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 · Steering · Wheels
While driving, i noticed that my steering wheel was not aligned. I didn't notice it was like this until i was already driving down the road. When i stopped, i checked my tires and thought that they looked slightly off. It seemed as if the passenger side tire was pointed slightly outward. The car sat in my driveway for the next couple of days and it appeared to have gotten worse. I took my car out for a test drive…
ODI 10726916
Body · Suspension
Right rear wheel well is so rusted out that the shock mount has completely detached from the body. Definite safety issue. 2005 ford escape xlt.
ODI 10725653
Body
Upon arriving home from trip, hubby said he had heard loud noise while driving and vehicle's rear end felt funny. Inspection turns up a completely rusted out passenger side rear fender well.
ODI 10783482
Body
I was driving down a side street and hit a small bump and heard a loud banging noise on the right rear of my vehicle. I then thought maybe i had not shut the back door or back hatch properly. I stopped the vehicle and opened and shut both and resumed driving to work. I continued to hear the banging noise as i drove and was very concerned. Upon arriving at work i asked a co-worker to take a look at it for me. It was…
ODI 10724921
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving approximately 25 mph, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an auto shop, which stated that the rear passenger side wheel well was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was experiencing the same failure as listed in nhtsa campaign number:…
ODI 10730939
Body
The rear wheel wells are so rusted out that there is nothing to hold the shock and shock absorber in place. The area you put fuel in the vehicle is also rusted out. When will ford start backing up their products???
ODI 10721851
Body · Unknown Or Other
The right rear fender wheel well has rusted through also affecting the shock mount creating a loud banging in the cabin. My local ford dealer has never seen this and did not want to attempt the repair because of the cost. They also referred me to a reputable body shop in town and he also never saw this before. He suggested this website to file a complaint. I have now researched this and see a lot of other people…
ODI 10721566
Body · Suspension
My 2005 ford escape rear passenger side wheel well cracked. The shock absorber is hardly attached and is a safety issue. If it falls off it could cause an accident.
ODI 10720940
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving at various speeds, there was a loud abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact observed that the rear passenger side tire well was rusted and there was a hole that led from the outside of the vehicle to the inside. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the entire frame…
ODI 10735274
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact noticed that the rear passenger side of the wheel well was fractured and exposed the shock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.
ODI 10722277
Body · Suspension
I had finance a 2005 ford escape xlt after had the vehicle for two month i notice a strange sounds for the back of the vehicle i track and found out that the rear. Underneath the car panel where the shockwas at is rusted all through. The the front tire is wear and the vehicle is driving bad shocks struct and wheel elignment was all effect with the rust panal from shocks...
ODI 10838466
Body
Passenger rear well rusted - shock loose not attached to anything - let go when driving in residential neighborhood blocks from home. 8 inch by 8 inch chunk rusted away from the wheel well.
ODI 10715562
Body · Suspension
Heard a thudding from rear end. Looked underneath as nothing loose in the vehicle. The passenger side rear wheel well is very rusted. No support for shocks. There was an undercoating with debris under it. Took out a lot of sludge/rust/debris from under that coating. Body shop says $5000 to fix it properly, and the other side is starting to rust as well (driver rear wheel well).
ODI 10716952
Body
While driving hit a pot hole and heard a loud noise coming from the rear of the car. Upon inspection the entire passenger side wheel house is rusted out, causing the shock to break loose from the body and tear into the rear compartment. Vehicle is not drivable until fixed. Part is on backorder.
ODI 10714908
Body · Steering · Suspension
When i was driving i heard some loud noise and when i stopped i found that the rear passenger strut shot up thru the back interior of the car.this was due to the entire wheel well rusting out.i also was driving another time when the front end started to shake.i stopped and got out and seen that the front tires were facing sideways.the tie rod broke.i could have been seriously hurt or killed.
ODI 11024159
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger wheel well was corroded. The dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The dealer deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 7/21/15*cn updated 9/23/15 *js
ODI 10714964
Body · Suspension
Purchased june 2005 as a used vehicle w/ 18,000 miles. Always garage kept. Noticed a popping noise from the passage rear. Investigated and found the inner wheel well. Area were the shock bolt's to has almost completely rusted out. Read of other people having same issues on the internet. Car is unsafe to drive until repaired. Will consult a body shop on repairs. Ford needs to man up and offer a fix for this issue! *tr
ODI 10714358
Body · Suspension
Heard loud noise from rear of vehicle especially at low speeds. Removed inside panel to find that rear passenger wheel well rusted through causing shock mount to tear through frame and was no longer attached to frame. Consulted with ford, no recall for this model year,,,but for previous year and following year?!! Took vehicle to body shop for repairs. Vehicle for kids and deemed unsafe or dangerous for them.…
ODI 10716059
Body · Suspension
One day i noticed that some of the undercoating in the rear right when was gone, upon further inspection i noticed that there was hole in the wheel well. After researching online, i learned that this is a common problem. Although my problem is not as serious as some of the stories i read, i still feel that it is safety issue and an accident waiting to happen. As time goes by the rust will continue to grow and i'm…
ODI 10706567
Body · Suspension · Wheels
We started to notice a "clunky" noise coming from the right rear wheel hub. Upon inspection, the right rear wheel hub is over 50% rusted out. The left rear wheel hub is intact. We can not drive vehicle fearing a structural failure will result in an accident or injury. After researching this issue on the internet, it seems to be a common problem for this model, and other ford models. *tr
ODI 10706412
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair and it was discovered that the rear passenger side wheel well was completely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
ODI 10706342
Body · Service Brakes · Suspension
I have a 2005 ford escape took it to a shop today because of the banging from the suspension. When the mechanic put the car on the lift he saw that the entire wheel well around the shock absorber was rusted completely out. The extra stress on the shock absorber caused the bolt on the top to break off. The stress also caused the rear break line to fray almost to the point of breaking completely. This car is no longer…
ODI 10706198
Body · Rear
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While traveling at an unknown speed, a loud noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the inner rear fender and the rear shocks deteriorated without warning. The contact stated that the parts were rusted and could fracture at any moment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.…
ODI 10705423
Body · Suspension · Wheels
While driving down the road going approx. 40 mph, i heard a loud noise from by back passenger side tired. I immediately pulled over to see what caused the noise. Upon inspection, i noticed the wheel well that supports the back shock was completely rusted. The shock had broke through the rusted wheel well and was pressed up against the inside interior of my car. The rest of my wheel wells are in fine condition. When…
ODI 10704820
Body · Suspension
Have found the right rear strut mount almost rusted away and the left side is on its way. I hear there is a recall for 2001-2004 for this and from all the complaints i see on-line this should include 2005-2006 and unless they did something to actually stop this, even later years should be included. If a person hits a chuck hole this could cause a bad accident., i see a lot of people can't even drive their vehicles.…
ODI 10700977