2008 Ford Escape Suspension Problems

Driving in the highway, the back shock absorber felt down crashing against the back right tire.

TOOK VEHICLE INTO FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE ON FRONT WHEEL, YESTERDAY 1/ 27/ 2021, WHICH IS UNRELATED. SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THAT, DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST, THE UNDERFRAME HAS UP TO SIX CRACKS IN IT AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD. HE STATED THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR THIS EXCEPT TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIBODY UNDERFRAME, WHICH FORD TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TWO REAR SHOCK TOWER HOUSINGS BECAUSE ONE POPPED THROUGH THE FLOOR ON SEPT., 2020. THE OUTER BODY HAS SOME RUST BUT LOOKS GOOD, NORMAL RUST FOR IT'S AGE. ON THE INTERNET I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND IT SHOWS THAT THE 2001 TO 2003 ESCAPES HAVE HAD A POSSIBLE RECALL AND SHOWS THAT ONE FORD DEALER HAD A 'FIX' FOR THE ENGINE CRADLE, THAT DID NOT WORK OUT WELL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS ONLINE ABOUT UNDERCARRIAGE RUST AND ITS PROBLEMS. I'VE ALSO TALKED TO A BODY SHOP OWNER AND HE TELLS ME THAT THEY GET SEVERAL ESCAPES A YEAR FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO GET THE REAR WHEEL HOUSE MOUNTINGS REPLACED, THERE WAS ANOTHER ESCAPE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE SAME THING IN FROM OF MINE. MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT IRON MIKE'S METAL FAB SHOP IN FLINT, MI. 810 234 2996, OF COURSE WELDING ANY METAL TO RUSTED METAL HAS NO GUARANTEE.. TRUCK WAS IN MOTION ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN THE SHOCK STARTED BREAKING THROUGH THE FLOOR, AROUND MARCH OF 2019. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT I HAVE TO USE, WHICH IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO YOUR STANDARD IS UNDER FIFTEEN YEARS OLD.

VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS, SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BOTH SIDES CRACKING, AC CONDENSER LEAKING

JUST DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOUD METAL NOISE. THEN INTERMITTENT METAL SCRAPING SOUND. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT'S AN AXEL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT WILL COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. I STILL OWE 2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS. TERRIBLE ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. ON A CITY STREET COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING JUST DRIVING SLOW COMING TO A STOP.

AFTER PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE I HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE AREA BEHIND AND ABOVE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND SAW THAT THE SHOCK AND NECESSARY ATTACHMENTS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME.

RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTED OUT AND TOWER HOLDING THE SHOCK IN PLACE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT

REAR PASSENGER STRUT MOUNT RUSTED THRU. STRUT ONLY FASTENED BY LOWER PORTION. CAN SEE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE IN HOLE FROM OUTSIDE WHEEL WELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, THE SHOCK BRACKET ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. *TT*JB

THE REAR INNER FENDER RUSTED OUT AND THE REAR STRUT BROKE THROUGH ITS MOUNTING BRACKET WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP RELATIVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. UPON DOING A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH VEHICLES SOLD IN THE BOTHER UNITED STATES AND CANADA AS STATED ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND FORUMS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS MY PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I TRAVEL 120-125 MILES PER DAY ROUND TRIP TO WORK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE HAD I NOT HEARD THE NOISE AND BRACES MYSELF PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BECOMING UNSTABLE. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT A FAMILY COULD BE RIDING IN A THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND NOT HAVE ADEQUATE REACTION AND BECOME A VEHICLE CASUALTY STATISTIC.

THE SHOCK TOWER RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE SHOCK TO PUNCTURE THE INTERIOR TRIM OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. IT WAS TAKEN TO MUFFLER MAN G3455 CORUNNA RD FLINT, MI 48532; THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT. RETURNED IT TO DAVE KNAPP USED CARS 1949 N LAPEER RD LAPEER, MI 48446 PH. 810-667-0001 WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. BECAUSE OF THE 10 YEAR RUST WARRANTY DAVE CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH REFUSED TO DISCUSS IT. HE HAD HIS BODY MAN LOOK AT IT TO NO AVAIL. DAVE CONTACTED IRON MIKES WELDING AND FABRICATING 1535 N DORT HWY, FLINT, MI 48506 (810) 234-2996 AFTER DISCUSSION IT WAS DETERMINED IRREPARABLE. THERE IS STILL 11/2 YEARS LET ON THE CAR LOAN AND AN IRREPARABLE VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DRIVERS SHOCK TOWER IS DETERIORATING ALSO.

EXTREME UNDERCARRIAGE / WHEEL WELL EROSION. THE SHOCKS HAVE PUSHED UP INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AS THEY ARE NOT MOUNTED TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BODY. TRUNK MATT IS EXPOSED THROUGH WHEEL WELL. SUSPENSION IS DISENGAGING FROM THE BODY.

WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMS LIKE THE FRONT SUSPENSION OR WHEELS SOUND LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. IT SOUNDS UNSTABLE ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING.

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. NO 2ND OR 4TH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AXLE AND AXLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,259.

