Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED CORROSION ALL AROUND THE FRAME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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.
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.
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.
REAR SHOCK MOUNTS RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT. VEHICLE DRIVEN IN CENTRAL VA SO WINTERS ARE NOT THAT TERRIBLE, WHEEL WELLS ARE UNDERCOATED. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK BROKE THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL.
LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 ESCAPE MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL BASICALLY ROTTED OUT AND HAS MESSED UP THE SHOCK AND STRUT ASSEMBLY AND KNOCKED THE TIRE LOOSE CAUSING TO RUB AGAINST THE SHOCK AND SMOKE, AND ALL YOU COULD SMELL WAS BURNING RUBBER. . AS I AM READING ALL THE FORUMS OUT THERE IS SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND POTENTLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 115,200 MILES ON IT, NO WAY SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND PURCHASED THE WARRANTY (HOPING THEY COVER REPAIRS), MY QUESTION IS WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE WHY ISN'T FORD DOING A RECALL THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING A LAWYER TO SEE IF ANY LEGAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN. VERY SAD FORD!!!!! I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 3 WORKING TWO JOBS AND IS NOW WITHOUT A CAR, HAVING TO RENT A CAR AT $300/WK...ON TOP OF OTHER BILLS AND BUYING GROCERIES, HMMM.. SO FORD YOU TELL ME IF THIS WAS ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU KNEW THEY HAD TO CHOOSE TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AND KIDS TO SCHOOL OR BUYING GROCERIES?? ALL BECAUSE OF A KNOW DEFECT WITH YOUR PRODUCT!
MY WELL MAINTAINED 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID DEVELOPED A RATTLING SOUND ON JULY 26, 2016. AT FIRST THE RATTLE IN THE RIGHT REAR HAPPENED ONLY ON BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY CAR JACK COMING LOOSE IN ITS COMPARTMENT. I CHECKED THAT AND THE JACK WAS ALL SECURED, NOT RATTLING. I CONTINUED DRIVING HOME AND THE RATTLE BECAME A BANGING SOUND, AND THE RIGHT REAR INSIDE WHEEL AREA STARTED TO RATTLE AND MOVE TOWARDS THE INTERIOR AS I DROVE. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED AROUND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW EXTREMELY RUSTED IT IS. THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS SHOW VERY LITTLE RUST. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON A FORD OWNERS WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE REPORT THAT THE RUSTED OUT SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT BREAKS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE BODY COLLAPSES ONTO THE WHEEL, SENDING THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS COMMON PROBLEM IN THE '05 ESCAPE HYBRID VEHICLES. I CANNOT DRIVE MY WELL MAINTAINED CAR BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL BANGING, THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND PERSONAL INJURY. I'M ATTACHING PHOTOS OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE DEFECT IN THE RIGHT REAR. PLEASE GIVE THIS COMPLAINT YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND ALERT OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS OF THIS IMMINENTLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, WE DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE STRUT IS BARELY ATTACHED. THE RUST HOLES ARE SO LARGE, THAT INSULATION IS SHOWING, AND THE STRUT IS HITTING THE PLASTIC PIECE GOING INTO THE TRUNK SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE BY A MECHANIC. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME AREA (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) AND IS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARDS, SUCH AS RUPTURED TIRES AND UNSTABLE STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL!
WHILE DRIVING - AT ANY SPEED - A RATTLING SOUND STARTED FROM THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. RATTLE GOT LOUDER OVER TIME AND BECAME A LOUD BANGING SOUND EVERY TIME WE HIT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION THE ENTIRE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL IS RUSTED THROUGH; THE ONLY THING HOLDING IN THE SHOCK ON THAT SIDE IS LIGHT PADDING / INSULATION. MECHANIC INDICATED CAR WAS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING, AS WE COULD FACE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE FOUND A BODY SHOP WHO QUOTED US AT $1200 FOR THE REPAIR. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE SAME ISSUE WAS RECALLED ON FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS FROM 2001-2004. WE WILL BE HOLDING ON TO ALL RECEIPTS, WITH THE HOPE THAT FORD WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL / REIMBURSEMENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK TOWER WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
REAR PASSENGER WHEEL HOUSE AND STRUT ASSEMBLY FASTENING BRACKET EXHIBIT SEVERE CORROSION AND POSSIBLE DETACHMENT FROM VEHICLE BODY. SUCH AN INCIDENT IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AT CRUISING SPEED. PREVIOUS REPAIRS PERFORMED BY PRIOR OWNER. BODY SHOP CONSULTED AND REPLACEMENT OF AFFECTED PARTS IS NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. *TR
RIGHT REAR WELL CORRODED EXTENSIVELY. 4 INCH HOLE EXPOSING HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY IN TRUNK TO WATER, SALT, SNOW. DEALER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO RISK OF COLLAPSE OF STRUTS AND RISK OF EXPLOSION/FIRE FROM HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY EXPOSURE. QUOTES MORE THAN $4000 TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 59,510 MILES. REAR BUMPER AND REAR SUSPENSION BOTH COMPROMISED. REAR BUMPER HAS NO SUPPORT ON RIGHT SIDE RISKING PASSENGER INJURY IN ACCIDENT. REAR SHOCK STRUT COLLAPSING. REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND RECALL ACTION. *TR
