2004 Ford Escape: sudden loss of power

6 of the 499 complaints about the 2004 Ford Escape describe sudden loss of power.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 125,680
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 8 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Sudden loss of power by model year

2025
1
2024
2
2023
7
2022
11
2021
4
2020
29
2019
22
2018
86
2017
101
2016
40
2015
30
2014
83
2013
125
2012
35
2011
185
2010
301
2009
210
2008
152
2007
6
2006
9
2005
43
2004
6
2003
10
2002
43
2001
65

What owners say

Filed Aug 12, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 206,100 miles · GA

Driving down the road about fourty five miles per hour I pushed the gas to go up a hill and lost all power to the engine. I removed my foot from the engine and it picked up enough speed to get to the side of the road. After being towed home it would crank but if you moved shifter knob or pressed gas it woukd die out.

Filed May 1, 2017 · Engine · 140,000 miles · NY

Vehicle at idle, misfired. Pulled off and went to drive onto the highway. Vehicle lost all power and it got worse. A smell came from the front and smoke came out of the dash. Had the driver, two toddlers, and I (passenger) in the vehicle. Driver and I were coughing from the smell and the smoke. Had to roll down the windows in the front and partly roll them down in the rear during the rain. Made it 2-3 miles before we turned around and went back home.

Filed Jul 17, 2014 · Electrical · 125,680 miles · PA

While driving at about 45 miles per hour my car starts to spit, sputter and run rough, there is a noticeable loss of power and my gauges first top out then they bottom out then they go back to normal. Ford can't find the problem because it doesn't code for them.

Filed Nov 4, 2013 · Engine · 19,500 miles · FL

At approximately 65 MPH on a crowded interstate highway, the vehicle lost power and the "check engine" light illuminated the vehicle slowed and I was able to pull off the highway. After switching the engine off and waiting a few minutes, I was able to start the car and move forward for about a mile when the same thing happened. After the third time this happened, I decided the car was too dangerous to drive in traffic and pulled over to call a tow truck. The car has less than 20,000 miles on it. The local ford dealer indicates no recall has been issued for this specific problem. Losing speed in fast-moving highway traffic is extremely dangerous; thankfully there was no accident or injury in this case.

Filed Jun 24, 2013 · Engine · 102,000 miles · NC

I want to bring to your immediate attention a serious safety concern I have with my 2004 ford escape. We have owned the car since 2007 (mileage 102,000) and have recently experienced intermittent stalling while the car is in motion. I have had 4 experiences where the car would stall while in motion. It appears to occur when outside temperatures are above 80 degrees and I have traveled in the car for >30 minutes and have made a short stop (for gas or shopping). After continuing my drive after a short stop, the car suddenly shuts off at some point on the way home while the vehicle is in motion, losing all power to the steering and breaking system. The car will start up again (while coasting) with no issue but stall again after a short while. These have been very harrowing experiences on busy roads and fortunate that it was me and not my pregnant wife, as I don't believe she would have had the strength to execute these emergency actions with no power. The car has been at the ford dealership for >1 week but they have failed to replicate the problem. The car remains at the ford dealership until the cause can be determined.

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Steering · 28,500 miles · CA

On two separate occasions while driving no more than 30 MPH on city streets, I have lost power steering on my 2004 ford escape xlt. The first time this happened was 8/11/05 while I was 207 miles away from home on vacation. I made a right hand turn after stopping at a traffic light and all of a sudden I lost power steering. It was very hard to steer, but I managed to ease to the right hand lane. Fortunately, no one was behind me. Once to the side of the street, I placed car in park and started trying to turn the steering left & right until I felt the power steering return. I stopped at a ford dealership to check the vehicle before the trip home. Dealer only looked under hood to check fluid and look for any obvious problem. No problem was found, and we made it home safely. The second occurrence was 9/6/05, same situation. I lost power steering after making a right hand turn after stopping at a stop sign. I managed to move to the side of street again, placed car in park, tried turning steering wheel until I felt power steering return. Drove to local dealership where they once again found no problem after checking wiring, pressure pump, power steering rack, & module. Nothing was replaced. I voiced my concern to service advisor that this was 2nd occasion and fortunately I wasn't on freeway or no one was behind me these two times. On both occasions I had my children in the car. We may not be so lucky the next time. I also asked service advisor about just replacing parts since can't find a problem, and he advised ford doesn't allow them to do that since they didn't find a problem. This is the 2nd ford/mercury vehicle that has caused me nothing but problems, and I do not feel that we are safe in this vehicle.