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 · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving various speeds, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the shock was not connected to the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with rust between the shock and the rear passenger side frame. The shock absorber needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
ODI 10947102
Body · Suspension · Wheels
Noticed undercoating peeling off in wheel well(rear passenger side). Pulled off and also found a 3in. Circle of metal loose. Have seen other(300+) reports of this rust problem on this web page. I am original owner and vehicle has always been garaged when not in use and has less than 70k miles. There are no handling or noise issues yet.
ODI 10939766
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle shut down without warning. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. It was diagnosed that the subframe was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 187,000.
ODI 10946237
Body · Suspension · Wheels
We started to hear a very loud banging coming from the back passenger side when we drove over even the smallest bump. The rear passenger side wheel well is completely rusted though (you can see the interior) and the wheel could fall off at anytime. The car is not safe to drive with out a very expensive repair. After looking online i found that this is a very common occurrence and that 2001-2004 escapes were recalled…
ODI 10938886
Body
Back pasenger wheel well is all rusted out, the bo;ts even rusted out and are missing the truck is undrivable and is not safe. I was driving and noticed alot of banging, pulled over thinking the back door wasnt closed properly. But found the rusted wheel well. I can push on the well and it just crumbles! There needs to be a recall on this before someone is injured!
ODI 10926212
Body · Suspension
Almost suddenly, a loud rattling sound from the rear started last week. When inspected, to my shock, the rear wheel well was totally, totally rotted out . This vehicle has been been garaged and carefully maintained since we bought it. In fact, for the past 8 years--it has been basically driven about 16 -20 miles per day. And again--garaged day and night. And now, almost immediately, it appears very unsafe to drive.…
ODI 10925653
Body · Suspension
2005 ford escape. Rear passenger side shock mount completely rusted/broken. Wheel well and fender completely rotted out while the rest of the vehicle has no rust at all. Why has ford not recalled the 2005 escape, after seeing thousands of complaints about the same issue
ODI 10928089
Body
While driving we noticed a really loud banging noise coming from the rear passenger side of the car. Upon looking around we noticed significant rust inside the wheel well area. Took it to a body shop and was advised that the shock mount is rusted out. I took it to my local ford dealer who said that they get a couple of these a week. The cost is at least $1.500 per shock mount. If there's a separation from the shock…
ODI 10917911
Body · Suspension
Vehicle started making a noise in passenger rear wheel. Upon inspection i observed that the well was completely rusted through where the shock is mounted. Learned that this is a manufacturing defect from thousands of complaints
ODI 10916730
Body
The back rear wheel well rusted through and the shock went through the "floor" and panel of the suv. I bought this with 65,000 miles on it and now has 89,000 and i can't drive it and no one will fix it. I paid $8500. For a suv that i only drove for 11/2 years. I driving and heard a thumping sound so i stopped and didn't see anything. I drove 1/2 mile to my house and the noise was very loud, i looked again to see…
ODI 10915737
Body · Suspension
I have a 2005 ford escape that started making sounds in the back of the vehicle while driving in the town streets coming home when i hit bumps. We looked at the rear passenger side tire well and the shock mount is rusted through. The body is resting on the coil. I am afraid to drive it due to the danger of the body coming down on the wheel.
ODI 10907403
Body · Suspension
Went to replace rear shocks. Rear passenger wheel well has rusted and i could move shock mount tower when truck is bounced. Also have banging and bouncing going on. Rides rough and have a rust hole and can see tire below. Bad engineering design. The ford motor company should fess up and correct this, but they won't they got their money!!!
ODI 10903505
Body
Right rear shock tower mount is completely rusted away. The shock has forced the tower up into the wheel well, through the plastic in the interior of the car. The car is unsafe to drive. Ford issued a recall for the exact same problem for 2001-2004 escape vehicles manufactured, but not for the 2005 model which has the exact same problem.
ODI 10907705
Body · Seats · Suspension
Rust caused the separation of the lower control arm from the subframe of the vehicle. The vehicle was primarily used in a salt-belt state. The issue became evident after a small pothole caused the rear frame to puncture through the passenger rear wheelhouse into the cab of the vehicle causing a high-pitched squeal and steering difficulties..
ODI 11011765
Body
I bought my 2005 ford escape from a local dealership 15 months, and 6000 miles ago. I noticed that it just always felt "rickety", and had it in to be looked at three times during the first four months, and new tires, an "exciter ring" and sway bars didn't seem to really do much. Over the course of the llast month, i noticed a loud "knocking sound" coming from the back passenger side. I thought maybe the gate wasn't…
ODI 10893016
Body
My 2005 ford escape has excessive fender well rust, a defect that causes the shock tower to dislodge from the frame, rendering the vehicle undriveable. It happens from the inside out, and when a thunking noise begins, it's too late. $8000 to repair a vehicle that i was told by every local body shop, wouldn't even really correct it. It's a structural defect. The shock tower is now coming through the cargo area of my…
ODI 10891520
Body
Rust frame on wheel wells and other frame issues ...
ODI 10885440
Body · Electrical System · Wheels
Takata recall passenger back tower wheel rusted on my 2005 ford escape the meter sensor keep going off like the doors are still open the rims of the car has rusted like we had the car for 30 years in motion when i notice the wheel tower rusted out
ODI 10910649
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact heard an unusual noise near the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the frame was rusted out. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10884385
Body · Suspension
2005 ford escape 4x4 v6 passenger side rear wheel house rusted significantly enough to cause rear wheel shock connected to wheel house to forcefully separate and begin colliding with the inside plastic moulding in the trunk of the car. Damage was initially found while in motion, noticed by a rattling noise in the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection and removal of the plastic trunk housing, the entire top of…
ODI 10863163
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the inner fender well on the rear passenger side had rusted and fractured. The failure caused the axle to be unstable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the shock mounting bracket detached from the inner fender. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10885454
Body · Suspension
Entire right wheel well of the vehicle is rusting away. The shock absorber is mounted to this sheet metal, so it is no longer effective, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. I understand this is a common problem with these vehicles and ford will do nothing to compensate me. Currently hearing a loud thumping at every bump, due to the shock becoming detached from the vehicle.
ODI 10876354
Body
109,000 miles on my car, had a slight rumbling sound in trunk area, sound recently got much louder. Brought it in for an annual nys inspection and car would not pass due to right wheel hull rust. Large hole in wheel well, was advised to not drive the car and contact a body shop. Quoted $600-$800 for the repair. Upon research it appears this is a common problem in this model car. 2001-2004 escapes were recalled for…
ODI 10836564
Body
The frame of the vehicle has rusted and the suspension broke free while it was being driven. Ford has recalled up the model year of 2004 because of frame rust through in the northern states . In speaking with the repair shop he said he has seen a number of these problems. I called ford customer service and was told my car has no known issues.
ODI 10838165
Body · Suspension
Rear passenger wheel well rusting out around shock attachment. Just discovered this today but through online research it appears to be a very common problem and should be a know issue to the manufacturer - they had a rust recall for 2001 - 2004 models
ODI 10824663