Problems with 2005 Ford Escape WHEELS

While driving over rail road tracks a loud thud was heard in the right rear wheel well. the first assumption was the tire blew, but upon inspection the tire was fine. the vehicle was driven for a few more days and the thud would continue to be heard getting worse and worse, especially when hitting bumps. the vehicle was taken to a goodyear auto service center where i was informed that the right rear wheel well was severely rusted and the upper shock mount had separated from the body. the thumping we heard was the chunk of metal and shock mount that was separated from the body but still attached to the top of the shock hitting the rest of the wheel well that was still there. the service tech told me that he was very surprised that this area of the car was rusted so badly and it appeared that it wasn't undercoated properly to prevent the rust. the service tech informed me he couldn't fix it and recommended a welding shop (friess welding). the welding shop was able to cut out the rusted wheel well (they referred to it as a fender well, i don't know if there is a difference in the name), repair the upper shock mount, put on a new shock (the old shock was bent to badly from when it separated from the car), and properly undercoat it. they informed me that this was common on 05 and 06 ford escapes and they had repaired quite a few for the same thing. they also informed me that ford recently had a recall for 01-04 ford escapes for a similar issue only on the front of the car. they thought that ford should do a recall on 05-06 for the back. i don't know if this will help to have a recall done but what the welding shop was telling me seems to be true after doing some research on the internet. i will keep all of my receipts and the pictures that i took and hope a recall is eventually done. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Right rear wheel house is rusted so bad the shock is about to come loose and cause loss of control or could rub the tire and cause it to rupture. i have been advised by a mechanic that it is unsafe to drive. *tr

As i sit here and read all these reports on ford escape passenger side rear wheel well issues, i wonder how long or what is it going to take for ford to realize this is a major safety problem which needs taken care of. *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

I was hearing a bad clunking noise from the back so i took it to a certified mechanic and he looked and said he has never seen anything like it my entire wheel well is rusted through - he wont even touch it - he said it is extremely unsafe and told me its gotta be a recall being that its an 05 because vehicles aren't made to rust like that - so i call ford and they say "nothing we can do for you and your complaint has been noted" well im on disability with children so i cant afford thousands of dollars in repairs nor can i go without a vehicle or drive my kids in an unsafe vehicle, i just lost my husband and i just don't know what to do - ford rep didn't even give me a glimpse of care - does someone have to die in one of their poorly constructed vehicles before anyone will do anything - come on back up your products - and then people wonder why people buy foreign. *tr

The right/passenger rear wheel well has become so corroded with rust that the shock has come free from the metal, and slamming hard. the state of the metal reminds me of a butterfinger candy bar, that flakes off in layers. i have read many reports in the last couple days about similar situations as this, all with the right rear wheel well. the left/driver rear side has no similar rusting, nor do the front wheel wells (as far as i can see/tell). the undercoating has been hiding the rust apparently, and it has been flaking off heavily in the last couple of weeks. *tr

Driving along over minor bump in road when loud bang occurred on right rear side of vehicle. looked and found right rear wheel well rusted out completely near shock tower. noise is so loud sounds like it is coming into the interior of vehicle. took to collision shop and they told me to fix it will be approximately $1000 to start but may be higher when actually investigated. parts at ford are on back order so collision shop can't do work until available which they say requires welding. not sure when or if parts are coming in to fix. there seems to be excessive rusting on the vehicle which should not have occurred. this vehicle was purchased new and taken care of. it was undercoated as well. had another make/model that a friend has and it is 19 years old with better rust protection that this car. not sure how much longer it will take for this to occur on left rear as it is showing rust signs too but not as extensive as the right. i use this vehicle to tow a camper in summer and not so sure this will be safe to do so even if fixed. i did not take car in to ford's service department and would be waiting for parts there too! i don't feel safe driving this vehicle and wonder if fixed if it will be safe to drive. i had planned on driving this car till the motor stopped...looks like the frame is going to rust out before that. *tr

Rear passenger side inner wheel liner completely rusted out. upper end of shock no longer attached to body of vehicle. *js

Original owner of a garage kept, 2005 ford escape with 105k miles. i noticed a loud banging sound coming from the right rear wheel well which was very loud inside the car. i had the service tech replacing the tires on my other ford vehicle take a look and he said the wheel well was rusting away and the shock mount was falling away from the frame of the car. this is a serious and dangerous hazard which needs to be fixed asap. every service tech i show says they've never seen anything like it. the undercoating was sprayed directly on to the vehicle and no other method of protection in the wheel well was used by ford on this make/model. my vehicle was top of the line, loaded, when purchased. i'm concerned for the safety of my family and myself. ford needs to address this problem asap and take responsibility for the poor design. *tr

