HAS BROKEN FROM RUST YET, HOWEVER JUDGING BY THE RATE OF DECAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST MUCH LONGER. FORD SHOULD EXPAND THIS RECALL IMMEDIATELY. *TR

THERE STARTED TO BE A BANGING NOISE IN RIGHT REAR AREA OF VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK HAD SEPARATED ITS MOUNT FROM THE WHEEL WELL DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. *TR

CPSC: I1470151A. 2005 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AND THE SHOCK FELL OFF. THE OTHER WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED AND APPEARED TO BE FALLING OFF, AS WELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELD RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL AND STRUTS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE REAR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

2005 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK HOUSING DETERIORATED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, HE HAD TO REPLACE MANY PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. ON APRIL 19, 2014, WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE RIGHT-REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK HOUSING HAD DETERIORATED. THE CONSUMER DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SCRAPPED. AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HIS MODEL. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCK MOUNT WAS ENTIRELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,564.

MY CAR WENT TO SHOP FOR EXHAUST REPAIR WHEN THE FRONT Y PIPE WAS REMOVED MY MECHANIC SAW A LARGE HOLE RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME(FRONT ENGINE CRADLE).FRAME WAS REPAIRED BY WELDING IT. THE REST OF CAR FRAME APPEARED OK. CAR ONLY HAS 80K MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. NOT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON 2004 AND EARLIER FORD ESCAPES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I FEEL THE 2005 SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AS ITS OBVIOUS TO ME THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER BECAME DETACHED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

CPSC: I1440372A. 2005 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WELL ROTTING OUT CAUSED THE SHOCK MOUNTS TO DISINTEGRATE. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PRICE ESTIMATES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT RANGED FROM $2000-7000. *JB

FRONT END K SUB-FRAME RUSTED THROUGH. THIS VEHICLE IS TOO NEW AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL, BUT ALREADY HAS A HOLE RUSTED THROUGH THE SUB-FRAME. THIS IS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO SEPARATE LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION...UPDATED 06/25/14 *BF UPDATED 07/1/2014 *JS

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL IS SEVERELY RUSTED AND SHOCK IS NO LONGER ATTACHED. YOU CAN SEE THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE FROM REAR FENDER WELL. FRAME IS ALSO BEGINNING TO CRACK IN THIS AREA TOO. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME MAKE AND YEAR. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR FORD TO REALIZE THIS IS A DEFECT. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR EVEN A LOSS OF LIFE IF NOTHING IS DONE. NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVEN DAILY SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *JS

NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT REAR, REPAIR SHOP LOOKS BEHIND TIRE AND FINDS REAR PANEL WHERE SHOCK IS ATTACHED ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. COST TO REPAIR IS 2500 - 3500 DOLLARS. FORD WON'T COVER ANY OF COST. CAR IS NOT EVEN 9 YEARS OLD,UNBELIEVABLE! THIS IS A DANGER, WAITING TO KILL SOMEONE WHEN THE WHOLE THING FALLS OFF. CARS SHOULD NOT RUST THIS BAD, ESPECIALLY IN ONLY ONE SPECIFIC AREA. NOW DECIDING TO GET RID OF MY 2012 ESCAPE BEFORE I HAVE ISSUES WITH IT. *JS

I HAVE A 2005 FORD ESCAPE WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILES. I STARTED HEARING A LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. I FOUND OUT THAT THE ENTIRE REAR WHEEL WELL IS ROTTED COMPLETELY OUT AND I THINK THE SHOCKS ARE EXPOSED. I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT CARS BUT I KNOW THIS ISN'T RIGHT. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING. I SEE THAT FORD HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING FOR VEHICLES FROM 2001-2004. 2005 SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED WITH THAT RECALL. PLEASE NOTE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND PLEASE REQUEST A RECALL. *JS

2005 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERE RUST ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TOP OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT WAS ALSO RUSTED. *JB

AFTER SEEING POST FROM FRIEND THAT HER RIGHT REAR WELL ON HER 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS RUSTED THROUGH, IT MADE ME GO LOOK IN THE GARAGE AT MY SAME VEHICLE. UPON REVIEW I HAVE A LARGE HOLE INTO MY SPARE TIRE TOOLS BOX. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RUSTING AND CRACKS IN AND AROUND THE SHOCK AS WELL. LEFT REAR WELL DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE SAME ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, HE NOTICED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INNER QUARTER PANEL AND WHEEL HOUSE PANEL WERE CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE SHOCK HAD BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. . ..UPDATED 01-10-14 *BF

THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL CARRIER IS COMPLETELY ERODED WITH THE VEHICLE BEING DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE STRUCTURAL/BODY WORK TO REPAIR. THIS ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO FAULTY MATERIAL USED BY FORD AS THE OTHER WHEEL CARRIERS AND THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THE INTERNET BUT FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALLING THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A MIRACLE THAT WE WERE NOT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT CONDITION AND ONLY TOOK IT IN WHEN THE ISSUE BECAME KNOWN WHEN A LOUD NOISE STARTED AS THE FRAME WAS COLLAPSING DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPPORT. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND AS THE ONLY OWNER KNOW THAT NO ACCIDENT OR ISSUE OTHER THAN FAULTY MATERIAL COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CORROSION. FORD IS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT...

THE LEFT PASSENGER REAR FENDER WELL HAS RUSTED OUT AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT, READY TO BREAK FREE. *TR

THE COMPUTER SHORT, BECAUSE A WATER LEAK IN THE COMPUTER, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE BRIDGE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THIS MORNING AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED! THE SOUND IT MADE WAS A LOUD POW, AND SOME GLASS SHARDS FELL ONTO MY SEATS. THERE WERE NO LARGE TRUCKS AROUND OR SIGHT OF DEBRIS FLYING MY WAY. I HAVE TO WAIT A FEW DAYS FOR THE GLASS TO BE SHIPPED FROM FORD BEFORE I CAN HAVE IT INSTALLED, AND I HAVE TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 THROUGH MY INSURANCE, AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THE SUNROOF EXPLODING IN FORDS, AND IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT A ROCK CAN CAUSE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE ON TOP OF A CAR. FORD SHOULD BE PROVIDING WARRANTIES FOR THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. *TR

SUNROOF SHATTERED IN OUR 2005 FORD ESCAPE FOR NO REASON. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME. FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE DEFECT. WHEN CHECKING ON LINE THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS INCLUDING TIMES WHEN THE GLASS BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ORDERED NEW GLASS FOR SUNROOF AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR