Ford Escape Complaints (2001)

996 consumer complaints on file.

#10136348September 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DT: 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL ON LINE, THIS RECALL DID NOT PERTAIN TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DIED, POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT KEEP A IDLING. . THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED THE CONSUMER. THE PROBLEM STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO, ON AUGUST 30, 2005. THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135814September 8, 2005
AIR BAGS
IN JUNE 2005, I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK WHEN MY CAR HYDROPLANED AND I HIT A BRIDGE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED A FEW BUMPS AND BRUISES BUT NEVER WENT TO THE DOCTOR. IF THE ACCIDENT WERE WORSE THAN WHAT IT WAS AND THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WENT TO FORD AND NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ABOUT IT. IT WAS NEVER LOOKED INTO TO SEE IF THEY DID INFACT MALFUNCTION. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS AND THERE WAS ONE TO THE WHEEL AND SOMETHING ELSE AND I WANT TO SEE IF THAT RECALL WERE FIXED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10134798August 30, 2005
POWER 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, 2005
POWER 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, 2005
SEAT 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
#10133701August 22, 2005
POWER 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
#10132929August 15, 2005
VEHICLE 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
#10132742August 13, 2005
SERVICE 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
#10129490July 20, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001, FORD, ESCAPE. EVERY TIME CONSUMER TOOK TIRES OFF TO WORK ON THE BRAKES B OR ANYTHING ELSE SHE HAD TO REPLACE HER WHEEL BEARINGS. THIS ONLY OCCURRED ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE AUTOMOTIVE PLACE THAT SPECIALIZED IN BRAKES SAID THAT THIS OCCURRED ON A LOT ON SIMILAR MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR VEHICLES. THE LAST TIME THEY WERE REPLACED WAS IN APRIL 2005. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128681July 13, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 8 YEAR OLD TWINS TO A PIANO RECITAL IN MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE, AND, WHILE GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON A FOUR-LANE ROAD, THE ENGINE DOWNSHIFTED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT SHE THE CAR WAS SPEEDING FORWARD WHEN SHE WAS NOT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE CARS, SHE TOOK AN OFF-RAMP BUT QUICKLY REALIZED THAT TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED THERE AS WELL. IN DESPERATION, MY WIFE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CAR THEN STOPPED, BUT THEN LOST SHE LOST EVERYTHING. MY ESCAPE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL, EVEN WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. AGAIN, THE FOOT BRAKE DIDN'T RESPOND. SHE WAS HEADED BACKWARDS DOWN THE 1/2 MILE, STEEPLY GRADED HILL INTO THE CARS COMING UP THE HILL. SHE TURNED THE WHEEL TO BACK UP THE STEEP EMBANKMENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER BOUNCING BACKWARDS THROUGH THE STEEP DITCH AND TRAVELING ABOUT 14 FEET UP THE EMBANKMENT, THE CAR PAUSED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN SLAMMED FORWARD BACK INTO THE DITCH. OUR CHILDREN WERE NOT HURT. MY WIFE HAS SUFFERED WHIPLASH WHICH IS REQUIRING MEDICATION, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND GIVES HER CONSTANT PAIN. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS BEEN HONEST THAT A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE WAS FRAYED, AND EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WAS MOVING IN PARALLEL TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE FRAYED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE STUCK AND CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR TO COMPRESS AND STICK. THEY HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR THE LOSS OF BRAKES AND THE FAILURE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HOWEVER, AFTER THE HONEST ASSESSMENT, POOR TREATMENT ENSUED. THE DEALERSHIP IS FIXING THE CABLE, TRANSMISSION, AND BRAKES UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP FOR THE ACCIDENT. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 1 MONTH TODAY, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE IT BACK. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE $1000 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE AUTO BODY WORK.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10127786July 7, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
2001 FORD ESCAPE W/37K MILES NEEDS POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127433July 5, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