I have an 05 escape that has severe rust damage to the right rear wheel well. there is so much damage from the rust that the shocks are no longer attached and continually ram into the interior panels. all other wheel wells are in great condition. from what i have read this is an extremely common problem (so much so that there is a facebook group and a message board on ford forums) the models effected ford models 2004-2006. serious consideration should be put into recalling them. http://www.fordforums.com/f59/2005-escape-shock-mount-rusted-out-177762/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/2005-ford-escape-2004-2006/397923900236108. *tr

On 2/20/14 i was traveling 65 mph on state route 219 in boston, ny, when a loud banging noise suddenly began to occur in the rear of my vehicle. this noise scared me and forced me to pull over on the shoulder of the expressway to inspect the rear area of my vehicle (while traffic continued at 65 mph). i could not see anything at that time so i slowly and cautiously drove my vehicle home. upon further inspection, my husband found that the right rear(passenger) side rear shock had become totally detached from the completely rusted out inner wheel well and was protruding into the inside of my vehicle. excessive rust could be seen along with several holes that had once been part of the wheel well. my vehicle is unable to be driven and is too costly to fix. after doing some research, i found that i am not the only owner of 2005 ford escape with this issue. this needs to be a recall! fortunately, this defect did not cause a serious accident because this is an integral component of my vehicles suspension. this 'defect' needs to be rectified before someone dies or becomes seriously injured. *tr

I was driving and i heard this loud banging. i looked at my wheel well and it was all rusted out and my shock is coming up now through my rear panel. i have looked at all the wheel wells and the other are not rusted at all but this one is. it is unsafe to drive it now because when up to speed and you hit a bump the all rear end pulls sometimes almost into another lane. *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

While driving, i hit a pot hole that caused my right rear strut tower to break through the inside of my vehicle, rendering it undrivable. my collision repair man has informed me that the pot hole was not the only culprit and that the wheel well was so rotted and rusted that it compromised the structural integrity of that area of the vehicle, and had the area not been rusted, the pot hole would not have caused the damage. he advised me that the issue is due to poor design in the 2005 and 2006 model year ford escapes and that this is a widespread safety issue that ford has not taken responsibility for. they have recalled 230,000 of their minivans for over rust issues (in 2011), but not any of the escapes. because the damage was due to a design flaw, and not just a pothole, my insurance may not cover the $1500 in repairs. i have only owned the vehicle for a year and the dealership did not notify me that there may have been an issue, and the lemon law period has passed. *tr

The right passenger rear wheel well rusted out. noticed a thumping sound driving at 35mph. took everything out of the back and tested further. still noticed the sound at different speeds and road conditions. a few days later noticed the rear wheel rusted out and the shock had detached. stopped at liberty ford, brunswick, oh and they did not even examine it. service area said they have never heard of this. called ganley ford west cleveland, oh and they reported this is becoming a problem. referred me to their body shop. approx cost $1,200. called some other shops locally and was advised "trade it, not worth fixing, or $2,500." was able to get repaired for $435 after further research. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, a loud noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic, who advised that the rear passenger side wheel was corroded. as a result, the housing and rear shocks were corroded and separated from the wheel. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 132,000.

I heard a sound in the rear which was like the metal touching. my boyfriend said it sounded like the shocks going. i took to the garage to have inspected and they refused to and showed me the inner wheel wells. they were rusted on both rear sides. the vehicle body was separated. i took it to an auto body repair shop and they can fix it but we can't find the repair parts. i put the numbers for the parts in the ford.com and apparently the numbers do not match what they have. this is disappointing to me, i do not have a job, do not have the money to purchase another vehicle, but i do have the resources to get it fixed. i also sent an e-mail to ford but haven't heard anything as of yet. thank you *tr

The passenger side rear wheel well rusted through causing the shock absorber to float freely. there is a section aprox 24 inches long by 2-6 inches wide where the metal has rusted out and is completely gone. this vehicle makes a hard slam whenever driven over small bumps. the shock has come through the plastic panel and put a large crack/hole in it. this vehicle has become unsafe to drive and excessively expensive to repair. this vehicle is from michigan. *tr

