2005 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT LEANS AND IS POINTING TO LEFT. DEALER STATED THAT FORD PURPOSELY MADE THE FOAM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT LESS DENSE THAN ON THE RIGHT SIDE FOR EASIER ACCESS AND EXIT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS STILL DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE SEAT ALSO FEELS SLIGHTLY TWISTED OR POINTING THE LEFT. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER WHO CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AT THIS TIME. MY CONCERN THAT I FEEL DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY LEAD TO A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. PLEASE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067848 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A COMPUTER PROBLEM. WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT WENT FORWARD, AND WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE IT DID NOTHING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE COMPUTER IT SHOWED NO ERROR MESSAGE, NOTHING WAS WRONG. CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, AND IT WORKED FINE. CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE, 2005 MODEL. THEREFORE, CONSUMER FELT THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTIONED COMPUT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075592 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SEEMS TO GO INTO NEUTRAL. ENGINE REVVED AND CLUNG, THEN GOES BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE REVERSING. THE INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD KEPT FLASHING FROM N TO R, THE ENGINE REVVED BEFORE FINALLY SETTLING IN REVERSE. THE SECOND TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE REVERSING, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN WHICH THE FAILURE CODE READ P01702. A FACTORY ENGINEER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS FAILURE, BUT NO REMEDY HAD BEEN FOUND.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 4,556 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081702 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

BACK WHEELS WERE MISALIGNED MAKING TH EVEHICLE UNSTABLE. THE WHEELS ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE DEFECT UNTIL THEY RECEIVED NEW SPECIFICATIONS. ALSO, ACCELERATION WAS VERY HIGH. RPMS WENT UP 8,000 RPMS. HOWEVER, ON THIS VEHICLE THE RPM'S WENT TO 15,000 RPMS, WHICH WAS TO0 HIGH. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092610 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING SUN ROOF EXPLODED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097625 at NHTSA ↗

WHENEVER USING THE AIR CONDITIONER, USING DASH CONTROLLER TO DIRECT THE AIR OUT THE DASH VENTS, AIR ALSO COMES OUT THE DEFROSTER VENTS, CAUSING CONDENSATION TO FOG UP THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER, SOUTHWAY FORD IN SAN ANTONIO TX, AND RED MCCOMBS FORD IN SAN ANTONIO TX. BOTH DEALERS WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE COMPLAINT, BUT OFFERED NO REPAIR. THEY BOTH CLAIM IT IS A "NORMAL OPERATION" I REQUESTED FROM BOTH DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THE FORD REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE LOOK AT THE CAR.…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,728 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098288 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2006-04-07 (April 7, 2006)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITHOUT SIDE AIR CURTAINS OR MOONROOFS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE FREE MOTION HEAD FORM REGISTERED A MEASUREMENT ABOVE THE PERMITTED LIMIT AT THE LEFT HAND A-PILLAR TRIM AREA.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLINER IN THE AFFECTED AREA FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 19, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.

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.