Rear passenger wheel house and strut assembly fastening bracket exhibit severe corrosion and possible detachment from vehicle body. Such an incident is likely to result in a loss of vehicle control at cruising speed. Previous repairs performed by prior owner. Body shop consulted and replacement of affected parts is not economically feasible.
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid body complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 24 of 24, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Right rear well corroded extensively. 4 inch hole exposing high voltage battery in trunk to water, salt, snow. Dealer states that vehicle is unsafe to drive due to risk of collapse of struts and risk of explosion/fire from high voltage battery exposure. Quotes more than $4000 to repair this vehicle with only 59,510 miles. Rear bumper and rear suspension both compromised. Rear bumper has no support on right side risking passenger injury in accident. Rear shock strut collapsing. Request investigation and recall action.
I am an owner of a 2005 ford escape hybrid. Within the past week, the right rear fender wall completely rusted through. When I drove my car, it sounded like a series of small bombs were going off in the back anytime I hit a hole. When I took the car into get fixed, it cost $1064.62. Ford will not reimburse me for a penny of this. I am not the only one facing this exact same problem. There is a facebook page dedicated to it: https://www.facebook.com/pages/2005-ford-escape-2004-2006/397923900236108 this is a known problem for ford but basically they won't do anything about it. It is up to the federal safety agency to demand a recall of this and to get it fixed. This is very dangerous. What if my car would have collapsed as I was driving it? So many people could have been injured or killed. I have pictures/receipts to prove everything I said above.
While driving on city streets, we heard a hollow thumping sound coming from the rear passenger-side wheel well whenever we went over a small bump. After externally inspecting the wheel well, we discovered that it was extremely rusted, and appeared to be in danger of completely disintegrating. Medium-sized pieces were flaking off with only a slight tug. An identical issue caused the recall of ford escape models from the years 2001-2004, but ford representatives to which I have spoken have indicated that they are not considering a recall for the 2005 model year. This is an extremely dangerous situation, and could cause crashes if shock or axle supports fail at highway speeds. This is clearly a design flaw, since this model is less than 10 years old with only 111,000 miles. Others have indicated that ford is aware of this problem, but refuses to address the safety concerns.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH over a bump, a loud clanking noise emitted from outside of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rear passenger's side wheel well inner liner was rusted. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated violently and made a loud noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the rear passenger wheel well was completely corroded and the shock absorber was no longer attached and the wheel well needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 139,000.
Wheel house rotted out shock/spring broke thru wheel house hitting on hybrid battery.
The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted through and it sounds like a bomb going off when you drive over a manhole cover. I was told this was typical on this type of car. Only on the passenger side, never on the driver side.
Both left and right hatch window hinges broke leaving the window hanging. Bolts oxidized through producing this failure. This could have happened even if there was no attempt to open the lift gate window. If this had happened while driving, the window could have possibly broken completely off and caused damage to vehicles and/or persons that were following. The liftgate window hinge part # is 420a68.
Noticed a loud banging noise in the back passenger side. Looked in wheel well and it is completely rusted out. You can see right through the car. Took it to the repair shop and they told me they have seen many exact scenarios. Shock is attached in a way that it rubs against the wheel well causing corrosion.. No other rust on the vehicle and it is stored in the garage. I am the original owner and have given scheduled maintenance and repair. In looking further in to this it is a common complain. Clearly a design flaw. A recall is needed as this is a huge safety issue. The wheel can fall right off = and that will cause serious injury, please investigate.
I was en route to a repair shop to check a possible u-joint noise, and hit a repair bump in the road when my car made a very scary clunk at the right/rear wheel. It continued to make a banging /clunking noise. I continued on to the repair shop traveling at 25mph with my flashers on. They took the vehicle for a short test drive and confirmed the banging/clunking noise. They then put the vehicle on a hoist for a visual inspection and found the under-body frame around the right/rear shock mount had rusted away, and the remaining portion that was still attached to the shock was snapping and banging with any movement of the right/rear wheel. Since then I have not driven my vehicle. The repair shop has informed me that they have seen 5 more escapes since then ,and only one had the same problem. It was also an escape hybrid. They also advised me to contact your website and make a complaint.
I was driving home and slowed down to go over some railway tracks. As I went over the tracks I heard a "thud" coming from the rear of the vehicle. The sound continued as I went over bumps, and I discovered once I arrived home that the passenger side rear wheel well was completely rusted out and the shock was unattached at the top. Since then the top of the shock has pierced through the interior cabin wall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape hybrid. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the wheel well began to separate from the frame. Upon further inspection the contact noticed that there was massive rust in the area. The vehicle was taken to a personal mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was advised not to drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 130,000.
The passenger side rear wheel well body and frame has totally rusted away leaving no anchor for the shock absorber and rendering the car unsafe to drive (see attached pictures). This defect occurred despite the vehicle being garage kept, well maintained and maintained only by a licensed ford dealership. Highland park ford and ford motor company knowingly and/or negligently concealed a known, major defect from the owner of the vehicle while the vehicle was still under warranty so as to avoid having to repair the product per ford's express warranty.
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