I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BEARINGS. I GO SLOW AND TURN. THE SAME SIDE CONTINUES TO NEED REPAIR I HAVE REPAIRED IT 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS AND NOW IT IS MESSING UP AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY BOTH SAID THE SAME THING (THAT THE BEARINGS GO OUT ON THESE CARS OFTEN ) I THINK THE CAR MY BE TOO HEAVY FOR THE WHEEL SYSTEM THEY CHOSE NOT SURE BUT IT STARTS TO PULL MY STEERING WHEEL TO THAT SIDE AND I HAVE HAD 2 ALIGNMENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE HELP! *TR

TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH. THE LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE THE CAR JERKED HARD TO THE LEFT THAN BACK TO THE RIGHT AND THEN ROLLED OVER ON TO THE DRIVERS SIDE AND RESTED THERE WITH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER BACKED OFF THIS IMMEDIATELY AND SAID TO CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY. I CONTACTED FORD VIA THE CORPORATE WEB SITE 4 TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. I ALSO RETURNED TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR GUIDANCE THEY GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE DISTRICT MANAGER. I CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE. I HAVE YET TO GET A RESPONSE. I HAVE PICTURES IF DESIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR TIRES WERE UNABLE TO TURN PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT IF SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ITS CONDITION THAT THE REAR TIRES AND AXLE WOULD SEIZE. THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF MANY COMPLAINTS AS WELL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A REALLY LOUD SOUND LIKE I AM DRIVING AN AIRPLANE AND IT IS COMING FROM THE TIRES. I HAVE ROTATED, ALIGNED, AND BALANCED MY TIRES AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THE TIRES HAVE ALSO STARTED TO CUP. I WAS TOLD BY BRAKE CHECK THAT I HAD BAD SHOCKS, BUT I DID A FEW TESTS TO BE SURE OF THAT. IT IS NOT THE SHOCKS. THERE IS SOMETHING WITH THE VEHICLE. IT WORRIES ME THAT IT MAY BE THE VEHICLE ITSELF AND MY FAMILY AND I MAY BE IN DANGER. I AM CHANGING OUT THE TIRES WITH NEW ONES. BUT I REMEMBER THE EXPLORER CASE AND HOW IT WAS BLAMED ON THE TIRES, BUT WHY IS IT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD VEHICLES AND TIRES. THERE ARE MANY FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM AND CHANGING OUT THE TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND DOES NOT HELP. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE MORE ARE KILLED BECAUSE OF FORD'S NEGLECT AND POORLY DESIGN OF THEIR VEHICLES. I HAD AN OLD CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I NEVER DID ANYTHING WITH MY TIRES AND IT RAN BEAUTIFUL. I BOUGHT THIS ESCAPE BRAND NEW AND IT HAS OCCURRED EARLY ON ABOUT 15,000 MILES AND FORD WILL IGNORE IT EVEN WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WILL TELL YOU IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER YOUR WARRANTY. WHY IS IT THAT I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A BRAND NEW VEHICLE (MY FIRST) AND ALL THE OLD AND USED CARS I HAD BEFORE NEVER GAVE ME THIS MUCH GRIEF. I AM PAYING FORD TO GIVE ME A CAR WITH PROBLEMS. IT IS ALL THE TIRES AND MAINLY IN THE REAR THAT I HEAR THE MOST NOISE COME FROM. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR

WHEN STANDING AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IT HAS A NOTICEABLE LEAN TO THE DRIVERS' SIDE (BOTH FRONT AND REAR) OF ALMOST 1/2 INCH. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATIONS DONE, TIRES ARE ALL THE SAME SIZE AND PROPERLY INFLATED AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE TANK IS FULL OR EMPTY. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT IS UNWILLING TO PURSUE IT. *TR

RECENTLY BOUGHT A DEALER CERTIFIED USED 2008 FORD ESCAPE WITH 21,800 MILES. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED EXTREMELY ANNOYING NOISE COMING FROM REAR TIRES AT HIGHER SPEEDS. TOOK INTO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT IS FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF REAR TIRE(S), THOUGH AT FIRST GLANCE THE TIRES APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH QUITE A BIT OF "GOOD TREAD" LEFT ON THEM. THEY SAID THAT THERE COULD BE A FEW FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. THERE WAS NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I NOTE THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE CONTINENTAL TIRES ON THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS WHY FORD HAS SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TIRE (MICHELIN I BELIEVE) FOR THEIR 2009 TIRES. THEY ADVISE THE SWITCH WAS FOR BETTER "FUEL ECONOMY" BUT I SUSPECT THEY ARE GETTING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXCESSIVE INSIDE WEAR ON THE CONTINENTAL TIRES. IT IS A SHAME THAT FORD DOES NOT COME OUT AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH CONSUMERS. IN ANY EVENT, I CONVINCED MY DEALER TO PAY FOR TWO NEW TIRES AND I WILL PAY FOR TWO NEW TIRES. I SIMPLY COULD NOT LIVE WITH THE NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES. *TR

FIRST OF ALL, I CANNOT SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY WEATHER THE ISSUE IS WITH THE AUTOMOBILE OR THE FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES. I CAN ONLY SUSPECT IT IS WITH THE AUTOMOBILE BASED ON 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF OWNING AND OPERATING AUTOMOBILES. 1. EXCESSIVELY LOUD NOISE FROM THE FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES. 2. AFTER 19,000 MILES ALL 4 FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES ARE WEARING DOWN ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD ONLY. 3. I WAS OFFERED A NEW SET OF TIRES FROM THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER AT A REDUCED COST. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY NEW FORD 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT ASSEMBLY FELL APART. THE WHEEL BUCKLED UNDER THE CAR WHICH CAUSED ME TO VEER INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYONE NOR ANYONE INCLUDING MYSELF WAS INJURED. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED THE GUY AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THEY FORGOT TO ATTACH THE BALL JOINT PROPERLY. IM LUCKY I WASNT ON THE FREEWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.