2004 Ford Escape: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Sep 24, 2018 · Body, Suspension · 128,000 miles · MI

When hitting a bump in the road, car pulls sidewavs. Got checked out. They found excessive corrosion on engine cradle and steering components were loose and affected by excessive corrosion on engine cradle. Stabilizer rod is almost ready to fall off. They advised us not to drive the car until all components are repaired. Steering is erratic and tires squeal when turned left or right.there is a recall for 386,000 of these vehicles in road salt states. We live in one of them, michigan. When ford put the car on the rack, they said something is seriously wrong: that the wheels were bowed out.bought car from ford after a 3-year lease was over. No problems til now. The car is now 14 years old, mileage is apprx. 128,000.

Filed Apr 29, 2018 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · MA

Driving don highway made a grinding noise and stopped accelerating. Mechanic told me the transmission spit out my axles and would not hold them in.

Filed Dec 6, 2015 · Body · 112,500 miles · OH

Our 2004 ford escape is making metallic creaking, squeaking and groaning sounds from the passenger side rear. The sound is triggered by just sitting in the stationary car and rocking back and forth. It becomes constant as soon as the vehicle starts moving. There are also occasional heavy metallic thumps or knocks on the passenger side or underside of the car, and the ride is rough. The passenger side rear inner metal wheelhouse is extremely rusty. A few holes are several inches square & go all the way through into the interior of the car. Part of the rust is very near where the top of the shock absorber bolts into the wheelhouse. The wheelhouse metal is so rusty that I can flex it with my hand and cause the creaking sounds. I believe the heavy metallic thumps are caused when the conical bumper inside the top of the spring bottoms out and hits the suspension mounted to the bottom of the spring. This likely happens because the shock absorber cannot stop it, since the rusty wheelhouse bends so much. This serious safety problem is heavily documented on the internet by a very large number of people. The top of the shock absorber could crash through the wheelhouse and protrude into the car interior, injuring occupants of the car. This would make loss of control more likely. It would be extremely dangerous if the shock absorber breaks free and becomes tangled up with the rear wheel or punctures the tire. This car is a unibody construction, so this wheelhouse is supposed to provide structural strength for that part of the car. In the event of a crash this rusty wheelhouse will disintegrate and not properly absorb the crash energy like it is supposed to. This makes it more likely that the occupants will get injured. Please force a vehicle recall asap which makes ford motor co. Replace this dangerous wheelhouse with one that has a safer, non-rusting design.

Filed Sep 20, 2014 · Electrical, Suspension · 129,000 miles · IL

Loud rattle then grinding noise. When I pulled over I had to remove the shock mount which was jammed between the car and my tire. The shock has now popped through the plastic. This is my only form of transportation and the dealer said there was no recall. The other side is rusted out as well. In addition, when damp out, the #5 plug is missing causing damage to the converter. Total estimated tune up repair close to $400. During the past year tyrod, brakes & rotors, wheel bearing, brake hoses, power steering, radio stays on when car is shut off unless fuse is pulled. Fuel pump was replaced at 70000 in 2011. Have to take the loss. Ford should refund for this defect. The mound is not rusted, just the wheel wells it is attached to.

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Wheels · 165,000 miles · MI

Driving on the interstate, the car was making a loud grinding noise. Pulled into rest area, and let car sit a few minutes. Started it up again, and no noise. Started back on the interstate, and noise started again. Pulled off again, and noticed right wheel was wobbling. Looked at wheel and lug nuts were loose, and wheel was now deformed. Had it towed to a repair facility and had to purchase a new wheel. Facility installed it and tightened all lug nuts. This problem has continued, with the lug nuts requiring tightening monthly. Accompanying rust in the wheel well is a problem. Hub is not holding wheel correctly.

