2007 Ford Escape Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for an inspection, the contact was informed that the subframe was severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V165000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11558831

Incident

Dec 6, 2023

Mileage

105,000 mi

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds a clunking noise was present coming from the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who discovered that the rear passenger’s side wheel well was severely rusted causing the rear passenger’s side shock absorber to puncture the wheel well of the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 109,000.

NHTSA ID

11483652

Incident

Aug 1, 2022

Mileage

109,000 mi

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was receiving routine maintenance by an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that underneath the rear of the vehicle was rusted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

NHTSA ID

11459731

Incident

Apr 4, 2022

Mileage

121,000 mi

AT 75,000 MILES THIS VEHICLE RECENTLY FAILED NH STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE UNIBODY AND SUBFRAME/ CONTROL ARM PASSENGER SIDE. THE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. OTHERWISE VEHICLE LOOKS DATED BUT NEW, TAKEN CARE OF WELL. EVEN THE ORIGINAL STEP BARS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH LITTLE TO NO RUST.FORD HAS A RECALL ON THE 2001-2004 MODEL YEARS FOR WHAT APPEAR TO BE THE SAME ISSUE AND WILL REMEDY BY INSTALLING AN ADDITIONAL BRACE. THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A GOOD/ SAFE IDEA TO ME

NHTSA ID

11374092

Incident

Nov 7, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

PASSENGER REAR FRAME RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SHOCK CAME RIGHT THROUGH THE TRUNK.

NHTSA ID

11361878

Incident

Sep 14, 2020

Mileage

145,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2007 FORD ESCAPE, IT BEGAN MAKING A THUMPING NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHENEVER WE HIT A BUMP. I LOOKED UNDER THE REAR-PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AND NOTICED THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF RUST AND CORROSION AROUND THE SHOCK-ABSORBER. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, RUST HAS CORRODED BOTH SIDES OF THE ATTACHMENT. HE DEEMED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327288

Incident

Jun 2, 2020

Mileage

171,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY PULLED TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS DETACHED FROM THE SUBFRAME. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11322831

Incident

Feb 18, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHEN I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE & MAKING LEFT TURNS IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION JUST FELL OUT. I'M ENCLOSING SOME DOCUMENTS OF RECALLS THAT I'VE FOUND. MY TRUCK IS ALSO RUSTING OUT SO BAD THAT WHEN I PUT MY GRANDSON IN HIS CAR SEAT, THE LEGS OF MY PANTS GET CAUGHT ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11291899

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. DURING A RECENT TRIP, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED ALMOST 90 DEGREES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FRAME RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRED MUELLER FORD (175 N AVON AVE, PHILLIPS, WI 54555, (715) 339-3045) WHERE THE FRAME RUST WAS CONFIRMED. THE CONTACT WAS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO BE SHIPPED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE RIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,236.*PM*JB

NHTSA ID

11258348

Incident

Sep 2, 2019

Mileage

89,236 mi

I HAD PARKED MY VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER ON PINE CREST DRIVE, A PUBLIC STREET WITH NO DESIGNATED PARKING. THERE IS ABOUT ROOM FOR 3 VEHICLES TO BE PARKED IN THIS AREA, OR 2 VEHICLES IF ONE HAS A TRAILER. I WAS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE IT WAS MY CLOSEST OPTION, AND THEN HAD LEFT IT THERE FOR A COUPLE DAYS WHILE I WAS IN BED SICK, BY THEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WAS GONE. A FAMILY FRIEND WITNESSED THE OTHER DRIVER COME BY WITH HIS 2003 GMC SIERRA, TRY TO PARK HIS VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE, AND BACKED INTO ENOUGH TO MOVE IT 6 INCHES. THERE ARE SOME SCRATCHES AND THE BODY IS BENT A BIT. INITIALLY AFTER TALKING TO HIM WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION HE WOULD COME BACK TO US AFTER CALLING HIS INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT APPARENTLY HE THOUGHT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE UNTIL AN ESTIMATE WAS WRITTEN UP AND CONFRONTED AGAIN. AT THAT TIME HE ADMITTED TO BACKING INTO MY VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE IT WAS "HIS" PARKING SPOT. AFTER CALLING THE DANE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO INVESTIGATION AND NO POLICE REPORT, BUT THAT WE SHOULD FILE HERE.

NHTSA ID

11257519

Incident

Sep 4, 2019

Mileage

121,150 mi

WHITE PARKED WITH THE ALARM ON, THE ALARM GOES OFF FOR NO REASON & THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH POSSIBLE RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY, EVEN MORE THAN ONCE A DAY WHILE AT WORK. SOMETIMES TOO FAR AWAY FOR ME TO HEAR THE ALARM.

