2001 Ford Escape Fuel System Problems

WE WERE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AND ONTO A STRAIGHT PART OF THE ROAD ABOUT 40-43 MPH AND THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE STEERING AND BRAKES HAD NO POWER. WE TRIED STARTING THE ENGINE AND IT CRANKED BUT ACTED LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL (THERE WAS HALF A TANK). WE LEFT TO GET A RIDE AND WHEN WE RETURNED TO TOW THE CAR IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND HAS BEEN DRIVING FINE SINCE. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW BECAUSE IF WE HAD BEEN IN TRAFFIC WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHILE STOPPED AT DRIVEWAY WAITING TO TURN RIGHT INTO A 2 LANE STREET, I PROCEEDED TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED INTO THE RIGHT TURN, WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PROCEED ACROSS THE STREET AND IMPACTING A PARKED VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE V6. *TR

ONE WEEK PRIOR TO FIRE, THERE WAS A UNUSUAL SMELL THAT WAS ALMOST LIKE A "FUNNY WOODSTOVE' SMELL. THIS SMELL WAS ONLY PRESENT UNTIL THE CAR HEATED UP AND THE AIR FRESHENER WOULD COVER THE ODOR. IT GOT VERY STRONG THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE FIRE HAPPENED. IT WAS MORE OF A STALE TIN CAN IS THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN DESCRIBE IT. I CAME HOME IN THE EVENING AND AT 5:30 AM OF THE 30TH MY MOTHER AND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH WE FOUND OUT WAS LATER THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE BURSTING DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE AND THE ORIGIN, THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORD ESCAPE IS DESTROYED AND BURNED AT OVER 1400 DEGREES AND SPREAD SO RAPIDLY THAT BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT CONTROL THE FORE AND PUT IT OUT. MY PARENTS VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY NEXT TO MY ESCAPE AND WAS ALSO DESTROYED. SINCE THE INCIDENT I HAVE CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL TIMES TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR COME OUT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS THE ORIGIN IS ALREADY DETERMINED DUE TO THE WAY THE VEHICLE BURNED. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUNAROUND SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT HAS BEEN ALMOST THIRTY DAYS. THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THIS FIRE HAPPENED ONLY A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, LUCKILY I WAS NOT KILLED AND MY FAMILY STILL HAS A HOME. THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS STATED THAT THE FIRE PATTERNS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ARE CONSISTENT WITH A LEAKING O RING FROM THE GASOLINE TANK. THIS MATTER WAS GOING TO FURTHER BE INVESTIGATED WHEN MIDDLESEX MUTUAL AND FORD WERE PRESENT TO LIFT THE VEHICLE UP OFF THE GROUND, HOWEVER FORD HAS BEEN IGNORING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE AT HAND. *NM

I HAVE A 2001 FORD ESCAPE THAT THE FUEL NIDDLE DROPS VERRY FAST. THEY HAVE DONE THE REPAIR ON IT AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT AGAIN I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY FOR THE MATTER. *AK

SMELL OF GAOLINE COMING THROUGH HEATER VENTS. ENGINE STALLS OR HESTTATES AT AROUND 35-40 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX EITHER PROBLEM.

VEHICLE HAD SMALL FIRE AND WAS TOWED BY FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE SERVICE TECH AT DOBBS FORD IN MEMPHIS WAS TOLD OF THE FIRE. HE THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AGAIN AND IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED WAS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. *JB

HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP AFTER ADDITION OF MINIMAL MILES. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. BEFORE THE EVENT OCCURRED IT WAS TAKEN TO THE TECHNICIAN AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN ON RECALL FOR THE FUEL CONNECTER. LATER THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED, HOWEVER A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM OVERHEATING. *CB *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V 277 001, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

2001 FORD ESCAPE HAS REPEATEDLY STALLED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 33,000 MILES; HOWEVER, I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS EARLY ON. CAR HAS STRANDED ME SEVERAL TIMES. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN SEVERAL TIMES AND DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG IT. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION, FUEL HOSES, SENSOR, COMPUTER, ETC. AND CAR STILL STALLS. THIS WEEK IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY GARAGE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. DEALERSHIP AGAIN COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AS WHEN IT STALLS EVERYTHING LOCKS UP AND I HAVE HAD A COUPLE NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE AN INFANT AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *NLM

NAR 02/13/2003. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT TO DRIVE FROM OVER DRIVE, THE VENTS AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED TO FROST. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE RELAY ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE GAS MILEAGE WAS POOR. *JB

TRUCK STALLS WHILE IN MOTION BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 40-45 MPH WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THIS OCCURED SIX DIFFERENT TIMES WITH CAUSE NOT DETERMINED AND STALLING NOT RESOLVED. THE MANUFACTURE HAS CONTACTED THE OWNER WHICH HAS OFFERED EITHER TO BUY THE TRUCK BACK OR GIVE A REFUND. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT THE REASON WAS FUEL PUMP BEING LOCATED IN REAR OF VEHICLE. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH, AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, I HAD NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCK WITH MY SMALLCHILD IN THE CAR, HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET TRUCK STOPPED, I FEAR FOR MY LIFE NOW, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD RELAY SYSTEM

AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLES SUDDENLY DIED. DRIVER LOST BRAKES AND STEERING CONTROL. DRIVER COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED RELAY SYSTEM. ONE MONTH LATER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER STATED IT WAS THE PROCESSER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH -CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF, BUT LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. FROM TIME TO TIME TIME THERE IS A GAS ODOR COMING FROM AIR VENTS. ALSO, IN THE MORNING VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE NOW GETS LESS GAS MILEAGE SINCE THE ELECTRICAL REPAIR. *SLC

POOR GAS MILEAGE. AVERAGING 16 MPG. DEALER TESTED AND FOUND THAT UNDER PERFECT CONDITIONS (NO WIND, NO HILLS, NO ACCERATION, NO STOPPING, ETC) AT 65 MPH IT GOT ONLY 19. THE VEHICLE DOESN'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE EPA OF 19 CITY AND 24 HIGHWAY. TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR FORD VEHICLES.

FUEL LINE HAD BROKE, CAUSIN MOTOR TO BE SPRYED WITH FUEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES MOTOR LOST POWER, FUEL WAS PUMPING OVER HOT ENGINE, ENGINE DID NOT STALL, BUT KEPT PUMPING FUEL. *JB

FUEL SMELL - CAR INTERIOR. *AK

FUEL SMELL - CAR INTERIOR. *AK

FUEL VAPOR ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE O RINGS, WHICH LEAKS FUEL INTO THE INTERIOR OF THESE CARS. FORD SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX AND PEOPLE SHOULD JUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE ESCAPES AND MAZDA TRIBUTES WITH THE GASOLINE FUMES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE HIGHLY TOXIC.*AK

FUEL LEAKAGE AROUND FUEL INJECTORS - STRONG GAS FUMES; DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT TWICE AND CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ORDERED NEW O-RINGS FOR FUEL INJECTORS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS WARM AND RESTARTED CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS SMELL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

EXPERIENCE FUEL SMELL IN CABIN ON WARM RESTART OF TRUCK. MORE PRONOUNCED ON WARM DAYS. STARTED EXPERIENCING FUEL SMELL AT ABOUT 800 MILES. BASED ON OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS COMMENTS, PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET.

STRONG GAS FUMES IS GETTING INTO VEHICLE, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. ALSO GAS MILEAGE IS VERY POOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED CONSUMER CAN SMELL GASOLINE . CONSUMER CAN NOT FIND WHERE LEAK IS COMING FROM. CONSUMER IS GETTING LESS GAS MILEAGE EVER SINCE THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS A FUEL SMELL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER RUNNING AND ALSO PRODUCES A WARM START FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN THE VENTS ARE TURNED ON.

FUEL SMELL AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE IS WARM. FUEL ODOR VERY STRONG! THIS HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE A PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS ESCAPES AND TRIBUTES, AS SEEN ON THE YAHOO FORDESCAPECLUB AND IN THE EDMUNDS.COM DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THE FORD ESCAPE. IF I TURN THE VENT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SMELL GOES AWAY. NOTE THAT MY DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE CLAIMED NOT TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE, BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE FORDESCAPECLUB SITE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (AS FACING ENGINE) TO LIMIT THE SMELL. MY DEALER EVENTUALLY REPORTED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A "WEEPING" INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I AM CONCERNED THAT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE FUEL SEEPING FROM THE GASKET COULD IGNITE AND CAUSE AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.*AK

DISTINCT GASOLINE FUEL SMELL IN CAR UPON SHORT STOP-OVERS, VERY CONSISTENT. FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WHEN RESTARTED

CABIN FILLS WITH SMELL OF RAW FUEL WHEN CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ON ..ALSO SMELL OF RAW FUEL UNDER HOOD . MFG INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DOES NOT KNOW WHERE PROBLEM ORIGINATES.VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF SERVICE 36 DAYS WHILE ENGINEERING LOOKS FOR SOLUTION TO PROBLEM .VARIOUS PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED WITH NO RESOLUTION TO DATE .

FUEL SMELL COMING FROM A/C VENTS AFTER WARM ENGINE RESTART. SUSPECT INTAKE MANIFOLD NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

GAS ODOR IN INTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF VEHCILE AFTER ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. GAS SMELL IS EVIDENT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE

SMELL OF GAS ENTERS CABIN THROUGH VENTS ON WARM RESTARTS AND IN IDLING FOR LENGTHY PERIODS AS WELL AS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *AK

LIGHT GAS OR OIL SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING IDLING WITH HOT ENGINE (NOT ON COLD START)

FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE WHEN STARTING ENGINE. *AK