2001 Ford Escape Body & Structure Problems

Your vehicle's subframe is severely rusting, which is causing structural integrity concerns and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. The subframe is a critical structural component that supports major parts of your vehicle, and rust damage compromises its strength. This issue will likely require replacing the entire subframe to restore safety.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRONT FRAME BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO REMEDY WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I OWN A 2001 FORD ESCAPE WITH 148,000 MILE THAT HAS HAD BEEN PRETTY WELL CARED FOR. IT SPEND MOST OF ITS LIFE GARAGE KEPT. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED A LITTLE ODD AND TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT ALIGNED. MY PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE CRADLE OR SUB-FRAME WAS RUSTED THOUGH. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR INJURY HAD I NOT HAD IT FIXED BECAUSE FAILURE OF THIS PART WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING/CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD BUT THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FOLKS HAVE TAKEN STRONGER ACTION. I WILL NEED TO SEND MY REPAIR BILL AND POSSIBLE A PICTURE TOMORROW OR FRIDAY BECAUSE MY SCANNER IS NOT WORKING.

FORD WILL NOT RECALL. SERIOUS DANGER!!!OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH LATCHES AND DOORS NOT OPENING CORRECTLY AND BEING STUCK FOR WEEKS. THIS TIME I CAN NOT OPEN DRIVERS DOOR WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. I AM A MECHANIC AND TOOK INSIDE OF DOOR APART AND CAN VERIFY THAT ACTUATOR FOR DOOR LOCK IS WORKING AND DOES UNLOCK. THE LATCH IS NOT SPRINGING OPEN. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT RECALL THE 2001 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY RECALLED 2014 AND 2015 FOR 200,000 PLUS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF DOOR LATCH. THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPLAINING HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD AND ARE ASKING WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR A RECALL A DEATH OR 10. WE CALLED FORD AND ALL THEY SAID IS THERE IS NO RECALL AND TO BRING IT IN SO THEY CAN FIX IT(120 DOLLARS AN HOUR LABOR). I READ SOME OF THE FORD EXPERTS ONLINE COMMUNICATING WITH CUSTOMERS ON WHAT TO DO AT COST CHAT AND THEY CAME DOWN TO CHISELING POST OR CUTTING WITH DREMEL TOOL OR DESTROYIN OTHER DOOR TO GET AT IT. BASICALLY ALOT OF MONEY THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO FIX. I HAVE OWNED CARS 50-60 YEARS OLDER AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS OPENING DOORS OR EVEN HEARING OF PROBLEMS. WHERE ARE THEY GETTING THESE ENGINEERS FROM THESE DAYS. SOS TO ANY ONE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP.... MY WIFE HAS TO GET IN THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE. THIS ALONG WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS UPPER AND LOWER AND THE VACUUM LEAKS THEY ALWAYS GET TO MAKE FOR A FINE IDLE. ALWAYS HAPPENS STATIONARY, IN MOTION ETC ETC...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CONTAINED HOLES BIGGER THAN A GOLF BALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO POINTED OUT THE SAME ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE SEPARATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED WITH A CROSS BRACE THAT WAS PLACED ON THE SUB FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

THE FRONT HOOD IS PEELING AND BUBBLING OFF.