Right back shock came through wheel well and broke through interior of car. car is in excellent condition with no rust. *tr

The rear passenger side tire-well rusted out. it rusted where the shock is attached. this entire piece rusting caused the shock to no longer be attached to my vehicle. we later discover the accelerated corrosion was from faulty drains in the vehicle. ford acknowledges the drain problem but will not take responsibility for the expedited rusting. with faulty drains it is only a matter of time before the other tire-well also rusts out. luckily i discovered the problem when i did, i had been planning on towing a uhaul cross-country two days out. if i had been towing and the shock gave out, the mechanic at the dealership said my vehicle would have started to roll. *tr

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

Rear wheel well totally rusted away and shock was banging when tried to find part from junk yard all 2005 escape had rusted off wheel wells the other side is now going to do the same the car was not drivable. had just done many repairs was planning on keeping it but now it is not safe to drive seems to me this should be a recall if it is happening to many escapes of this year can anything be done this has been a good running car until now this problem is a real safety hazard. *tr

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.

The right rear inner wheel well rotted leaving the rear shock support unsecured making the vehicle unsafe to drive. after researching on the internet, found that this was a common issue for this year and make vehicle. does not appear that ford wants to take any responsibility for the faulty manufacturing and/or materials. *tr

As we are driving along we hear a very loud banging coming from the rear of the vehicle.when we get out to inspect the area we find the rear pasenger side wheel well is extremely rusted thru and chunks of the well are actually falling out. we took the car to the ford dealer and they said it cannot be repaired!!!! by the ford dealer....then we took it to several auto body shops that said they cannot fix this! several places said ford used faulty metal or undercoating and that is why it rusted so badly.the car has only 50000 miles on it and has been highly maintained...i finally found an autobody shop that will replace the entire wheel well and theer will be no guarantee it wont happen again or to any of the other wheels!!! i feel totally ripped off! i read online that several other people have had this same problem.

The wheel well rusted out and the shock broke loose and was banging around. basically the whole wheel well is rusted out and will not hold the shock any more. i called the local ford dealer to see if there was a recall. i was told there was no recall. when i searched online i found many with the same experience, and even a facebook page. i'm disappointed that ford isn't taking care of this. *tr

I had been hearing some loud noises from the back end of my car for a week or so, we had thought the spare tire and equipment hadn't been put back properly so we re-adjusted it and thought we had fixed the problem. a few days later the sound started back up. then it got really loud and there was a loud pop. upon further investigation, we found out the entire wheel well had rusted out in a perfect circle around the shock. the shock was no longer attached to the car. i took it to ford and they told me this had been recalled on their mini-vans for the same year. ford body shop staff informed me that this was the only rust on my vehicle and this rust would not be caused by mis-treatment of the vehicle nor normal wear and tear of any car. ford is currently unable to get the wheel house to fix the car and it will not be available for "months". once i researched this a little more, it appears to be a highly common problem in the 2005 ford escapes. the car is not currently fixable or drive able. *tr

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

Ford escape 2005 rear right wheel well rusted out. i noticed slight strut sounding noise in the rear right wheel for a week. i checked to make sure nothing was rattling in the trunk or where the jack mounts. after opening the plastic access compartment to the jack, there was a hole straight through to the ground. i inspected the rear right wheel well and saw the entire thing rusted out clear above the shock/strut mount. i contacted the manufacturer and there was no recall yet the vehicle can essentially be deemed un-drivable and a safety hazard for the road. *tr

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

Took escape to mechanic after loud banging heard. right wheel well has large hole in it and the shock mount has rusted through, source of the banging. mechanic stated that this problem most likely began prior to purchase of car. ford failed to inform us of this problem after multi-point inspection 5 months ago. car has had two owners within same family. ford quoted $2500 repair will not reimburse and stated that the repairs would not even be covered by factory warranty, because it is not the "body" of the car. *tr

Inner and outer wheel houses, and quarter panels on both sides of the vehicle were rusted/corroded to the extent that the shock was pushing through the inside of the vehicle on the passenger side. loud banging noises and water inside the vehicle led to inspection by professionals. visible holes in the wheel house area were discovered at this time. upon inspection, it was realized that the driver side was just as badly rusted/corroded. all parts listed above needed to be replaced, as well as both shocks, which were also damaged due to their detachment from the rusted areas. all were replaced at my expense, immediately, due to the danger of driving the vehicle any further, thus avoiding a potentially serious accident. the expenses were $3402.08. ford will not cover these expenses because the vehicle is out of warranty. the car only has 69,000 miles, and is otherwise in top condition. the damages seem excessive at this mileage and age. photographs are available of the vehicle before, during, and after repairs.

