2005 Ford Escape Suspension

The right lower control arm separated from the subframe due to subframe rust. It caused loss of handling and rendered the car immobile. It was caused by a panic stop at a low speed. The car was towed to an independent garage where it is awaiting repair. Parts affected were the subframe, CV axle joint and the front fender (From the wheel hitting it when it broke).

I was driving at ~35MPH and suddenly hear a loud clanking sound from the rear right tire. The car has minimal rust however the rear right tire well has extensive internal weakness that caused the shock to disconnect from the frame. This happened completely unexpectedly and could lead to accidents and death. It seems this problem has been reported by hundreds of other drivers of similar makes and models.

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL HOUSING OF WHICH THE TOP PORTION OF THE SHOCK CONNECT TO IS RUSTED OUT WHICH MEANS THE TOP PART OF THE SHOCK IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE BODY.

MY CAR HAS ABOUT 140 000 MILES ON IT. I PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO IT TO KEEP IT RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT REAR RIGHT SHOCK COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM VEHICLES BODY AND IT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. I WOULD NEVER EXPECT FORD VEHICLE TO FALL APART LIKE THIS. NOW MY CAR IS JUNK WORTH 200 DOLLARS TO TOW AWAY. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED.I WILL NEVER BUY FORD AND I AM TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT HAPENNED. CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD BANGING NOISE IN REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL UPON WHICH I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY.HE TELLS ME CAR IS NOT WORTH FIXING.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, I HIT A POTHOLE AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING OFF THE FREEWAY AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, I DISCOVERED THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE SHOCK TOWER WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME.

I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD ESCAPE AND AFTER PURCHASING IT AND HAVING IT REGISTERED ON MY WAY HOME I GOT TO SOME ROADWAY WITH A LOT OF POT HOLES AND WHEN I HIT ONE I HEARD THIS GOD AWFUL NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE REAR SHOCK TOWER WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK JUST SWAYING AROUND UNATTACHED AT THE TOP. AFTER GETTING HOME AND RESEARCHING IT I FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ESCAPE.

THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL HAS COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY, SO THE BODY OF THE CAR IS SLAMMED AGAINST THE SUSPENSION BARS, OBVIOUSLY CAUSING DAMAGE AS WELL AS AN UNBEARABLE CRASHING BANG ANY AND EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP. I AM UNSURE IF MY WHEEL IS GOING TO COME OFF OR HOW LONG BEFORE MY FRAME WILL BE BENT. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR AND IT IS ALWAYS THE BACK WHEEL WELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE SHOCK MOUNT FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO CHECK FOR A FLAT TIRE, BUT THE TIRES WERE FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTS ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,319.

07/13/2019. I OWN A 2005 FORD ESCAPE , MANUFACTURING DATE 04/04 . TODAY I WAS DRIVING HOME I NOTICED A VERY LOUD WHISTLING NOISE , DIFFICULTY STEERING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN. LUCKILY MADE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY AND MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SAID BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE LEANING INWARD SO HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO FIND MY SUBFRAME IS ALL BUT RUSTED INTO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I KNOW THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR ESCAPES 2001-2004 OBVIOUSLY FORD DID NOT GET THIS SITUATION FIXED FOR THEIR 2005 MODELS. FORD I WANT MY SUV FIXED!!. YOU KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS YEARS NOW DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND FIX IT.

RUSTED REAR SHOCK MOUNT, BAD SUSPENSION CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING.

DRIVING TO A STOP LIGHT, I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND MY FRONT K-FRAME FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AT THE LOWER A-FRAME.

I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF MY FORD POSSIBLY HAD A RECALL WITH THE ISSUE I AM HAVING AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING. MY REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL ALSO HAS RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE SHOCK TO COME LOOSE AND IT IS NO LONGER ATTACHED AND WHILE DRIVING IS MOVING AROUND IN WHAT SOUNDS LIKE MY TRUNK. I HONESTLY CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL THESE SAME ISSUES I AM READING THIS IS NOT A RECALL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGHLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK FRACTURED, AND THE ENTIRE SHOCK TOWER WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT SEVERELY RUSTED AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SHOCK ABSORBER COULD COME THRU RUSTED MOUNT ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE. MAKING ALL KINDS OF NOICE WHEN DRIVING. I TALKED TO BODY SHOP SAID FORD ESCAPES ARE RENOWN FOR WALKER SITTING AND RUSTING OUT THESE REAR RIGHT MOUNTS. THE BODY SHOP SAID TFSTVFORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SERIOUS UNSAFE DEFECT.

THE REAR SHOCK TOWER BLEW COMPLETELY THREW INSIDE OF SUV BLOWING DEBRIS EVERYWHERE MY DAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT WAS LOCATED ON THAT SIDE SHE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED AN SUV BEGAN HOPPING TO THAT SIDE WHEN IT HAPPENED AN ALMOST LOST CONTROL THE METAL IT WAS MOUNTED TO IS PAPER THIN THE TITLE IS THICKER. THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ITS STRUCTURAL AN A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM WHAT I'VE READ WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE AN WHEN I WENT TO LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD 6 GRAND TO FIX IT IT ONLY BOOKS AT HIGHEST 4500 FOR THE VALUE OF SUV I FEEL VERY DISRESPECTED AN BRUSHED OFF AN THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT SUV FORD OR SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS OR PAY MINE IS IN MINT CONDITION OTHER THAN THIS AN GREAT SUV THE DRIVE SIDE IS STARTING TO CRACK AS WELL THIS SIDE CONTAINS FUEL HOSE AN I DON'T BELIEVE THEY EVEN SELL REPLACEMENT PANEL FOR DRIVER SIDE I MAY BE WRONG. AN I WAS DRIVING ON MAIN ROAD WITH MY FAMILY TAKING A NORMAL LEFT HAND TURN NO BUMPS OR SHARP TURN AT SPEED OF 35 TO 40 POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED

MY REAR RIGHT SHOCK MOUNT IS ALL RUSTED OUT AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT NOW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LASCO FORD (2525 OWEN RD, FENTON, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER WENT THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

ROTTED OUT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY, MECHANIC DECLARED CAR UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. FORD RECALLED THIS PROBLEM 2001-2004 BUT DID NOT EXTEND TO 2005. FORD DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON VEHICLE.

FRONT SUBFRAME (CRADLE) RUSTED THROUGH DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE FRONT MOUNTING LOCATION FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. PURCHASED FROM PALLOTTA FORD IN WOOSTER, OHIO. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS AT LOW SPEED AS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JAMMED INTO THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT HALT. HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE WHERE I INSPECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND THEREBY OBSERVED THE WASTAGE OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME.

BOUGHT CAR USED. SHOCKTOWER RUSTED OUT.NOT REPLACED

PASSENGER REAR TOP STRUT/SHOCK MOUNT RUSTED OUT. MAKES VEHICLE KIND OF USELESS. BEEN TOLD THIS SEEMS TO B A COMMON PROBLEM.

PASSENGER REAR INNER WHEELHOUSE THAT HOLDS SHOCK ABSORBER ROTTED AND SHOCK FELL OUT FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE UPDATED THE PART WITH A LATER MODEL ESCAPE PART SO TO DENY THERE IS PROBLEM WHY DID THEY UPDATE THE PART AND DISCONTINUE MAKING THE PART THAT CAME ON 2005 ESCAPE

MARCH 20, 2017. FRONT END PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE CAUSING SEVERE STEERING ISSUES. THIS FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURES THAT RESULTED IN THE 2004 AND BEFORE MODEL YEARS TO BE RECALLED BY FORD. THIS ISSUE STILL PERSISTS IN NEWER MODEL YEARS.