VEHICLE HAD A RECENT RECALL 14S02. FORD INSTALLED A BRACKET TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WHOLE CAR IS CORRODED. I RECENTLY HAD AN INSPECTION DONE AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION AS THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE REAR CONTROL ARMS. SO, I TOOK IT TO A FRAME SHOP TO LEARN THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE CONDEMNED. THAT THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF REPAIR THAT WILL FIX THIS. THAT IT IS BEYOND REPAIR AT THIS POINT AND I SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT. I WAS TOLD THAT PER THE RECENT RECALLS FOR CORROSION THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED. IT IS A DEFINITE DEFECT AND BASED ON THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THEY SUGGESTED THAT SOMETHING MORE COMPLEX IS WRONG HERE. EVEN THE WORK PERFORMED BY FORD ISN'T GOING TO HOLD UP BECAUSE IT'S TOO BADLY RUSTED AND THERE'S NOTHING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE FROM COMMONWEALTH MOTORS IN RICHMOND, VA. AFTER PURCHASE THE DEALERSHIP WAS TO INSPECT AN ISSUE WITH THE REVERSE LIGHTS AS THEY WOULDN'T GO OUT. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK I NOTICED A PIECE OF RUSTED METAL FELL FROM AROUND THE DOOR PANEL. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH & DISCOVERED MASSIVE CORROSION & RUSTED CROSSBARS, FRAMES, GAS TANK, SHOCKS, ETC. EVERYTHING UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. SO, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS SO I SHOULD BE HAPPY. WELL, I FELT MY SAFETY WAS IN QUESTION SO I BEGAN SOME RESEARCH. WHAT I LEARNED WAS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED FROM "CARMAX" AS THE OWNER STATED, BUT THAT IT WAS PURCHASED FROM "CARMAX AUCTION". SO I CONTACTED THEM AND LUCKILY GOT A COPY OF THE BILL OF SALE. TO MY DISBELIEF THE BILL OF SALE STATES THIS VEHICLE HAS FRAME DAMAGE. SO I EQUIPPED WITH THIS BILL OF SALE, MET WITH THE OWNER AGAIN. HE SAID THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A FRAME, THUS THIS WAS AN ERROR. HE WOULD NOT AGREE TO REASON AND TOLD ME I PURCHASED IT "AS IS". AS THE DAYS WENT ON MORE AND MORE BEGAN TO FALL APART. LESS THAN 60 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED BECAUSE THE BRACE WAS RUSTED AWAY CAUSING THE COMPONENTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION TO CRACK SO I HAD TO GET IT REPLACED/REBUILT. MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANSMISSION WAS HANGING DOWN & AMAZED IT HADN'T FALLEN OUT. THE CORROSION WAS SO BAD HE HAD TO WELD A NEW BRACE TO HOLD THE NEW TRANSMISSION BUT IT IS WELDED TO THE FRONT BUMPER BAR BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE WILL SUPPORT ITS WEIGHT. THE SUBFRAME CRADLE CRACKED 2 DAYS BEFORE RECALL 14S02. I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE SO I HAD TO GET IT FIXED. IS IT POSSIBLE OTHER PARTS ARE BUILT WITH THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE SUBFRAME? MY CAR IS LIKE A CAVITY THAT WAS LEFT UNTREATED. IT WAS PURCHASED IN OHIO WHERE IT RESIDED FOR YEARS. I FEEL LOST. I HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE HATCH FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED. THE DOOR COULD ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

WIFE SAYS SHE OPEN THE GLASS HATCH TO PUT GROCERIES AWAY AND THE HINGE FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE, LEAVING HER TO WRESTLE IT BACK INTO PLACE. I HAD A LOOK AND SEE THE POT METAL HINGE FAILED WHERE THE GLASS ATTACHES TO THE HINGE, WHICH IS MERELY A STUD OR BOSS FROM A THREADED BOLT. THE BOLT IS FINE, BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE TAPPED HOLE IN THE HINGE SELF DESTRUCTED WITH THREAD REMNANTS AROUND THE BOLT. $70 REPLACEMENT PART. IF ONE OF THESE LETS GO ON THE HIGHWAY, YOU COULD DROP THE GLASS ONTO THE CAR BEHIND YOU, TALK ABOUT EXCITEMENT! THIS APPARENTLY IS COMMON BASED ON A SEARCH OF GOOGLE FOR "FORD ESCAPE HATCH GLASS HINGE". *TR

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WENT TO OPEN THE TRUNK DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE DOOR FAILED. WHEN THE WEATHER GOT COOLER, THE DOOR OPENED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR ALSO FAILED. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HIM THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THOSE COMPONENTS WERE NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87400. AP

BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2010, COMPLAINED OF NOISE IN FRONT END, HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, AND WITHIN 5 MONTHS, THE FRAME BUSTED THROUGH IN FRONT ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 82,000 MILES ON IT AND MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS THAT IT WAS IN THE GARAGE AND THEY INSPECTED THE NOISE CHANGED PARTS ON THAT SIDE AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF THE FRAME BEING COMPROMISED, AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS A COMPLETE BREAK IN THE FRAME . EVERY MECHANIC I CALLED CANT BELIEVE IT. NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS TOTALED AND THREE YEARS TO PAY ON IT. I ALSO HAD A YEARLY INSPECTION JUST TWO MONTHS PREVIOUSLY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE FRAME OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE? I AM FORTUNATE THAT THE FRAME BUSTED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS MAKING A TURN AND NOT DRIVING 55MPH AS SHE WAS JUST PREVIOUSLY OR WITH MY BEAUTIFUL 2 GRANDCHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE SHE ESCAPED DEATH. THIS VEHICLE IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE OF WHICH I DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHERS CHILDREN TO GAMES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEVASTATING OUTCOME. I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THE FRAME WORK AND CONDUCT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS 2001 FORD ESCAPE WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE A COMPLAINT. I OWN A FORD ESCAPE 2001. FIRST THE DRIVERS REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. NOW THE DRIVER'S DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE TO GET IN, BUT I CAN OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE TO GET OUT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESES DOORS? *TR

PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF THE TAILGATE DOOR OF MY ESCAPE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE NO PRIMER ON IT AT ALL. IT JUST STARTED IN PAST 6 MONTHS. COMING OFF IN BIG CHUNKS. *TR

PAINT FLAKING OFF ON REAR DOOR ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES BY GLASS. *TR

THE LIFTGATE DOOR WOULD OPEN WHEN THE REMOTE IS USED. POSSIBLE RECALL 04V602000. *AK THE LIFTGATE WOULD NOT LOCK AT TIMES. THEN SOMETIMES WHEN THE REMOTE WAS USED TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE, IT WOULD NOT OPEN. *SC

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SEALS CRACKED , CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

PAINT PEELING OF THE HOOD OF WIFE'S 2001 FORD ESCAPE. BODY SHOP MANAGER OF WAYNE ACRES FORD IN WPB FL EVALUATED AND STATES " THE FINISH IS COMING OFF AND LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE A FACTORY PROBLEM. " HE ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL ONLY PAY 70 % OF THE REPAIR COST SINCE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING IF THE DAMAGE IS NOT MY FAULT ?

DRIVER SIDE DOOR FELL OFF WHEN THE DRIVER OPENED IT TO EXIST THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE TOP CLIP FALLING OUT WHICH CAUSE THE HINGE PIN TO LOOSEN AND FALL OUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONER FROM THE VERY BEGINNING HAS A VERY FOUL SMELL OF MILDEW AND MOLD. IF YOU USE THE AC FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THE SMELL IS WORST THEN EVER. BOTH MY SON AND I ARE ALLERGIC TO MOLD AND MILDEW AND WHEN I TURN ON THE AC, WE BOTH BEGIN TO SNEEZE, COUGH, RUNNY NOSE AND EYES. I CANNOT NOT USE THE AC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK 3 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 12 DAYS AND NOW HAVE IT IN THE SHOP AGAIN. THERE IS ALSO A CONSTANT RATTLE ON THE DRIVERS DOOR SIDE AND THE REAR TAILGATE DOOR/WINDOW. THESE PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED ON THE FIRST VISIT ALSO. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, I DRIVE OFF AND THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL VERY EVIDENT. THE THIRD TIME AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THERE DRIVEWAY AFTER HAVING JUST BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED. THESE HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEMS. MY CONCERN IS I HAVE BEEN BACK FOUR TIMES IN LESS THE 5 MONTHS FOR PROBLEMS, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TRUCK IS A YEAR OLD!!!!!!*AK