2004 Ford Escape Electrical Problems

There seems to be a wiring grounding problem. I have had to replace multiple alternators over the length of time that I've had this vehicle. Whenever I have to use my windshield wipers during mid to heavy rain, along with lights, and heat/ac. The next day my alternator doesn't respond properly and generally will not run. After checking batteries, replacing batteries, blown fuses, I still end up having to get a new alternator. Which last until I back in the same situation. This car has completely shutoff while driving on the interstate and in traffic. The cigarette lighters do not work properly either; therefore I'm not able to charge my phone or use navigation systems.

NHTSA ID

11436088

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

THE WHOLE UNDERBODY IS RUSTING AWAY ESPECIALLY THE FRAME, COULDN'T EVEN GET REGULAR MAINTENCE DONE SINCE THE RUST SO BAD. WE ALWAYS WASHED THE UNDERBODY AFTER IT SNOWED AND THAT DIDN'T STOP THE RUST FROM EATING AWAY THE SUV. I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR BUT WHEN I DO A VIN CHECK IT SAYS NO RECALL OPEN FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO GET A WINDOW PUT IN HAD 4 DIFFERENT COMPANIES COME OUT TILL I COULD GET SOME ONE WILLING TO PUT IT IN SINCE THEY WHERE SCARED OF THE PINCH WHEEL FROM BEING SO RUSTY. THE FRAME IS SO BAD YOU CAN SEE THROUGH IT, I SCARED IT GOING TO BREAK AND LEAVE ME STRANDED OR WORSE IN A CAR ACCIDENT!

NHTSA ID

11405483

Incident

Mar 29, 2021

THE VEHICLE WAS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. IT WAS PARKED ON THE STREET, EVERYTHING WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. I WAS IN WORK WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. NOTHING WAS ON TO START THIS FIRE, IT HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE DRIVERS SIDE ENGINE BAY. PREVIOUS TO THIS INCIDENT, THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11129616

Incident

Sep 11, 2018

Mileage

183,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT FOURTY FIVE MILES PER HOUR I PUSHED THE GAS TO GO UP A HILL AND LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ENGINE AND IT PICKED UP ENOUGH SPEED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER BEING TOWED HOME IT WOULD CRANK BUT IF YOU MOVED SHIFTER KNOB OR PRESSED GAS IT WOUKD DIE OUT.

NHTSA ID

11014790

Incident

Aug 11, 2016

Mileage

206,100 mi

ABS LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. TOWED TO SHOP TO HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY BAD. SINCE THEN 3- ALTERNATORS, 2- BATTERIES, 3- O2 SENSORS, AND AN AIRBAG LIGHT THAT BLINKS ON AND OFF AND ILLUMINATES WHEN YOU HONK THE HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS, ALL DASH LIGHTS AND STEREO CONSOLE LIGHTS DIM TO ALMOST INVISIBLE. TOOK TO 4 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM!!!! THIS COMPANY SHOULD REALIZE THIS CAR IS A LEMON, AND BACK THEIR WORKMANSHIP. AND BLOW THIS CAR UP !!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10923846

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

72,000 mi

DROVE MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE 20 MINUTES TO GET PIZZA AND COME BACK HOME PARKED IT AT 8PM BY 12:30AM NEIGHBORS BANGING ON DOOR YOUR CARS ON FIRE!!!! I'M IN BELIEVE THE ABS MODULE CAUGHT FIRE RECALL IS OUT FORD SAYS MY VEHICLE DOESN'T APPLY

NHTSA ID

10874615

Incident

Jun 16, 2016

Mileage

190,000 mi

WE OWN A 2004 ESCAPE. THAT TWO WEEKS AGO CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. WE ALSO HAVE HAD BRAKE LINES GO BAD DUE TO PART FAILURE TWICE. AND THE TOTAL OF THREE ALTERNATORS. NOW WE HAVE SPOKEN TO FORD REGARDING THE 01-03 FIRE ISSUE. BUT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYRHING TO CONSIDER THE 04 EVEN THOUGH IN RESEARCHING THE ACTUAL RECALL IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULF LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. WE ARE SELLING OUR VEHICLE TO THE SEALER SUE TO LACK OF RELIABILITY. BUT WANTED TO VET THE WORD OUT ON THIS ISSUE. OUR ENGINE ALSO IDLE AND TRIES TO PULL THE VEHICLE FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY IDLE AIR CONTROLL VALVE.

