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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004 Ford Escape looks pretty good compared to other Ford Escape model years, but still has a trend of transmission problems, and engine problems from the NHTSA complaint data — so it's not a model year we can recommend.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
117,011 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.

2004 Ford Escape miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2004 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #15

Jan 152024

Escape

  • miles

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

A few times I have pressed the brakes when coming to a red light and stop signs But instead of my vehicle stopping it propelled me forward as it excellerated out of no where and pushed me into oncoming traffic, I almost was hit by other cars and I almost hit other cars and even have had to swerve onto the side walk to prevent myself from getting g hit by another car. If there were people walking, I would have definitely hit them! When I press the brake, I-??m not expecting to accelerate instead Also apparently this recall of this issue was already done back in 2005 but i just purchased this vehicle in the fall of 2023 And the dealer says there is no recall since it-??s already been fixed by the previous owner years ago But it needs to be fixed as it-??s still doing it to

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #14

Nov 152018

Escape

  • 230,000 miles
On Thursday 15 November 2018, I parked my 2004 Ford Escape ltd in a parking-lot and went into my office. Within one hour, a fire began in the engine compartment that quickly spread to the rest of the vehicle. The cause of the fire is unknown. The vehicle was determined a total loss by my insurance company.

- North Blenheim, NY, USA

problem #13

Sep 192018

Escape

  • 128,000 miles
When hitting a bump in the road, car pulls sidewavs. Got checked out. They found excessive corrosion on engine cradle and steering components were loose and affected by excessive corrosion on engine cradle. Stabilizer rod is almost ready to fall off. They advised us not to drive the car until all components are repaired. Steering is erratic and tires squeal when turned left or right.there is a recall for 386,000 of these vehicles in road salt states. We live in one of them, Michigan. When Ford put the car on the rack, they said something is seriously wrong: That the wheels were bowed out.bought car from Ford after a 3-year lease was over. No problems til now. The car is now 14 years old, mileage is apprx. 128,000.

- Scottville, MI, USA

problem #12

Sep 112018

Escape

  • 183,000 miles

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

The vehicle was a 2004 Ford Escape. It was parked on the street, everything was turned off and the vehicle was not running. I was in work when I was informed that my vehicle was on fire. Nothing was on to start this fire, it happened spontaneously. The fire seems to have started in the vicinity of the drivers side engine bay. Previous to this incident, there were no mechanical or electrical issues with the vehicle.

- Mandan, ND, USA

problem #11

May 302018

Escape

  • miles
On December 2, 2016 I bought a 2004 Ford Escape from car hop in Tacoma, wa. With a $ 800 dollar down payment.after about 3 months the car started overheating. Had it flushed. Seemed to fix the problem. Started again in Feb of 2017. Took it into a shop of car hops and they said it was water pump. Went back to have replaced and was told they no longer worked with car hop. I need my car for work I am a caregiver so my car is needed. Well I had my car towed to a shop towards the end of may of this year, the shop was a and M automotive. I paided $533.69 to get water pump put in. Problem was not solved. Still over heating they said it was a head gasket and needed a new engine car towed back home set there for about a week and half. On June 7th had the car towed to meineke, because car hop works with them. In the mist of all this from the start I called car hop and told them to come get the car I was not paying for something that does not run. This it took 3 or 4 times to get to them because they can not communicate. I was 130 late from my May 15th payment. Thy kept asking for that not even talking about repairs. Finally, after a week they had mt tow the car to meineke on June 7th. Was told it would take up to 48 hours to get an estimate. Well after 4 days I called them and they said they still have not received the estimate but continued asking for the 130 and still have not applied the 533 to my account. Called again after 2 days same thing. On June 18th I called meineke and got estimate within 15 mins. I emailed it to car hop, now they are saying they not applying the 533 and did not decide what to do. Plus, they are saying they won't help because it is not covered by warranty. They knew this from the day I told them to come get it. They told me they would help get fixed. I have received nothing but lie after lie, poor poor customer service. Please help

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #10

Mar 312018

Escape

  • 143,400 miles
It seems one day I noticed my airbag light on. It is usually on constantly or blinking. I am not sure why it stays on. I see a lot of complaints about these airbags on this site. I wish I knew this problem prior to purchasing this car. I also just recently had the hood release cable break on me. Call the dealership and they don't make them anymore. Great! wonderful! when I went to the parts store the counter person said that this was the 5th Ford hood release that they had people looking for in less than a month. Is there some kind of recall for the hood release cable" should there be?"

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #9

Apr 232017

Escape

  • 127,000 miles

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

The back latch to the widows fell off. Not safe! was not moving, parked.

- Harrison, MI, USA

problem #8

Jul 032017

Escape

  • miles
I believe I have been a victim of odometer fraud. I purchased my 2004 Ford Escape XLT from first choice rental cars & sales 3517 old petersburg rd martinez ga 30907. I purchased the vehicle for $4700 in cash. I recently found out through carfax that I am the 4th owner and the odometer was previously at 186,475. My car odometer is currently reading at 147,355 and counting because I drive this car daily. When I purchased the vehicle the bill of sale did not have the mileage on it, the bill stated exempt. I would like to know can I get my money back for the vehicle, because I would have never bought this vehicle if I would have know the odometer had been rolled back.

