2005 Ford Escape Steering Problems

Hello, The engine cradle subframe on my 2005 Ford Escape has completely rusted through on the right hand side where it attaches to the steering control arm. As I was driving the subframe broke which made it impossible to steer the car. This pulled my car off the road to the passenger side. Fortunately I was not injured. Having now researched this issue, it is a common problem with 2005 Ford Escapes. This is very dangerous, and it should be addressed as it creates a life threatening situation.

NHTSA ID

11565921

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CASE FRAME CROSS-MEMBER RUSTED OUT SEVERELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE WAS RELATED TO MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: 10013366 (STEERING), HOWEVER, THE 2005 FORD ESCAPES WERE NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

NHTSA ID

11301210

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

159,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11300509

Incident

Sep 18, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 15MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET HELP AFTER SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 16 HOURS, I WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE THREE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD SNAPPED. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THE RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND BEARINGS. I ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER AND IT DIDN'T SAY WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE FIXED. I TAKE PRIDE IN MY VEHICLES AND KEEP THE MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE, THEREFORE I CAN SAY THEY THIS HAPPENED DUE TO FAULTY PARTS AND FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE IT FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11299424

Incident

Jan 12, 2020

Mileage

247,540 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT AND CORRODED CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO BREAK, RESULTING IN A VERY UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11288947

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HER 2005 FORD ECAPE AFTER COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER FOUND STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, WITH VEHICLE PULLING EXTREMELY TO THE RIGHT THEN SWERVING INTO THE OTHER LANE TO THE LEFT UPON TRYING TO CORRECT FOR THE PULL. SHE PULLED THE CAR OVER AND FOUND THAT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AHEAD THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS POINTING OUTWARD TOWARD THE CURB WITH THE TOP OF THE WHEEL TILTED INWARD TOWARDS THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED HOME. VISUAL INSPECTION BY AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC FOUND THAT EXTREME CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME AT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRONT MOUNTING POINT HAD CAUSED THE SUBFRAME TO SEPERATE AND ALLOW THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BEND OUTWARDS AND CAUSE EXTREME MISALIGNMENT.

NHTSA ID

11256412

Incident

Sep 16, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

CROSS OVER ON PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED IN HALF,THE EXACT SAME THING THAT WASTE CALLED ON THE 2001-2004,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH TWO OF MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH HER WHEN IT BROKE,THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS SITUATION,I FEEL FORD SHOULD FIX MY VEHICLE,IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN2004,I WILL TAKE IT TO COURT IF NECESSARY, INNOCENT PEOPLE COULD GET KILLED,IT IS THE EXACT SAME RECALL AS THE YEAR BEFORE AND WAS MANUFACTURED IN THAT YEAR OF THE RECALL MY ESCAPE HAS NO OTHER RUST ON IT ANYWHERE,I HAVE PICS TO PROVE IT,MY WIFE WAS JUST GETTING READY TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY FROM A CITY STREET

NHTSA ID

11242376

Incident

Aug 2, 2019

TAKATA RECALL THE 01 THRU 04 WERE RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM THE FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED IN TO CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO WONDER ALL OVER IF DROVE ANY MORE WOULD HAVE CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THAT IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT WHEEL WAS COMING OFF LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A COUPLE MILES FROM HOME THE DAY BEFORE I TOOK MY GRANDSON TO CHARLESTON WV TO MEET HIS MOM IF IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN ON I 77 AT 70 PLUS MILES AN HR COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC IT BEING THE SAME ISSUE WITH EARLY MODELS AND FORD SENT A BAR TO TRY N FIX IT A JOKE JUST LEARN THIS ON INTERNET

NHTSA ID

11195277

Incident

Mar 8, 2019

Mileage

179,015 mi

LAST YEAR I NOTICED THE RUST AROUND DOORS AND WHEELS, IM RETIRED & A DISABLED 77 YR OLD MAN SO I DRIVE IT ONCE A WEEK. OVER THE SUMMER I NOTICE IT HANDLING FUNNY, HAD IT SERVICED AND INSPECTED. I WAS ON ROUTE 30 A MILE FROM MY HOUSE IT STARTED SHAKING & MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING, I BARELY MANAGED GETTING WHEELS TO TURN IT OFF THE HWY, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, THIS [XXX] THING FEELS LIKE IT'S GONNA FALL APART, HOME WAS 1/4 MILE, NOISE & VIBRATING CONTINUED, STRUGGLED TURNING WHEEL INTO MY DRIVEWAY, PARKED IT, GOT OUT AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL IS TILTED WAY OUT. MY SON JACKED IT UP AND SAID MY LOWER CONTROL ARM IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT OR THRU AND BROKEN OFF AND IT IS ALL RUSTED BAD UNDERNEATH & SAID IT'S SCRAPE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11151815

Incident

Nov 12, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE GOING ONTO A FREEWAY ONRAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON, THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE WAS AFFECTED BY TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT DISPLAY ANY ISSUES LEADING UP TO THIS BUT NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BY THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND GET IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER BEING TOWED, THE AUTO SHOP DIAGNOSED A P0354, P0351, P0355, P0352 IGNITION COILS, AND PCM FAILURE. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THERE ARE MULTIPLE CLAIMS OF THIS OCCURRING AND IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11131030

Incident

Aug 30, 2018

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

I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG AND IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS..MY SUV HAS A VIBRATION WHEN I EXCEL RATE AND LET OFF IT WHICH SHAKES THE WHEEL.I HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING..WHAT IS THIS PROBLEM,I HAVE JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEC 17..TY