2001 FORD ESCAPE, 61,000 MILES, CLUTCH FAILURE, CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. WAS ON ENTRANCE RAMP TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, OTHERWISE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. INVESTIGATED ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 1-24-1, SO IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN ISSUE. ONE OF RELATIVELY FEW TSBS THAT COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURRED AT SPEED. MOST OF THE TSBS ARE FOR THINGS LIKE "WHINING/BUZZING IN AUDIO SYSTEM," "ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS/APPLICATIONS," "INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS--FUEL SMELL TO THE INTERIOR." WHILE SOME OF THESE MAY BE SIGNIFICANT, FEW OF THEM WOULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM IF THEY OCCURED AT SPEED. THE "GENERAL RECALL" AND "SAFETY RECALLS" CATEGORIES, WHICH INCLUDE THINGS LIKE "SPEED CONTROL CABLE DEFECT" AND "REAR DRIVESHAFT REPLACEMENT DIFFERENTIAL LEAK" SEEM TO ME MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE PLACES FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM TO BE REPORTED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER. CONVERSATION WITH THEM THIS MORNING. CONFIRMED THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER WHICH THEY SAID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM OF THIS TYPE. SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THE CYLINDERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126826June 28, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT: CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES STOPPED WORKING. AFTER ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH QUIT WORKING. UPON EXAMINATION THE ATTACHMENT TO THE ROD BROKE AWAY FROM THE DOOR LATCH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126635June 27, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO FAIL. THE GEAR SHIFTING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE JERKY. GRINDING SOUNDS ARE NOW AUDIBLE DURING GEAR SHIFTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125867June 20, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
IN MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE LOST THEIR SEALS, AT SEPARATE TIMES WITHOUT ANY DAMANGE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING OCCURRED, AND WATER ENTER THE LIGHT COMPARTMENT, DIFUSING THE HEADLIGHT AND NECESSITATING ABOUT $300 IN REPLACEMENT COSTS, EACH. I JUST FIND IT VERY STRANGE THAT BOTH LIGHTS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT AROUND JUNE 2004 AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE JUST BROKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124508June 7, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
ON OR AROUND APRIL 15, 2005 MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE VIN [XXX]SUNROOF BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THAT IS, THE ROOF DID NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR NOTIFIED ME THAT THE RACK FORD PART NUMBER [XXX]WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THAT WITH SUCH LITTLE USE (MAYBE A TOTAL OF 3 HOURS OVER 4 YEARS) THIS FORD PART SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BELLY UP. IN MY OPINION, UNDER NORMAL USE, THIS PART SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME WITH SUCH LITTLE USE. *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
#10119955June 7, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT: ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE THEIR IS NOISE COMING FROM THE AXLE. THERE IS A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT. *NM *SB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120749May 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT V6, 4 WHEEL DRIVE. MY TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 75000 MILES OF USE. I FEEL THE INCIDENT I CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT INVOLVES A MALFUNCTION OF THE ANIT-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES BRAKING ACTION (ON DRY PAVEMENT!) WHEN IT OCCURS. I AM ALSO AWARE OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE ABS TO ACTIVATE ON DRY PAVEMENT, WHEN ABSOLUTELY NO SLIPPAGE IS OCCURRING AT ANY WHEEL. THE ACTIVITY OF THE ABS SYSTEM ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES BRAKING CAPACITY AND CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO DOWN NOTICEABLY FURTHER THAN NORMAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. ONLY A QUICK AVOIDANCE MANEUVER ALLOWED ME TO AVOID REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. PUMPING THE BRAKES DOES NOT HELP SINCE THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL MODULE IS MODULATING THE BRAKES AT SUCH A RATE, PUMPING THE BRAKE DOES NOT PRODUCE A FIRMER PEDAL. I HAVE TRACED THE PROBLEM TO A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM ROTATION TRANSDUCER DESIGN ON THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE ESCAPE. THE TRANSDUCER IS BASICALLY A SPLINED RING ABOUT 8MM WIDE. THE RING IS APPARENTLY FRICTION FIT ONTO THE HALF-SHAFT NEAR THE FRONT CV JOINTS JUST INSIDE OF THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY. A SENSOR APPARENTLY PICKS UP THE PEAKS OR VALLEYS IN THE SPLINED RING AS IT ROTATES PAST THE SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHEEL ROTATION SPEED. IT IS THE SPLINED RING THAT FAILS, MINE ACTUALLY SPLIT ACROSS ITS WIDTH CAUSING IT TO LOOSEN AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE SENSOR. THIS APPARENTLY CAUSES THE ABS SYSTEM TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY AND ACTUALLY CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN BRAKING CAPACITY ON DRY PAVEMENT! THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WILL OCCUR 5-10 TIMES BEFORE THE ABS CONTROLLER DETERMINES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND SWITCHES OFF THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS ILLUMINATES THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DOES RESTORE NORMAL BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THIS CYCLE WILL REPEAT ITSELF EACH TIME THE TRUCK IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120182May 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING .I DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT 5 MILES TO MY DRIVEWAY.WHEN I WENT TO MOVE THE CAR IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER WITH NO RESULTS. SENT CAR TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118829May 2, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE STALES DURING DECELARTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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