Ford Escape Complaints

29,499 consumer complaints on file.

#10416289July 29, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO MANEUVER AND IT WAS MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415433July 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2002 FORD ESCAPE. CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. PROBLEM BEGAN LAST WEEK WHEN DPFE TUBES CAME OFF AND DPFE SENSOR MELTED. THE NEXT DAY THE VALVE NEXT TO THE DPFE SENSOR BLEW A HOLE AND ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY ONE OF THE DPFE TUBES CAME OFF AGAIN. THIS WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR DID NOT HAVE GOOD GAS POWER. WHEN GOING UP A SMALL INCLINE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO PAST 40 MPH. WENT TO CAR REPAIR SHOP AND O2 SENSOR WAS REMOVED TO SEE IF IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CAR HAS 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THIS CAR IS AT ANOTHER CAR REPAIR SHOP NOW TO SEE WHAT THE CAUSE IS FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER(S) TO GO BAD. ONE REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPES. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WENT OUT TO THE FORD FORUM AND THERE ARE ENTRIES FROM 2007 TO PRESENT WITH MANY 2002 ESCAPE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING. THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NO ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME SINCE THE DPFE TUBES AND SENSOR AND VALVE WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415132July 26, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID AROUND 70 MPH ON A TOLL ROAD WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN BEEP AND A "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE SCREEN. THE POWER TO THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND I HAD TO COAST TO A SHOULDER SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR REDUCE IT'S SPEED; I WAS ABLE TO BREAK BUT I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE HAD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR AFTER BEING TOWED OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR AS LONG AS I KEPT ME SPEED UNDER ~60MPH. THIS WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE AND AFTER SEEING HOW WELL DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM IS I CAN'T WAIT TO TRADE IN FOR A DIFFERENT BRAND. THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415143July 26, 2011
SEAT BELTS
I OWN A 2004 FORD ESCAPE AND HAVE HAD THE SEATBELT HARNESSES FIXED 3 TIMES. ONE WAS JUST FIXED 18 DAYS AGO AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED YET AGAIN. THERE IS A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELT HARNESS. IT HAS BEEN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT EACH TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415991July 26, 2011
POWER TRAIN
WHILE TOWING MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED BEHIND MY RV BUS, THE TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. I DID EVERYTHING THAT WAS TAUGHT TO ME BY FORD DEALERSHIP IN GURNEE, IL, CAMPING WORLD IN FOX LAKE, IL AND THE FORD MANUAL. THE MADISON, TENNESSEE FORD DEALERSHIP TRIED TO BLAME ROADMASTER FOR THE PROBLEM. ROADMASTER IS THE MAKER OF THE TOWING SYSTEM (BARS, ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR LIGHTS AND THE EVEN BRAKE SYSTEM). THAT MADE NO SENSE AT ALL. I CHALLENGED THEM ON THAT AND THEN THEY ASKED ME TO GO OVER WHAT I DO TO TOW THE VEHICLE AND AFTER I EXPLAINED ALL THE STEPS, THEY SAID THAT I DID EVERYTHING CORRECTLY. I DROVE NO FASTER THAN 60 MPH IN MY WHOLE TRIP (CHICAGO TO NASHVILLE) AND EVEN STOPPED EVERY 3-4 HOURS TO START THE VEHICLE AND GO THROUGH THE GEARS, AS TAUGHT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 7600 MILES ON IT AND JUST 1200 MILES TOWING ON IT. SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS DEALERSHIP AND FORD DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THAT ITS OWN TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO LUBE ITSELF TO KEEP IT FROM BURNING UP. FORD HAS NOT ANSWERED ANY OF MY 2 EMAILS SENT TO THEM ABOUT THIS AND THE DEALERSHIP JUST KEEPS BRUSHING ME OFF. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY NEEDED PERMISSION FROM ME TO TAKE APART THE TRANSMISSION TO SEE WHAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE. WHY, I DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY NEEDED PERMISSION. I HAD IT TOWED THERE TO GET REPAIRED. IT IS CLEARLY SOME DEFECT WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION, THEY JUST DO NOT WANT TO OWN UP TO IT. THE CONSUMER SENT IN AN UPDATE VIA PORTABLE: JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THIS. FORD CALLED ME YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND SAID THAT THEY WILL PAY FOR EVERYTHING NOW. I TOLD THEM I WAS DOING THESE COMPLAINTS AND FINALLY SOMEONE CALLED ME. SO, UNKNOWN IF YOU STILL WANT TO POST IT OR NOT. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OF THIS. IT MAY TAKE A WEEK OR SO BEFORE I CAN GET MY CAR, THE DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING IT MAY TAKE THAT LONG TO GET THE PARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415910July 25, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NEW 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 4 CYLINDER, WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER, 2010. DURING LATE OCTOBER, 2010, A NOISE BECAME EVIDENT WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A BRIEF RUBBING NOISE. WEATHER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AT LEAST TWICE BY THE DEALER WHO DENIED HEARING THE NOISE AND DETERMINED IT WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. ONE EXPLANATION GIVEN BY THE DEALER IS THAT IT COULD BE THE RESULT OF THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THE DRIVER USES ON THE GAS AND BREAK PEDALS. THE NOISE HAS OCCURRED WITH VARIOUS DRIVERS, SO I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE DEALERS EXPLANATION. THE NOISE CONTINUES AS OF THIS DATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414930July 24, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GAS PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. NO PREVIOUS WARNING. UNABLE TO USE GAS PEDAL. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF RO SIDE OF ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414696July 22, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PCM MODULE ON THE FORD ESCAPE DIES DURING OPERATION. WHILE DRIVING IN MID TRANSIT THE CAR DIED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HEARD OTHER STORIES OF PEOPLE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN TO THEM GOING 60,70, AND EVEN 80 MPH. MINE WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30, AND NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME. THE MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF DIED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414764July 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,319.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413932July 21, 2011
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLASS ON THE REAR DOOR SHATTERED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REPLACE THE GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413951July 21, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHILE IDLING WITHOUT A FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. I HAVE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. TWICE THEY SAID THE HAVE RESET THE COMPUTER THROTTLE BUT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/10/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413741July 20, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS STUCK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413543July 19, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2010 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED AWD, BUILD DATE 10-29-2009. POWER STEERING FAILED DURING LEFT TURN, NEARLY CAUSING A SIDESWIPE CRASH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. QUICK REFLEXES AND BRAKING PREVENTED THE CRASH. CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 106 DEGREES. AFTER BRAKING THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTIONING. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413273July 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC STATED ALSO THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V165000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413361July 18, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL POINTED SIDEWAYS, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000. UPDATED 11/22/11*LJ UPDATED 03/13/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414108July 16, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS TONE RING CRACKS BECAUSE OF RUST ON THE AXLE AND THEN IT SPINS ON THE AXLE AND CAUSES THE ABS TO ACTIVATE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL TO ACTIVATE BECAUSE IT BELIEVES YOU ARE SKIDDING. THEN THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATE TO SAY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND IS A SAFETY FEATURE FOR THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412392July 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 71-73MPH WHEN A RED TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK APPEARD, MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND A "STOP VEHICLE SAFELY" MESSAGE CAME ACROSS THE DASH. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN ONE HOUR. EACH TIME, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. THE CAR WOULD START BACK UP PERFECTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SHOP BY KEEPING IT UNDER 60MPH ON THE FREEWAY. 3. THE SHOP SAYS I NEED A MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLING PUMP AND A PCM REPROGRAMMING. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412227July 14, 2011
