2004 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER PARKED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, DISCOVERED THAT REAR RIGHT TIRE COLLAPSED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CLAIMED THAT THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED WHICH CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSE. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS PROBABLY PUNCTURED BEFORE THE SIDEWALL COLLAPSED, BUT THE SIDEWALL SHOULD NOT HAVE EVER COLLAPSED. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 2,762 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048776 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ACCELERATE FROM 60 MPH TO 70 MPH. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND REMAINED THERE UNTIL I REACHED A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 110 MPH. I ATTEMPTED TO PUMP THE PEDAL TO UNSTICK IT AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO STOP WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE STRONGLY. EVEN AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE PEDAL REMAINED DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THIS WAS A HERTZ RENTAL CAR SO I DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ON IT OTHER THAN THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049781 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD ESCAPE XLT ON 12/8/03. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE PULLED STRONGLY TO THE LEFT, AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. ON 12/17/03, THE LEFT REAR POWER WINDOW HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. IT WENT INTO SERVICE AND THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WAS REPAIRED. ON 12/19/03 WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO SERVICE FOR THE PULLING TO THE LEFT. THEY TRIED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE, AND IT STILL PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD MY WIFE TO DRIVE IT FOR 400-600 MILES TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 42 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051342 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BEING OPERATED ON AN EXPRESSWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COULD NO LONGER BE CONTROLLED AND REMAINED IN AN OPEN AND HIGH SPEED POSITION. *PH (NAR) *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055524 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS USING EXCESSIVE FUEL AND WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR PROPERLY. AT ONE TIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057197 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN IN DRIVE ON AN INCLINE (MODERATE TO STEEP). THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062347 at NHTSA ↗

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT FREEWAY SPEED. NO ACCIDENT, INJURIES, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE A '04, FORD, ESCAPE, 2WD, AUTO, HAD 5,104 MILES AND WAS LESS THAN 90 DAYS OLD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHICH PROMPTLY REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE. TOTAL TIME REQUIRED WAS (6) WORKING DAYS. MOST OF THE REQUIRED TIME WAS WAITING FOR THE DELIVERY OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE "PLANETARY BEARING". THE "NEEDLE BEARINGS" IN THE "PLANETARY BEARING" HAD FAIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063763 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE CAUSES SEVERE BACK PAIN AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE SEAT CREATES A DISTRACTION. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065602 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.0L V6 ENGINES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Consequence: AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2004-12-20 (December 20, 2004)

CERTAIN 2004-2005 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 2001-2003 SPORT UTIITY VEHICLE HAVING REAR LIFTGATE COMPONENTS SERVICED WITH 2004 EQUIVALENT COMPONENTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS.' THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.

Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH RELEASE ROD, THE RELEASE ROD ATTACHMENT CLIP AND THE DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-04-10 (April 10, 2007)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ABS MODULE FOR MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS, AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AS APPROPRIATE. THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONNECTOR ON THE ABS MODULE AND REPLACE IT IF IT IS FOUND TO BE CORRODED OR DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2012-07-26 (July 26, 2012)

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.

Consequence: A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.

Consequence: A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S02.

Reported: 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.