2005 Ford Escape. Heard bump followed by noise while driving. Checked car, found passenger side rear wheel well broken, upper attachment plate for shock absorber now in vehicle interior. Appears that wheel well rusted out from the inside: Hidden from outside by undercoating in wheel well and hidden from inside by vehicle interior panels. 04 and earlier models recalled for same problem. Why no recall on 05 and newer? many hundreds of complaints online for this problem.

- Lincoln Park, MI, USA

Was driving at 40 miles an hour hit slight bump in road.sounded like whole back end falling off with loud bang. Stopped got out checked back end on right rear subframe holding strutt tower had seperated from frame causing shock and housing to come up inside of car. This complaint has been brought to Ford attention. An they refuse to do anything about it. They should be made to fix this as many people are being forced to get rid of a good vehicle that would still be drivable if this was repaired. We shouldn;T be forced to get rid of a good car because they don;T want to make it right. I am filing this complaint like many others have I hope you just don't file it away. They honored this problem in 2001-2004 but then after that ended recalls for it this is not right.

- Adams, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact noticed that the subframe was rusted, causing both front tires to lean. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the tires. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The contact called van bortel Ford at 585-586-4415 and was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- East Rochester, NY, USA

After breaking while in traffic, my car swerved unexpectedly on to shoulder of the road and afterwards my steering wheel was at a strange angle. I immediately took my car to a repair shop where it was determined that the car had excessive corrosion of front subframe crossbrace and lower control arm resulting in a significant loss of steering control. A recall was issued on 2001-2004 Ford Escapes with the same problem as my 2005 Ford Escape. 2005 models should also be included in the recall

- Thornton, IL, USA

Excessive rust under the wheel well/shock tower. While driving on the hightway the bumps caused the excessive rust to rip apart opening a gaping hole and seperating my shock from the wheel well. Upon taking my vehicle to the dealer I was told it was unsafe to drive and to park it. I was also told that this issue is known to Ford and that they have not issued any recalls. Something needs to be done before someone gets hurt, if they haven't already.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving 55 mph, the front passenger wheel protruded outward without warning. The contact was able to safely pull the vehicle off the road. The vehicle was not towed. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact reached out to an independent mechanic who went to the scene and diagnosed that the lower control arm failed due to corrosion of the front subframe. The lower control arm needed to be replaced, which caused the wheel to wobble. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 163,000.

- Richmond, KY, USA

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.

- Hightstown, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the mechanic noticed that the passenger side rocker panel was disentigrated and a hole in the frame needed to be replaced. An independent mechanic stated that the vehicle could not legally be driven. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Durham, NH, USA

The grommet or plastic screw with a rubber gasket is so cheap it fell apart and out of back hatch window attached to the hatch and slid down on one side and almost completely detached from door which could have caused an accident glass flying everywhere and such! the other side is fine, still. This is something that should not happen and is a safety isdue. It could fall out then fly into traffic there's a number of things that could happen it could make a driver very nervous driving down the road knowing that it's slipped or broken out all from the wind an opening and closing door which is normal wear and tear. It obviously is a fluke because the other side didn't break and didn't have any problems didn't get to where it was falling apart to that point ot at all actualot I called the dealer to see how much something like that was it's just a little piece of rubber and plastic they want $100 for it I don't think this is something that I should have to pay for unless Ford as making junk now and I think they should stand by this because it is a safety issue if it would have broken it would have who knows what could have caused. This happened recently when I was driving down the freeway, like 8/23/17.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

Rust caused the separation of the lower control arm from the subframe of the vehicle. The vehicle was primarily used in a salt-belt state. The issue became evident after a small pothole caused the rear frame to puncture through the passenger rear wheelhouse into the cab of the vehicle causing a high-pitched squeal and steering difficulties..

- Anderson, IN, USA

The rear passenger wheel well has rotted out, leaving the shock hanging freely above the wheel, unattached. I first became aware of the issue as the car was driving on a city street, where I heard a loud bang in the back right of the car, and the noise continued as the car went over bumps. It was impossible to see the damage the rust was causing to the area until the shock mount came free, as the sealant used in the wheel well hid the damage-- approximately every 3-6 months I examine the car for rust and noticed no extreme damage to this area previously.

- Akron, OH, USA

The rear passenger strut was completely rusted out of the wheel well. The vehicle was sent to a Ford dealer to install a "kit" and weld the strut bracket to the wheel well. I found the problem after hearing significant clunking noise in the back as I drove.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

Front subframe rotting out. Large pieces of rusted metal are disengaging from the subframe cross memberas creating large holes as well as the crossmember K frame engine cradle. Two different repair shops have stressed not driving due to this deterioration. Has only 115000 miles and live in the rust states as specified in the 2004 recalls for the same problem.

- Aurora, OH, USA

Right rear wheel well completely rusted out, detaching the shock where it attaches at the top. Entire inner wheel well needs replacement to repair.

- Westville, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving 25 mph, the contact heard a banging sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who had previously installed shock absorbers. It was diagnosed that the panels surrounding the rear passenger wheel well had rusted and loosened. The vehicle was taken to rapid Ford (1510 S pokegama ave, grand rapids, mn 55744) where the diagnosis was confirmed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic who also confirmed the diagnosis and provided a repair estimate. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they could not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Grand Rapids, MN, USA

Wheel wells on my 2005 Ford Escape are failing. Had at $1,200 expense to replace the rear shock unit because it rusted out. I am going to have to junk the vehicle soon because of all the rust damage.

- Mentor, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. Due to aggressive braking, the steering became off-centered at a ninety degree angle. In addition, the contact heard an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe failed and needed to be replaced. A 2005 subframe was ordered to repair the vehicle, but it did not fit and had to be changed out for a 2004 subframe. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 102,000.

- Canton, MI, USA

I was pulling out of my driveway, turned at the corner, hit a small bump and heard a loud banging sound like the rear gate door was not closed, stopped at the corner put it in park, got out and opened the rear gate and reclosed it, got back into my vehicle, turned left hit another small bump, and heard the loud banging noise again, stopped at the 4 way corner store, parked and got out and walked around my vehicle to inspect it, and noticed the rust on the passenger rear side, some of it had fallen off and I could see the styrofoam on the inside of the passenger rear tire weld.I called the dealer where I am purchasing the vehicle and they said I could take it to their guy to look at it, took it to him and he said that I had a real problem and that it needed to be welded, went back to the dealer and they said I could take it to their guy to fix, but they did not know when they could get me in for an appointment. I took it to another mechanic, and he still has it, trying to locate the rear end of another Ford Escape to fix it.

- Flint, MI, USA

While looking at your web site, I notice that there was a recall on my 2005 Escape 3.0L, I didn't get a recall notice from the dealer and its 2017 and I'm the second owner, and now I find out that my passager side rear wheel well is rusted out by looking at all the wheel wells, cause I heard a hard bump sound coming from the back of the car while driving it on the streets. Now I notice that there is a shift level recall on the same Escape!!. what is going on with the recall notices!!!. this is the only car that I have to drive to get around in- great car other then that.

- Detroit, MI, USA

Passengers side wheel well has developed excessive rust. Support for shock/strut assembly integrity has been compromised. Vehicle is no longer safe to be driven without repair. Rust damage was concealed under rust proofing material.

- Charlotte, NC, USA