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, THE RIGHT REAR FENDER WALL COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. WHEN I DROVE MY CAR, IT SOUNDED LIKE A SERIES OF SMALL BOMBS WERE GOING OFF IN THE BACK ANYTIME I HIT A HOLE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO GET FIXED, IT COST $1064.62. FORD WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR A PENNY OF THIS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE FACING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A FACEBOOK PAGE DEDICATED TO IT: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/2005-FORD-ESCAPE-2004-2006/397923900236108 THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR FORD BUT BASICALLY THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS UP TO THE NHTSA TO DEMAND A RECALL OF THIS AND TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IF MY CAR WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED AS I WAS DRIVING IT? SO MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE PICTURES/RECEIPTS TO PROVE EVERYTHING I SAID ABOVE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, WE HEARD A HOLLOW THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL WHENEVER WE WENT OVER A SMALL BUMP. AFTER EXTERNALLY INSPECTING THE WHEEL WELL, WE DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED, AND APPEARED TO BE IN DANGER OF COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATING. MEDIUM-SIZED PIECES WERE FLAKING OFF WITH ONLY A SLIGHT TUG. AN IDENTICAL ISSUE CAUSED THE RECALL OF FORD ESCAPE MODELS FROM THE YEARS 2001-2004, BUT FORD REPRESENTATIVES TO WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERING A RECALL FOR THE 2005 MODEL YEAR. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND COULD CAUSE CRASHES IF SHOCK OR AXLE SUPPORTS FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW, SINCE THIS MODEL IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 111,000 MILES. OTHERS HAVE INDICATED THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OVER A BUMP, A LOUD CLANKING NOISE EMITTED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL INNER LINER WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED AND THE WHEEL WELL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
WHEEL HOUSE ROTTED OUT SHOCK/SPRING BROKE THRU WHEEL HOUSE HITTING ON HYBRID BATTERY. *JS
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A MANHOLE COVER. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS TYPICAL ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *TR
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HATCH WINDOW HINGES BROKE LEAVING THE WINDOW HANGING. BOLTS OXIDIZED THROUGH PRODUCING THIS FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED EVEN IF THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE WINDOW. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOW COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND/OR PERSONS THAT WERE FOLLOWING. THE LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE PART # IS 420A68. *TR
NOTICED A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. LOOKED IN WHEEL WELL AND IT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH THE CAR. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN MANY EXACT SCENARIOS. SHOCK IS ATTACHED IN A WAY THAT IT RUBS AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING CORROSION.. NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE AND IT IS STORED IN THE GARAGE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE GIVEN SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. IN LOOKING FURTHER IN TO THIS IT IS A COMMON COMPLAIN. CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. A RECALL IS NEEDED AS THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE WHEEL CAN FALL RIGHT OFF = AND THAT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
I WAS EN ROUTE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO CHECK A POSSIBLE U-JOINT NOISE, AND HIT A REPAIR BUMP IN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR MADE A VERY SCARY CLUNK AT THE RIGHT/REAR WHEEL. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE A BANGING /CLUNKING NOISE. I CONTINUED ON TO THE REPAIR SHOP TRAVELING AT 25MPH WITH MY FLASHERS ON. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TEST DRIVE AND CONFIRMED THE BANGING/CLUNKING NOISE. THEY THEN PUT THE VEHICLE ON A HOIST FOR A VISUAL INSPECTION AND FOUND THE UNDER-BODY FRAME AROUND THE RIGHT/REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD RUSTED AWAY, AND THE REMAINING PORTION THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE SHOCK WAS SNAPPING AND BANGING WITH ANY MOVEMENT OF THE RIGHT/REAR WHEEL. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 5 MORE ESCAPES SINCE THEN ,AND ONLY ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS ALSO AN ESCAPE HYBRID. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT YOUR WEBSITE AND MAKE A COMPLAINT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND SLOWED DOWN TO GO OVER SOME RAILWAY TRACKS. AS I WENT OVER THE TRACKS I HEARD A "THUD" COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND CONTINUED AS I WENT OVER BUMPS, AND I DISCOVERED ONCE I ARRIVED HOME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK WAS UNATTACHED AT THE TOP. SINCE THEN THE TOP OF THE SHOCK HAS PIERCED THROUGH THE INTERIOR CABIN WALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WHEEL WELL BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS MASSIVE RUST IN THE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL BODY AND FRAME HAS TOTALLY RUSTED AWAY LEAVING NO ANCHOR FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES). THIS DEFECT OCCURRED DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING GARAGE KEPT, WELL MAINTAINED AND MAINTAINED ONLY BY A LICENSED FORD DEALERSHIP. HIGHLAND PARK FORD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWINGLY AND/OR NEGLIGENTLY CONCEALED A KNOWN, MAJOR DEFECT FROM THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO AS TO AVOID HAVING TO REPAIR THE PRODUCT PER FORD'S EXPRESS WARRANTY. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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