2005 Ford Escape Brakes Problems

I had just started up my 05 Ford hybrid Escape reversed out of a parking space, applied my brakes and a loud warning noise went off, the ABS light & the Brake light went on, then I tried to brake while backing out of the parking stall. I had no brakes, petal went all the way to the floor. I shifted into drive to pull forward. The car wouldn’t stop petal just went right to the floor, had very little resistance. I almost drove through the front glass doors of the P/T office across from the pharmacy in Cool, CA. The roads are mountainous windy and steep. I was definitely scared for my safety. I had to coast very slowly on the way home. I was on my way to work but instead I dropped it off at home and called ride share to take me to work! I had to use my emergency brake to make the turn up my dirt road. I still had little to no brakes to stop the car. I parked it and haven’t driven it since. Much to dangerous to drive this car. I could have easily been killed not having brakes. It Showed no codes, had no warning at all. I just bought the car about 6 months prior. The next day it was as if it never happened.

NHTSA ID

11702633

Incident

Nov 15, 2025

Brake Hydraulic Control Unit failed loss of braking.

NHTSA ID

11442127

Incident

Nov 30, 2021

Abs and master cylinder causing an unsafe braking condition hard brake pedal making it very difficult to stop the car. I replaced the entire brake system including the master cylinder assembly with pedal travel sensor attached. As recommended by Ford dealership. Then I was told that the brake system system had to be bled 2 times. Well after doing this 3 times and replacing the calipers and pads and rotors again. The same situation exists. Now I am told that this car has a different problem and a bulletin was issued by Ford stating that this is a problem with Ford Escape hybrid has to be reprogrammed to allow the master cylinder assembly to link up with the computer to rectify the issue. My car has 42000 miles on the vehicle and I is very dangerous to drive because of the unreliable braking action. Ford does not acknowledge the problem. But there are many people who have had this same issue. What can I do ? Please help me.

NHTSA ID

11433380

Incident

Jul 26, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK TOWER HOUSING WAS FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME. DURING THE FAILURE, THE BRAKE LINE AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT WIRE WERE SEVERED, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *JS

NHTSA ID

11265404

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. DRIVEN HOME AT 40 MPH AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A BEEP. THERE WERE THEN NO BRAKES AT ALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COAST TO A STOP. TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT HAD BRAKES. ON THIS LAST INCIDENT, THE SAME THING IN THE SAME ORDER HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT IS INTERMITTENT THUS MAKING IT HARD TO DIAGNOSE.

NHTSA ID

11243058

Incident

Aug 9, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (BEACH FORD 2717 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452 (757) 486-2717) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

11082138

Incident

Mar 29, 2018

Mileage

127,000 mi

HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED. HCU. LITTLE OR NO BRAKES, CITY STREET

NHTSA ID

11075284

Incident

Feb 19, 2018

TERRIFYING! POTENTIALLY FATAL . POWER JUST CUT OUT ON HIGHWAY WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. NO POWER. ALL WARRING LIGHTS ABLAZE, BUT NO WARNING BEFOREHAND! GRATEFULLY, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO THE MEDIAN. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, CAR RESTARTED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY 1/4 MILE FROM THE EXIT. I READ ABOUT THIS WELL KNOWN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IT IS THE PCM. APPARENTLY FORD USED FAULTY SPARK PLUGS. THE FIX IS TOO COSTLY. I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. FORD RECALLED THE 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID BUT NOT THIS MODEL? CRIMINAL

NHTSA ID

11065559

Incident

Jan 28, 2018

Mileage

112,000 mi

BACK WHEEL RIGHT WHEELWELL AROUND SHOCK RUSTED OUT, SON DROVE HOME FROM SCHOOL SAID BACK WHEEL MAKING NOISE, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION TOOK OFF BACK PANEL RIGHT SIDE, FOUND WHEELWELL RUSTED OUTBY SHOCK AND CAN SEE DAYLIGHT WHEEL WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN HE DROVE HOME, HAD BRAKE MAN LOOK AT FOUND DEBRIS FROM PANEL IN WHEEL WHERE BRAKES ARE. FIXED AND CLEANED, CHECKED BRAKES, PUT BACK TOGETHER. WHEELWELL RUSTED OUT . WANT FORD TO DO SOMETHING. ALSO HAD CAR 1 YR BOUGHT FROM COLUMBIANA FORD WENT BACK TOLD DEALER THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD US ABOUT THIS ISSUE MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR ME.

