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CarComplaints.com Notes: With questionable safety ratings, a faulty power control module (PCM) and a rear subframe that can rust out, the first model year Escape is known for problems. But the worst one of all? A design flaw that carried through multiple model years and caused dangerous unintended acceleration.

A lack of clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector meant the throttle could get stick open when the accelerator was fully depressed. Following a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, NHTSA opened an investigation and eventually issued a recall to fix the sticky throttles in the 2001–2004 model years.

Even with the throttles fixed, the 2001 model year could still have trouble stopping due to multiple problems with leaking brakes.

1.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
187,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Ford Escape accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2001 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #2

Jun 022017

Escape

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The rear window of our Escape exploded for no reason. It was just sitting in the driveway.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #1

Jul 052015

Escape

  • 265,000 miles
We opened the hatch window and the glass popped out into my husbands hands. The door ajar kept ringing because the glass wasn't in place. Since the same thing happened to my husbands 2001 Escape in May 2015 we knew that parts were available, however expensive. The body shop that we took the vehicle to advised us to check if there were any outstanding recalls for this since it seems strange for both vehicles to have the same problem. The window hatch isn't something that we generally use so it isn't from over use.

- Halifax, PA, USA

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