CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SHUTS ITSELF OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, DEALER REPAIRED THE AIR VALVE, AFTER LEAVING REPAIR SHOP VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AGAIN, AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT FORD REPLACE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TT
2001 Ford Escape complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2001 record →
STALLS WHEN STEPPING ON GAS FROM A STOP AND WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. BROUGHT TO DEALER TWICE ALREADY SINCE INITIAL OCCURRNCE. FIRST TIME (9/22): SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND TIME (10/8): REPLACED IAC VALVE (?). STILL STALLING THE NEXT DAY. CALLED DEALER 10/11: DIDN'T GET BACK TO ME. STOPPED AT DEALER ON 10/12: SAID THEY WERE GOING TO TALK TO A FORD TECH (WHO DIDN'T RETURN THEIR CALL). ALSO CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TALKED TO DEALER (WHO TOLD THEM SAME THING THEY TOLD ME). NOW HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY UNTIL I CAN TALK TO THEM AGAIN. NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, DROVE HOME AND PARKED, NOTICED A LARGE BULGE ON INSIDE OF LEFT REAR TIRE, NEXT TO RIM, TREAD WAS COMING LOOSE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND CHECKED ON TIRE. MECHANIC PUT TWO PLUGS IN TIRE BECAUSE OF A HOLE ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, B235/70R16. *AK
DRIVING AROUND 40MPH, AND CAR HAS STALLED THREE TIMES ON ME NOW WITH LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES, MOST RECENTLY ON 10/11/2001. FORD SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG.*AK
1.) COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. VEHICLE REFUSED TO RESTART; AND 2.) GEAR STICK SHAKES OR SHIMMERS VIGOROUSLY WHEN ENGAGED IN THIRD (3RD) GEAR.
1.) COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. VEHICLE REFUSED TO RESTART; AND 2.) GEAR STICK SHAKES OR SHIMMERS VIGOROUSLY WHEN ENGAGED IN THIRD (3RD) GEAR.
ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS. HAD LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AKCONSUMER STATED THE DELAER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*SLC
ENGINE STALLS WHILE TRAVELING. OCCURRED ONCE EACH IN JUNE, JULY, SEPT AND OCT. PRESUMED ELECTRICAL SHORT. COAST TO ROADSIDE, COME TO COMPLETE STOP, PUT IN PARK, TURN KEY AND TAKE OFF AGAIN. LAST INCIDENT WAS SHORTLY AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY - I CAN NO LONGER OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WITH ANY CONFIDENCE. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS/ BUCKS WHILE DRIVING. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THEN, VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER,AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE; ONCE AT 30 MPH, AND SECOND TIME AT 45 MPH. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM FIRST TIME, SECOND TIME DEALER REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER.*AK
WHILE ACCELERATING TO 65 MPH, VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN IN POSSESSION OF VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, DEALER PERFORMED EXTENSIVE ROAD TESTING AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO VERIFY STALLING CONCERN ONCE, STILL UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM, DEALER OFFERED TRADE-IN, BUT CONSUMER REFUSED OFFER.*AK *TT
OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS MY FORD ESCAPE HAS LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE AM TO WORK. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THE CAR WHEN IT LOST ALL POWER BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED FIVE DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. FORD REPLACED THE IDLE SENSOR AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN. FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY "CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND THEIR ENGINEERS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THE ESCAPES. I WAS OFFERED A TRADE IN AT THE LOSS OF $6,700.00 OR TO CALL THE 800 FORD NUMBER AND REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THE 800 NUMBER TOLD ME TO PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND WAIT FOR A RESPONSE (2-3 WEEKS). I AM NOW IN THAT STAGE OF MY COMPLAINT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD BECAUSE I LIVE IN A CITY WHERE THERE IS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INTERSTATES ARE CLOSE BY.
