2001 Ford Escape complaints

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES.PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF.WHEN I RESTARTED IT IT SEEMED TO WORK OK.TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND THEY SAID IT WAS RUNNING VERY HOT.CALLED FORD AND THEY MADE SUGGESTIONS ON A FIX.THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE ERG VALVE.I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR TWO DAYS AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN.......YET.VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH NO STEERING OR BRAKES.SOMEONE IS GOING TO END UP HURT BADLY OR KILLED.*AK

DRIVING 45-50 MPH WHEN ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN. HAD ALL LOSS OF POWER INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES. COASTED TO EDGE OF ROAD, PLACED GEAR IN PARK AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO RESTART. WAS SUCCESSFUL AT RESTARTING WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO INCIDENTS WITHIN A PERIOD OF 5 DAYS. THE SECOND HAPPENED AT 60 MPH. TO AFRAID TO ATTEMPT DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND AM ON PINS AND NEEDLES EVEN ON RURAL ROADS. MADE APPT WITH DEALER THE FIRST BUSINESS DAY AFTER IT HAPPENED AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT ALSO. JIM SNEAD FORD IS REPLACING THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH HOPING THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM.*AK

CAR JUMPS SUDDENLY FORWARD/BACKWARD WHEN EASING INTO FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE. HAD TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS, 1ST- FLEW BACKWARDS JUST MISSING A TREE, 2ND FLEW BACKWARD IN PARKING LOT NEARLY HITTING A CAR AND PEDESTRIAN. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO POSTED BY OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS AT A "ESCAPE" OWNER INTERNET SITE, SO IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *AK

THE FRONT AXLE AND CV JOINTS COMPLETELY FELL OFF. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THE SAFTEY CONNECTOR BOLT BEING INSTALLED AT FACTORY. I HAVE PHOTOS. MIGHT BE CALLED A LOWER BALL JOINT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.*AK CONSUMER STATES ANOTHER DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE RELAY. *SLC

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING TROUBLE WITH REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT BELT IS IN A LOCKED POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED TO REMEDY PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT AT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH ON LEVEL ROAD, ENGINE SHUTDOWN; POWER STEERING LOST, POWER ASSIST BRAKING LOST; 3 OCCURRENCES SAME SIITUATION, SAME ROAD & APPROXIATE LOCATION AND TIME OF DAY; THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE TO WHICH THIS HAS HAPPENED; DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK

THE BLOWER ON MY A/C WILL START BLOWING THRU THE DEFROST WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER POWER. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS SUBURB, SO I'M CONSTANTLY CLIMBING HILLS. THE AIR WILL BLOW THRU THE DEFROST FOR ~10 SECONDS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED A WEEK AGO; NOW IT LASTS ~20 SECONDS. PHIL LONG HAS HAD MY TRUCK TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE ACTED UP FOR THEM AND THEY FOUND A CRIMPED VACUUM HOSE, YET THE 2ND TIME, THEY COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO ACT UP FOR THEM. AS SOON AS I GOT TO MY SUBURB, IT STARTED CUTTING OUT ON ME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, THERE WAS MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK *SLC

ON A 4- LANE HIGHWAY GOING 20-25MPH, CONSUMER LET UP OFF ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES ,AND VEHICLE WAS BACK TO NORMAL. CONSUMER HAS A UP COMNG APPOINTMENT AT DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD LEAK FLUID WHILE PARKED. FUMES WOULD ENTER VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES FOR PROBLEM, AND HAD PLUGS AND CASING SEALS REPLACED. PROBLEM OF LEAKAGE WOULD ALWAYS REAPPEAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AND GOES INTO NETURAL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. AFTER VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES IT RETURNS TO NORMAL CONDITIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING , CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING CONTROL, NEARLY CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HAD SEVERE VIBRATION OF STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS OF 75 MPH OR GREATER. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE AFTER MARKET RIMS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN DEALER INSTALLED THE STOCK RIMS AND TOOK IT OUT AND TESTED IT, THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE WHEN HE ACHIEVED A SPEED OF 75 MPH OR BETTER. DEALER RE-BALANCED THE WHEELS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURED. DEAR CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT AND SAID IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND PROBABLY CAME THAT WAY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER FRONT END ALIGNED NO MORE PROBLEMS. AS FOR PROB#2 , I NOTICED SOME PINK FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAD THEM PUT IT ON A RACK TO INSPECT IT. THEY FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING AT THE LEFT SIDE OF BOOT. THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK & PINION UNIT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ESCAPES OUT THERE WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM? ALSO WHEN DEALER RECEIVED THE RACK & PINION UNIT FOR MY VEHICLE THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS NOT THE SAME UNIT THAT IS ON MY VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THEY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS RANK & PINION UNIT IN INDIANA AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY CHANGED THE RANCK & PINION STEERING UNIT. THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THIS CHANGE BECAUSSE NO NOTIFICATION WAS EVER SENT. IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THIS THE STEERING FLUID COULD HAVE LEAKED OUT AND I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHILE VECHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER TO CHECK FLUIDS AT THE SAME TIME I WAS HAVING THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. I NOTIFIED FORD CUST.

VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER COMPLETLY. WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPAIRED SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS. REPAIRED/ RELOCATED HARNESS AND REPLACED NECCESSARY FUSES. TESTED EECPC-1000. REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS CRASHED PRETTY BADLY IN THE FRONT. ALSO, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.*AK

(1) ENGINE HAS STARTED STALLING AT STOP SIGNS, WAITING FOR SOMEONE IN PARKING LOT, ETC. (2) WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT TRUN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THERE IS A KIND OF CLICKING SOUND FROM THE FRONT TIRES AREA.

TIRE THUMPING WAS NOTICED AFTER 6K MILE SERVICING. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THUMPING AND HAS ORDERED TIRE REPLACEMENT. SURFACE DEFECT NOTICED ON TREAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT OR DRIVEN IN ABNORMAL OR ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THESE TIRES. DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THEY WILL REBALANCE REMAINING 3 TIRES WHEN REPLACEMENT TIRE ARRIVES FOR VEHICLE. AS OF THIS WRITING, FAULTY TIRE IS ON LEFT (DRIVERSIDE) REAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SINCERELY ROBERT E. SMITH. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH, THE ENGINE JUST QUITS. ONCE I COME TO A ROLLING STOP, I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK

TOTAL AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE CAR IS BEING OPERATED ON BUSY ROADS

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SLC

POOR GAS MILEAGE. AVERAGING 16 MPG. DEALER TESTED AND FOUND THAT UNDER PERFECT CONDITIONS (NO WIND, NO HILLS, NO ACCERATION, NO STOPPING, ETC) AT 65 MPH IT GOT ONLY 19. THE VEHICLE DOESN'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE EPA OF 19 CITY AND 24 HIGHWAY. TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR FORD VEHICLES.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLS FUEL COMING INSIDE OF VENTS . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE THE ENGINE JUST QUIT ON SIX OCCASIONS AT THE SAME LOCATION ADJACENT TO A CELLULAR ANTENNA TOWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER CODE INDICATED INTERRUPTION IN THE ANTI-THEFT SMART KEY SYSTEM. WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURRED, THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND FORD'S SERVICE HOTLINE TOLD THEM TO SHIELD THE IGNITION AND ADD GROUNDING TO THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ENGINE HAS SHUT DOWN ONCE AGAIN AND DEALER WANTS US TO BRING CAR BACK SO THEY CAN TRY TO DUPLICATE FAILURE WHILE HOOKED UP TO THEIR SERVICE COMPUTER.OCCURRED

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT OR RIGHT RANDOMLY AT VARIUOS INTENSITY. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED ALIGHMENT TWICE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK *JB

INTERMITTENTLY GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT LOCK INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH SUDDENLY VEHICLE STALLED OUT FOR NO REASON IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS WAS SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. WAS AT A STOP SIGN WHEN STALLING FIRST TIME.*AK *JB

LEFT FRONT TIRE - SLIGHT BULGE IN SIDEWALL (DEALER REPLACED WITH NEW), RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TIRES - CAUSING VIBRATION AND DETERMINED TO BE OUT-OF-ROUND (DEALER REPLACED WITH NEW). *AK (DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

LEFT REAR PASSENGER RESTRAINT WAS JAMMED AFTER THE FIRST USE. THIS PART WAS REPLACED AND IT WAS JAMMED AFTER THE FIRST USE. IT WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND IS CURRENTLY FUCTIONAL BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 4 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASE DATE THAT IT HAS BEEN FUNCTIONAL. REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD A BROKEN SEAL AND WAS LEAKING. THIS PART WAS REPLACED AND IS NOW FUNCTIONAL. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CRACKED AND REPLACED. THIS PART IS NOW FUNCTIONAL. THE POWER STEERING WAS EFFECTED WHEN PART OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FELL OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK. THE PARTS (INCLUDING ALTERNATOR, BELTS AND SPRING) LITERALLY FELL OFF THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MANY FATALITIES AS THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ONLY MINUTES PRIOR WITH A CAR FULL OF PASSANGERS. THE RESULTS OF THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. FORD HAS NOT BEEN RESPONSIVE TO MY NEEDS AS A CONSUMER AND HAS MINIMIZED THE SAFETY HAZARD POSED BY THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX DEFECT 5 TIMES, BUT CANNOT FIX DEFECT EVEN AFTER REPLACING COMPUTER AND WITHIN EMMISSION CONTROL DEVICE SPARTS.

TIRES MAKE A HUMMING NOISE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THEY MAY BE LEAVING GROUND LIKE HYDROPLANING, AND AT 65 MPH VEHICLE WOBBLES, VEHICLE IS NOT STABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH WINDOW DOWN. *AK THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN A/C UNIT IS IN OPERATION AND A/C MAKE A LOUD CYCLIC CLICKING SOUND. TRANSMISSION MAKES SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE AT 65 MPH WITH A SLIGHT WIND AND FRONT END MAKES TUMBLING SOUNDS ON ROUGH ROADS. THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNS OFF AUTOMATICALY BY ITSELF. THE FRONT BRAKE HAS EXCESSIVE DUST. THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS INTERIOR SYSTEM FAILURES AND MALFUNCTIONING. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CAR WON'T START. *AK

THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER AND THE FORD ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON IT. THE CAR CHUGS WHEN GOING LONG DISTANCES WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE I GOT THE CAR.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING WHEN AND DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL WENT TO FLOORBOARD AND VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER. *AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOW, AND ALSO A FUEL LINE CLIP FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOOSE POWER AND FUEL WAS PUMPED OVER THE HOT ENGINE. *JB

FUEL LINE HAD BROKE, CAUSIN MOTOR TO BE SPRYED WITH FUEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES MOTOR LOST POWER, FUEL WAS PUMPING OVER HOT ENGINE, ENGINE DID NOT STALL, BUT KEPT PUMPING FUEL. *JB

FUEL SMELL - CAR INTERIOR. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. AS VEHICLE SLID DOWN SIDEWAYS INTO AN EMBANKMENT, IT SPUN AROUND. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER SAID SENSOR WAS RIPPED OFF FROM WHAT THEY DONT KNOW. CONSUMER WENT BACK TO ACCIDENT SITE AND FOUND THE AIR BAG SENSOR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RULED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. ALSO, VEHICLE JUST SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL WAS NORMAL. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER SHE NEEDED A MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET, DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE ABOUT 45 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENTLY DIED. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND IT RESTARTED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS.*AK

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL HAS HAPPENED TO ME FOUR TIMES THIS WEEK. CAUSES LOSS OF POWER-ASSISTED BRAKES AND STEERING. VEHICLE PUT IN DEALER SHOP ON 4/6/2001. NO REPAIRS MADE BECAUSE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP.

FUEL VAPOR ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

WHILE MAKING A STOP OR RESTARTING VEHICLE GAS SMELL ENTER IN SIDE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FORD SHIPPED VEHICLE WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. NEITHER FORD NOR FIRESTONE HAVE ADMITTED RESPONSIBILITY OR CAUSE OF FAILURE OF THESE TIRES ON FORD EXPLORER. I AM UNWILLING TO ACCEPT A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE TIRE ON A NEW VEHICLE. THE TIRES ARE NOT ONLY POTENTIALLY UNSAFE, BUT HAVE LOWER THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND REQUESTED FORD TO PAY FOR THIS REPLACEMENT. THEY REFUSED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

GAS FUMES IN CABIN FIRST TRIP FOR REPAIR INTAKE GASKET REPLACED, BACK IN SHOP SAME PROBLEM AROSE TWO DAYS LATER, CAR HAS BEEN THERE TWO DAYS WITH NO RESOLUTION, DEALERSHIP IS IN CONTACT WITH FORD TRYING TO RESOLVE PROBLEM NO RESULTS AT THIS TIME, VEHICLE STILL IN SHOP, WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2000 FORD TAURUS WHICH WAS IN THE SHOP FIVE TIMES WITH NO CURE, CAR WAS BOUGHT BACK BY FORD AFTER ARBITRATION. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED, BREATHING THE GAS FUMES CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 20-25 MPH STEERING PULLED SHARPLY TO LEFT. REAR WHEELS LOCKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL ACROSS LAINS, HITING STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHRE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TURNING VEHICLE ON NOTICED ALL DASH BOARD INDICATION LIGHTS ON BEGAN TO TRAVEL. WHEN DEPRESSED BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS IT GETS STUCK. WHEN THE GEAR IS IN REVERSE IF YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE JUST REVVS. YOU HAVE TO SLAM THE GEAR SHIFTER UP AND DOWN TO GET IT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. *AK

THE REAR SEATS DO NOT HOLD PROPERLY WHEN IN THE SITTING POSITION, THE LOCKING MECHANISM PROVIDED IS NOT ADEQUATE TO HOLD THE SEAT DOWN, CONSUMER BELIEVES SEAT IS POORLY DESIGNED. NLM