45 of the
2,267 complaints filed about the Ford Escape Hybrid
are about the suspension —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST WITH THE POWER STEERING FAULT MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART ONCE THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE VEHICLE FAILING TO RESTART. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO HER OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECTED TO THE FREE REPAIR. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES RELATED TO THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED CORROSION IN THE WHEEL WELL WHICH AFFECTED THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SUSPENSION AND THE UNIBODY CONSTRUCTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC NEEDED TO REMOVE THE HYBRID BATTERY, THE FUEL TANK, AND THE FUEL LINE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11364375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS CORRODED VERY SEVERELY. THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS PUSHING INTO THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER, CAUSING IT TO BECOME DISLODGED. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF MY ESCAPE. I NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER WAS DISLODGED AND MOVING AROUND. I PULLED OVER INTO A LOCAL PARK TO EXAMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VERY LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. I COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA WAS VERY RUSTED AND FLAKY. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 10-15 MPH, ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD BUMPING AND SCRAPING SOUND. I CONSULTED A FORD MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE MANY HUNDREDS OF FORD ESCAPES THAT HAVE RUSTED OUT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELLS, THAT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE SHOCK ABSORBER PUSHES INTO THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE COLLAPSES ONTO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #11109552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THE SHOCK LEANING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND A HOLE WHERE THE MOUNTED BRACKET WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT CALLED LOVELAND FORD (999 E EISENHOWER BLVD, LOVELAND, CO 80537, (970) 744-7101) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
NHTSA complaint #11093767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IVE HAD REOCCURRING ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES ,ABS SYSTEM , POWER TRAIN , STEERING COLUMN STARTER. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS AND IT SEEM LIKE THE PROBLEMS KEEP COMING UP . THE ONLY CLOSE CALL I REMEMBERS IS COMING HOME FROM WORK . MAKING A TURN ON TO A STREET, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I COULD HAVE CRASHED IF A HUGE CURB WASNT THERE .
NHTSA complaint #11082619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY ROADS MY DAUGHTER NOTICE THAT THE CAR WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHIKE SKING WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALSO NOTICED INCREASE RPM. THE SYMPTOMA KEPT GETTING WORSE UNTIL WE TOOK IT TO LES SCHWAB FOR DETAILED INPECRION.
NHTSA complaint #11074320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT AREA RUSTED OUT AND CRACKED. HOLES AND CRACKS IN RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT WHEEL WELL AREA. LOTS OF NOISE AND METAL SHIFTING FROM THAT AREA.
NHTSA complaint #11057675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVERS SIDE REAR SUDDENLY BEGAN BANGING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. REAR STRUT MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT SO THE STRUT IS LOOSE AND BANGING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS NO SURFACE RUST ON THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS WOULD TAKE PLACE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT ATTACH THE STRUT SECURELY - ONLY SURFACE MOUNTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL.
NHTSA complaint #11002013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR SUBFRAME BROKE ABOVE THE AXLE NEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL. SYMPTOMS ARE GRINDING NOISE DURING LEFT TURNS AS TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEMS ACTIVATE. FORD DEALER ESTIMATES COST OF $3=$8,000 TO REPLACE THE REAR SUBFRAME. ## VIN PASSED ## FORD ESCAPE HYBRID AWD 2006 ##
NHTSA complaint #10915703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WELL MAINTAINED 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID DEVELOPED A RATTLING SOUND ON JULY 26, 2016. AT FIRST THE RATTLE IN THE RIGHT REAR HAPPENED ONLY ON BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY CAR JACK COMING LOOSE IN ITS COMPARTMENT. I CHECKED THAT AND THE JACK WAS ALL SECURED, NOT RATTLING. I CONTINUED DRIVING HOME AND THE RATTLE BECAME A BANGING SOUND, AND THE RIGHT REAR INSIDE WHEEL AREA STARTED TO RATTLE AND MOVE TOWARDS THE INTERIOR AS I DROVE. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED AROUND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW EXTREMELY RUSTED IT IS. THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS SHOW VERY LITTLE RUST. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON A FORD OWNERS WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE REPORT THAT THE RUSTED OUT SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT BREAKS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE BODY COLLAPSES ONTO THE WHEEL, SENDING THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS COMMON PROBLEM IN THE '05 ESCAPE HYBRID VEHICLES. I CANNOT DRIVE MY WELL MAINTAINED CAR BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL BANGING, THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND PERSONAL INJURY. I'M ATTACHING PHOTOS OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE DEFECT IN THE RIGHT REAR. PLEASE GIVE THIS COMPLAINT YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND ALERT OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS OF THIS IMMINENTLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10894350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL LOUD CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCKS FAILED AND PUSHED THROUGH CORRODED METAL IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
NHTSA complaint #10854802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS 95,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENTIRE BACK PASSENGER REAR WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, SO MUCH SO THAT THE SHOCK IS PUSHING UP INTO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REST OF THE WHEEL WELLS ARE FINE AND SHOW VERY LITTLE WEAR AND THE VEHICLE RUNS JUST FINE. WHEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS THAT A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE ARE ENCOUNTERING THIS VERY SAME ISSUE WITH JUST THAT SAME SPECIFIC SPOT. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS MAKES THIS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE EVENT I HIT A LARGE BUMP OR POT HOLE.
NHTSA complaint #10823658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.
NHTSA complaint #10794696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, WE DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE STRUT IS BARELY ATTACHED. THE RUST HOLES ARE SO LARGE, THAT INSULATION IS SHOWING, AND THE STRUT IS HITTING THE PLASTIC PIECE GOING INTO THE TRUNK SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE BY A MECHANIC. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME AREA (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) AND IS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARDS, SUCH AS RUPTURED TIRES AND UNSTABLE STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL!
NHTSA complaint #10749019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK AND BRACKET THAT ATTACHES IT TO THE CAR IS RUSTING AND HAS BROKEN OFF CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND PRESENTS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10735834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEARD RATTLING SOUND OVER RIGHT REAR TIRE. UPON INSPECTION THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD COMPLETELY CRACKED DUE TO RUST, MAKING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. WHEN I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE I SAW THAT MANY OTHERS REPORT THIS EXACT SAME DEFECT IN THE SAME LOCATION.
NHTSA complaint #10733412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL/SHOCK MOUNT BECAME BADLY CORRODED, RESULTING IN THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER AND SUSPENSION BEING CONNECTED TO A THIN PIECE OF METAL, AND THE TOP OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER HITTING AGAINST A PLASTIC INTERIOR BODY PANEL. HAD THE THIN PIECE OF METAL CORRODED ENTIRELY, A SEVERE ACCIDENT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE RESULTED. VARIOUS ONLINE SITES REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE (2005 FORD ESCAPE), BUT NO RECALLS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND OTHER YEARS OF THE ESCAPE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SEVERE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10723883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE DEVELOPED LOUD BANGING NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SEVERE CORROSION HAS OCCURRED IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL, SEPARATING THE TOP OF THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK ASSEMBLY FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, AFFECTING HANDLING OF THE CAR. AFTER SEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE WEB, IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THIS CORROSION IS A WIDESPREAD AND ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, AND A KNOWN ISSUE TO FORD MOTOR CORP. WHO HAS TO DATE DECLINED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO RECTIFY THIS MAJOR STRUCTURAL AND SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10721588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.