2001 Ford Escape fuel system problems

Filed Jan 30, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 164,000 miles · ME

In 2001 ford escapes a misfire occurs and cause the fuel mileage to decrease. It also causes the car to shutter at idle when it is cold. After checking message boards it appears that more than a handful are having the same exact issue and despite changing any parts accept the connectors and PCM the issue still occurs. The number of cars effected by this is more than just a coincidence and should be listed as a factory defect.

Filed Jun 16, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 135,423 miles · VA

We were driving around a curve and onto a straight part of the road about 40-43 MPH and the engine just cut off. We were able to coast over to the side of the road and stop. The steering and brakes had no power. We tried starting the engine and it cranked but acted like it was not getting any fuel (there was half a tank). We left to get a ride and when we returned to tow the car it started right up and has been driving fine since. We are afraid to drive it now because if we had been in traffic we would have been in an accident.

Filed Jul 19, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 176,450 miles · MI

After driving for appx 19 miles, stopped at my destination and put car in park. Engine started racing to appx 3000-4000 RPM. Tapped gas pedal to see if I could make it stop, which I couldn't (it continued to race for a few moments). At this point I just turned ignition off. Started car back up and everything was normal again.

Filed Jul 19, 2012 · Fuel system · 46,000 miles · CA · crash

While stopped at driveway waiting to turn right into a 2 lane street, I proceeded to press on the accelerator to proceed into the right turn, when taking my foot off the accelerator pedal to brake, the vehicle continued to accelerate forward causing the vehicle to proceed across the street and impacting a parked vehicle. My vehicle is a 2001 ford escape v6.

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 174,000 miles · VA

Driving the car and the RPM went up very quickly and the car accelerated. Even with foot off the gas pedal it continued to increase speed. Put the car to neutral and pulled to side of road RPM stayed high even in neutral. Had car towed to ford dealership and they found no problem.

Filed Jun 27, 2012 · Fuel system, Transmission · 79,000 miles · NE

My "stick shift" 2001 ford escape tends to stall when the clutch is pushed in, clear to the floor. The engine would die and leave me stranded everywhere. Even if you are driving down the road at 45mph or higher, once you push in the clutch to change to the last gear, it will still stall at high speeds. The engine completely cuts off, but only when you push in the clutch. Once this happens, it will not stay running. It will restart for just a few seconds, (not the battery or starter) then it will die again, repeatedly. It would get towed to the nearest dealership with no luck. They could not "duplicate the problem". Once, the car cools off, then the problem disappears. There is a valve the heats up and gets stuck open. If the valve cools down, it can close and then it is fine. Now, if I make alot of short stops (errands) where the car doesn't get a chance to cool off, say ten minutes or less, then it won't stay started. If you turn over the ignition, it will start, but immediately dies. However, if I let the car sit for say a couple of hours, say 4-6 hours. It will start back up just fine and stay running like nothing ever happened. The key tip is: don't put ethanol in the gas tank. If I buy the most expensive gas, the problem tends to clear up on it's own. It started doing it again this summer. Once I changed to the primo (most expensive) gas, it has now stopped without taking it to a dealership. Personally, I think gas containing ethanol has too much moisture in it causing this problem. Even the dealership told me that this ford escape car is not designed to run on "ethanol" products. This all mostly happens when it is very hot and humid outside. Was just wondering if anyone else had this problem and if it would qualify for others as a recall item?

Filed Mar 28, 2007 · Brakes, Electrical · 67,508 miles · TN · fire

Tl*- the contact stated that the 2001 ford escape xlt wires under the hood burned while sitting in the garage of her home. She drove the vehicle one hour prior to the fire. The alarms in her house warned her of the fire. She called the local fire department, and they found no fire in the house. They then checked the garage and they smelled something burning. The fireman opened and noticed the wires that were burning under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to town and country, and they informed her that old brake fluid leaked on the ABS, which was the cause of the wires burning. The vehicle was serviced for the ABS light coming on, and off at the local firestone, they replaced the master cylinder . The wires burned within 24 hours of the repair. The town and country dealership gave the contact a loaner vehicle, and she felt this was odd. The contact stated that the dealership informed her that it would cost $2,416.12 to repair the wires and the ABS. The current and failure mileage were both 67,508. *ak the consumer states that she wants to be reimbursed for all repairs done to her vehicle and has provided all invoices for repair and the report from the fire dept. Update 4/25/07

Filed Jun 2, 2006 · Engine, Fuel system · 28,000 miles · OH

The first incident happened on 05/01/06 after driving at least 30 min to 45 min. At a speed of around 50 MPH, the check engine light came on. I took it to the dealer where they diagnosed a loose gas cap. On 5/22/06 after driving again at least 30 min to 45 min. After returning home and backing out of the driveway my escape stalled and would not start, after about an hour it started again did not take it to the dealer. The third incident happened may 30 after driving 30 min to 45 min the check engine light came on again. I took it to the dealer where they replaced the vapor management valve which is still not correcting the problem, so they are talking about replacing the fuel tank. The dealer has been very helpful, but after five years I would think I would not have this problem.

Filed Feb 7, 2005 · Body, Brakes · MN

Ford escape 2001, windshield wipers haven't kept windows clear enough to see during rain or snow. *bf the consumer was only getting 10-12 miles per gallon on the highway. The vehicle was hard to drive when it was windy outside. When the consumer attempted to stop the vehicle, the brake went down to the floor and did not come back up for several seconds. The anti-lock brakes did not engage. The consumer spoke to the dealer and he said the brakes must have frozen up. The battery low light was on.

Filed Jan 25, 2005 · Fuel system · 49,900 miles · CT · fire

One week prior to fire, there was a unusual smell that was almost like a "funny woodstove' smell. This smell was only present until the car heated up and the air freshener would cover the odor. It got very strong the afternoon before the fire happened. It was more of a stale tin can is the best way that I can describe it. I came home in the evening and at 5:30 am of the 30th my mother and I heard a loud explosion which we found out was later the rear tire on the driver side of my 2001 ford escape bursting due to the intensity of the fire and the origin, the rear left side of the vehicle. The ford escape is destroyed and burned at over 1400 degrees and spread so rapidly that by the time the fire department arrived there was nothing they could do but control the fore and put it out. My parents vehicle was in the driveway next to my escape and was also destroyed. Since the incident I have contacted ford several times to report the incident and have an investigator come out to determine the cause of the fire as the origin is already determined due to the way the vehicle burned. I have been given the runaround several times, and it has been almost thirty days. There was something very wrong with my car and this fire happened only a couple of hours after the vehicle was parked in my driveway, luckily I was not killed and my family still has a home. The fire marshal has stated that the fire patterns on the outside of the car are consistent with a leaking o ring from the gasoline tank. This matter was going to further be investigated when middlesex mutual and ford were present to lift the vehicle up off the ground, however ford has been ignoring this serious issue at hand.