The passenger-side rear wheel well has completely rusted through to the point where you can see into the cabin, and the shock/strut is mounted to nothing and is poking into my trunk. the metal all around the mount (or where it should be mounted) is completely corroded and rusted to the point of being completely detached, and the surrounding metal is stamped so thin to begin with that it is pliable. the shock is completely ineffective, and my car is a ticking time bomb of safety issues. i have contactedford several times, and ford canada is denying that this is a safety or quality issue and have taken no responsibility; they refuse to fix my car. i cannot find a recall at present, however there are numerous people reporting the same problem with their escapes, 6 alone on [xxx] and 5 on [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Started hearing loud rattling sounds from rear of car , looked and saw passenger rear wheel well/shock mount rusted out and separated from rest of vehicle. *tr

Driving my ford escape 2005, 35mph, heard a thump/bang then very loud rattling from the back of the vehicle. arrived home, found that the right rear shock, shock mount, and a dinner-plate-sized chunk of wheel well had punched up into the back of the vehicle. opened the liftgate, saw the shock mount flopping around inside the car and a dangling cluster of wires that had been shredded by the jagged metal. entire right side of the rear compartment had been shoved up 10cm. husband was shocked, sure i must have hit something, but i had not. right rear wheel well had completely rusted out underneath the undercoating. could not see the rust from the outside, so did not know it was happening. checked left rear wheel well, saw no rust, but undercoating lifts right off to reveal terrible rust underneath as well. vehicle is not safe to drive, no shock, water and road debris would fly right up into the car through the huge hole. this kind of damage is incredible. estimate for repair from dealership (brondes ford, toledo) was $5752.34. certainly can not afford that. researched online for repair alternatives and found dozens of other people with the same type of damage to the same vehicle make and model. reported the damage to ford customer relationship hotline, was informed that no recall has been issued for this vehicle, and that they were unaware that this was a common, frequent, or widespread problem. they did not consider it a defect. this is extremely dangerous. my children were afraid we were going crash. easily could have lost control if this had happened while turning a corner, merging into traffic, driving 65mph on the highway, etc. i am certain, however, that once ford motor company realizes the potential harm this defect can cause to life and property, they will be determined to do right by their loyal customers. *tr

My 2005 ford escape has had a loud banging in rear passenger side for several months. i has assumed that the strut needed replaced. upon further investigation my mechanic and i noticed a terrible amount of rust and corrosion to rear passenger wheel well that has bolts attached to strut. you can see into interior of vehicle from outside. i researched recalls of these problem and found none, although there were several other complaints for the same issue. this seems to happen only on the rear passenger side although has me worried about other complications that could arise. this is a very serious issue that the ford motor co. should address post haste. i fear that my families and others lives are at stake if this problem is not taken care of soon. *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 with a rusted out right rear wheel well around the upper shock mount. i checked with a ford dealer about any recalls, none. ford manager said they have never seen such an issue at lasco ford fenton mi. (ford est. to repair was 3400.00) i stopped at a couple bodyshops in the area and they (knew) of this problem and could quote me the parts needed, along with the 25 hours to replace/repair it. my escape is 7 years old and has 115,000 miles, however i don't think that the body structure (in wheel well) should have rusted completely away (right side only?), leaving the top shock mount flapping back and forth, making the vehicle unsafe and (not) drivable. this problem ended up costing 2005.00 to repair. this is a safety issue that should be addressed. i called ford customer service and this was there response: i understand that you are experiencing rust issues on the right rear fender and shock mounts of your vehicle. i apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused. i can also see why you feel this is a might be a common issue with the research you made. please understand, we share all of our vehicle concern documentation with national highway traffic and safety administration (nhtsa) and ford engineering. together, we work to further determine if a recall or customer satisfaction programs (csp) is needed for component failures. if a recall or csp becomes available for your vehicle, you will be notified by u.s. mail to the current address we have on file. please keep in mind that nhtsa, which is the federal agency responsible for motor vehicle safety is the only organization with the authority to order a recall or csp. in addition, i found there are no warranties, field service actions (recalls) / csps on your vehicle that would provide assistance for your current concern. ford motor company. *tr

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