Filed Jun 14, 2014 · Brakes, Fuel system · IN

I first noticed a surging and squeal type noise while coming to a stop. Spouse had repaired 3 times yet it continues. During this time I also heard a clanking noise from rear end as if hatch (window/door) was not securely closed but then assumed it may be related to the aforementioned issue. I mentioned noise increased, loud, frightening (steering difficulties). He contacted ford by phone (x3) and emailed however their reply was no fatalities or incidents had been reported therefore we have 2 options. 1) take it to a ford dealer for repair at our expense, 2) trade in for a new ford vehicle. Both school/city/govt employed and cannot afford 2000.00 to repair. Yesterday my husband removed the entire right shock when I returned home from work after a 12 hr day & told him I felt as if the back end was going to fall off & clanking sound intensified. At 8pm he was laying under car on garage floor and found the shock hanging! He was forced to remove as I had to work the next day at 6am. I am driving without one shock, new tires, rusted rear frame and surge continues. I would appreciate any suggestions as to other avenues for reporting. I have 2 coworkers with similar issues, both escapes. The removed shock is rusted, near crumbling of sort but saved along with several photos. Thank you in advance for reviewing my lengthy email and look forward to any input and recommendations. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr updated 1/21/15

Filed Dec 19, 2012 · Brakes · 203,258 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. While parked, the contact noticed that the ABS warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the ABS module would have to be replaced. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 07v156000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock:control unit/module) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. After a period of time elapsed, the contact began to notice a loud squeaking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle and a grinding sound when depressing the brake pedal. The contact had the brakes replaced but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 203,258.

Filed Jul 21, 2010 · Wheels · 96,000 miles · PA

Two axles on the car have broken. Both times, the car was used for regular use (no "off-roading", no accidents). The car was driving fine, then suddenly, when braking, a grinding noise was heard. When I brought the car in to be repaired, they found a cracked boot, cracked ABS ring, and cracked axel. First time this happened was in 2007 (rear axel), and now in 2010 (front axel).

Filed Jan 7, 2009 · Brakes · 23,200 miles · NM

The brakes on my 2004 ford escape, which only has 23,000 miles on it, started squealing, and I was having to push a little harder than usual. On december 26, 2008 my husband took the vehicle to the shop to have the brakes checked, instead of new brake pads, which were curiously in good condition, we are going to need new front discs, front and back calipers, as well as brake pads. We were able to afford the brake pads as well as the right front disc at cost of 400 dollars but we are going to need to shell out another 400.00 plus to repair the rest. The wait wouldn't be so bad if I didn't need the escape to transport my daughter back and forth to school every day.

Filed Aug 18, 2006 · 42,000 miles · MI

I purchased a 2004 escape on may 13, 2004 with the standard 3-year/ 36,000 miles coverage. On the june 11, 2006 the cd player started grinding. It gave me a non-descript error message and when I tried to eject the cd it would not comply. I would estimate my mileage at about 42,000 miles. I contacted my local ford dealer who stated that since my mileage was over 36,000 my car was no longer under warranty and that they could not assist me, unless I chose to purchase a new cd player. It no longer works. I have filed complaints with the bbb and michigan attorney general office to resolve the matter. Similar problems exist in 2005 models and the technical service bulletins indicates to replace it only if the car is under warranty, telling me ford has a defective part and is hedging its bet that some people won't figure it out before the end of the warranty period.

Filed Oct 20, 2005 · Brakes · 1 miles · AL

Brakes screech, squeal, and feel jerky. Also when I put the vehicle in park, the vehicle rolls forward a distance of four (4) to six (6) inches. My boyfriend, jody, is an attorney. He says that on occasion when he has driven the vehicle, it rolled forward after he put it in park, and touched the vehicle in front of my vehicle in the parking lot. He also reported that my vehicle rolled forward four (4) to six (6) inches in the wal-mart parking lot, which resulted in the front end being buried up against a hedge of tall thickly woven (weaved[?] bushy limbs which scraped and scratched my front end. Anyway, the paint is now scratched and peeling on the lower part of the front end, where the "cladding" is painted, and the leading edge of the metal hood.