The rear passenger side wheel housing where the shock mount is located rusted and there is a big hole. Looking online there are multiple complaints about the exact same issue. Thank god I brought it into my mechanic before it tore my tire apart.
2004 Ford Escape suspension complaints
Page 4 of 6: complaints 71 to 100 of 154, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. While driving at an unknown speed, a rattling noise was heard near the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the rear wheel on the passenger side was rusted around the shocks and control arms. The contact was made aware of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 7/7/15*cn updated 10/05/2017
Problem with right passenger side wheel well rusted out. Vehicle is unsafe to drive and pictures can be provided. When discussing with mechanic said this is a problem with all escapes. Just had the vehicle over a year and was never seen when purchasing. Who would of thought of checking wheel wells. Shock is barely hanging on and was told if driven can flip over.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel turned independently with a loud abnormal noise. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the passenger side control arm separated and the entire frame would need to be replaced. The failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.
I was driving my 2004 escape when I heard a rattling on the rear passenger side of vehicle. A mechanic told me that the entire shock tower has rusted out and there is a whole in the wheel well. I just got off the phone with ford on 2/23/15 and told them of this problem and they never heard of such a thing. I told them it amazing that I can find alot of complaints about this and you know thing. Also told them that the left side shock tower looks good. So why is the right side rusted out. She couldn't explain it. She says she will take the complaint and it will also go to the federal safety agency. Well it seem there should be a recall on this. Your complaints seem to be very similar. I don't have money to get this fixed. Because the brake lines went in my vehicle and the master cylinder cost me $860. To get fixed. Which I think was in a recall that you had but ford company doesn't have that recall. So keep receipts ford says to get reimbursed if stuff gets recalled. Please recall the shock tower on passenger side for rusting out and driver side is ok. Something is very wrong. Ford company needs to deal with this even though the claim they never heard of this problem.
While driving on a rough road I noticed a rattling in the rear compartment that I had never heard before. When I investigated I found the right rear wheel well had disintegrated from rust damage and the shock is now floating basically freely which is causing the noise. I am concerned for the safety and handling of the vehicle at this point. This seems to be a very common issue with escapes and always the right rear wheel well. Why has ford not issued a recall? This is clearly a systematic failure.
The car started to ride rough over small bumps and a thumping sound could be heard from the right rear wheel well. Thinking I needed new shocks I inspected the wheel well and was horrified to see that the wheel well holding the shock was completely rusted away. There is a hole where the steel used to be. This is only on the right rear wheel well as far as I can see. A local auto body shop will not fix it because of the safety liability and warned me not to drive the car. The car is unsafe and I am at a loss as to what to do with it. After doing some searching I have found many ford escapes with the same exact problem. Apparently this is a design defect that ford knows about and should be responsible for. Had I driven the car a little longer I could have been in a catastrophic crash! Ford needs to fix this or replace my car.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear passenger side shock detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the sub frame was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear shock detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle could not be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000. Updated 6/3/15*cn updated 9/27/2017
2nd escape I've owned that has had the rear right wheel well rust out, shock breaks loose. Ford saying it has never heard of it, and yet every dealer and body shop I've talked to knows all about it. This should be a recall, faulty part.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger wheel well shock was completely corroded and fractured off the vehicle. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
While driving to my home went over a small dip in road and SUV made a very load clunking noise in right rear section of vehicle and started handling poorly got it to my parents home which is only few minutes from incident,father looked at and found right rear strut mount and wheel tub rusted out under a thick layer of sound deadening material applied at factory making it nearly impossible to see until it breaks free, father has been a mechanic all his life and tried to get pieces at local salvage yards to repair but found all in a 50 mile radius at salvage yards from years 2001-2007 to be in as bad or worse condition and is currently looking for parts on line out of the rustbelt ,I believe if it had happened on a twisty road it could have been a bigger problem fortunately it was a fairly level straight road I can only assume there isn't an investigation on these is that most people don't now where to go to file a complaint I only new to go here because my father told me too,as he believes it to be a major design flaw that may or could lead to injuries
Hit a bump and vehicle started making a rattling noise on every little bump.found passenger side rear shock mount had broken through body-rust all around wheel well.checked drivers side-ok. Have always washed on regular basis.has to be some manufacturing defect.
When driving home on 12/30/14, I heard a loud rattle coming from the right rear of the vehicle. I looked in the rear passenger wheel well and noticed that there was a lot of rust. I did not drive it again until I took it to my mechanic to have it inspected on 1/6/15. He informed me that the wheel well was rusted and the strut could break loose. He also informed me that he had never seen a vehicle do this. I was also informed that it is a safety issue and I should not drive the vehicle until it is fixed. He also checked to see if anyone in the area would be able to fix it since he is not equipped to do so. No luck with that. After seeing how many people are having this same issue with their ford escape, I would expect that the ford company would do the right thing, take responsibility for the defect and make it right. I am prepared to follow through to have this matter taken care of, even if I have to take it to lansing and washington.
Another case of a 2004 ford escape with extensive right rear wheel well rust putting the strut in danger of coming through the body. I'm currently trying to figure out how and where to get it repaired. This seems to be a flaw in the design of the product. While one would hope ford would step up I'm not seeing anything on their part so far.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at a unknown speed, there was an abnormal noise coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the rear passenger and the driver side sub frame and the suspension was rusted and corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the rear house panel structure fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
I heard a loud thump in right rear of my vehicle. Upon inspection the entire right rear wheel is rotted out and is not safe to drive.
I was driving the vehicle when I started hearing a loud thumping noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection I discovered there was rust inside the rear passenger wheel well and that the shock mount was unattached from the vehicle.
Right rear wheel well rotted out where shock attaches to the body. Seems through research that this is problem with most owners in the mid west. Contacted local ford dealer and informed to contact you as well as ford motor company. The took pictures to forward on to the engineering department at ford.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side shock mount was rusted and fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,000.
I had to avoid a bicyclist and ran up over the curb at a speed of about 35, I noticed right away upon driving away that there was a great rattle in the right side rear suspension. I had it looked at by my insurance company, they told me the upper strut mount broke off. Because of the rust noone will fix it. The car otherwise is in perfect shape, no other rust present on the car. This obviously is a defect in the ford product, ford will not return my calls!
A few weeks ago I was driving slowly down a dirt road and I started to hear a bumping noise towards the back of my car, only when I when over bumps. I figured it was just gear in my trunk making the noise and I was going to take a look at it later, but it didn't seem like anything to be concerned about. Yesterday I finally got all my ignition coils fixed after some trouble with the mechanics doing it wrong originally. When I left he told me I may have a suspension problem, but that it is not likely to be a problem aside from the annoyingness of it. When I got home I decided to have a look around my car and after discovering that it did not have to do with my trunk I looked under the wheel well and saw that the suspension mount had completely rusted off and had bouncing around as I drove. It was completely detached, and after goodling this I saw that many other people have this same exact problem and that it is very unsafe, and most likely to expensive to fix. I had been driving with this serious problem for a few weeks with no idea of the danger that it could cause. There is no recall on it but I feel that with the amount of people with this problem and the severity of it, ford needs to do something about this.
Driving and sounds like a square bowling ball is rolling around in back. Look to find a rusty mess from shock mount going through wheel well. Asked around and seems to be common problem. Thank goodness I wasn't far from home. Very dangerous, why is this not recalled yet!
We recently took our 2004 ford escape to get it looked at because every time we hit a bump there was a loud thud sound in the back right. We found out that the rear right wheel well of our 2004 ford escape is completely rusted out. The corrosion has caused a major suspension problem and it's been deemed undrivable. What's worse is that no mechanic or body shop will attempt to fix the issue because it would be considered a liability issue if anything were to happen they would be at fault. The rest of the vehicle is in perfect condition, but because of one awful defect all we can do is sell it for parts.
Noticed a burning rubber smell. Found that rear shock tower had rusted through and shock was rubbing on tire.
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.
Vehicle brought into repair shop and found that the engine cradle and was rotted considerably. A recall notice on this problem was sent to the customer and customer took into bright ford, inc for the recall. Repair was done several months later and returned to customer may 16, 2004. Three months later we again have this vehicle in the shop and upon inspection the lower control arm bracket rotted off of the cradle and caused the lower control arm to be only mounted by the rear bolt. This car is considered a hazard to drive due to the right front tire movement not being controlled by steering. Brighton ford on their invoice #19744, found the front sub frmae rusting through on right hand side. Sent quote for new sub-frame and were denied and they were told to put this cross brace on the vehicle. This repair is not in line with the repairs that were needed. The vehicle cannot be driven at this time and brighton ford says it is your responsibility to determine repair. This was not a safe repair and knowingly told customer that it was repaired.
Vehicle brought into repair shop and found that the engine cradle and was rotted considerably. A recall notice on this problem was sent to the customer and customer took into bright ford, inc for the recall. Repair was done several months later and returned to customer may 16, 2004. Three months later we again have this vehicle in the shop and upon inspection the lower control arm bracket rotted off of the cradle and caused the lower control arm to be only mounted by the rear bolt. This car is considered a hazard to drive due to the right front tire movement not being controlled by steering. Brighton ford on their invoice #19744, found the front sub frame rusting through on right hand side. Sent quote for new sub-frame and were denied and they were told to put this cross brace on the vehicle. This repair is not in line with the repairs that were needed. The vehicle cannot be driven at this time and brighton ford says it is your responsibility to determine repair. This was not a safe repair and knowingly told customer that it was repaired.
Noticed loud rattle, knocking in rear of truck. Stopped to have mechanic look at it. Discovered severe erosion in rear wheel well and shock mechanism completely separated from vehicle. Appears to be very common for 2004-05 escapes.
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