NHTSA ID

11245797

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

Mileage

25,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A 2ND HAND DEALER AND AFTER 2 MONTHS I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE. COME TO FIND OUT, THE RUST ON THE UNDER PENDING OF THIS CAR WAS HAZARDOUS. THE WHOLE BODY UNDERNEATH WAS CORRODED. ONE OF THE SHOCKS WAS BARELY HOLDING ON. IF IT HAS COMPLETELY SNAPPED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT TO ME AND MY 2 YEAR GREAT NIECE, AND INJURED SOMEONE ELSE. FIRST NOTICE OF THIS, I TOOK TO THE DEALER. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND WAS GOING TO FIND A WELDER. A WEEK LATER IS WHEN THE PART CAME LOOSE MORE AND THE WELDER SAID IT WAS UNSAFE AND BEYOND PATCHING UP. A CALL WAS MADE TO THE DEALER TO INFORM THEM THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SHOCK BUT THE UNDER PENDING WAS RUSTED OUT. ANOTHER MECHANIC PRIOR NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE HAD RUSTED OUT AND CRUMBLED ALONG WITH THE BRAKE DUST PLATE. IT CRUMBLED AND SOME OF THE PIECES ALONG WITH SCREWS WERE CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE DRUMS BEHIND ROTER. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER VEHICLE TO TRADE, ONE I REALLY DIDN'T WANT. THEY GAVE ME NO CHOICE. THIS VEHICLE HAD NO AIR, THE WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN, AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITHOUT A CAR DUE TO MULTIPLE UPCOMING DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. THEY WERE AWARE OF A RARE CONDITION I HAVE THAT PREVENTS ME FROM BEING IN THE HEAT BUT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ME ANYTHING ELSE. IF SO I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS. THE FORD ESCAPE WAS PAID IN CASH ALL UP FRONT. I FEEL CHEATED AND HAD THEIR BEEN AN ACCIDENT I AM SURE MORE MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN COLLECTED FROM THIS DEALER FOR THE SUFFERING OF MY FAMILY HAD IT BEEN FATAL. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALSO AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER TO INFORM THEM OF THE SHOCK ABOUT TO FALL OFF, THEY WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT TO THE WELDER. AFTER THE WELDER TOLD THEM HOW UNSAFE IT WAS, INSTEAD OF THEM HAVING IT TOWED, THEY HAD ME DRIVE IT AND HOUR AND A HALF TO THEM. I WAS SCARED.

NHTSA ID

11230697

Incident

Jun 25, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

FRAME NEAR SHOCK ABSORBER RUSTING THROUGH. NEW CHOCK CAN'T BE REPLACED WITHOUT FRAME WORK

NHTSA ID

11203636

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE LIFTGATE ACTUATOR AND LIFTGATE MECHANISM DID NOT WORK (NOT EVEN MANUALLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DETERMINED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE LIFTGATE WINDOW SEAL. THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID

11150054

Incident

Nov 8, 2018

Mileage

156,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 FORD ESCAPE ON A SOMEWHAT BUMPY COUNTRY ROAD THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR. UPON INSPECTION I OBSERVED THE ENTIRE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT IN THE RIGHT REAR HAD BROKEN FREE FROM THE BODY DUE TO RUST, CAUSING THE SHOCK TO RIDE FREELY INTO THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT HITTING THE PLASTIC PANEL. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE VEHICLE HAS 164K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11083109

Incident

Mar 30, 2018

Mileage

164,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELLS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE ISSUE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 11/12/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A KNOCK COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/03/15

NHTSA ID

10639099

Incident

Sep 15, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

NOISES/SQUEAKING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. SEVERAL COLLISIONS DUE TO STOP TIMING BEING OFF. MOST RECENTLY RATTLING, HIGH PITCHED SCREECHING FOLLOWED BY FAILURE TO ACCELERATE, BURNING SMELL, AND COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608777

Incident

Nov 15, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE LIFTGATE FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LIFTGATE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,030.

NHTSA ID

10191711

Incident

May 9, 2007

Mileage

1,030 mi

MY VECHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN MY FRONT YARD OVER NIGHT SOMETIME IN THE REAR TRUNK OF MY SUV AND FORD DEALERSHIP AND THER CAUSE OF ORGIN HAS LEFT IT UNEXPLAINED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10180945

Incident

Jan 7, 2007