Problems with 2005 Ford Escape SUSPENSION

I've been told the rear shock mount has rusted out on this unibody constructed vechicle. when i drive the car, and if i hit any sort of a bump in the road, huge sound from the back as if the rear end of the car is going to fall off. i understand many others have had similar problem. cost to fix, if possible is about $4000. car is worth about the same amount. i was told by auto body guy that a recall on this may exist or that ford is aware of the problem and may be offering up a fix.

2005 ford escape, have had a lot of clunking in back of car, and the rear right wheel well is falling/rusting apart (other wheel wells are not, just rear passenger side) right where shock absorber is mounted. large rusted out hole in wheel well, and if i press around the wheel well, the black coating crumbles revealing crumbling rust behind it. many other 2005 escape owners with same issue. i have no money to fix this; this is a dangerous flaw should it break through while driving at high speeds. should be recalled and fixed by ford. it can't be said this is just "normal wear and tear" when only the one wheel well is consistently the one that is rusting while the other wheel wells do not. i have 125k on my escape, but who knows how long the hole has been there.

Wheel well rotted out causing shock to break loose and create unsafe vehicle. i was driving down the street when it finally let go and saw debris fall all over road and heard a loud bang from passenger side rear of car.

Right rear wheel well rusted out so bad the lower control arm to the rear tire is close to separating from the vehicle subframe. car unsafe to drive

While driving down the road, heard a load bang in the back of the car on the right side. after inspecting the vehicle i noticed that the inner wheel well was rusted out and the shock was no longer connected to the vehicle. looks like the frame may be cracked under the attach point of the upper strut mount.

Rear right shock mount rusting through . k-frame rotted through right front side

Right rear shock mount completely rusted out, bought car brand new, only 60,000 miles on it . come to find out all ford escapes this year are having the same issue. this is a serious problem because this is a suspension and handling issue, car was very difficult to drive and keep in lane. the problem has it's own facebook page, 2004-2006 ford escape. very poor engineering design mounting shock to sheetmetal.

The sub-frame rusted through causing both front wheels to toe out and also to camber in at the top. the abs warning light also triggered. the steering now pulls to the left and there is tire squeel even on gradual right hand turns. there is a recall for this exact problem for the ford escape model years 2001-2004. it is obvious that this same problem exists for this model year 2005 ford escape. i verified that my vin was not covered in the recall. i then called ford to see if they would remedy the problem as it was obvious that this was the same problem as in their other recall - they said they couldn't help. this is a low mileage, well maintained vehicle so it should be obvious that the sub-frame is faulty.

Was driving along city street when i went over a small bump, heard a loud thud! the wheel well on back passenger side was rusted away where the strut connects. or where it was once connected... 155,673 miles, this is my only vehicle and unsafe to drive my family in.

While i was driving i noticed a banging noise in the rear of my 2005 ford escape that was getting louder, when i looked at both sides i noticed that the passenger rear well was completely rusted out. i took my escape to the car repair shop and was quoted $1000 for the repair and was told that this is a common problem with this vehicle. i started doing some research and found out that this is a very common problem with 2004 and 2005 ford escape that they didn't properly seal one side of the car, and that they had only recalled the 2004. i had contracted the ford motor co. and they told me that they have no record of any problems with the 2005 ford escape having this problem, i then informed them that there are a lot of people who have reported this problem and she said that they have no records. i feel they should be responsible for this repair since it is the same problem they had with the 2004 ford escape. my car only has only 93,000 miles when this problem occurred. this suv is not safe to drive and you are unable to drive this vehicle when this problem occurs.

Right rear shock/strut rusted off the vehicle and is not attached anymore

Why is it that nhtsa is ignoring all the complaints about the ford escape vehicles from 2003 to 2007 in regards to the right rear fender well and shock mounts that are rusting out in which this is a safety issue where as the shock could hit the inner wheel of the right rear tire? no recalls from ford or nhtsa on this issue, but you can clearly see from the attached video that there is a major concern for safety of these vehicles on the right rear side. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_ozk8igk5s repairs are costing the consumers on these vehicles nearly $2000.00 dollars or more at the auto body repair shop. how can ford do this on these vehicles and current models. i have a 2011 ford escape and it is starting to rust out in the same place. why?????????????????? make ford recall these vehicle and pay for these repairs. instead of the consumer having to get raked over the coals from the auto body shops or your local ford dealer.