NHTSA ID

11065456

Incident

Jan 22, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

THROTTLE CABLE STICKS WHEN THE 2001-2004 WAS RECALLED I QUESTIONED FORD THEY SAID TOO BAD EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2004 IT IS A 2005 AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER ME ON THE RECALL GAS PEDAL STICKS A LOT USING BRAKES AT SAME TIME WHEN IN PARK IT WON'T GO UNTIL YOU DO GAS AND BRAKE

NHTSA ID

11052056

Incident

Dec 22, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM CALL LOT TOLLED THEM BRAKES WERE GOING OUT HE TEST DRIVE AND HE SAID THEY WERE FINE SO I TOOK HIS WORD THEN A FEW DAYS LATER MY WATER RATETERAVOTER HOSE BUSTED I HAD TO GET THAT THEM FIXED AND THEN THEY CHARGED ME TO FIX IT THEN A FEW DAYS LATER I HERE A THUMP ON THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE THE WHOLE BACK OF MY WHEEL AREA BY THE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT THERE NO PROTECTION ON THE WHEEL AND THE STRUSTS WHERE BUSTED THEY HAD STUFF STUFFED IN IT SO YOU COULDN'T TELL WENT TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT THEY SAY THIS HAPPENS THERE NOTHING THEY COULD FOR ME BUT TO CHARGE ME FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX IT I DONE NOTHING BUT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST ONE I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ARE SELLING VEHICLE WITH SAFE HAZARDS I PAID OUT 1000.00 OUT ON A CAR TEST DROVE IT AND GUESS I SHOULD OF TEST DRIVE IT LONGER BUT I DIDN'T I BOUGHT IT AND WAS ON MY WAY TO PUT GAS IN IT AND THE MOTOR BLOW UP. I HAD STATE POLICE WAIT WITH ME ME AND MY 16 YEAR OLD WAS STUCK IN HIGH TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE MOTOR BLOW STATE POLICE SAID HE HAD TO GET THERE AND TOLL THE CAR AND HE BOUGHT A TRAILER WITH A FLAT TIRED TO TRY AND TOLL IT OFF THE STATE POLICE MADE HIM LEAVE AND CALLED FOR A TOLL TRUCK THE CAR LOT REFUSED TO GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK SO I COULD GO SOME WHERE ELSE SO I BOUGHT A ANOTHER CAR IT WAS IN FAIR CONDTION BUT WHEN WATER STATED HITTING MOTOR IT ENDED UP GETTING TOTAL BY INSURANCE COMPANY SO STILL COULDN'T GET MONEY BACK MADE ME PAY OUT ANOTHER 600.00 OUT FOR THE VEHICLE AND AFTER I GAVE HIM THE MONEY HE WROTE OUT SOLD AS IS AND COULD NOT TRADE VEHICLE OR GET MY MONEY BACK SO I FEEL LIKE HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WRITE THIS ON THE LAST TWO VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10895024

Incident

Jul 17, 2016

AFTER DRIVING EVEN SHORT DISTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS REAL REAL HOT.HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON AND THEY STILL SQUEEL

NHTSA ID

10875080

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

Mileage

5 mi

THE SUB-FRAME RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING BOTH FRONT WHEELS TO TOE OUT AND ALSO TO CAMBER IN AT THE TOP. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ALSO TRIGGERED. THE STEERING NOW PULLS TO THE LEFT AND THERE IS TIRE SQUEEL EVEN ON GRADUAL RIGHT HAND TURNS. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM FOR THE FORD ESCAPE MODEL YEARS 2001-2004. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM EXISTS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR 2005 FORD ESCAPE. I VERIFIED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. I THEN CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM AS IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS IN THEIR OTHER RECALL - THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP. THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE, WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE SO IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS THAT THE SUB-FRAME IS FAULTY.

NHTSA ID

10759718

Incident

Aug 26, 2015

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ABS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TONE RING MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,736.

NHTSA ID

10733601

Incident

May 18, 2015

Mileage

57,736 mi

ABS AND BRAKE LAMP ON. NO ANTILOCK BRAKES BEARLY STOPS.

NHTSA ID

10727048

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

Mileage

128,000 mi

THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH AND FELL OFF WHICH CUT MY BREAKLINE WHICH COULD'VE LED TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE A CHILD, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE SYSTEM CHECK AND ABS LIGHT NEVER CAME ON EITHER.

