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 · Wheels
The passenger side rear wheel well on this escape is completely rotted. A large piece of the body in the wheel well has broken away (around 8x8) with the shock attached. The large piece of metal has been bouncing in and out of the indoor storage compartment. I now have no shock absorption on that wheel. I have noticed numerous other people that share this problem with this vehicle. Ford has refused to assist them…
ODI 10655259
Body · Suspension
Severe rusted out rear wheel wells causing the passenger rear shock to break. Called ford and they stated no recall for 2005 just thru 2004 and they could not do anything. Still owe money on this vehicle and not sure what it is going to cost for large repair. Needs to be recalled. Look up this google and you will find tons of this. *tr
ODI 10660390
Body · Suspension
Right rear wheel rusted apart and shock absorber is not attached any longer. The car is not drivable to safety concern. *tr
ODI 10678347
Body · Suspension
Severe rust in the passenger side rear wheel well- where the shock mounts. Shock is about to push thru the rust into the inside of car. Rust was disguised by undercoating by previous owner or dealer. Loud noise when going over bumps, etc. Unsafe to drive. *tr
ODI 10653158
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the rear passenger side inner fender wheel well needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,800. The vin was…
ODI 10651110
Body · Suspension · Wheels
I was driving down the street when i noticed a banging noise coming from the rear of the car. When i parked the car and investigated i realized that the passenger side rear wheel well was rusted out. My shock is not longer attached to the car and every time i hit a bump it slams into the car. *tr
ODI 10650289
Body · Suspension
Had my 2005 ford escape in for service and mechanic stated that there is severe rust on undercarriage and rear wheel wells. Mechanic stated that the car will not pass inspection because of this safety issue and that the rear shock mounts are rusting through. I contacted ford and they stated that only the 2001-2004 models are covered under the new recall and to keep my receipts for any work i have done to fix it. I…
ODI 10651461
Body · Rear
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While traveling approximately 30 mph, the rear passenger side shock fractured and punctured through a rusted hole into the rear interior of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the underbody was rusted, the rear shock was rusted on the rear passenger side, and a large hole near the rear wheel well was present. The contact removed the rear shock, but…
ODI 10644619
Body · Suspension
The right rear wheel well has completely corroded, and the shock absorber upper mount has almost completely separated from the body, making the vehicle undrivable.. The left rear shock absorber mount looks like new...no sign of rust. Looking online at ford forums, there are alot of people complaining of this very problem. Furthermore, model years 2001-2004 ford escape were recalled for the very same problem. *tr
ODI 10641418
Body · Suspension
I began to hear a thumping sound from the passenger rear side like something was loose. It turns out that the wheel well is rusted through and the shock absorber is in danger of breaking loose which could cause further damage and make the vehicle difficult to control. *tr
ODI 10650703
Body · Suspension · Wheels
Right rear wheel well has on my 2005 ford escape has rusted completely through. The shock absorber is banging against the inner interior molding when the vehicle goes over a bump. There are large holes in the passenger compartment and the shock absorber is about to separate entirely from the wheel well leaving the suspension on the right rear side of the vehicle compromised. The wheel well on the left rear of the…
ODI 10649757
Body · Suspension
The right rear wheel well is all rusted out and the mount for the shock is barely attached. This is suspect because no other wheel wells on the car have corrosion like this. *tr
ODI 10644634
Body · Suspension · Wheels
I have previously filed a complaint after taking the above car to a body shop when i noticed some rusting in the wheel well area. The body shop (x3) explained this was a known issue with ford (prior to the 2001-2004 recall). I contacted ford via e-mail, and filed a complaint here. The wheel wells in the rear of the vehicle were peeling, and i was told the shock mount would eventually punch through to the inside of…
ODI 10639702
Body
Excessive wheel well rust such that the shock mount has disconnected. *tr
ODI 10638620
Body
A severe rattle started in the right rear wheel well of my 2005 ford escape hybrid. A body shop determined that the right rear wheel well had nearly completely disintegrated due to rust and that the shock mount was hanging by a thread. An internet search performed by the shop revealed that this is a common problem to this make and model manufactured in the years around 2005 and that it occurs only the in right rear…
ODI 10633184
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving over bumps in the road at various speeds, the contact could hear a hard knocking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear passenger side wheel well was rusted and corroded along with part of the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the…
ODI 10632677
Body · Suspension
The right rear shock broke loose as a result of extreme rust in the right rear wheel well around the shock tower. *tr
ODI 10631237
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving approximately 65 mph, a loud snapping noise was coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the inner quarter panel and the passenger side wheel well were rusted and corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,000.
ODI 10652964
Body · Suspension
Right, rear wheel well is completely rusted out. Shock has become detached. Loud banging noise. Shock poking through to the trunk. Unsafe to drive. *tr
ODI 10630702
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that there was extensive rust on the rear wheel wells. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear wheel wells needed to be replaced and may potentially fracture due to the corrosion, which was affecting other components within the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
ODI 10679785
Body · Suspension
My wife was driving her 2005 ford escape and noticed a loud noise coming from the passenger side rear of the vehicle. The noise happened when she was hitting bumps in the road. Upon inspection of the vehicle, i notice a hole rusted through the wheel well on the rear passenger side. I removed the interior panel to discover the wheel well completely rusted through around the shock mount. This is an extremely dangerous…
ODI 10629635
Body
Ford escape 2005 was up for inspection/emissions in pa. It was found to have excessive rust and corrosion to both rear wheel wells, needing full replacement prior to passing inspection. This is an issue that has been found repeatedly with 04-06 models. It is a safety hazard, as gone unnoticed, can cause the shocks to break through while driving. The expense of repair is estimated at over $1400. There is no current…
ODI 10629803
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear wheel well rusted through and punctured the suspension. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the wheel well needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 135,000. Updated 10/07/14*lj the consumer stated the shock absorber support tower…
ODI 10629446
Body · Suspension
I was driving when very loud banging start in the rear trunk area. I thought it was a worn shock. It was much worse than that. The shock mount was completely rusted away from the body. There is a large hole in the trunk area where you can see the tire from inside. *tr
ODI 10628589
Body
While driving our 2005 ford escape we heard loud banging noises coming from the right rear of the vehicle whenever we went over a bump. We inspected our escape and discovered the right rear fender well is severely rusted out. We were extremely upset to realize our son had been driving this car and could have suffered a severe injury due to this structural defect. We researched this and discovered many other ford…
ODI 10628008