The body of the car is generally solid. I noticed a hard clunking sound coming from the right rear wheel well and figured it was bad shocks. When I inspected the vehicle, I noticed a very large rust hole surrounding the shock tower where it meets the wheel well. The rust was on both sides of the shock. Eventually, if I hit a bad bump, the shock will most likely fail and go up into the trunk, essentially leaving the vehicle totaled. This failure seems to be reported commonly for this specific year (2005) escapes. It is very dangerous with it being so close to the crucial shock tower, and is extremely expensive if even possible due to the severity to repair. This absolutely seems like something ford should be aware of this massive flaw and offer customers some kind of solution to this problem.
2005 Ford Escape body complaints
Page 2 of 16: complaints 11 to 40 of 434, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I bought this ford escape for my daughter with only at 116,000 miles on it had it home for two weeks since like the inner fender well and frame fell apart on the passenger rear wheel completely rotted out.
2005 escape, under 100,000 miles completely rusting out on the undercarriage to the point of a safety issue and now un-drivable. Disconnection of pieces and parts where the only way to keep them together is with a hanger. Was told the hanger worked better than anything the service department could do. Right passenger wheel well completely rusted out, huge hole now where you can see completely into car. Shocks bang and rub against the wheel cover in the car. Jack could not even stay attached due to the rust. Due to this issue, brakes failed while pulling out of a parking spot. To know ford has known about this problem (recall of 2002-2004 for same issue) and my daughter has been driving this car at college and two hours back and forth sickens me. Was told this happened all the time to these cases by ford repair shop. Also told it wasn't worth fixing. The safety of all driving this vehicle is at a major risk.
Cross over on passenger side rusted in half,the exact same thing that waste called on the 2001-2004,my wife was driving with two of my grandchildren with her when it broke,this is very dangerous and serious situation,I feel ford should fix my vehicle,it was manufactured in2004,I will take it to court if necessary, innocent people could get killed,it is the exact same recall as the year before and was manufactured in that year of the recall my escape has no other rust on it anywhere,I have pics to prove it,my wife was just getting ready to turn into a driveway from a city street
On the drivers side in the fender wells and on the area around where you put gas in it falling completely apart at a very rapid speed, the fender on the area of the gas cap is falling apart lost part of the this while driving to work
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the subframe fractured while turning the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle immediately stopped and one of the tires became detached. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. Mike castrucci ford lincoln of alexandria (7400 alexandria pike, alexandria, ky 41001, (859) 448-9400) and the manufacturer were contacted and stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 163,000.
2005 ford escape. Consumer writes in regards to rusted subframe. *ld the consumer stated the passenger side strut tower was also rusted. The manufacturer was notified and denied any responsibility for the failure.
Began hearing terrible noise from rear passenger wheel well. Investigation revealed the entire wheel well and frame were rusted out. After replacing the wheel well and shock mount tower, still experiencing problems due to frame being rusted out. No longer able to drive the vehicle for safety reasons and it is headed to the scrap yard.
Heard a loud scratching noise from rear of car. Upon inspection, entire rear passenger wheel well is rusted out and strut has been pushed through into rear seat area. Immediately went to ford dealer and service manager told me it was unsafe to drive and costly to fix. He advised me to call ford, and they listened to my complaint and issued me a case number. Since then, I have heard nothing. I am stuck with a car that runs like a top, loaded with features, new tires and is worth absolutely nothing. The dealer told me had seen the same problem on other 2005 escapes and they are cost prohibitive to repair. I have learned that there is a recall for the 2000-2004 models but not 2005. Dealer told me if I continued to drive it, eventually the wheel will be sucked all the way into the back seat-trunk area and I could be killed on the highway.
The escape started making a squeaking noise for about 3 days while driving it on city streets and on the highway and then it started making a loud clunking noise and was banging like something broke loose. We thought the shocks broke. Upon closer inspection we noticed that the frame at the right rear wheel well had completely rusted out and the shock had came off because there was nothing for it to attach to. We have the car parked because it is too dangerous to drive. It only has approximately 80,000 miles. Our daughter had just purchased it in may 2017 from a local car dealer. I have researched but there was no recall on this and there very many complaints about the same issues with different year escapes.