NHTSA ID

10725167

Incident

Jun 14, 2015

Mileage

143,636 mi

I HAVE A 2005 FORD ESCAPE TOOK IT TO A SHOP TODAY BECAUSE OF THE BANGING FROM THE SUSPENSION. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT HE SAW THAT THE ENTIRE WHEEL WELL AROUND THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT. THE EXTRA STRESS ON THE SHOCK ABSORBER CAUSED THE BOLT ON THE TOP TO BREAK OFF. THE STRESS ALSO CAUSED THE REAR BREAK LINE TO FRAY ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BREAKING COMPLETELY. THIS CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I AM JUST HAPPY THAT MY BREAK LINE DIDN'T BREAK WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT OPTIONS I HAVE WITH THE CAR SINCE IT IS THE ONLY CAR I OWN AND I HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706198

Incident

Apr 16, 2015

Mileage

116,543 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE FAST LANE AT 60MPH AND A CAR CUT ME SHORT AND BRAKE SO I APPLIED MY BRAKE MY WHEEL HAD YANKED TO THE LEFT AND I TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE WHEEL BY PULLING IT TO THE RIGHT BUT IT YANKED AGAIN TO THE LEFT CAUSING ME TO HIT INTO THE MEDIAN DUE TO THE IMPACT MY CAR TURNED OVER AND DRAGGED ACROSS THE OTHER 3 LANES AND TITLED BACK OVER. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS TOTALED I SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY TO MY NECK AND LEFT SIDE. ALSO MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10700833

Incident

Mar 19, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

I HAD TO HAVE TONE RINGS REPLACED ON ABS SYSTEM ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT WHEELS. HAD THE WORK DONE AT FORD DEALERSHIP 2 MONTHS AGO. YESTERDAY I WAS PULLING OUT ON TO MAIN ROAD AND LOST ALL BRAKES. *JS

NHTSA ID

10681992

Incident

Feb 7, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10650658

Incident

Oct 25, 2014

Mileage

86,000 mi

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSES. THE RF FAILED ON 3/15/2012 AT 82553 MILES, THE LF FAILED ON 11/7/2013 AT 98681, THE RR FAILED ON 8/28/2014 AT 111325, THE LR WAS INSPECTED AND REPLACED ON 8/29/2014, SINCE A SEVERE CRACK WAS FOUND. IN ALL 3 CASES, THE HOSE FAILURES LED TO A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629379

Incident

Mar 15, 2012

Mileage

82,553 mi

SECOND TIME IN 3.8 YEARS ABS AND 4X4 BRAKES BROKE, ABS FLASHING, STEADY ON, 4X4 FLASHING LOOSE BRAKES TONE RING ISSUES, FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THERE ARE ISSUES, TONS OF COMPLAINTS EXCESSIVELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, UNSAFE, ALSO SUSPENSION BARING JOINTS BRAKE EASY, BRAKES WEAR OUT FAST, I DRIVE UNDER 12K A YEAR. EXHAUST A PIECE OF JUNK, THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609216

Incident

Jul 4, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THERE WAS NO BRAKE CONTROL AT ALL. I KEPT ACCELERATING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY STOMPING ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BRIEFLY ENOUGH TO THROW THE CAR BACK INTO PARK. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A PUDDLE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR AS WELL AS ALL OVER MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS BEING A CORRODED AND RUPTURED DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE AND A PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE THAT WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I HAVE SINCE SEEN A FEW DOZEN COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY VINTAGE FORD ESCAPE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE SERVICE GARAGE SAID THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FORDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD FOR NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON SOMETHING AS DANGEROUS AS BRAKE FUNCTIONING. I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG FORD BUYER BUT NOW I AM THINKING TWICE ABOUT BUYING ANOTHER ONE.....EVEN THOUGH I LOVE MY ESCAPE AND WAS GOING TO BE PURCHASING ANOTHER ONE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. I HOPE THAT NO ONE IS INJURED OR GOD FORBID DIES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. FORD OWES IT TO THEIR OWNERS TO PERFORM RECALLS ON ANY ISSUE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS OR LIFE THREATENING. I OF COURSE TOLD EVERYONE I KNOW THAT OWNS A FORD ESCAPE TO HAVE THEIR BRAKE LINES CHECKED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608767

Incident

Jul 5, 2014

Mileage

135,480 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND THE BRAKE FLUID HAD DRAINED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10605897

Incident

Apr 12, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY DESPITE ONE MONTH PRIOR SERVICING OF BRAKES AT LOCAL BILL BRANDT FORD DEALERSHIP IN BRENTWOOD CALIFORNIA. ALARM SOUNDED WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, BRAKELIGHT ILLUMINATED AND NO BRAKE. GRANDMOTHER DRIVING GRANDDAUGHTER BARELY MISSED COLLISION WITH STOPPING TRAFFIC. TWO MECHANICS LATER REVEAL COSTLY CONTROL UNIT IS TO BLAME. EASY INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS MANY OTHERS WITH SAME EXPERIENCE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE,DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED UNLESS FORD IS WAITING FOR FATALITY FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595927

Incident

May 28, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi