2005 Ford Escape Body Problems
- 351
- 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 351 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- wheel well · 80 records
- passenger side · 36 records
- rear passenger · 31 records
- rear wheel · 28 records
- completely rusted · 21 records
- right rear · 20 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 157 |
| 60–100k mi | 81 |
| 150–400k mi | 66 |
| 30–60k mi | 12 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for service. The mechanic noticed that the entire undercarriage and crossmember were corroded. The contact called heller ford (700 w main st, el paso, il 61738, [redacted]) and was informed that the vin was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made…
ODI 11291480
Body · Steering · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 11242376
Body
2005 escape, under 100,000 miles completely rusting out on the undercarriage to the point of a safety issue and now un-drivable. Disconnection of pieces and parts where the only way to keep them together is with a hanger. Was told the hanger worked better than anything the service department could do. Right passenger wheel well completely rusted out, huge hole now where you can see completely into car. Shocks bang…
ODI 11243540
Body
On the drivers side in the fender wells and on the area around where you put gas in it falling completely apart at a very rapid speed, the fender on the area of the gas cap is falling apart lost part of the this while driving to work
ODI 11222493
Body
Heard a loud scratching noise from rear of car. Upon inspection, entire rear passenger wheel well is rusted out and strut has been pushed through into rear seat area. Immediately went to ford dealer and service manager told me it was unsafe to drive and costly to fix. He advised me to call ford, and they listened to my complaint and issued me a case number. Since then, i have heard nothing. I am stuck with a car…
ODI 11166593
Body · Suspension
The escape started making a squeaking noise for about 3 days while driving it on city streets and on the highway and then it started making a loud clunking noise and was banging like something broke loose. We thought the shocks broke. Upon closer inspection we noticed that the frame at the right rear wheel well had completely rusted out and the shock had came off because there was nothing for it to attach to. We…
ODI 11164039
Body · Steering · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 11151815
Body · Suspension
The area around the shock support has slmost completely rusted out. This is super unsafe.
ODI 11150941
Body
First problem was rear passenger tirewell rotted and shock broke through. Had this this replaced by auto body shop. Now driving car on city street heard a thud and car stopped. Tow truck driver told me it was the sub frame that had rusted causing the wheel to fall off. He has seen this many times. Common problems with this his car. On way to local mechanic to see quote to fix.
ODI 11149598
Body · Suspension · Wheels
The drivers side wheel well completely rusted out, large hole in body, shock went right threw the body of the car. This happened extremely fast, i just put new tires and brakes on the car. This defect is extremely unsafe and poised a safety concern for me and my children. The car can't be sold or traded in and now headed to the junkyard
ODI 11145195
Body · Suspension
The right rear "wheelhouse panel" rusted out around the shock absorber upper mounting bracket causing the shock absorber to become detached and non-functional while the vehicle was in motion, making a turn. This caused ride and handling concerns which affected vehicle safety. I have discovered that this is a very common problem with this vehicle and expensive to repair, ~ $1,500.00.
ODI 11163964
Body · Suspension
Rear frame rusted through as well as passenger side shock tower,rusted so bad can see through to outside in 2 spots which allows exhaust fumes into interior of vehicle ,could cause exphixiation to occupants as well as loss of control due to rear of vehicle giving way and breaking in two on a roadway,damage wasn't visible until it totally busted through while driving! Ford should recall due to safety as the 2004 was.
ODI 11142995
Body
I bought this ford escape for my daughter with only at 116,000 miles on it had it home for two weeks since like the inner fender well and frame fell apart on the passenger rear wheel completely rotted out.
ODI 11255289
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise heard near the area of the rear passenger side wheel well. The contact stated that there was rust in that area, which was affecting the shocks. The dealer was not contacted. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, but could not determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
ODI 11133154
Body · Suspension
Of course i have the exact same problem as most ford escape owners have with the passenger rear wheel well rusting completely out. This is a known manufacturing defect that only effects the right rear wheel well of these vehicles and there are thousands of unaddressed owner complaints. Ford still will not do a recall nor will they do anything for their thousands of affected customers. I do hope there is a class…
ODI 11121503
Body · Suspension
Rear passenger side wheel well rotting from the inside out due to improper powder coating. Strut mount rusting and separating from vehicle frame.
ODI 11115197
Body
Driving on a secondary road and heard a bad rubbing noice and steering went loose, pulled over and saw that my passenger side front tire was pushed in to the wheel well. I looked under the vehicle and saw the subframe was broke and the cv axle was ripped out of the motor on the front passenger side. I called ford because of all the other complaints i saw for this same issue on 2005 models, and because of the recall…
ODI 11113412
Body · Suspension
(recommending this complaint be deleted; same vehicle as 11110799) tl- the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle had been riding rough in the rear. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. An independent mechanic at a repair facility diagnosed that the shock tower had extensive rust, corrosion and the right rear shock fractured so the shock tower needed to be replaced. The…
ODI 11110809
Body
Vehicles subframe rusted and broke at passengers front control arm while driving on a secondary roadway in a city during normal conditions. Car is a 2005 with only 55000 miles. Virtually no rust anywhere else on body. I found the exact problem at the identical location on 2002-2004 under a recall and believe that the 2005 should be included as well
ODI 11102446
Body · Suspension
Passenger-side rear wheel well rusted through, shock tower is banging against inner frame, chunks of rust dislodging and scraping against tire. This is occurring while driving. I pushed the chunk back and it seems to be staying off the tire for now. Ford auto repair shop quoted $5000 to repair. My daily commute to work is across two major cities via a high-traffic major highway. Potential to be a serious and…
ODI 11120876
Body · Unknown Or Other · Wheels
I was driving home when i noticed a loud bumping noise... My back passenger wheel well is completely rusted away, which has affected my shock mounting bracket. Every little bump causes it to shake and about a week ago the bracket actually went through the plastic and there is a hole inside the back of the vehicle. I see so many identical complaints and its very disappointing that ford has done nothing to resolve…
ODI 11100665
Body · Suspension
Rusted out passenger side rear wheel well. I do *not* live in the rust belt. Was driving on residential street and heard a loud noise from the affected area when going over a bump. The noises increased during driving for the next 2 days. I finally got under there to look at it and found the shock tower mount had nearly separated from the rest of the wheel well, and the entire wheel well is completed rotted and…
ODI 11099272
Body · Suspension
After hitting a bump in the road loud noises started coming from the rear passenger wheel area. After getting home i discovered that the rear passenger wheel well was completely rusted out and the shock absorber is no longer attached to the vehicle body. I have found multiple issues identical to this in an online search. This is a known issue with the 2005 escape and should be covered under a safety recall. There…
ODI 11082636
Body
RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER RUSTED OUT BAD
ODI 11091008
Body
Takata recall. The vehicle was in motion and the back of the frame/body metal snapped, when drove through a neighborhood street with severely bad pot holes. Rust on car was average for age and was still drive able. But haven't driven in months because scared of safety risk. I feel like the frame shouldn't be having problems for a car that is only 13/14 years old. The corrosion of the metal on the car is very…
ODI 11139204