2006 Ford Escape Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED THROUGH EXPOSING THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CORROSION OF THE REAR WHEEL WELL IS NOT A WEARABLE PART AND CANNOT BE CONTROLLED OR CAUSED BY THE END USER. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CORROSION OF THE REAR WHEEL WELL CAN CAUSE THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS TO DISMOUNT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO VEHICLE ROLLOVER RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE REAR INNER AND OUTER FENDER WELL WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 08/15/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT AND LEFT INNER WELLS RUSTED AWAY.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURE, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE UPON ACCELERATION. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS IN A STRAIGHT POSITION AND THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE, BUT NOT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER, THE TOW RINGS SLIPPED AND DETACHED FROM THE TOW ROD, WHICH PROCEEDED TO PULL THE FRAME FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND SHEARED OFF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRAME. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE VEHICLE'S FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000. UPDATED 3/24/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HER VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A TOW HITCH AND TOW SUPPORTS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BOLTS BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME SUPPORT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED OUT OF A SNOW EMBANKMENT. UPDATED 03/27/09. *JB
CRACKED CROSS MEMBER ON SUB-FRAME THAT HOLD REAR WHEELS ON..BAD WELD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE LIFT GATE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE BACK GLASS WOULD NOT OPEN, AND THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS PUSHED. THE DEALER TRIED TO REMEDY THE SEAT BELT FAILURE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE COULD BECOME TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,000.
8/11/2006 I WAS KNOCKED OUT AND PINNED BY THE REAR HATCH DOOR OF OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE. I OPENED THE REAR HATCH AND LEANED IN TO REMOVE SOME ITEMS FROM REAR OF THE FORD ESCAPE AND THE HATCH CAME SLAMMING DOWN HITTING ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND RENDERING ME UNCONSCIOUS (I AM NOT SURE AS TOO HOW LONG) I CAME TO FACE FIRST INSIDE THE FORD ESCAPE WITH THE DOOR PINNING ME DOWN AND MY FEET HANGING OUT THE REAR. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FREE OF THE REAR HATCH AND BECOME FREE. I FOUND ONE OF THE REAR STRUT SLAYING INSIDE THE REAR COMPARTMENT AND THE OTHER PRACTICALLY BROKE AND DANGLING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR HATCH. AFTER COMING TO MY SENSES I TOOK THE FORD ESCAPE TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP (SIMI VALLEY FORD) AND TURNED IT IN FOR WARRANTY TO FIX IT (WE HAVE THE 3YR/36000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER + THE TOP FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY , I CHECKED IT INTO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (SIMI VALLEY FORD) AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD FIX IT AND WOULD WE NEED A RENTAL CAR WHICH WE SAID NO WE HAVE MY FORD EXCURSION TO DRIVE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I RECEIVE A CALL FROM KEITH (SIMI VALLEY FORD SERVICE ) SAYING FORD REFUSES TO FIX OR STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM AND FOR US TO TURN IT INTO OUR INSURANCE. WE FEEL THIS IS FORDS DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT , SO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS SENT OUT A INVESTIGATOR BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. THIS IS A FORD DEFECT ON OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE WITH 7100 MILES AND FORD IS TRYING TO SAY ITS WEAR AND TEAR , WE DON'T THINK SO , WE FEEL ITS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH FORD IS TRYING TO AVOID. WE HOPE NO OTHER PEOPLE OR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE HURT BY THIS DEFECT , FOR THE HATCH IS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND COULD EASILY COULD KILL SOMEONE OF WEAKER STATURE. *JB
2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD - VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND CAN BE FELT IN BODY AT ABOUT 55-65 MPH. INTO DEALER 4X FOR ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. CONSULTED WITH FACTORY. NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING IT. DEALER STATED SOME OF THE MODELS ON THE LOT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE AN ENGINEERING FAULT OR AN ASSEMBLY FAULT - BUT FORD IS SELLING FAULTY VEHICLES- AND NOT TAKING ANY SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY. COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. *JB
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2006 Ford Escape has 32 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.