2005 Ford Escape: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jun 20, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 151,000 miles · NY

While driving down the road car just quit towed to dealership only to find out the computer shorted out which also destroyed all the coils. I just printed out 13 pages of this having happened to other escape owners and that a ford service bulletin (09-2-6) was at one time issued--- this will cost a ton of money to correct for a problem ford has known about for some time. When mine quit I had smoke pouring out from under the hood so there was a potential for a fire and just quitting with no warning-- why has ford not had a recall on this issue for what could have been a life threatening situation?

Filed Feb 10, 2012 · Seats · 50,000 miles · MI · fire

While sitting idle at a stop light the seat heater in the driver's seat ignited the upper portion of the seat, causing the seat to burn and filling the cabin with smoke. The seat then caused my husband's jacket to start on fire. The fire in the vehicle had to be extinguished by packing it with snow.

Filed Jul 14, 2011 · Engine · 90,046 miles · CA · fire

While out of town sunday july 10th 2011, 300 miles from home my 2005 ford escape caught on fire, od 90046. We got in the car started it up and then when looking at the map I looked up and smoke was pouring out from under the hood. As I jumped out the door came back and gouged my nose open. While bleeding all over the place I opened the hood and poured water over the fire. The car had caught on fire just under the rear side of the intake manifold. After extinguishing the fire, I called the local santa maria ford dealer, who only offered our service department will be open tomorrow. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer that day and while there decided to have my wife look at a new car. Regardless of the fact that I put the flames out early and I as a maintenance officer with 24 years experience I could have fixed the car, I wanted my wife to have a new car so when I leave her behind for my next duty station in the marine corps and deploy, I would not have any worries. The sales experience was what I expected but my biggest issues were that, although the service department was closed, out of luck, yea right, the service manager stopped by to work on his rv and assisted in the appraisal of my 2005 escape then left before I knew he was there. Due to the ford defect, fire damage, they offered my $2,000 for a trade in. I talked them into around $4,200. I had a car that cost me $28,000 six years ago and due to a defect I got around $4,200 for it in great shape, except the very small fire damage> luckily we had the fire in a parking lot not while on a back road, off road, traffic jam. From research earlier escape models have a history of engine fires, and some of the later, but nothing to date on the 2005. Ford corporate has yet to contact me about my complaint, I am asking them to acknowledge the problem and hope they would compensate me for the lost value in my trade in due to some type of obvious defect in their product. Case # [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u

Filed Sep 16, 2010 · Electrical · 39,150 miles · MO · fire

My wife was going to the bank in our 2005 ford escape with 39150 miles. She heard a noise and stopped to see if she had a flat. Everything seemed ok so she continued on. Before going one block the dash warning lights came on so she drove around the block and parked the car in the garage. Upon exiting she noticed smoke coming from the hood area. While she was trying to call me at work, more smoke began pouring out, she heard a pop and flames and smoke began coming out. A neighbor saw what was going on and called 911. Thankfully the prompt response of the fire dept. Limited the damage to the vehicle and the home only suffered smoke damage. We are currently living in a motel while the house gets cleaned. The escape was a total loss. Updated 11/03/10*jb

Filed Jul 19, 2007 · Engine · 50,000 miles · MI · fire

Tl*-the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. Approximately fifteen minutes after parking the vehicle, flames erupted from the front end of the vehicle. The dealer did not inspect the vehicle to determine the cause of failure. The current and failure mileages were 50,000.

Filed Feb 21, 2005 · Electrical · 18,542 miles · NY · fire

My wife started our 2005 escape and placed our grandaughter in her car seat. My wife smelled something burning and when she looked out her window, she noticed the driver's side mirror was engulfed in flames. She quickly shut the vehicle off, removed my crying grandaughter from her seat, and attempted to put the flames out. She eventually succeeded, but not before the heat cracked the mirror and melted the housing. I took my vehicle to a ford dealership, and it was discovered (and noted) that the heating element inside the mirror melted and started the fire. Pictures were taken and sent to ford motor company for repair authorization. Ford responded with a letter to me, titled "general release of all claims," and directed me to sign it before repairs could be authorized. I did not sign the legal document, as I was unsure of the meaning of all the legal terms. On 18 feb 05, a representative from ford motor comapany consumer affairs called me. (vincent d. Kirksey) he was very rude and demanding. He basically told me I had two options: either sign the form and have ford repair my vehicle, or he would rescind the "offer" and make me go through my insurance company. I asked him several times what the form was for, and he replied it was necessary to authorize the repair and that is was a policy of ford with this type of incident. I told him it sounded like I had a third option - he told me to go ahead and use it - he was rescinding ford's offer to repair my vehicle under warranty. I am concerned with my family's safety - we now drive our 2005 escape with a fire extinguisher in the vehicle - we do not want to burn up or have our vehicle destroyed.