TIRES, WHEELS
ONE ALLOY WHEEL RIM ORIGINAL TO MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE HAVE PIN-SIZE HOLES WHICH CAUSES AIR TO CONSTANTLY ESCAPE LEADING TO POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. INCIDENT DATE IS WHEN DIAGNOSTICS FROM SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS REPORTED TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412270July 14, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE OUT OF TOWN SUNDAY JULY 10TH 2011, 300 MILES FROM HOME MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE, OD 90046. WE GOT IN THE CAR STARTED IT UP AND THEN WHEN LOOKING AT THE MAP I LOOKED UP AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS I JUMPED OUT THE DOOR CAME BACK AND GOUGED MY NOSE OPEN. WHILE BLEEDING ALL OVER THE PLACE I OPENED THE HOOD AND POURED WATER OVER THE FIRE. THE CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE JUST UNDER THE REAR SIDE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, I CALLED THE LOCAL SANTA MARIA FORD DEALER, WHO ONLY OFFERED OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER THAT DAY AND WHILE THERE DECIDED TO HAVE MY WIFE LOOK AT A NEW CAR. REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT I PUT THE FLAMES OUT EARLY AND I AS A MAINTENANCE OFFICER WITH 24 YEARS EXPERIENCE I COULD HAVE FIXED THE CAR, I WANTED MY WIFE TO HAVE A NEW CAR SO WHEN I LEAVE HER BEHIND FOR MY NEXT DUTY STATION IN THE MARINE CORPS AND DEPLOY, I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY WORRIES. THE SALES EXPERIENCE WAS WHAT I EXPECTED BUT MY BIGGEST ISSUES WERE THAT, ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED, OUT OF LUCK, YEA RIGHT, THE SERVICE MANAGER STOPPED BY TO WORK ON HIS RV AND ASSISTED IN THE APPRAISAL OF MY 2005 ESCAPE THEN LEFT BEFORE I KNEW HE WAS THERE. DUE TO THE FORD DEFECT, FIRE DAMAGE, THEY OFFERED MY $2,000 FOR A TRADE IN. I TALKED THEM INTO AROUND $4,200. I HAD A CAR THAT COST ME $28,000 SIX YEARS AGO AND DUE TO A DEFECT I GOT AROUND $4,200 FOR IT IN GREAT SHAPE, EXCEPT THE VERY SMALL FIRE DAMAGE> LUCKILY WE HAD THE FIRE IN A PARKING LOT NOT WHILE ON A BACK ROAD, OFF ROAD, TRAFFIC JAM. FROM RESEARCH EARLIER ESCAPE MODELS HAVE A HISTORY OF ENGINE FIRES, AND SOME OF THE LATER, BUT NOTHING TO DATE ON THE 2005. FORD CORPORATE HAS YET TO CONTACT ME ABOUT MY COMPLAINT, I AM ASKING THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND HOPE THEY WOULD COMPENSATE ME FOR THE LOST VALUE IN MY TRADE IN DUE TO SOME TYPE OF OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. CASE # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412971July 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE TRAVELING HOME ON AN INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH THE RED BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER A LIGHT BREAKING SITUATION. I DID THE SYSTEM CHECK AVAILABLE ON THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS SHOWN AS OK. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED NOT LONG AGO SO I WAS CONFUSED. A SHORT TIME LATER THE YELLOW ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING. I SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IT TOOK A GREAT DISTANCE ( I WOULD SAY MORE THAN 100 YARDS ) FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I WAS NEVER SO SCARED IN MY LIFE. I DROVE HOME ON SIDE STREETS AT 25 MPH WITH MY WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING AND VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I RESEARCHED THE BREAK FAILURE ISSUE AND TO MY AMAZEMENT FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS. AFTER FIVE DAYS IN THE REPAIR SHOP AND THREE FAILED ATTEMPTS BY THE TECHNICIAN TO BLEED THE BREAK LINES I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A $4200 COMPUTER CONTROL UNIT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED BREAK SYSTEM OF THE HYBRID VEHICLE AND NO PERSON SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TERROR OF ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM 70 MPH WITH THE BREAKING SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. THIS IS A TIMEBOMB WAITING TO GO OFF IN THE FORM OF A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Escape