I was driving along the highway on my way to work and hit a bump in the road. immediately after that i heard a rattling noise in the rear passenger side quarter pane on every subsequent bump. when i was able to properly examine it i realized that the metal that connects the shock tower to the wheel well had almost completely rusted away. in august of 2012, with 154,523 miles on the car, i replaced the rear shock absorbers. there was no indication at that time of this problem developing. the metal on the vehicle seems to have an issue because it is rusting in other areas as well, such as the fuel filler neck, the bottoms of the rear doors, the bottom of the rear lift gate, the outer edges of the rear wheel openings, and at the base of the side view mirror.

Ford escape 2005 passenger rear tire wheel well rusted away where the shock absorber mount bolts onto frame and now the shock absorber mount has nothing to bolt onto anymore. shock absorber mount is not attached to frame anymore and now hits the frame of the suv make very loud knocking sounds.

When traveling at 40mph, a thumping noise could be heard in the rear of 2005 ford escape. upon visual inspection, the passenger side rear wheel well was completely corroded, exposing the interior of the car. the mount of the shock suspension is corroded so badly that the shock is nowhere attached to the body and is what causes the thumping sound as it pushes up into the car interior. no other wheel wells on the car have anywhere near that level of corrosion.

When driving on bumpy roads i started hearing a loud rattle from passenger rear area. i couldn't find anything loose in the back of the vehicle that would make that sound. i looked up inside the rear passenger wheel well and saw that the upper portion of where the shock bolts to the body is rusted out all the way around the shock connection area. i see there are many other ford owners that have had the same problem. come on ford, we can't all afford to scrap a vehicle every ten years. there is a design problem here and ford should be held responsible for fixing their shortcomings.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle would sway slightly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the shock tower on the rear passenger side had completely rusted through to the frame. the vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 108,000.

Driving to work on aug 3, 2015, i heard loud rattling and clanking from the rear of my 2005 ford escape. thinking that it was my tools on the back, i remove them the tools, but the rattling persisted. i walked around and did a visual inspection, and saw nothing wrong with the driver side suspension or wheel well area. the passenger side wheel well, however, had a large hole where the shock mount should have been attached to the body. this seems to be a problematic area for many owners of my year make and model vehicle and i find it interesting that ford will verbally admit that this is an issue, though will not explain in writing why nothing has been done to correct the problem and make their vehicles safe to be driven. ford will be notified by way of their internal complaint forms of this issue.

The passenger side rear wheel well is rusted through so badly that the shock mount is banging in the interior panel and is about to break lose from the frame. when i bought the vehicle a month ago it still had the original undercoating on it, it was rusting from behind the undercoat. i now have to pay my mechanic to fix this safety hazard because ford, knowing that this problem exists and is extensive, will not recall the vehicle to fix there poor design.

Right rear shock tower mount is completed rusted away causing the shock to travel up into the wheel well

Rear wheel wells rusted away allowing struts to move. very unstable! afraid of an accident

Right rear shock absorber punched through horribly rusted wheel well into passenger compartment. i didn't hit anything. it just rusted through and totally failed. very dangerous situation.

Sub-frame rust problem. there was a recall on 2001 to 2004 ford escape for this problem. ford motor company has recalled escape crossovers from model years 2001-2004 in states that use a lot of road salt. in affected vehicles, part of the car could suffer damage from rust and even lose steering control.

I heard a load banging noise coming from the rear of my truck. after stopping to look at it my passenger side rear wheel well and strut were completely crumbled and my strut was no longer attached. i know my vehicle is 10 years old, but the mechanic i took it to said he has never seen anything like that ever on a car that old. he has been a mechanic for 40 years. after researching a little it seems there are thousands of complaints with the same issue. all on the rear passenger wheel well. these complaints range from different states and even other countries. to me if many many of the same vehicle is having the exact same problem then it sounds like a defect in the parts. i just thank god i wasn't going at a high speed and hit a pot hole or something. something should really be done about this.

