2005 Ford Escape Wheels Problems

A WEEK AGO I BEGAN TO HAVE A RATTLING IN THE RIGHT REAR OF MY ESCAPE. AFTER TIGHTENING DOWN AND REMOVING ANYTHING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE THAT COULD BE "THUNKING" , THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL HAD COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THE SHOCK HAD BROKEN FREE WITH A LARGE CHUNK OF WHAT USED TO BE THE WHEEL WELL/FRAME. I BEGAN RESEARCHING FOR A RECALL NOTICE AND FOUND THAT FORD MINIVANS FROM 2004-2007 ALSO HAD WHEEL WELL RUST PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL...BUT NOTHING FOR THE ESCAPE. MY MECHANIC SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I FURTHER LOOKED AT COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS (AT LEAST 50 POSTED ON LINE) AND HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS EXACT SAME RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL CORROSION ON THE 2005 MODEL IS COMMON, DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR (MY ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $1000 BUT THE FRAME SHOP WILL NOT COMMIT UNTIL THEY BEGIN WORK ON IT- THEY DID STATE THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM ON FORDS - THEY HAVE REPAIRED OTHERS) . FORD SEEMS TO BE DISMISSIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE APPROACHED THEM, STATING THERE IS NO RECALL SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IS ANYONE LOOKING INTO THIS?

PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL HOUSING ROT CREATING UNSAFE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE ESCAPE HYBRID 2005; SEE WEBSITE: WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/ESCAPE/2005/BODY_PAINT/EXCESSIVE_WHEEL_WELL_RUST.SHTML SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF HAVE DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THE ISSUE. IT IS ONLY THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL HOUSING, I HAVE RECEIPTS, PICTURES OF THE PARTS AND FROM THE FORD DEALER WHO DID THE REPAIRS. WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE SHOP IT WAS DEEMED A DRIVING HAZARD. WE ARE LUCKY IT WAS NOTICED BEFORE A PERSONAL INJURY OCCURRED. REPAIRS WERE $2,000.00.

THE RIGHT SIDE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CAR IS MAKING A LOUD THUMPING SOUND WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. IN DOING RESEARCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SERVICE CENTER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 09-04-14 *BF

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL OF MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. AT THE RATE THE RUST IS SPREADING, THERE IS A SEVERE RISK OF THE SHOCK SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE BODY. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 FORD ESCAPE HOME FROM WORK AND NOTICED A LOUD THUMPING SOUND WHEN SHE WOULD GO OVER A BUMP ON THE ROAD. IT CONTINUED FOR A FEW DAYS AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND AFTER CHECKING THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA I SAW THAT THE METAL MOLDING HOLDING THE SHOCK ABSORBER HAD RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NOT BEING BRACED WHICH WAS CAUSING THE THUMP. I HAD IT CHECKED AT AN AUTO REPAIR AND THEY SAID I WOULD NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE WELD A REPLACEMENT METAL PIECE INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND PROBABLY REPLACE THE SHOCK IF IT IS DAMAGED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE I SAW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HAVE BEEN WAITING TO TRY AND GET IT FIXED. FROM SEARCH THE INTERNET IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM HOPING THAT A RECALL HAS OR WILL BE DONE ON FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND CAUSED THE SHOCK ABSORBER TO BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL WELL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

THE ENTIRE TIRE WELL REAR PASSENGER SIDE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. WHILE IT IS NORMAL FOR SOME RUST OVER TIME THIS IS RIDICULOUS. NO OTHER PARTS HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS MUCH IF ANY. I HAVE CONTACTED A REPAIR SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT THE PART IS OVER 4 WEEKS BACKORDER. APPARENTLY THE MANUFACTURER CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON REPAIR NATIONWIDE. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR DRIVEN DUE TO POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SHOCK MOUNT ON THE PASSENGER'S REAR WHEEL WELD WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/30/13*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INNER WHEEL WELL WAS CORRODED, CAUSING THE SHOCK TO COLLIDE WITH THE PLASTIC PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INNER WHEEL HOUSE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER AND COULD NOT YET BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE INNER WHEEL HOUSE WAS CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AND THE UNDER COATING WAS CHIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

2005 FORD ESCAPE. FORD DEALER SERVICE FOR OIL CHANGE, ROTATE TIRES AND BRAKE INSPECTION NOTED FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACED. DECLINED SERVICE, (PRICE) ABLE TO CHANGE FRONT PADS OURSELVES. WE COULD NOT REMOVE WHEEL LUG NUTS. (THE SAME DAY) CHECKED TORQUE AND FOUND DEALER HAD OVER TIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS TO OVER 150 LBS. WITH MUCH EFFORT REMOVED LUG NUTS AND CHANGED FRONT BRAKE PADS. RETURNED TO DEALER TO COMPLAIN AND REQUEST ALL NEW WHEEL STUDS. ALTHOUGH THEY COULD NOT REMOVE THE REAR LUG NUTS WITH THE WRENCH SUPPLIED WITH THE ESCAPE THEY DENIED REPLACING THE WHEEL STUDS. I BELIEVE THE FAILURE WITH WHEEL STUDS ON FORD PRODUCTS IS A DEALER SERVICE PROBLEM. QUESTION: HAVE THE FAILURES ALL HAPPENED AFTER DEALER SERVICE? *KB

THE FINISH ON MY ALUMINUM WHEELS IS PEELING OFF AND THERE IS CORROSION THAT HAS FORMED AROUND THE RIM AND CENTER OF ALL FOUR OF MY WHEELS. I CHECKED THE SPARE WHEEL AND THE FINISH IN THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL IS STARTING TO BUBBLE ALSO. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THESE ARE FACTORY WHEELS AND I HAVE ONLY 40,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS ITEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE EXFOLIATING ON THE WHEELS IS SO BAD THAT I AM ABLE TO REMOVE SMALL CHUNKS. *TR

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAME APART WHILE DRIVING, THUS CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AS WELL. NO CONTACT WAS WITH THIS CAR UNTIL AFTER PARTS CAME OFF THE ESCAPE, CAUSING US TO LOSE CONTROL AND CROSS THE CENTER LINE. THERE HAS BEEN NO REMEDY FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AT ALL TO FIX MY CAR. FORD WILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP OR IN MANUFACTURING. *AK

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