2004 Ford Escape: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jul 21, 2016 · 135,004 miles · VA

In april 2016, I purchased a used 2004 ford escape with approximately 130,000 miles on it. The vehicle had a recent state inspection sticker verifying that it passed all state safety standards. However, after driving the escape for only a few days, the check engine light would come on intermittently and the vehicle would quit running properly and stall. This would occur intermittingly while the vehicle was in park and other times while driving in traffic. I brought the vehicle into two different mechanics and they could not properly diagnose the problem due to the complexity of the stalling issue. The check engine light no longer comes on, but the stalling problem keeps getting worse. My spouse no longer drives the vehicle because of the safety issues of stalling on the highways and it store parking lots. On july 21, 2016, I drove the escape for a 200 mile round-trip. During the first 100 miles, going to the destination, the vehicle ran great without a single problem. Unfortunately, during the return trip home, I became scared as the vehicle began intermittently stalling in 4 lanes of interstate traffic that was traveling at 55+ miles per hour'and I had to try restarting my vehicle several times, while traveling in neutral in the middle of 4 lanes of interstate traffic. I plan to bring our vehicle back to another mechanic, so they can try to properly address this safety issue'hopefully before someone gets hurt accidentally with the vehicle intermittently stalling in heavy traffic or in a dangerous situation. Unfortunately, diagnosing the problem seems to be an issue. I have read several articles online about this intermittent stalling problem with escapes and realize that the stalling problem is quite prevalent. Personally, I believe this is a serious safety issue that needs to be addressed by ford, with a safety recall done to fix the problem.

Filed Jul 21, 2016 · Airbags · 130,000 miles · VA

In april 2016, I purchased a used 2004 ford escape with approximately 130,000 miles on it. The vehicle had a recent state inspection sticker verifying that it passed all state safety standards, to include having working airbags. However, after driving the escape for only a few days, the airbag light started flashing and later stayed on. Now the airbag stays on all the time. During this same time, the vehicle also started experience an intermittent stalling problem. Not sure if these problems are connected to a larger issue...especially since both problems started occurring at the same time. After reading various articles online, I realized that the airbag light issue is a common problem among ford escapes and expensive to fix and sometimes a reoccurring problem. I have driven many other vehicles (non-ford) with over 200,000 miles on them, and none of these vehicles have ever had any non-operable airbag issues. Due to this being a serious safety issue, with airbag(s) in the ford escapes becoming prematurely inoperable, ford should make a safety recall to fix this problem...before someone accidentally gets hurt or killed, from having an inoperable airbag or airbags in their vehicle.

Filed May 10, 2016 · Transmission · 133,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power train control module would need to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

Filed Oct 14, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 120,000 miles · WI

At intermittent times vehicle will stall and die. After driving at 45mph and stop car will die in the intersection. Driving at 70mph on the highway vehicle will stall woth cruise control on. When it stalls at highwau speed it jerks so violently that kids in the back seat get bounced around. It doesnt stall when idling. Only in drive when start to take off from a stop or if your maintaning a steady speed. Then try to speed up or speed down.

Filed Apr 12, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 52,000 miles · NY

The car stalls after putting it in gear /

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Engine · 85,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, there was a hesitation when depressing the accelerator pedal and the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic was unable determine the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Jun 17, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 70,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving around a turn about circle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that the failure recurred multiple times intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times and they were not able to replicate nor diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times to no avail. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

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 Apr 14, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · 75,000 miles · VA

The problem started when the car was driving and all of sudden the car starts struggling and then shuts off. It would take a several attempts for the car to restart but eventually it would. Now the cars just idles and runs really rough and shuts off while driving. Took it to ford and they said all it needed was a new cat-converter manifold, not stating why. We replaced it ($1500) but the problem still repeated. Took it to a repair shop and they said it needed to replace 6 ignition coils and plugs and possibly the PCM. They also said the ignition coils caused the cat-convertor manifold to malfunction in the first place. So we replaced all coils and plugs for $1600 but they said the PCM was fine for now but it was a matter of time for the PCM to fail. I'm not sure if ford deliberately neglected this ignition coil issue but it is suspicious. My commute is mainly interstate hwy and I'm afraid this problem is might cause a major accident while on a major interstate hwy.

Filed Feb 11, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 82,000 miles · IL

Car's engine vibrated violently and completely stalled going 45 MPH down a highway, accident avoided as car behind me slammed on the brakes. Car would not start, check engine light on. Towed vehicle to ford dealership who fond two engine coils defective and all spark plugs replaced. This vehicle has repeated issues with defective coils and dangerous to travel on a highway when engine abruptly stops. This is poor engineering on ford's part and demand the us government force a recall!

Filed Oct 21, 2007 · Electrical · 15,000 miles · AZ

2004 escape refused to operate starter after being operated with load at slow speeds, found new battery was dead and new alternator was installed while under warranty 6m miles ago last year. Same problem has continued before and after battery and alternator repl. Private auto service shop tested... System charging subnormal below 900 RPM. Will not keep battery charged especially while A/C on, driving in city traffic in phoenix,. Az. Dealer refuses to look at it or test it now, even though they attempted to repair problem under warranty and problem continued to exist. Suv has 31,301 miles on it as of 10/20/07. They have stalled every time I took it back and just keep saying "it cannot be."

Filed Dec 20, 2006 · Electrical · CT

Tl* - the contact stated that his ford escapes just stalls while driving, there are no warnings signs. The vehicle will just stop in the middle of the road. This happens at any speed. The vehicle will start back up right away. This started happening during the week second week of november 2006. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for repairs on 12/9/06 and the dealer could not find anything wrong with. The next day the vehicle stalled again. The consumer took the vehicle back in and the dealer changed the air control valve, and the crank shaft timing sensor. The dealer also told contact that they had contaminated fuel and replaced the fuel pump and filter. The stalling occurs two or three times a day. The vehicle is currently at the dealer again for repairs for the same issue. The contact has the repair order, no injuries have occurred due to this failure.