The right rear "wheelhouse panel" rusted out around the shock absorber upper mounting bracket causing the shock absorber to become detached and non-functional while the vehicle was in motion, making a turn. This caused ride and handling concerns which affected vehicle safety. I have discovered that this is a very common problem with this vehicle and expensive to repair, ~ $1,500.00.
Last year I noticed the rust around doors and wheels, im retired & a disabled 77 yr old man so I drive it once a week. Over the summer I notice it handling funny, had it serviced and inspected. I was on route 30 a mile from my house it started shaking & making a horrible noise, the steering wheel was vibrating, I barely managed getting wheels to turn it off the hwy, I thought to myself, this [xxx] thing feels like it's gonna fall apart, home was 1/4 mile, noise & vibrating continued, struggled turning wheel into my driveway, parked it, got out and front passenger side wheel is tilted way out. My son jacked it up and said my lower control arm is completely rusted out or thru and broken off and it is all rusted bad underneath & said it's scrape. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The area around the shock support has slmost completely rusted out. This is super unsafe.
First problem was rear passenger tirewell rotted and shock broke through. Had this this replaced by auto body shop. Now driving car on city street heard a thud and car stopped. Tow truck driver told me it was the sub frame that had rusted causing the wheel to fall off. He has seen this many times. Common problems with this his car. On way to local mechanic to see quote to fix.
The drivers side wheel well completely rusted out, large hole in body, shock went right threw the body of the car. This happened extremely fast, I just put new tires and brakes on the car. This defect is extremely unsafe and poised a safety concern for me and my children. The car can't be sold or traded in and now headed to the junkyard
Rear frame rusted through as well as passenger side shock tower,rusted so bad can see through to outside in 2 spots which allows exhaust fumes into interior of vehicle ,could cause exphixiation to occupants as well as loss of control due to rear of vehicle giving way and breaking in two on a roadway,damage wasn't visible until it totally busted through while driving! Ford should recall due to safety as the 2004 was.
Takata recall. The vehicle was in motion and the back of the frame/body metal snapped, when drove through a neighborhood street with severely bad pot holes. Rust on car was average for age and was still drive able. But haven't driven in months because scared of safety risk. I feel like the frame shouldn't be having problems for a car that is only 13/14 years old. The corrosion of the metal on the car is very excessive. This is my second ford escape in 3 years and they all have had body issues with fast metal corrosion. The photo attached are photos taken today after months of sitting in the parking lot.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise heard near the area of the rear passenger side wheel well. The contact stated that there was rust in that area, which was affecting the shocks. The dealer was not contacted. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, but could not determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Of course I have the exact same problem as most ford escape owners have with the passenger rear wheel well rusting completely out. This is a known manufacturing defect that only effects the right rear wheel well of these vehicles and there are thousands of unaddressed owner complaints. Ford still will not do a recall nor will they do anything for their thousands of affected customers. I do hope there is a class action suit I can join because ford just will not do the right thing for their customers. I just had my car in for regular maintenance and I was supposed to be going out-of-state to visit my dying father with my kids but now I can't even go due to this unexpected defect which ford will not take responsibility for which has left me with a vehicle I cant drive that I'm still paying for. I can't even trade it in because of this issue! Thanks ford! I will make sure to tell everyone I can about ford's indifference towards its customers and I will never buy ford anything ever again!
Passenger-side rear wheel well rusted through, shock tower is banging against inner frame, chunks of rust dislodging and scraping against tire. This is occurring while driving. I pushed the chunk back and it seems to be staying off the tire for now. Ford auto repair shop quoted $5000 to repair. My daily commute to work is across two major cities via a high-traffic major highway. Potential to be a serious and dangerous condition since it affects not only suspension but could cause tire to blow out while driving, as well as puncturing through to the interior of the vehicle and exposing people in the car to exhaust and frigid weather (minnesota) in the winter. This rusting through the wheel well is a chronic problem with ford - they recalled this make and model up through 2004 for this same issue.