I had my daughter's car in the shop and noticed that the interior of the wheel well on passenger side rear was rotting away. this affects the suspension dramatically. it appears that it will eventually deteriorate to the point that where shock absorber mounts will eventually fail and could have disastrous results. this degradation is very similar to ford's recall #13-s-01 on select mini vans and where the rear wheel wells are rotting away. in my mind this issue poses just as serious a threat. upon seeing my daughter's car i've had occasion to look at similar age escapes and many have this condition on them as well.

While driving my 2005 ford escape hybrid i heard a dragging sound in the right rear of the vehicle. i stopped the vehicle to discover a piece of the inner wheelhouse suspension mount had separated and was rubbing on the right rear tire. this is a corrosion problem that has been reported many times to nhtsa and no enforcement action to date has been made to have ford recall these unsafe vehicles for corrective action. i guess someone will have to die when the right rear suspension separates from the vehicle before nhtsa decides to act.

While driving last week i heard a "rattling" i had not heard previously.i pulled over and inspected my wheels and discovered that the rear passenger wheel well above the top of the tire had rusted out.closer inspection revealed that the strut mount had completely separated from the vehicle and the strut had "speared" thru the interior plastic sidewall, thus rendering the vehicle inoperable.i shudder to think what might have happened had i had my child in the car and we were travelling on the highway.upon researching on you tube how to repair this problem,i was astounded to find out that the most common problem related to 2005-06 ford escapes,was very specific in stating that the rear-passenger wheel well was rusting and corroding on these particular vehicles,sometimes resulting in the strut to become disengaged.this sounds like a very serious safety issue,but ford customer relations told me "sorry,but there is no recall for this and that there was nothing they can do for me.as a single dad,military veteran,and low-income earner,i am looking for help for myself and fellow ford escape owners because this sounds like shoddy car construction from the ford motor company.please help me because i can't work at the moment until this vehicle is repaired,and i can't afford the repair bill until i get back to work,i am disheartened and upset about this whole ordeal.please look into this.

Rusted out shock tower. passenger rear panel all rusted out and large hole. took it to dealer who said it is not under warranty and would have to go to a body shop. as i looked online, i have found that this has been a huge problem with this car and am surprised that there has not been a recall. contacted ford who said they can do nothing for me.

In july of 2015 i brought my 2005 ford escape to the dealer because of very loud noise in the rear while driving. noise was the same whether on a street or the highway. the mechanic found the passenger side rear wheel well was completely rusted out. i have a friend with the very same make, model, year and is now going through the exact same issue. there are other areas of rust on the body that seems to me to be coming on prematurely. i see there is a recall for this issue, but only up to model year 2004. please....the 2005's have the very same issue!

I started hearing a rattling noise in the rear passenger area a few days ago. initially i thought that the jack had come loose in its compartment. upon inspection i found that the passenger rear wheel well was completely rusted through and the shock detached from the frame. the shock was coming through the wheel well and hitting the interior of my vehicle. i am headed to the dealer today to see what repairs will cost. after getting on this site and seeing all of the complaints for the exact same issue it is apparent that ford should be forced to recall this defect. i will never buy another ford if this is not recalled.

Our 2005 ford escape in just a matter of weeks developed a basketball-sized hole over the right rear wheel well. it completely rusted through the wheel well, and the you can see through the opening to the shock and the tire from inside the vehicle. in addition, the shock is no longer attached to the frame, which makes this vehicle unsafe for the road. we will not allow our son to drive this truck any longer, and are now unable to provide him with a safe car since the repairs to this truck are very high. this is a major issue that affects a large number of other drivers. we all have the exact same complaint on where the damage occurs (right rear wheel well) and the extent of this damage (the truck is no longer safe to drive). ford needs to recall these vehicles and fix this problem. thank you. *tr

Inside the right rear wheel well where the strut/shock mounts has totally rusted away

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. after driving over a bump, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the contact discovered that the rear shock towers were rusted. in addition, the contact stated that a fuel odor emitted inside the vehicle. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 74,000.

Right rear wheel well is so rusted out that the shock mount has completely detached from the body. definite safety issue. 2005 ford escape xlt.

the upper shock mount on the rear passenger side rusted right through and fell off which cut my breakline which could've led to a fatal accident. i also have a child, this is extremely dangerous and should be recalled. the system check and abs light never came on either.

While driving heard a loud knotting in the right rear of the vehicle, going over minor bumps. looked under the right rear wheel well found top of shock rusting loose from where it was attached. if this breaks loose completely it could cause the vehicle to bounce and sweve radically causing driver to lose control.

Noted at a local car repair shop that my passenger rear inner fender is rusted so bad that the metal where the shock is attached to is coming away. while driving on bumps, am now hearing loud clunking sound and no longer driving the vehicle for fear of the shock falling off. car shop stated that they've seen 12 escapes come through their place with the same issue on the same side that were 8-10 years old.

My 2005 ford escape rear passenger side wheel well cracked. the shock absorber is hardly attached and is a safety issue. if it falls off it could cause an accident.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. while driving at 25 mph, the suspension failed without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear suspension rusted and that there was a possibility of the suspension separating from the body of the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 137,000.

Have heard this noise like a window or door rattling for awhile and couldn't find the problem. finally looked at it really good one day and found the right wheel well and shock were completely rusted out and just sitting there. unsafe to drive so we took it home and parked it. this car was bought for my grandaughter and her baby to be a safe car for her and now we have to park it and figure out what to do because we still owe on this vehicle and can't afford to pay it off or get another one right now

I had finance a 2005 ford escape xlt after had the vehicle for two month i notice a strange sounds for the back of the vehicle i track and found out that the rear. underneath the car panel where the shockwas at is rusted all through. the the front tire is wear and the vehicle is driving bad shocks struct and wheel elignment was all effect with the rust panal from shocks...

Heard a thudding from rear end. looked underneath as nothing loose in the vehicle. the passenger side rear wheel well is very rusted. no support for shocks. there was an undercoating with debris under it. took out a lot of sludge/rust/debris from under that coating. body shop says $5000 to fix it properly, and the other side is starting to rust as well (driver rear wheel well).

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. while driving at various speeds, the contact heard an abnormal noise. the contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road and observed that the rear passenger side undercarriage was corroded. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear passenger wheel bearing needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failures. the approximate failure mileage was 211,000.

When i was driving i heard some loud noise and when i stopped i found that the rear passenger strut shot up thru the back interior of the car.this was due to the entire wheel well rusting out.i also was driving another time when the front end started to shake.i stopped and got out and seen that the front tires were facing sideways.the tie rod broke.i could have been seriously hurt or killed.

Right rear shock tower is rusted all the way through,while the left side looks brand new.a mechanic said he has fixed at least 20 of these.the price for the fix quoted to me was between $800.00 and $1000.00.this should be a recall.we the escape but this just is not fair. *tr

Purchased june 2005 as a used vehicle w/ 18,000 miles. always garage kept. noticed a popping noise from the passage rear. investigated and found the inner wheel well. area were the shock bolt's to has almost completely rusted out. read of other people having same issues on the internet. car is unsafe to drive until repaired. will consult a body shop on repairs. ford needs to man up and offer a fix for this issue! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. while driving 30 mph, the vehicle made a rattling noise from the rear passenger side. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the wheel well rusted and caused the shocks to become inoperable. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 110,000.

I have a 2005 ford escape and the passenger side rear wheel well has rusted out to the point that where the shock is mounted has broken free of the inner fender well causing handling problems with the vehicle. i am concerned that this may cause an accident. i really think an area of this great importance should not ever rust out let alone in just 10 years. i feel this is an engineering problem on ford motor companies part. i did some research and found that this seems to be a common problem on this model. were do i go next and i can see this being a costly repair as well. help!!! *tr

Heard loud noise from rear of vehicle especially at low speeds. removed inside panel to find that rear passenger wheel well rusted through causing shock mount to tear through frame and was no longer attached to frame. consulted with ford, no recall for this model year,,,but for previous year and following year?!! took vehicle to body shop for repairs. vehicle for kids and deemed unsafe or dangerous for them. ford...i buy a lot of vehicles from you...you need to make this right for us!

The right rear wheel well is rusted and completely rotted away. the shock spring is coming up through the back of the car. i just purchased the car "as is" last year, and had it looked at by my mechanic. no one caught the condition of the car, and then this year in april i heard a knocking noise in the back of my car. i went and had it looked at and the mechanic said the whole right rear wheel well was rusted and rotted out. the condition is so bad that my mechanic couldn't even find a way to weld a plate in there. i still owe on this vehicle, and it will cost upwards of $2000.00 to fix!