KnownCarProblems2005 Ford Escape Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,394 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Escape, most often about the suspension (33% of complaints, typically around 121,000 miles). It is 9th of 27 Escape model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2005 Ford Escape problems
Suspension
459 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 121,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Rear wheel well around shock mount is rusted out. Loud banging can be heard from inside cab. Over time the shock mount may break free from the body of the vehicle.
As I was driving over the weekend with my husband and 2 young children I noticed a loud banging noise in the back of my vehicle. When I checked the right rear wheel area I noticed the inner and outer wheel house were completely rusted through, so much so that the shock was hitting the inside of my vehicle as it had…
Body and structure
434 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 120,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that rear passenger's side wheel well exhibited extensive rust. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the entire rear panel would need to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the diagnosis…
Was driving and heard increasing noise and clunking from back of vehicle. When home, pulled the right rear inside panel in the hatch area. Found rust performation surrounding the right rear shock mount. This rust was extensive on this one entire panel but perforated surrounding the shock mount area. I could see to the…
Engine
220 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving at speeds of 65 MPH, the emission control warning light was illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to move the vehicle from the roadway without incident. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer advised the ignition coils, spark plugs and…
While driving 70mph on freeway on way to hospital, getting off freeway, the vehicle shut off by itself. Luckily I was able to pull off road to avoid getting hit. If still on freeway, would have been killed. Engine light came on and unable to restart. Had to have towed to dealership due to computer shutdown affecting…
Electrical
153 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 102,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, instrument cluster/panel, propulsion system.
Smart junction box failure. Part# [VIN] this part controls many of the electronic elements of the vehicle; directional signals, hazard lights instrument panel, horn, locks, windows, security system. Various electrical elements fail intermittently because of this defective part. The part is on back-order and continues…
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While attempting to decelerate at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost all power. The contact noticed that the check engine, oil, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was advised that the coils and PCM failed and needed to be replaced.…
Speed control
149 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 85,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cables, cruise control.
The accelerator keeps getting stuck on my 2005 Ford Escape. I start it off, back up, put it in drive, press on the accelerator, and the accelerator won't move. I have to press on the accelerator really hard and then the truck takes off really fast and I have to fight with the wheel to gain control. My sister was also…
My gas pedal was sticking off and on a few days before sept, 1, 2010. On sept. 1, 2010 I was driving and the gas pedal cable went. I have never heard of gas pedal just breaking. I was on busy street and lost all power.
Transmission
117 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
This 2005 Escape failed when driving through the mountains in northern california. Ford has documented that spark plugs installed by Ford at the factory can cause all coils and the PCM to fail as they did in this case. Three tsb's have been generated related to this problem. My car was repaired under warranty at…
Transmission had to be replaced in 2005 Ford Escape (v6, 4WD) xlt. No issues prior to one day driving vehicle and it sputtered and slowed to a complete stop. The car was turned off and restarted just fine. But when the vehicle was put into drive, it only went for about 10 feet before it slowed to a complete stop…
Wheels and tires
105 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 118,500 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, sidewall, lugs/nuts/bolts/studs.
While driving, I hit a pot hole that caused my right rear strut tower to break through the inside of my vehicle, rendering it undrivable. My collision repair man has informed me that the pot hole was not the only culprit and that the wheel well was so rotted and rusted that it compromised the structural integrity of…
I was driving and I heard this loud banging. I looked at my wheel well and it was all rusted out and my shock is coming up now through my rear panel. I have looked at all the wheel wells and the other are not rusted at all but this one is. It is unsafe to drive it now because when up to speed and you hit a bump the…
Other or unspecified
76 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 107,000 miles.
The passenger side rear wheel well rusted out causing the strut to break through the trunk of the car . It also have bad rust on the other side wheel well. This happened while I was driving on the hwy. Upon taking it to an auto body shop was told the vehicle was unsafe to drive.
In the process of driving home from work last saturday, I noticed wind noise coming from my sunroof. When I opened the shade to look, the glass popped out and landed who knows where. I couldn't find it and it was already dark. My car is a 2005 Ford Escape with a webasto hollandia 700 installed sunroof. I have tried…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Ford Escape recalls
Transmission: floor shift
Risk: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "park" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "park" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "park" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the v
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on october 23, 2015. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s28.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 ford escape and mercury mariner vehicles manufactured march 31, 2001, to september 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3l or 3.0l engine and have had their cd4e transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between june 11, 2015 through july 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Hybrid system: hybrid propulsion system
Risk: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original motor electronics coolant (mec) pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on october 27, 2014. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14s19.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 ford escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured october 13, 2003, to june 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 mercury mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured june 10, 2005, to june 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Seats: head restraint
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
Fix: Dealers will make modifications to the energy absorbing material located above the headliner in the affected area free of charge. The recall began on may 19, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped without side air curtains or moonroofs fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during testing, the free motion head form registered a measurement above the permitted limit at the left hand a-pillar trim area.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the liftgate is left unlocked, there is the potential that it may open during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear liftgate latch release rod, the release rod attachment clip and the door handle return spring. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain 2004-2005 sport utility vehicles and certain 2001-2003 sport utiity vehicle having rear liftgate components serviced with 2004 equivalent components fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 206, 'door locks and door retention components.' the rear liftgate latching system does not meet the inertia load requirement in one direction.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Electronic throttle body malfunction
Summary
In a letter dated august 30, 2012, the north carolina consumers council (nccc) petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (my) 2005 through 2012 ford escape vehicles. On october 2, 2012 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a defect petition dp12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The nccc letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in my 2009 ford escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit
Summary
On november 18, 2010, NHTSA's recall management division (rmd) opened an audit query (aq10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.it was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.rmd queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (ford, chrysler, and general motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.the rental
Questions about the 2005 Ford Escape
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Escape?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (459 complaints, typically around 121,000 miles); body and structure (434 complaints, typically around 120,000 miles); engine (220 complaints, typically around 102,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Escape have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 29, 2015 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Ford Escape?
- It is 9th of 27 Escape model years by number of complaints, with 1,394 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.