2001 Ford Escape: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Aug 15, 2019 · Body, Suspension · 235,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle veered to the right; however, the steering wheel turned to the left. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe was corroded. The failure allowed the passenger side control arm to travel forward every time the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 235,000.

Filed May 7, 2018 · Body, Suspension · 120,000 miles · IA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal noise and the steering wheel would not move the wheels. Upon inspection, the contact observed that the control arms and the subframe experienced severe corrosion. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Mar 7, 2017 · Body, Suspension · 140,779 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle drove erratically without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the bracket where the lower control arm connected to the subframe was severely corroded. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The vehicle was repaired; however, the repair failed to remedy the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure the approximate failure mileage was 140,779. Updated 06/13/17*lj

Filed Oct 28, 2016 · Suspension · 90,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. The contact stated that the lower control arm on the front passenger side rusted without warning. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Jul 25, 2016 · Body, Suspension · 153,127 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. The contact stated that while reversing out the drive way at approximately 10 MPH, the front passenger side lower control arm fractured. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the frame of the vehicle was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The failure mileage was 153,127. ...updated 09/12/16

Filed Dec 27, 2015 · Suspension · 189,797 miles · OH

Ford issued a recall in april of 2014 for the front sub frame rust issue which can cause the control arms to separate from the frame causing the wheel to kick out there for having no steering. The fix that ford did was drill holes into the already rusted sub frame and install a cheap 90 dollar bar that provides no fix to this issue. I took my escape in october of 2014 to have the frame inspected and to have the recall performed. My sub frame was heavily rusted and they did nothing but installed the metal bar. I've been very worried about this issue for the past year and just last week while driving my escape the sub frame snapped and had very little to no steering once it broke. This is a very dangerous issue that needs to be addressed, when these sub frames break that bar that ford installed does nothing to keep your steering under control. I contacted the motor company and hauled it back to the dealer that did the recall on the escape. After the dealer ship sent pictures to ford of this issues the motor company said it wasn't their problem and that it was something I have to deal with. Now just think about this, there are a a lot of 2001-2004 escape on the road that have this issue and when these frames snap it can cause a major problem for the driver. Loss of steering and may cause an accident if you cant control the vehicle to make a safe stop. I'm left with my daily driving vehicle sitting in the driveway because the motor company did not replace my frame that had heavy rust and rust holes in it when I took it to a dealer to have the recall performed. I need my frame replaced but the motor company claims that the issue was resolved when they installed that cheap 90 bar across the sub frame. It was me and my four year old son in the vehicle when the frame snapped while driving it down the road, very very unsafe for ford no to replace the sub frame.

Filed Jan 20, 2015 · Body · 187,207 miles · VA

Vehicle had a recent recall 14s02. Ford installed a bracket to correct the issue. The problem is that the whole car is corroded. I recently had an inspection done and was told that I would not pass inspection as the frame was completely separated from the rear control arms. So, I took it to a frame shop to learn that my car should be condemned. That there is no amount of repair that will fix this. That it is beyond repair at this point and I should not drive it. I was told that per the recent recalls for corrosion this should be reported. It is a definite defect and based on the year of the vehicle this should not be happening. They suggested that something more complex is wrong here. Even the work performed by ford isn't going to hold up because it's too badly rusted and there's nothing to hold it together.

Filed Oct 15, 2014 · Body, Suspension · 86,222 miles · CO

Going approx. 25 MPH, slowing to a stop sign. Applied brakes and passenger tire made noise and u joint busted. Rim//tire was positioned incorrectly. Rust is visible. I need to know if this is related to ford recall of escape suvs due to rust that could cause the separation of the lower control arm from the subframe of the vehicle.the recall covers vehicles sold in states where high corrosion is likely to occur. My vehicle was purchased in bradley, il. What do I do??

Filed Sep 9, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 77,700 miles · NY

The federal safety agency 14v165/ ford 14s02- brought 2001 ford escape to ford dealer with steering failure due to failure of lower control arm separation at sub frame. Car was not drivable. Was told that recall covered bracket to secure control arm in case of steering failure. Steering had already failed. Was told sub frame assembly was rotted & separated. I have photos. Ford dealership attempted to replace sub frame under recall protocol but was prevented by ford reps from doing so because the separation was not excessive enough to meet criteria. The lower control arm was off on separation, the front wheel was coming off, but that wasn't enough. I was told that the bracket placement under recall was the remedy to prevent steering failure. But this is after the fact, the steering and control arm had already failed and were unsustainable because the bracket at this time couldn't help. The recall I was told was to prevent loss of control of steering if parts failed and not to replace sub frame. Sub frame and lower control arms(left & right) were replaced at my expense so that I did not have to junk car. Car was at dealership ten days, no loaner car or rental was requested, but not offered either. Multiple calls to ford motor company yielded no results, they approved the dealership to appeal the decision to not repair the vehicle from the recall department but I was told that once they deny a repair , they never rescind a decision. My issue is, what are we doing? Blogs on same issue show numerous refusals to repair these vehicles by ford motor company. These are specific vehicles in specific areas that they knew of the situations and failures, it is not isolated. I'd like to get some compensation towards the cost of this very pricey repair. Please address this for others with same critical situation.

Filed May 7, 2014 · Body, Steering · 165,434 miles · OH

As I was driving the car down the street I began loosing control of the steering. The steering wheel was facing a 90 degree right angle as I was driving straight and every time I would hit a bump the car would jump to the right. The steering wheel also had a lot of play while driving. I took the car straight to my mechanic and he informed me the car was not drivable or safe due to the lower control arm separating from the subframe which has to due with recall # 14s02. Is the subframe being replaced at some point? They put a crossbrace on the vehicle but it is still being deemed unsafe to drive.

Filed Oct 22, 2013 · Body, Engine · 127,069 miles · MI

While driving the vehicle, the left side of the vehicle collapsed after experiencing a loss of steering control. I jacked up the vehicle to inspect the cause and discovered the left side of the engine/suspension cradle was suffered from abnormal corrosion that allowed the lower control arm to become detached from the vehicle. This condition is not present on the right side of the vehicle, therefore it is obvious that this is a quality issue with the component that caused a premature failure and a safety issue. This is a ford quality issue that is not being addressed that could cause severe injury and death.

Filed May 18, 2013 · Body, Suspension · 100,199 miles · MI

Right front suspension control arm no longer securely attached to car frame because cradle or subframe rusted thru. Quick search on internet indicates that this is a common issue for 2001 - 2004. Left front cradle that attaches control arm to body is good. Perhaps constant water dripping from air conditioner has caused that area of the frame to rust. Ford dealer can not find a supply of subframe part perhaps because of frequency of rust thru failure?