NHTSA ID

10794538

Incident

Oct 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

10761252

Incident

Aug 29, 2015

Mileage

61,000 mi

THE CAR STALLS AFTER PUTTING IT IN GEAR / *TR

NHTSA ID

10705155

Incident

Apr 18, 2013

Mileage

52,000 mi

ORIGINAL OWNER, FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY, SOMETIMES FOR 1 DRIVE, SOMETIMES FOR DAYS AT A TIME THEN GO AWAY. THE LIGHT COMING ON AND GOING OFF WOULD HAPPEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT DOESNT MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT, IVE CHECKED THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT AND IT IS FIRMLY SEATED. IN THE PAST YEAR I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY, BRAKE AND NOW ABS LIGHT COME ON. IN JANUARY OF 2014 MY ALTERNATOR DIED AND I HAD IT REPLACED, IN JANUARY OF 2015 I HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY. BATTERY LIGHT HAS SINCE GONE AWAY, BUT OTHER LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY. BASED ON THE TYPE OF WORK I DO, IM CONVINCED THERE IS A SHORT OR BAD GROUND SOMEWHERE BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO BEGIN. FORD WANTS $160/ HR TO DIAGNOSE THIS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT ABUSED AND HAS ABOUT 110K MILES. SINCE THE WHOLE CAR IS BASED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, I FEEL THIS IS SOMETHING FORD SHOULD LOOK AT, DIAGNOSE AND FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701246

Incident

Jan 2, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

LOUD RATTLE THEN GRINDING NOISE. WHEN I PULLED OVER I HAD TO REMOVE THE SHOCK MOUNT WHICH WAS JAMMED BETWEEN THE CAR AND MY TIRE. THE SHOCK HAS NOW POPPED THROUGH THE PLASTIC. THIS IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE OTHER SIDE IS RUSTED OUT AS WELL. IN ADDITION, WHEN DAMP OUT, THE #5 PLUG IS MISSING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CONVERTER. TOTAL ESTIMATED TUNE UP REPAIR CLOSE TO $400. DURING THE PAST YEAR TYROD, BRAKES & ROTORS, WHEEL BEARING, BRAKE HOSES, POWER STEERING, RADIO STAYS ON WHEN CAR IS SHUT OFF UNLESS FUSE IS PULLED. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AT 70000 IN 2011. HAVE TO TAKE THE LOSS. FORD SHOULD REFUND FOR THIS DEFECT. THE MOUND IS NOT RUSTED, JUST THE WHEEL WELLS IT IS ATTACHED TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637714

Incident

Sep 14, 2014

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT EXAMINED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND NOTICED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT WAS BURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, IT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10621928

Incident

Aug 12, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR MY CAR STARTS TO SPIT, SPUTTER AND RUN ROUGH, THERE IS A NOTICEABLE LOSS OF POWER AND MY GAUGES FIRST TOP OUT THEN THEY BOTTOM OUT THEN THEY GO BACK TO NORMAL. FORD CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CODE FOR THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10611379

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

125,680 mi

2004 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOWER CONTROL ARM RUST RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL WELL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE PULLED OVER, AND DISCOVERED THE SHOCK WAS HANGING DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL IT OF. SO HE DROVE BACK HOME, AND UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO FENDER LEFT ON THE SHOCK. ALSO, THE TRUNK LID WAS RUSTING. *JB THE CONSUMER HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND PLACED THE KEYS IN THE CONSOLE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE BACK SEAT. SOON AFTER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. UPDATED 06/01/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10604250

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AROUND A TURN ABOUT CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE NOR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10598943

Incident

Sep 19, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND THE RPMS ON MY 2004 ESCAPE JUMP UP. SO I TRY TO SLOW DOWN AND CAR KEEPS ACCELERATING. THROW CAR INTO PARK BECAUSE BRAKES WOULDN'T SLOW IT DOWN. EVER SITE I READ SAYS IT IS THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. SUPPOSEDLY THIS WAS REPLACED BY DEALER WHILE IN FOR AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REPAIR IN DECEMBER 2012. UNDER RECALL. NOW WHEN I START VEHICLE RPMS JUMP, AND GET BURNING SMELL FROM MOTOR. CARS RPMS JUMP WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD ALSO. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED IN MAY 2013 BUT SINCE THEY WERE REPLACED BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT IS DIMLY LITE UPON ACCELERATING. I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE ON THIS VEHICLE AND EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND IT NEEDS MORE WORK. I ALSO AFTER GETTING BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED HAD TO PUT A NEW THROTTLE BODY COMPONENT IN BECAUSE MOTOR WAS RACING TO 3000 RPMS WHILE IN PARK OR WHILE FOOT WAS ON BREAK. PLEASE HELP. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE LIKE IT IS. CAN NOT AFFORD TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO IT EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561550

Incident

Jan 7, 2014

Mileage

155,000 mi

THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR STARTS STRUGGLING AND THEN SHUTS OFF. IT WOULD TAKE A SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FOR THE CAR TO RESTART BUT EVENTUALLY IT WOULD. NOW THE CARS JUST IDLES AND RUNS REALLY ROUGH AND SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY SAID ALL IT NEEDED WAS A NEW CAT-CONVERTER MANIFOLD, NOT STATING WHY. WE REPLACED IT ($1500) BUT THE PROBLEM STILL REPEATED. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED TO REPLACE 6 IGNITION COILS AND PLUGS AND POSSIBLY THE PCM. THEY ALSO SAID THE IGNITION COILS CAUSED THE CAT-CONVERTOR MANIFOLD TO MALFUNCTION IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO WE REPLACED ALL COILS AND PLUGS FOR $1600 BUT THEY SAID THE PCM WAS FINE FOR NOW BUT IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME FOR THE PCM TO FAIL. I'M NOT SURE IF FORD DELIBERATELY NEGLECTED THIS IGNITION COIL ISSUE BUT IT IS SUSPICIOUS. MY COMMUTE IS MAINLY INTERSTATE HWY AND I'M AFRAID THIS PROBLEM IS MIGHT CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HWY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508185