- Harlem, GA, USA

problem #7

Feb 242017

Escape

  • 188,259 miles
Dangerous failure of my car frame, while I was driving on a public road. This failure happened after the frame problem was identified and remedied a few years earlier. It was a separation of the lower control arm where it meets the frame. Very scary.

- Zeeland, MI, USA

problem #6

Jul 212016

Escape

  • 135,004 miles
In April 2016, I purchased a used 2004 Ford Escape with approximately 130,000 miles on it. The vehicle had a recent state inspection sticker verifying that it passed all state safety standards. However, after driving the Escape for only a few days, the check engine light would come on intermittently and the vehicle would quit running properly and stall. This would occur intermittingly while the vehicle was in park and other times while driving in traffic. I brought the vehicle into two different mechanics and they could not properly diagnose the problem due to the complexity of the stalling issue. The check engine light no longer comes on, but the stalling problem keeps getting worse. My spouse no longer drives the vehicle because of the safety issues of stalling on the highways and it store parking lots. On July 21, 2016, I drove the Escape for a 200 mile round-trip. During the first 100 miles, going to the destination, the vehicle ran great without a single problem. Unfortunately, during the return trip home, I became scared as the vehicle began intermittently stalling in 4 lanes of interstate traffic that was traveling at 55+ miles per hour'and I had to try restarting my vehicle several times, while traveling in neutral in the middle of 4 lanes of interstate traffic. I plan to bring our vehicle back to another mechanic, so they can try to properly address this safety issue'hopefully before someone gets hurt accidentally with the vehicle intermittently stalling in heavy traffic or in a dangerous situation. Unfortunately, diagnosing the problem seems to be an issue. I have read several articles online about this intermittent stalling problem with Escapes and realize that the stalling problem is quite prevalent. Personally, I believe this is a serious safety issue that needs to be addressed by Ford, with a safety recall done to fix the problem.

- Ruckersville, VA, USA

problem #5

Jun 102016

Escape

  • 144,500 miles

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

Airbag light blinks or continuously stays on...also rear passenger shock has broken away from wheel well causing unsafe driving conditions. I just had this vehicle financed back in February 2016.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #4

Nov 172015

Escape

  • miles
Right, rear back window hinge bolt rusted off and broke

- Middletown, NY, USA

problem #3

Nov 282014

Escape

  • 140,000 miles
Vehicle airbag light goes on and off intermittently. This happens whether parked or driving, whether there is a passenger or not. Vehicle will "rev" in park, if the steering wheel is turned slightly, bumped or move. Twice vehicle has "jumped" while in parked when this has happened. Major issue: Door locks will not open. There is no manual lock on the doors, only electronic. No place for a key. Passengers have been locked inside with no way to exit vehicle except to climb over seat. Will happen to various doors, most often the front passenger door, but not all doors at the same time (we believe this may happen, ) door lock will click 3 times but will not unlock.

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #2

Mar 282015

Escape

  • 188,000 miles
Passenger (right) rear wheel well rusted through, causing the strut to detach.

- Ridley Park, PA, USA

problem #1

Mar 092015

Escape

  • 148,000 miles
Was driving 25 miles an hour down small hill, the car in front of me stopped. I hit the brakes and the car didn't stop it felt as if I was pushing the accelerator like when pushing button! to speed up cruise control and it slowly increases speed. I slammed both feet to the brake and went to reach for emergency brake but never made it. I hit the other car. Last thing I remember is hearing metal crunch, the next thing I remember is smoke, top of my head on left side hairline ached looked in mirror and saw blood. Started looking for my phone on the dash but it was broken.could hear someone talking, then people were walking up to car. When the officer got there he asked what I hit my head on I didn't know, he asked if I had my seatbelt on I said yes. I told him my car wouldn't stop. Realized when E.M.T asked same question I knee I had it on but couldn't remember taking it off, and I told him that. He looked at chest didn't see marks or bruising, he asked again if I was sure, I was sure I put it on. After crash, when got to tow yard next day saw my seat belt broke, I cracked the windshield with my head and broke all under steering wheel with my knees...but the airbags deployed must have been after I hit everything because it hit me in the arm only based on that stinging red raised rash that later bruised on my forearm, no airbag to face injuries, just hit top of head on windshield and knees on lower dash under steering wheel, bruising on stomach lower abdomen near pelvic bone may have been steering wheel. My car kept going faster brakes didn't slow me at all witness said and my seatbelt latch is in pieces, my airbag went of late. My bumper is folded like a flat piece of metal about one inch wide hit it pushing it into my radiator. My SUV was going 25 miles an hour, my SUV bumper hit a small car bumper, that car was stopped. What went wrong?

- Vancouver, WA, USA

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