1) ON TWO OCCASIONS THE CAR'S ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER BOTH INCIDENCES. THE DEALER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THE CAR RIGHT AWAY ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE TOLD ME THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS WORKING ON A FIX TO THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER WAS UPGRADED AND I SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. NONTHELESS I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS TO YOUR AGENCY DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DEFECT AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A FAILUR ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORTUNATE THESE PAST TWO OCCURENCES BUT OTHER OWNERS MAY NOT BE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THEI MATTER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL THE OTHER FORD ESCAPE USERS AND UNSUSPECTING TRAVELLERS WHO MAY BE FOLLOWING A FORD ESCAPE. 2) I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REPORT ANOTHER UNRELATED PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. SEVERAL OWNERS SHARED THIS CONCERN ON AN INTERNET USER GROUP. I AM GETTING 12 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS CAR WHILE THE POSTED HIGHWAY MILEAGE IS 28 MPG. THIS IS EVEN LESS THAN THE POSTEN CITY MILEAGE OF 18 MPG. THE DEALER TESTED THE CITY MILEAGE BY HOOKING UP A CUMPUTER AND VERIFIED THE CITH MILEAGE TO BE AROUN 18 MPG. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CITY MILEAGE I AM GETTING. THE HIGHWAY MILEAGE IS WAY OFF AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IT DOES NOT MEET THE GOVERNMENT STANDARDS AND DOES NOT MEET THE STATED SPCIFICATIONS.*AK
WHILE COASTING DOWN SLIGHT GRADE AT 35 MPH, ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING, STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD (REQUIRED GREAT EFFORT TO STEER AND BRAKE), WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY FOLLOWING VEHICLES. PUT CAR IN "PARK" AND RESTARTED W/O ANY PROBLEM (NO ENGINE STUMBLE), DROVE 7 MILES HOME WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEM, HOWEVER I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF RECURRENCE. I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER TOMORROW AND HOPE IT BEHAVES LONG ENOUGH TO GET THERE.*AK
ON 2 OCCASIONS ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE COASTING AT 35MPH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE,THE DEALER REPLACED A VALVE WHICH CONTROLLED AIR FLOW, THE NEXT DAY THIS PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN WHEN GOING UP A SEMI-STEEP INCLINE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A METALLIC RATTLE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN ACCELERATING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. NLM
ENGINE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES IN BUSY TRAFFIC IN THE PAST TEN MONTHS. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK
6 MOS OLD VEH; 4700 MILES; ENGINE HAS STALLED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS (MID-JUN, MID-JUL, EARLY SEP) WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH; ORIGINAL DEALER COULD PROVIDE NO SOLUTION; CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED AT 2ND LOCAL DEALER; SEEKING GUARANTEED RESOLUTION; REPLACEMENT VEHICLE OR REFUND. *AK
BRIEFLY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT UPON ACCELERATION ABOVE 50 MPH, THIS HAS CAUSED 2 NEAR COLLISIONS ON I-95, TIRE SPLIT OPEN & ROOF RACK BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING*AK (DOT NUMBER: A3083JJ390 TIRESIZE: A3083JJ390)
SLUGGISH DRIVING AFTER A OIL CHANGE, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NEXT WEEK, SHIFT WENT OUT. AFTER GETTING VEHICLE BACK BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS LOOSE AND THE STEERING WAS NOT RIGHT. WIPER TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, REPLACED.
THE SUV WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MID-DECEMBER 2000. ON 9/7/07, I WAS SLOWING DOWN, ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE, TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE SUV SHUT ITSELF OFF AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. IT HAD 1/3 TANK OF GAS. I SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC INTO PARK, TURNED THE KEY, THE CAR STARTED AND I EXTRICATED MY 7 YEAR OLD SON AND MYSELF FROM THE BUSY INTERSECTION AND FROM THE MOUTH OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC (WE LANDED IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, MUCH TO A JEEP'S DISMAY). I DROVE SLOWLY TO MY SON'S SCHOOL (3 BLOCKS DOWN), THEN TO WORK WHERE I NOTIFIED FORD VIA IT'S 800 NUMBER. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT AFTERNOON WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THE DEALERSHIP. ON 9/8/01, I CALLED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR WAS READY. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO REVIEW THE REPAIRS WITH ME & MY HUSBAND AND TO EXPLAIN WHY THE REPAIR "FIXED" THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THEY REPLACED A VALVE WHICH CONTROLS AIR FLOW. HE SAID THIS WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF, ESPECIALLY IF I HAD BEEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS ENGAGING THE BRAKES WHEN IT SHUT OFF, SO I ACCEPTED THIS EXPLANATION. I PACKED MY 7 YEAR OLD INTO THE SUV AND LEFT. WITHIN 7-10 MILES, THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF, AGAIN (ONLY 26 HOURS AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND THE SUPPOSED "FIX")! THIS TIME I WAS ACCELERATING UP A SEMI-STEEP INCLINE. MY EYES WERE FORWARD. I NOTICED OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY FIELD OF VISION A RED GLOW. I LOOKED DOWN AND THE OIL LAMP WAS GLOWING. I JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED WITHIN 1,000 MILES AND T
DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY REPLACED APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO. ON 9/08/2001, WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AGAIN, LEADING US TO CONCLUDE THAT ANOTHER SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK
WHILE THE ESCAPE IS DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL TUGS A LITTLE THEN IT LOCKS COMPLETELY UP, THEN THE BRAKES FAIL, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP IS TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MY ESCAPE HAS DONE THIS THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. TWO OF THE INCIDENTS ALMOST RESULTED IN CAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN NOT BE STEERED. THE CAR TOTALLY FREEZES UP WITH ALL ENGINES LIGHTS COMING ON. THE SPEED DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. ALL THREE OCCASSIONS MY CD PLAYER HAS BEEN ON, THE AIR HAS BEEN ON LOW AND MY LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON. AFTER THE CAR FINALLY STOPS BY USING THE EMERGENGY BRAKE, I SHUT EVERYTHING OFF AND IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN.