Incident

Nov 16, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

CAR'S ENGINE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND COMPLETELY STALLED GOING 45 MPH DOWN A HIGHWAY, ACCIDENT AVOIDED AS CAR BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. CAR WOULD NOT START, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHO FOND TWO ENGINE COILS DEFECTIVE AND ALL SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS REPEATED ISSUES WITH DEFECTIVE COILS AND DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL ON A HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPS. THIS IS POOR ENGINEERING ON FORD'S PART AND DEMAND THE US GOVERNMENT FORCE A RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ID

10497691

Incident

Feb 10, 2013

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 65, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, CAUSING THE RADIO, SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGE TO DECREASE TO ZERO FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO SECONDS AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,600. THE VIN UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10444024

Incident

Oct 24, 2011

Mileage

159,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ON THE WAY BACK, IT AGAIN CAME ON AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES - IT FLASHED A FEW TIMES AND THEN STAYED ON. THE FORD DEALER TESTED THE CAR AND SAID THE WARNING LIGHT WAS CAUSED BY BOTH FRONT PRETENSIONER CONNECTORS COSTING $397.99. I LOOKED UP PRETENSIONER ON THE INTERNET AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS SPECIFIC TO 2004 FORD ESCAPES. THERE WERE ALSO SOLUTIONS SUCH AS DISCONNECTING THE LIGHT, IGNORING THE LIGHT, AND RIGGING THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD DEFECT THAT MAY LEAD TO LACK OF SAFETY AND HIGHWAY DEATH. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT CONSUMERS MAY IGNORE.

NHTSA ID

10371715

Incident

Dec 8, 2010

Mileage

42,800 mi

MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE I BOUGHT USED FROM A DEALER AFTER LESS THEN 4 MONTHS AN IGNITION COIL POPPED I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR CHANGED COIL AND SPARK PLUGS GOT IT BACK AND LESS THEN 2 DAYS LATER ANOTHER IGNITION COIL POPPED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282355

Incident

Aug 22, 2009

Mileage

83,000 mi

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR IN MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES NOW SINCE 2006. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM CAN'T FIND ANYTHING AND IS NOT WILLING TO HELP SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED WAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO. WHEN IT WAS IN FOR REPAIRS THEY STATED THE FORD DEALER IT WAS TAKEN TOO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BUT THEY GOT A LETTER OF SUCH IN ACCURATE INFO FROM THE DEALER THE CLAIM WAS DROPPED. I KNOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR FORD I HAVE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE YOUR COMPANY TO BUY MY CAR AND GET ME INTO A NEW ONE OR AT THE VERY LEAST REPAIR THIS ISSUE AND ANY ISSUES THAT MAY BE FOUND IF AND WHEN THIS IS LOOKED INTO. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT BREAKS DOWN EVERY TWO YEARS. SOMETIME MORE. PLEASE HELP. MY CAR IS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4WD. MILEAGE: 111925VEHICLE LOCATION: INPOSSESSIONIF CONTACTED DEALER: YESDEALER NAME: DIEHL MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266321

Incident

Mar 7, 2009

Mileage

111,925 mi

2004 FORD ESCAPE WITH GEAR SELECTOR AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS FOR THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. HE GAVE THE OK TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. *KB THE GEAR SELECTION AT THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN DID NOT LIGHT UP AT NIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10233912

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

2004 ESCAPE REFUSED TO OPERATE STARTER AFTER BEING OPERATED WITH LOAD AT SLOW SPEEDS, FOUND NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD AND NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY 6M MILES AGO LAST YEAR. SAME PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED BEFORE AND AFTER BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPL. PRIVATE AUTO SERVICE SHOP TESTED... SYSTEM CHARGING SUBNORMAL BELOW 900 RPM. WILL NOT KEEP BATTERY CHARGED ESPECIALLY WHILE A/C ON, DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC IN PHOENIX,. AZ. DEALER REFUSES TO LOOK AT IT OR TEST IT NOW, EVEN THOUGH THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBLEM CONTINUED TO EXIST. SUV HAS 31,301 MILES ON IT AS OF 10/20/07. THEY HAVE STALLED EVERY TIME I TOOK IT BACK AND JUST KEEP SAYING "IT CANNOT BE." *TR

NHTSA ID

10206464

Incident

Oct 20, 2007

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET OR WHEN SAND HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE GROUND DUE TO SNOW, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE, THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES AS IT SHOULD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ONE YEAR. HE CURRENTLY HAS AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 07V56000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) DOES NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,175 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10200103

Incident

Apr 7, 2006

Mileage

48,000 mi