2003 Ford Escape wheels problems

Filed Jul 11, 2020 · Brakes, Wheels · PA

I brought braces drums for back wheels still idonot have braces they donot work took to auto place was told to contact dealer

Filed Oct 18, 2017 · Body, Wheels · 150,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact's daughter owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that his daughter noticed that the subframe looked rusted and loose. The vehicle was towed to brondes ford toledo (5545 secor rd, toledo, oh 43623) where it was diagnosed that the subframe had rotted. The vehicle was serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). After the vehicle was driven over 20 MPH, the wheels turned at different angles and the vehicle made a screeching sound. The vehicle was taken back to brondes ford, but the dealer and manufacturer (who was made aware of the failure) declined to provide further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Nov 2, 2016 · Steering, Suspension · 107,317 miles · NY · crash

The front passenger side lower control arm failed while my son was driving the vehicle. He was going straight, and the right front side just buckled under while he was in motion. Luckily he wasn't on a heavily-traveled road when it happened, because there would have been a serious accident. The vehicle, although it is a 2003 ford escape, is not part of recall #14s02. Why, I don't know? No one at ford can explain this to me, as it is exactly what has been happening with this make and model/year. We had it repaired at great cost to us, with exactly the parts/labor that ford had been describing in the recall. Our mechanic even got the replacement crossmember from ford! Ford themselves wanted nothing to do with the repair. In addition to the lower control arm, and crossmember, the tire had to be replaced, along with the right front axle assembly, as they were severely damaged from the frame failure. I would really like an answer as to why my vehicle is not included in the recall, when the recall describes exactly what has happened to my vehicle.

Filed Sep 26, 2016 · Suspension, Wheels · 140,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving approximately 33 MPH and attempting to turn, the front passenger side wheel failed and the vehicle became difficult to control. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the shoulder and discovered that the front passenger wheel was rusted and twisted outward. The failure caused the rear control arm to almost fall off. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Feb 19, 2016 · Steering, Wheels · ME

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving approximately 20 MPH and turning right, the vehicle made a clunking sound. The contact had to turn the wheel to the left in order to drive straight. When slowing down to approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle made a clunking noise from the front passenger side. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that the passenger side wheel was slightly detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 9, 2016 · Body, Suspension · 145,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle had a recall on the frame and was repaired. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle shook and the steering wheel wobbled. The front driver side wheel was straight while the front passenger side wheel faced outward. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the subframe was completely fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.

Filed Jul 8, 2015 · Steering, Wheels · 75,000 miles · NY

My daughter was driving at a slow rate of speed and the front wheel fell off the truck. There had been a recall on this part and we had the service completed. Ford added a cross member to the part as the parts were rusting. This was done within the year. The truck is now at a ford dealership and the ford motor company refuses to pay for the repair. I am grateful that my daughter was not hurt however this is the second time this wheel has fallen off. A year earlier during a service visit a ford certified mechanic forgot to put a bolt back on. That dealership did pay to have the truck repaired and apologized. Again it was fortunate that my daughter was not hurt.

Filed Mar 17, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 91,500 miles · OH

Had my 2003 escape in to the dealer for a wheel bearing problem, while it was in the shop they did the open recall 14s02 sub frame brace installation. Drove the car 2 times. The wife decided to drive to the store on a 3rd time and called me to say car was pulling hard to the passenger side. After getting the car home I remove the passenger front tire thinking that we had a sticking brake caliper and could see right away that the sub frame had ripped apart right where the lower control arm bolts up. After more investigation and many photos it appears to me that the bolt that was used to install the brace per the recall has cause the upper part of the frame to rip apart from the lower part (split it open) there is significant rust on the frame but this really looks like the bandaid caused a bigger problem. I called the dealer, they said to call ford, I called ford they said take it back to the dealer and they would evaluate it. But after reading comments here I decided against that and will probably just haul it to scrap yard. What a waste.

Filed Jul 23, 2014 · Steering, Wheels · 104,407 miles · NY

The enclosed form with the things fixed should help. I was turning and the wheel almost fell off. I was in the parking lot so nothing was hit or hurt.

Filed May 31, 2013 · Body, Steering · 97,325 miles · NY

While that vehicle was being operated; decelerating from about 35 MPH, a very loud pop noise was heard and the front passenger side became unstable and steering became unreliable. Vehicle was stopped immediately. Upon initial inspection is appears that the wheel became partially detached from vehicle. After a thorough inspection is appears that the rear mounting bolt of the front passenger side control arm had detached from the sub-frame. This part of the sub-frame show excessive corrosion which LED to the failure of the control arm mounting point. As a result of the failure the vehicle lost all ability to maintain effective stability. Luckily the vehicle was already decelerating and being operated on a roadway that had sufficient room to make corrective measure otherwise the outcome of this failure easily could have been catastrophic and fatal. The vehicle has less than 100,000 miles. The body and other parts of the frame do not have significant amounts of rust.