Rear passenger side wheel well rotting from the inside out due to improper powder coating. Strut mount rusting and separating from vehicle frame.
Driving on a secondary road and heard a bad rubbing noice and steering went loose, pulled over and saw that my passenger side front tire was pushed in to the wheel well. I looked under the vehicle and saw the subframe was broke and the cv axle was ripped out of the motor on the front passenger side. I called ford because of all the other complaints I saw for this same issue on 2005 models, and because of the recall for the 01 to 04 ford escapes for this same issue, I was told that there was no recalls for my car. I explained that I know this, but I saw hundreds of complaints for 05s having this same issue and that it's not normal or safe to be driving along and have the subframe just brake like this. My car only has 113k miles. I was told to bring it a ford dealership and have it looked at, they will call ford with there findings. I had to flat bed it to the dealership and they looked at it. The mechanic called ford and told them that the subframe was broke, they said there's no recalls for the car! Obviously!!! We already went over this! So now I'm in the boat I first was, ford telling me that there's no recall on my car!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the hinges on the rear door separated from the body of the vehicle. The only thing that was attaching the hinges to the body was the door release mechanism or door shocks. The dealer (suburban ford of sterling heights, 40333 van dyke avenue, sterling heights, michigan 48373) was contacted, but the vehicle was not taken in for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 135,385.
(recommending this complaint be deleted; same vehicle as 11110799) tl- the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle had been riding rough in the rear. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. An independent mechanic at a repair facility diagnosed that the shock tower had extensive rust, corrosion and the right rear shock fractured so the shock tower needed to be replaced. The manufacturer indicated that there was no recall campaign to provide a remedy, did not suggest that the vehicle be taken to a dealer. The contact was uncertain if the vehicle may be repaired by the independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000. Dyd
Vehicles subframe rusted and broke at passengers front control arm while driving on a secondary roadway in a city during normal conditions. Car is a 2005 with only 55000 miles. Virtually no rust anywhere else on body. I found the exact problem at the identical location on 2002-2004 under a recall and believe that the 2005 should be included as well
I was driving home when I noticed a loud bumping noise... My back passenger wheel well is completely rusted away, which has affected my shock mounting bracket. Every little bump causes it to shake and about a week ago the bracket actually went through the plastic and there is a hole inside the back of the vehicle. I see so many identical complaints and its very disappointing that ford has done nothing to resolve this issue. I know that the ford escape 2001- 2004 were recalled for this exact issue and its disconcerting that they are ignoring the same problem for the 2005-2008 escape. How many more thousands of complaints is it going to take for them to at least investigate this unsafe, reoccurring issue?! Hopefully , something will be done soon before someone gets seriously injured.
Rusted out passenger side rear wheel well. I do *not* live in the rust belt. Was driving on residential street and heard a loud noise from the affected area when going over a bump. The noises increased during driving for the next 2 days. I finally got under there to look at it and found the shock tower mount had nearly separated from the rest of the wheel well, and the entire wheel well is completed rotted and deteriorating. The vehicle is unsafe to drive in this condition.
Right rear shock tower rusted out bad
After hitting a bump in the road loud noises started coming from the rear passenger wheel area. After getting home I discovered that the rear passenger wheel well was completely rusted out and the shock absorber is no longer attached to the vehicle body. I have found multiple issues identical to this in an online search. This is a known issue with the 2005 escape and should be covered under a safety recall. There are existing recalls on 2001-2005 ford escapes for rust issues.
Driving down the road and truck starting making a loud knocking noise in the back. When we got home, we looked underneath and found major rusting in passenger wheel well. Shock completely rusted free and bouncing up to hit the plastic inside the vehicle. Took it to body shop mechanic and upon inspection, he showed us that the frame itself is rusted through and vehicle cannot legally be fixed and is technically not even safe to drive. Less than 133,000 miles and bought used 2 years ago, we are very frustrated with the quality of this vehicle. Searched online and found that this is a common problem with this truck and should have be recalled. They recalled years 2001-2004 for the same issues, but did not include the 2005. Shame on ford motor company for such poor workmanship! Please help!!!
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