2004 Ford Escape Body Problems
- 108
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 108 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- wheel well · 60 records
- rear passenger · 33 records
- passenger side · 33 records
- right rear · 30 records
- rear wheel · 25 records
- shock mount · 19 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 55 |
| 150–400k mi | 23 |
| 60–100k mi | 13 |
| 1–30k mi | 4 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. While driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel turned independently with a loud abnormal noise. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the passenger side control arm separated and the entire frame would need to be replaced. The failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The vehicle had not been…
ODI 10701644
Body · Suspension · Wheels
The car started to ride rough over small bumps and a thumping sound could be heard from the right rear wheel well. Thinking i needed new shocks i inspected the wheel well and was horrified to see that the wheel well holding the shock was completely rusted away. There is a hole where the steel used to be. This is only on the right rear wheel well as far as i can see. A local auto body shop will not fix it because of…
ODI 10694733
Body · Steering · Suspension
While driving on a rough road i noticed a rattling in the rear compartment that i had never heard before. When i investigated i found the right rear wheel well had disintegrated from rust damage and the shock is now floating basically freely which is causing the noise. I am concerned for the safety and handling of the vehicle at this point. This seems to be a very common issue with escapes and always the right rear…
ODI 10695287
Body · Suspension
2nd escape i've owned that has had the rear right wheel well rust out, shock breaks loose. Ford saying it has never heard of it, and yet every dealer and body shop i've talked to knows all about it. This should be a recall, faulty part. *tr
ODI 10682350
Body · Engine And Engine Cooling
I purchased a 2004 escape a little over a year ago. My cousin had the same car. We both had to take a few thousand loss and sell these vehicles due to severe, unsafe wheel well rust .not to mention catalytic converters on both cars were bad. Two on each escape. I was ready to do repairs, until a friend with the same escape had just repaired the body in his for the same issue. So we all took loss. Who is responsible…
ODI 10689707
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. While driving at approximately 40 mph, there was a loud noise emerging from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear passenger strap mount was rusted and the rear passenger wheel well needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate…
ODI 10705835
Body · Suspension · Wheels
Another case of a 2004 ford escape with extensive right rear wheel well rust putting the strut in danger of coming through the body. I'm currently trying to figure out how and where to get it repaired. This seems to be a flaw in the design of the product. While one would hope ford would step up i'm not seeing anything on their part so far. *js
ODI 10669299
Body · Suspension
While driving to my home went over a small dip in road and suv made a very load clunking noise in right rear section of vehicle and started handling poorly got it to my parents home which is only few minutes from incident,father looked at and found right rear strut mount and wheel tub rusted out under a thick layer of sound deadening material applied at factory making it nearly impossible to see until it breaks…
ODI 10678182
Body · Suspension
Driving and sounds like a square bowling ball is rolling around in back. Look to find a rusty mess from shock mount going through wheel well. Asked around and seems to be common problem. Thank goodness i wasn't far from home. Very dangerous, why is this not recalled yet! *tr
ODI 10655207
Body · Suspension
I was driving the vehicle when i started hearing a loud thumping noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection i discovered there was rust inside the rear passenger wheel well and that the shock mount was unattached from the vehicle. *tr
ODI 10668139
Body
2004 ford escape. Rear right wheel hub rust/corrosion around strut assembly. Safety issue with rear shock. Known problem with 2004 to 2006 ford escape despite rust proofing. Rusts around area for strut leading to structural compromise of this assembly. Unsafe to drive.
ODI 10789076
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact heard a clunking sound near the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The dealer stated that the wheel well was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
ODI 10640410
Body
RUNNING BOARD RUSTED AND FELL OFF. *TR
ODI 10639743
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact heard a loud abnormal noise near the rear of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the rear passenger side wheel shock and tower were severely corroded and penetrated the subframe and floor interior. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.
ODI 10621290
Body · Seats · Wheels
The shock tower in the passenger side rear wheel has broken, due to rust and corrosion, and punctured through the interior of the trunk and the back seat. The interior of the car body has separated from the exterior body so that the wheel and road can be seen from inside the back seat through a large (inch or more wide) gap. There is no corrosion or damage in any other wheel well. There is a corrosion related recall…
ODI 10609335
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the rear passenger side started to rattle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnose that the rear passenger side wheel well was corroded. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
ODI 10608997
Body · Suspension · Wheels
Driving down the road wirht my 2 young kids and all sudden go over the train tracks and the rear strut broke from the shock mount and came right up thru the vehicle i have found thousands of complaints on this issue, ford needs to step up luck i gained control of vehicle with a 1 mont old baby and a 3 year old this is searious matter! Someone is going to die because of this it needs to be fixed! *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10618053
Body · Suspension
I bought my 04 escape brand new, and am the original owner car garage kept, this is a severe safety issue!! Rusted out wheel well and shock mount went right through the frame while driving at only 15 mph out of a parking lot. *tr
ODI 10607471
Body
My daughter complained about a loud clanging noise from the right rear of her car. I bought it used from a dealer and it has been kept in a garage and used sparingly. Upon inspection i noted that the right rear strut had completely broken free due to extensive rust of the wheel well. I cannot allow her to drive it in this condition. Not sure if it can be repaired yet or whether it will cost more than the car is…
ODI 10608423
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side inner fender well was rusted due to excessive corrosion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.
ODI 10746144
Body · Suspension · Wheels
Rusted out right wheel well with structural collapse. We bought this car used from a local ford dealer in april of 2013. This car was being driven on a freeway on june 15, 2014 when a loud thumping started in the right rear wheel on . On inspection the right rear wheel well is rusted out. The support that the shock absorber is attached to was completely eroded and a part of it punched through the wall into the…
ODI 10604592
Body · Suspension
REAR PASSENGER SHOCK MOUNT RUSTING OUT. *TR
ODI 10595740
Body · Glass, Side/Rear
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
ODI 10595319
Body · Steering · Suspension
I was driving down the road and hit a pothole, after hitting the pothole there was a loud clunking noise coming from the rear. After inspection the entire shock mount had rusted away from the body and became separated. It was free to jolt around and cause further damage. Not safe to be driving this vehicle now. *tr
ODI 10586856
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that the recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure) was received in may of 2014. In june of 2014, the vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the subframe and the lower control arm. The remedy included installation of a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace. The recall remedy was not performed on the vehicle. In july of 2015,…
ODI 10735688