Ford Escape Complaints
29,499 consumer complaints on file.
- #10135602August 30, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
2004 FORD ESCAPE DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR STICKING.*MR PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE CONSUMER HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A STICKING GAS LINKAGE CABLE. RECALL#04V5774000 *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134798August 30, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 FORD ESCAPE 33063 MILES VIN [XXX] COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CRASH. (1) NO WARNING (2) TRANSMISSION FAILURE (3) TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134799August 30, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(1) [2ND FAILURE] NO WARNING. (2) TRANSMISSION FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CRASH. (3) TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134416August 28, 2005SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON OR FLASH 2. THERE WAS NO CONSEQUENCE OR FAILURE SINCE I RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY BY TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 3. DIAGNOSTICS WERE RUN SHOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODE B1881, HIGH RESISTANCE, R&R BOTH SEATS, R&R PRETENSIONS R KITS. REINSTALL AND CLEAR CODES. I WAS TOLD THIS MEANT IN A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER) WOULD FAIL TO RETRACT, IN ESSENCE, RENDERING THE SEAT BELTS USELESS. REPAIR KITS WERE INSTALLED ON EACH SEATBELT. PARTS INCLUDED WITH INSTALLATION ARE: PART NUMBER PATSKEY $35.00, 1L8Z 78610E22 AAA KIT REPAIR $103.33, 1L8Z 78610E23 AAA KIT REPAIR $103.33, PLUS LABOR $227.95 FOR A TOTAL OF $523.61. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SUCH REPAIRS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134188August 25, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 52000 MILES ON IT WAS GREAT UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER LATE AT NIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING ACID (HUH?) AND THAT THEY WOULD KINDLY PUT IN THE TWO RECALL PARTS ONE OF WHICH MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM (PCM I BELIEVE). THE STRANGE THING WAS ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER I HAD STALLED I COULD START THE CAR AGAIN FINE BUT I FIGURED THEY WOULD STILL WANT TO SEE IT SINCE IT COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THEN LAST NIGHT MY CAR WOULDN'T START...SOUNDS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE TIME BEFORE ONLY THIS TIME I WASN'T DRIVING I WAS IN A PARKING GARAGE. SO I GAVE UP AND CALLED A FRIEND AND DECIDED TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TH EMORNING WHEN THE DEALER WAS OPEN. ONLY IN THE MORNING MY CAR STARTED FINE AGAIN. I DROVE TO THE DEALER ANYWAY THOUGH BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT VERY SAFE AND FIGURED THEY WOULD WANT TO LOOK IT OVER. PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY OCCURING SO I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH ME SO I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND DID A SEARCH AND IT SEEMS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER. I AM NERVOUS BECAUSE I SOMETIME DRIVE ON BUSY HIGHWAYS AND IF IT STALLS I MIGHT END UP IN A CRASH BUT FORD DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THIS SCENARIO. I AM AT A LOSS AND WANT A BETTER ANSWER THEN WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN BUT I THOUGHT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS ABOUT FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE TO A FORD ESCAPE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128316August 24, 2005SEATS
D: THE DRIVERS SEAT MATERIAL IS SO HARD IT PUTS THE CONSUMER'S LEG TO SLEEP. THE CONSUEMR FEELS THT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SHE CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE VERY FAR WITHOUT HAVING TO STOP AND WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE TO WAKE LEGS BACK UP. THE PASSENGERS SEAT APPEARS THIS WAY ALSO. STARTED NOTICING THIS ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M IN IT FOR ABOUT 45 MIN TO AN HOUR. *NM *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10130557August 23, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: FORD 2002 ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 27, 2005. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED IN THE VEHICLE. THE WALLS IN THE GARAGE HAD HEAVY SMOKE DAMAGE. THEY HAD TO CUT THE GARAGE DOOR TO GET IN. THE CONSUMER CAN'T SLEEP IN THE HOUSE DUE TO THE SMOKE DAMAGE. *AK *JB *SC PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (NOVEMBER 7, 2005): DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE TOWN HOUSE GARAGE FOR AN HOUR BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE HEAVIEST DAMAGE WAS AT THE DRIVE SIDE FIREWALL AREA. THE YELLOW ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON THREE WEEKS AGO; THE DEALER SAID BRING THE VEHICLE IN WHEN THE NEXT OIL CHANGE IS DUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128716August 23, 2005STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
DT: THE CALLER PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE AND WITH THE HOOD IN THE RELEASE POSITION AND THE SAFETY LATCH ON THE HOOD WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE HOOD FLEW UP. THE CALLER SAID THE LATCH THAT HELD THE HOOD FROM THE OUTSIDE DID NOT HOLD WHEN THE HOOD FLEW UP. THE DEALER FIXED IT, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LATCH. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LATCH. THE CALLER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. *AK *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133701August 22, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE ARE A LEASING COMPANY AND HAVE HAD THREE (3) 2001 FORD ESCAPES TO DATE THAT HAVE HAD FAILED TRANSMISSIONS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ATTEMPTS TO GET REIMBURSEMENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133192August 17, 2005STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING STARTED TO CLUNK AND BIND ON OCCASION. EFFORT WOULD GO UP BUT IT WOULD RESPOND WHEN TURNED. IT RAPIDLY GOT WORSE WHERE IT WOULD CLUNK AND BIND AND SKIP A SECTION WHILE TURNING. ONLY THREE DAYS FROM START TO SKIPPING WHILE TURNING. FINALLY IT WAS SKIPPING AND BINDING ON EVERY TURN. TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND RACK AND PINION WAS BAD. (THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR TAKEN OFF ROAD.) RACK WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132831August 15, 2005STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE UNLOCKING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THE TAILGATE LOCKED. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. BUT THE TAILGATE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE HIM FOR REPAIRS. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132929August 15, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN MAY 2005 THE ACCELERATOR CABLE STUCK WIDE OPEN ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE (V-6 ENGINE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUNCHED DOWN ON THE PEDAL VERY HARD. THERE IS A PLASTIC COVER ON TOP OF THE ENGINE THAT MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO SEE WHERE THE CABLES HOOK UP TO THE THROTTLE BODY. I REMOVED THIS TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY OR THE CABLE THAT WAS STUCK. AS I WAS TAKING IT OFF THE CABLE BECAME UNSTUCK ON IT'S OWN SO I WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. AT THAT POINT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY DID NOTHING. ON 8/10/05 MY WIFE PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL WHILE MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN AGAIN AND SHE FOUND HERSELF GOING ABOUT 100 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. FINALLY SHE PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, COASTED TO THE BERM AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. SINCE THE DEALER COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I DECIDED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN MYSELF. AGAIN I TOOK THE PLASTIC COVER OFF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND ONCE AGAIN THE CABLE BECAME UNSTUCK. THIS MADE ME SUSPECT THAT THE PLASTIC COVER MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HOUSING HAD BROKEN RIGHT BEFORE THE PART THAT CONNECTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS CREATES A SITUATION THAT CAN CAUSE THE CRUISE CABLE TO PIVOT UP AND WEDGE AGAINST THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER DURING HARD ACCELERATION INSTEAD OF IT MOVING IN ITS HOUSING LIKE IT SHOULD THUS CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STICK WIDE OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES SO I AM CONFIDENT THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WORK ON THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK SO I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPT. ORDERED THE PART (UNDER $30) WENT HOME AND PUT IT ON MYSELF (TAKES LESS THAN 5 MINUTES). THE CAR IS FIXED NOW. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132931August 15, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HAS A TENDENCY TO NOSE DIVE AS THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND ALSO HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING. THERE IS ALSO A PERSISTENT RATTLE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION THAT FORD SAYS IS COMMON TO ALL FORD ESCAPES AND THUS FAR HAS NOT FIXED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132791August 14, 2005TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO OF THE OEM TIRES ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT WERE REPLACED ON 8-12-05 BECAUSE OF TREAD/SHOULD SEPARATION. THEY WERE CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV 235/70-16 (DOT#A3084533602). THE TIRES HAD 17,250 MILES ON THEM AND HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON PAVEMENT AND NOT FASTER THAN 70 MILES PER HOUR. THEY HAD NEVER BEEN UNDER INFLATED NOR DRIVE FOR LONG DISTANCES. THE OTHER TWO TIRES ON THE ESCAPE ARE LOSING CHUNKS OF RUBBER, BUT THE CONTINENTAL ADJUSTER AT DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY SAID THEY ARE NOT SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE CARCASS SO CONTINENTAL WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. HE ATTRIBUTED THE LOSS OF CHUNKS OF RUBBER TO DRIVING ON GRAVEL ROADS. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVE ON GRAVEL ROADS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132742August 13, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
A HISSING NOISE IS COMING FROM MY BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE IT GOES AWAY BUT WHEN I LET UP ON THE BRAKE IT STARTS MAKING THE HISSING NOISE AGAIN. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132568August 12, 2005TIRES
FORD ESCAPE LIMITED 2005 WITH 3000KM. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT 80 KM PER HOUR. DEALERSHIP HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I WAS TOLD TO JUST LIVE WITH IT. I FEEL THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I TEST DROVE ANOTHER ESCAPE AND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS PRESENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL THE ESCAPE HAD VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT THIS SPEED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10126462August 12, 2005TIRES
DT: CONSUMER HAS 26,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE ORIGINAL TIRES ARE ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES ARE HYDRO PLANNING. HE CALLED THE TIRE COMPANY AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. THEY TOLD HIM THAT ONE TIRE WAS SLIGHTLY CUPPING ,AND ANOTHER WAS WEARING OUT. CONSUMER WAS NOT TOLD WHICH TIRES THESE WERE. CONSUMER ROTATED TIRES EVERY 2,500 MILES. THIS PROBLEM STARTED DURING A RAIN STORM GOING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH LAST WEEK.*AK *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131225August 3, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DT: VEHICLE LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THOUGHT IT WAS FUEL INJECTORS. PUT FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AND BETTER GAS BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. THE MECHANIC SAID THE THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR WAS*AK BAD. THE MECHANIC DID REPLACE IT AND HAVE THE PART. THE VEHICLE STARTED DOING THIS AROUND JUNE 1, 2005. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10130133July 26, 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
IN JANUARY 2005 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ON MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE SO I PROMPTLY HAD THE CABLE REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 2, 2005 THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK DOWN TO THE FLOOR OF MY VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T ENGAGE. AS THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, NOW AT ABOUT 50MPH, I JERKED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE FAST APPROACHING INTERSECTION AND DROVE UP ON SOMEONE'S LAWN. MY VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A TREE. I HAD EMERGENCY SURGERY TO REPAIR AND CLOSE AN OPEN COMPOUND FRACTURE AND DISLOCATION OF MY ELBOW, HAD ADDITIONAL SURGERY 6 WEEKS LATER TO REPAIR A TORN LIGAMENT IN MY WRIST, AND HAVE A CHIP FRACTURE IN MY HIP SOCKET. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK ON DISABILITY FOR 2 MONTHS ALREADY (HOPING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK IN SEPTEMBER) AND HAVE TO GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR MY ELBOW, WRIST, AND HIP.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10126246July 22, 2005AIR BAGS
DT: THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DISENGAGED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN ONE WEEK.. FIFTH TIME TOTAL. THE DEALER SAID THEY WILL FIX IT BY FIXING A BROKEN WIRE OR RESETTING THE COMPUTER. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WILL TRY TO FIX IT. *AK *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0