NHTSA ID

11075960

Incident

Feb 12, 2018

Mileage

98 mi

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

AFTER BREAKING WHILE IN TRAFFIC, MY CAR SWERVED UNEXPECTEDLY ON TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND AFTERWARDS MY STEERING WHEEL WAS AT A STRANGE ANGLE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF FRONT SUBFRAME CROSSBRACE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON 2001-2004 FORD ESCAPES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE. 2005 MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL

NHTSA ID

11047419

Incident

Nov 18, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, STATED THAT THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED IN HALF AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. *LN

NHTSA ID

11025470

Incident

Sep 13, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

WHEN I WAS DRIVING I HEARD SOME LOUD NOISE AND WHEN I STOPPED I FOUND THAT THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT SHOT UP THRU THE BACK INTERIOR OF THE CAR.THIS WAS DUE TO THE ENTIRE WHEEL WELL RUSTING OUT.I ALSO WAS DRIVING ANOTHER TIME WHEN THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE.I STOPPED AND GOT OUT AND SEEN THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE FACING SIDEWAYS.THE TIE ROD BROKE.I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

11024159

Incident

May 2, 2015

Mileage

138,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE PARKED ON CITY STREET.

NHTSA ID

10991986

Incident

May 28, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND THE SUB FRAME BEING ROTTED COLLAPSED AND MY TIRE KINKED OUT.

NHTSA ID

10897001

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

131,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. ONCE STOPPED AND THE CAR IS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK OK UNTIL IT FAILS AGAIN AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. THE CAR IS NEARLY ALWAYS IN MOTION BUT HAS FAILED UPON STARTUP WHILE IN PARK. FREQUENCY IS RANDOM OVER THE LAST SIX OR MORE YEARS. THE LAST TWO TIMES WAS TODAY. TURNING CAR OFF AND ON USUALLY RESETS THE FUNCTION BACK TO OPERATING.

NHTSA ID

10885260

Incident

Jul 16, 2016

DROVE FROM WASHINGTON STATE TO UTAH ON FAMILY VACATION 14NOV15. FILLED UP WITH GAS IN BOISE, I.D. AND 1 MILE INTO THAT DRIVE FELT A SURGE AND THEN SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER DRIVING AT 70MPH. THEN IT WAS FINE. WHEN WE GOT INTO SPANISH FORK, UT. WE HAD A LOSS OF POWER WHEN WE CAME OFF THE HIGH WAY AND CONTACTED OUR FRIEND WHO'S DAD OWNS HIS OWN MECHANIC SHOP K&K AUTO IN SPANISH FORK, UT. HE GOT THE CODES CLEARED AND SAID THE CODES WERE NOT MAKING ANY SENSE AS TO THE POSSIBLE LOSS IN POWER. THE VEHICLE RAN REAL GOOD AFTER GETTING CODES CLEARED. THE NEXT MORNING WE HEADED OUT ON I15 ON OUR TRIP TO OUR VACATION DESTINATION AND IT DID IT AGAIN AS WE GOT ON THE HIGH WAY, I USE AN INJECTOR CLEANER IN CASE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AS MY FRIENDS DAD HAD SUGGESTED. WE GOT TO FILLMORE, UT. AND WE LOSS TOTAL POWER AND STEERING CONTROL. WE COASTED OFF ONTO AN EXIT RAMP THERE WE WERE ABOUT TO PASS WHEN IT HAPPENED. HAD OUR VEHICLE TOWED TO THE ONLY MECHANIC OPENED AT THE TIME ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. HE SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THE CODES. THEN HE SAID WE HAD A BAD CATALACK-CONVERTER. WE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO OUR FRIENDS DADS SHOP AN HOUR AND A HALF NORTH. THE NEXT DAY HE SAID HE THINKS IT MAY BE THE COILS BUT THE CODES SAY ALL OF THEM. SO WE HAD HIM TAKE IT TO FORD IN PROVO, UT WHILE WE RENTED A CAR AND HAD SOME OF OUR VACATION, MOST OF IT WE MISSED SPENDING DAYS WAITING ON A WORD FROM FORD SERVICE AFTER WE GOT IN FROM OUR COUPLE OF DAYS WE DID GET IN OF OUR VACATION. WE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO DO THE WORK WHILE WE WERE GONE, BUT NO. NOW WE ARE HOME AFTER PAYING $730.- FOR INJECTORS AND A NEW COIL. (I THOUGHT) THEY STILL HAVE OUR VEHICLE IN THE BAY GETTING NEW CATALACK CONVERTERS PUT ON(BOTH) AND IS AN ADDITIONAL $1900.- PLUS TO MAKE IT WORSE THEY CALLED TODAY AND SAID ALL THE COILS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THAT WAS DONE, APPARENTLY NOT, AND THIS IS NOT RARE FOR 2005 ESCAPES, OH.

NHTSA ID

10807654

Incident

Nov 15, 2015

Mileage

67,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10760761

Incident

Aug 29, 2015

Mileage

116,000 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

MID DAY, MILD WEATHER IN THE 70'S, POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS IN A TURN, IT'S REALLY HARD TO TURN THIS VEHICLE. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE?

NHTSA ID

10747262

Incident

Aug 8, 2015

Mileage

230,000 mi

SUB-FRAME RUST PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2001 TO 2004 FORD ESCAPE FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RECALLED ESCAPE CROSSOVERS FROM MODEL YEARS 2001-2004 IN STATES THAT USE A LOT OF ROAD SALT. IN AFFECTED VEHICLES, PART OF THE CAR COULD SUFFER DAMAGE FROM RUST AND EVEN LOSE STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

10746694

Incident

Jul 31, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STAY IN POSITION AND VEERED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION AROUND THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCKS AND WHEEL HOUSE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ID

10735701

Incident

Jun 22, 2015

Mileage

158,000 mi