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, DEALER REPLACED A BROKEN CABLE. DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN REPAIRS. *AK
ENGINE STALLS WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. ENGINE HAS STALLED WHEN COASTING IN TRAFFIC. DEALER CANNOT FIND/REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION LOST REVERSE GEAR. PROBLEM NOT FOUND UNTIL TRYING TO BACK FROM PARKING SPACE. VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PUSHED OUT OF LOT. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF PROBLEM UNTIL IT OCCURRED.*AK
HAD SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND IT STARTED TO BACKUP. THEN, IT HESITATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SOUNDED FUNNY. RPMS REVVED UP, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE STILL IN REVERSE.*AK
HAD SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO GET OUT OF PARKING SPACE. THEN, STARTED TO BACK UP, AND VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SOUNDED FUNNY; RPMS REVVED UP,VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE STILL IN REVERSE. *AK
GEAR SHIFT LEVER STICKS IN FRONT OF RADIO. WHEN CHANGING RADIO STATIONS HANDS KNOCKS GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE PRODUCES SO MUCH BRAKE DUST THAT THE WHEELS TURN BLACK ONLY AFTER THREE OR FOUR DAYS OF DRIVING, FORD STATES NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *SLC
WAS TRAVELING 40MPH ON HIGHWAY WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND POWER STEERING DIDN'T RESPOND. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER CLEANED GROUND CONNECTIONS UNDER THE BATTERY. SUB WOOFER INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC
HOSE CLAMPS ON BOTH TRANS COOLER HOSES IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WERE NOT FIXED ONTO HOSE. TOP HOSE BLEW FROM TRANSMISSION COOLER AND RESULTED IN LOSE OF MOST ALL TRANS FLUID. TRANS STOPED WORKING. FLUID WAS ALL OVER FRONT LOWER PART OF VEHICLE INCLUDING BOTH INSIDES OF DISK BRAKES. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WARRANTY REPAIR IS IN PROGRESS. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STATED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS SITUATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.*AK
DRIVER'S RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, FEMALE PART, FAILS TO LOCK PROPERLY, PREVENTING USE OF SEAT BELT. DEALERSHIP IS REPAIRING PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
FORD DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED 3 TIMES TO REPAIR BRAKES GOING ON THE 4TH WHEN THEY GET THE NEW BRAKE PADS IN,THEY TOLD US ABOUT A MONTH FROM NOW.THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN SLOWING FROM 55 TO 40 MPH. AND CAN GET SCARY AT TIMES.IT ALSO VIBRATES AT 65 MPH.WE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT OUR PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD US THAT DON MCCLAIN SAID THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY FIXED THE BRAKES,WHICH IS A LIE. THEY ARE GIVING US THE RUNAROUND TO AVOID OUR STATES LEMON LAW.AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL NO OTHER FORD ESCAPES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
BELTS SEPARATED INTERNALLY CAUSING SIDEWALLS TO FAIL. INSPECTION BY TIRE DEALER SHOWED NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR PUNCTURE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W208DK8711 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLED AND OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS AT THE NORMAL LEVEL. *SLC
CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN, THERE WERE NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. ALSO, SPEED PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING, ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS THE DRIVER WAS ON A SLIGHT DOWN-GRADE, CAOSTING AND APPLYING THE BRAKE TO HANDLE A CURVE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *YH
STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH TWO SEPARATE TIMES. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 15-20MPH ON A NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE STREET CONSUMER RAN INTO A PARKED CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER 360 DEGREES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED RIB IN THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER THINKS THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE ROLLED OVER AS EASILY AS IT DID. *SLC
OVER A PERIOD OF 2 MONTHS, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER DURING THE AM DRIVE TO WORK. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCASSIONS, ALMOST EXACTLY 7 MILES FROM MY HOME. GOING 20-30 MILES PER HOUR DURING EACH OCCURRENCE. CAR JUST LOSES ALL POWER, AS WELL AS BRAKES, STEERING, ETC. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED CAR OFF, CAR STARTS UP, AND DOES NOT RECUR FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER THREE TIMES- THEY CANNOT REPLICATE, CANNOT FIX. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION-- I AM MINUTES FROM THE INTERSTATE AND COULD BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM. DEALER IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS THE LAST TIME. WE WILL EXPLORE GETTING A SWAP FROM FORD OR LEMON LAW IF WE HAVE TO. *AK
DRIVE DOWN A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH - ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT WENT ON. LOSS OF POWER AND CAR DID NOT APPEAR TO BE GETTING ANY GAS. CAR KEPT RUNNING. *AK
CAR SEATS BROKE ON IMPACT - REMAINED IN RECLINED POSITION RENDERING THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES BY 2 PASSENGERS. ONE PASSENGER FACTURED C1 VERTIBRA. SEATS WERE SO FLATTENED THAT SIGNIFICANT INJURIES WOULD OF BEEN SUSTAINED BY ANYONE IN THE BACK SEATS. STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. COMPLAINT FILED 6/28/01.
ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, SINCE CAR BOUGHT 6 WEEKS AGO. ALWAYS ON HILLY, CURVEY ROADS, DOING 35-40 MPH, COASTING AND BRAKING LIGHTLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES GO. HAVE TO MUSCLE CAR TO ROADSIDE. TURNING OFF KEY AND RESTARTING SEEMS TO WORK. HAVE ALSO PUT IN NEUTRAL, TURNED KEY OFF AND RESTARTED, SHIFTING BACK INTO DRIVE. BEEN TO DEALER ONCE LAST WEEK FOR PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT DETECT OR RECREATE. DEALER CONTACTED FORD HOT-LINE, WHO MADE SUGGESTIONS, TO NO AVAIL. DEALER SAYS THEY NOR FORD HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. HARD TO BELIEVE THIS. HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE, SYMPATHETIC REACTION BUT WITH NO ADVICE OR SOLUTION. HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. CAR BACK TO DEALER NOW FOR WEEK WHILE ON VACATION. VERY AFRAID I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IN ACCIDENT. EXPRESSED CONCERNS TO DEALER AND FORD. THERE ARE 16 LIKE COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA SIGHT. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE?*AK
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AS #746806. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL OR ALMOST STALL AT STOP SIGNS OR IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC. HAS BEEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE NOW TO NO AVAIL. IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME. (TIRE CLICKING REPORTED UNDER #746806 WAS FIXED....STONE CAUGHT DEEP INSIDE TIRE RIM.) *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
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH WAS THEN TOWED TO DEALERSHP, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.*YD
VEHICLE ACCELERATES/SURGES, WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IN REVERSE OR AUTOMATIC LST GEAR. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICTLY, MAYBE ONCE EVERY 2-3 WEEKS, WITHOUT WARNING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THEIR COMPUTOR. THEIR MECHANIC WENT ON THE FORD HOTLINE AND FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LISTED, AND A POSSIBLE FIX SUGGESTED. THE MECHANIC REHOOKED THE VEHICLE BACK UP TO THE COMPUTER AND FOUND THAT THE FIX HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK, AND OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT WORKING. AN APPOLOGETIC SERVICE REP. HANDED ME THE KEYS AND I DROVE HOME IN MY DEFECTIVE TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO LISTING BY OTHER OWNERS ON FORD ESCAPE OWNER WEBSITES.*AK
OUR CAR SPORADICALLY STALLS WHEN COASTING TO A STOP, CHANGING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, AND WHEN GOING OVER ANY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT THEY CLAIM THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE NOW AND THE STALLING HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN 15 TIMES IN A SPAN OF A MONTH. THE STALLING CAUSES ALL POWERED SYSTEMS TO FAIL (IE. BRAKES, STEERING).*AK
TIRE ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED. TIRE SPLITTING PASSENAGER REAR TIRE, THIS TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2001 Ford Escape → · Every Escape year → · How the figures are calculated →