U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Ford ESCAPE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,394 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

105,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,208 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 441 of 1,394 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Engine operation	141	10.1%
Braking behavior	128	9.2%
Steering behavior	71	5.1%
Transmission and shifting	66	4.7%
Electrical and battery issues	35	2.5%
Fuel system concerns	12	0.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Suspension

441

Structure:Body

360

Electrical System

142

Engine

130

Vehicle Speed Control

128

Wheels

Power Train

Unknown Or Other

Suspension: 441; Structure:Body: 360; Electrical System: 142; Engine: 130; Vehicle Speed Control: 128; Wheels: 98; Power Train: 79; Unknown Or Other: 76

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

119

75,000 to 99,999

233

100,000 to 149,999

488

150,000 and above

206

Under 25,000: 88; 25,000 to 49,999: 74; 50,000 to 74,999: 119; 75,000 to 99,999: 233; 100,000 to 149,999: 488; 150,000 and above: 206

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (488). 186 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

114

2013

146

2014

312

2015

199

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2004: 13; 2005: 53; 2006: 29; 2007: 10; 2008: 30; 2009: 49; 2010: 54; 2011: 78; 2012: 114; 2013: 146; 2014: 312; 2015: 199; 2016: 97; 2017: 58; 2018: 66; 2019: 37; 2020: 13; 2021: 14; 2022: 9; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 4

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 141 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 128 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10103073 · 2004-12-16 (December 16, 2004)

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY ENGINE STALLED. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY INDICATE A LOOSE BATTERY CABLE WAS THE CAUSE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE. THE DEALERSHIP IS LOOKING AGAIN AND HAVE CALLED FORD'S ENGINEERING FOR ADVICE, SINCE THEY HAVE YET TO FIND THE CAUSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF I CANNOT GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE ON THE INTERSTATE. IT DOES START AGAIN ONCE I PULL OVER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103073 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10162076 · 2006-07-11 (July 11, 2006)

NEW 2005 FORD ESCAPE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY MULTIPLE DEALER SHOPS: - INTERMITTENT STALLING, SIMILAR TO PROBLEM CAUSING RECALL OF 2001 - 2003 ESCAPES. CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STERRING AND BRAKES. DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE, SO WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. - GASOLINE SMELL AND LOUD KNOCKING FROM ENGINE IN HOT TEMPERATURES. - EXTREMELY LOW GAS MILEAGE, ALMOST 50% BELOW ADVERTISED MILEAGE. THESE COMPLAINTS APPEAR IN OTHER REPORTS AS WELL, SO THIS IS NOT ISOLATED. FORD IS DOING ITS BEST NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162076 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078566 · 2004-06-21 (June 21, 2004)

BRAKES ARE MAKING NOISE INTERMITTINGLY. IT SOUNDS LIKE BLOWING IN A BOTTLE. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. THEY KEEP GRINDING DOWN THE ROTORS AND IT'S NOT HELPING. APPARANTLY FORD CORP. IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE TRYING TO FIND A CURE. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. ALSO, STEALTH SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP.

Owner-reported narrative. 154 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078566 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089078 · 2004-09-03 (September 3, 2004)

9-1-04 MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OF MY HOME WHERE I BEGAN TO BACK UP. THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION IN MY DRIVEWAY SO I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND PULLED 1/2 WAY INTO THE GARAGE TO CLEAR THE WAY. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, OPENED MY DOOR, TOOK OFF MY SEATBELT AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR WALKING TOWARDS THE REAR. SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE KNOCKING ME DOWN BECAUSE OF THE OPEN DOOR. I JUMPED INTO THE CAR (WHERE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT) TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK-IT WAS IN PARK AND ROLLING FAST. I USED THE EMERGENCY B…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089078 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10099858 · 2004-11-12 (November 12, 2004)

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AT 30-40 MPH. CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10122132 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)

DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122132 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10102328 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)

OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE. GASKET REPLACED.....OIL LEAKED AGAIN. DEALER SAID THE CRANKSHAFT ON THE ENGINE WAS OUT OF SPECS....ENGINE WAS REPLACED ( 2,741 MILES ).SINCE THEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN FROM AN AIR VENT TUBE HITTING THE FAN BELT TO A LOUD NOISE AND SHAKING OF THE ENGINE THAT NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY...TRYING TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. NOW THE TRANSMISSION ( LEFT FRON TRANS AXEL ) IS LEAKING FLUID. THE ONLY THING FORD OFFERS IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE. THIS TRUCK IS A LEMON. THIS CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10105665 · 2005-01-03 (January 3, 2005)

CAR SEIZED TO RUN ON STREET. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 170 MILES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 170 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105665 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10110079 · 2005-02-08 (February 8, 2005)

JUST PURCHASED A 2005 ESCAPE XLT A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND SINCE DAY 1 THE CD SYSTEM INADVERTANTELY FADES IN & OUT TO THE POINT WHERE IT LOSES ALL BASE AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S IN A TUNNEL AT TIMES. THIS LAST FOR APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MINUTES AND THEN THE NORMAL VOLUME/SOUND RETURNS, ONLY FOR IT TO OCCUR AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER. CONCERN HERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH COULD BE CAUSING OTHER ISSUES. HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR EXAMINATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110079 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10144769 · 2005-12-08 (December 8, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN FILLING VEHICLE WITH GAS IT SPILLED OVER . THE GAS TANK ACTED AS IF IT WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES . TWICE THE SPIDER VENT WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THE FILLER NECK WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10160141 · 2006-06-19 (June 19, 2006)

ENGINE PINGS (PRE-DETONATION) WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS OVER 85 DEGREES AND SPEED IS OVER 40 MPH. DEALER SAYS NO CODES ARE THROWN BUT SUGGESTED THE LATEST PCM REFLASH AND INJECTOR CLEANING AT 44,800 MILES MIGHT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. A $278 CHARGE AND NO DIFFERENCE. NO REFUND SINCE THEY NOW TELL ME THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ITEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO MENTIONS THEY'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WITH THE NEW E10 GAS IN THE OZONE NON-ATTAINMENT REGION. I EXPLAINED I DO NOT USE E10 SINCE THE COUNTY IN WHICH I RESIDE DOES NOT SELL E10. THEY SUGGEST TRYING DIFF…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160141 at NHTSA ↗