Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 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
OPENED REAR WINDOW WHEN BOLT CONNECTING WINDOW TO HINGE BROKE. WINDOW SHIFTED DOWNWARDS AND HAD IT NOT BEEN CAUGHT COULD'VE SHATTERED AND INFLICTED LACERATIONS TO HANDS, ARMS, FACE, AND CHEST. INSPECTION OF BLOT SHOW CORROSION DUE TO BEING IMPROPERLY SEALED FROM WATER AND OTHER ELEMENTS. *TR
THE REAR HATCH GLASS HINGE BOLTS SHEARED ON BOTH HINGES DURING HATCH CLOSURE. THE REAR HATCH GLASS IS ONLY HELD ON BY REAR SHOCKS. THE INSIDE BOLTS BOTH HAVE SOME CORROSION. THE REAR GLASS IS NOT DAMAGED. *TR
AS I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD IN THE BACKSEAT, IN PARK, WITH THE ENGINE ON, WAITING FOR MY OLDER SON, WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE BACK WINDSHIELD HAD SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD SHOT OR THROWN SOMETHING AT THE CAR BUT ONCE I GOT OUTSIDE AND LOOKED AT IT I COULD TELL BY THE WAY THE GLASS HAD BLOWN OUTWARD (FOR THE MOST PART) THAT SOMETHING THAT I COULD NOT EXPLAIN MUST HAVE HAPPENED/MALFUNCTIONED WITH THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND, AS I WAS A HALF HOUR FROM HOME AND IT WAS RAINING, PRETTY INCONVENIENT. THE EXPLOSION WAS SO FORCEFUL THAT IT DAMAGED BOTH THE REAR WIPER SYSTEM AND THE HYDRAULIC ARM WHICH LIFTS THE REAR WINDOW. I AM GLAD MY DOG WAS NOT TRAVELING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AS PLENTY OF GLASS ENDED UP IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. ALSO, NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS TO GET FIXED? THIS IS A PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR, FLAT, AND SMOOTH. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS IN THE 20'S. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE WARM UP FOR 15 MINUTES, WHEN THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED FOR NO REASON ON THE EXPRESS WAY. THERE WERE NO BRIDGES OR OVERPASSES FOR ANYTHING TO FALL ON IT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES PRIOR. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. I HAD DRIVEN IT LESS THAN 200 MILES SINCE MY PURCHASE. APPROXIMATE TIME OF INCIDENT 16:36. *TR
2004 FORD ESCAPE - REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AFTER REAR DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON FOR SHORT PERIOD. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROX. 28 DEGREES AND FROST WAS ON WINDOWS. VEHICLE WAS STARTED TO DEFROST WINDOWS BEFORE TRAVELING. *TR
THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED EXPLODED ON OCT 4. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT OCCURRED. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS AROUND 50 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THERE WERE NO KNOWN CRACKS OR DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT AN ATM MACHINE WHEN IT SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. *TR
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK 7AM. IT WAS SNOWING LIGHTLY AND I BRIEFLY TURNED ON THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER TO MELT THE SNOW. APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM HOME I TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP. I LOOKED AROUND AND DID NOT OBSERVE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. WHEN I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR I SAW THE DEFROSTER WIRES HANGING WITH PIECES OF GLASS ATTACHED AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY HANGING BY A THREAD, I REALIZED THE LOUD NOISE WAS MY REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODING. I HEADED BACK HOME TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE GLASS REPLACED - FINAL COST $369.15. THE REAR WIPER MOTOR WAS DAMAGED DURING THE EXPLOSION. AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED IT MADE A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE THAT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT OTHER FORD ESCAPE (04, 05 & 06) OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE. THESE COMPLAINTS CAN BE VIEWED AT: WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM I CALLED FORD OWNER SERVICES AT 800-392-3673 AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO RECALL ISSUED BUT I SHOULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE DEALER WOULD DECIDE IF REPAIR EXPENSE WOULD BE COVERED. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO RECALL WAS ISSUED AND THAT FORD MOTOR WOULD DECIDE IF REPAIR EXPENSE WOULD BE COVERED. DEALER TOLD ME THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE NEW WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL COST $150 FOR THE PART AND $50 TO INSTALL. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE DAMAGED MOTOR IS NOT REPLACED, IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY ISSUE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE TAILGATE WINDOW. THE DEALER OFFERED TO CHARGE ME ONLY FOR THE PART AND ABSORB THE LABOR TO INSTALL MOTOR. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS; NOT THE CONSUMER WHO UNKNOWINGLY PURCHASED A DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS PRODUCT. *TR
WENT TO PULL CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND FOUND THAT THE REAR WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. FOUND PARTS OF THE WINDOW MORE THAN 20 FEET FROM CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. NOTHING HAD FAILED OR HIT THE WINDOW TO HAVE CAUSED THIS. *TR
REPORTING AN EXPLODING BACK WINDOW ISSUE ON A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. ONCE IN 2005 AND NOW AGAIN IN 2009. THE ONLY THING BOTH TIMES HAD IN COMMON WAS THE RUNNING OF THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. FORD HAS NO RECALLS OR BULLETINS AND WILL NOT PAY FOR SECOND REPAIR AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES AND PASSENGERS THEY MAY HAVE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ONCE BUT TWICE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I WAS GIVEN NOTHING FOR MY TROUBLE AND THEY ARE NOT RESEARCHING THIS DEFECT. OH WAIT, I GOT A FREE OIL CHANGE. THE DEALERSHIP I WAS DEALING WITH WAS AWESOME...BUT THE CORRESPONDENCE FROM FORD MOTOR LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED! SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 FORD ESCAPE THE REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME ON THE ESCAPE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME PERSONALLY. I HAVE NUMEROUS FRIENDS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE REAR WINDOWS. I WONDER IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE REAR WINDOW? VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE THE WINDOW COMPANY COMING TO REPLACE ANOTHER WINDOW. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED AND GLASS SHATTERED EVERYWHERE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR CRASH. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE EXPLOSION; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DISAGREED. THE DEALER PLACED A NEW MIRROR ON THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT PAID APPROXIMATELY $330 FOR THE REPAIR. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND TRANSMISSION TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,406 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,366.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. SHE LOOKED UP AND NOTICED CRACKS IN THE SUNROOF GLASS THAT RESEMBLED A SPIDER WEB. THE SUNROOF WAS TILTED AND NOT FULLY OPEN AT THE TIME THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,000 THE CONSUMER STATED THE GLASS SHATTERED. UPDATED 12/12/07*LJ
2004 FORD ESCAPE REAR DEFOGGER WAS ON AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED THROWING GLASS EVERYWHERE. *NM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THEY SHUT DOWN.*AK
MY WIFE AND I WERE COMMUTING HOME WHEN THE REAR WINDSHIELD IN OUR 2004 ESCAPE SHATTERED ON ITS OWN; WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED US IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SAYING, "WELL...YOU GUYS MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING OR SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT IT BECAUSE GLASS JUST DOESN'T SHATTER LIKE THAT." UPON FURTHER INSISTANCE THAT IT DOES, THE DEALER STILL REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY AND WE CAN'T BELIEVE THIS REPAIR ISN'T COVERED (WE JUST PASSED THE 12,000 MILE MARK).*AK
WINDSHIELD OF 2004 FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY CRACKED FROM LOWER SEAL UP TO ABOUT 12 INCHES IN LENGTH. NO EVIDENT SIGN OF IMPACT TO THE GLASS, VEHICLE WASN'T EVEN ON THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED. *JB
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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