Despite many, many owner complaints, Ford has never been made to recall the 2005 Ford Escape. There are rust issues in the rear of the car that could lead to unsafe operation. One example is shock absorbers that could come loose due to excessive rust on the frame. Ford has issued such a recall for previous model years, so they are well aware of the problem, but they never made any repairs to the 2005 Escape models. I contacted them and they referred me to you (they were quite hateful). Please help. I am on disability and we cannot afford the cost of these repairs and we believe Ford should be made to take responsibility. Thank you.

- Lees Summit, MO, USA

Passenger rear is rested shocks struts detached

- Kansas City, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the shock was not connected to the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with rust between the shock and the rear passenger side frame. The shock absorber needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 188,000.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle shut down without warning. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. It was diagnosed that the subframe was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 187,000.

- Papillion, NE, USA

Noticed undercoating peeling off in wheel well(rear passenger side). Pulled off and also found a 3in. Circle of metal loose. Have seen other(300+) reports of this rust problem on this web page. I am original owner and vehicle has always been garaged when not in use and has less than 70K miles. There are no handling or noise issues yet.

- Dyer, IN, USA

We started to hear a very loud banging coming from the back passenger side when we drove over even the smallest bump. The rear passenger side wheel well is completely rusted though (you can see the interior) and the wheel could fall off at anytime. The car is not safe to drive with out a very expensive repair. After looking online I found that this is a very common occurrence and that 2001-2004 Escapes were recalled for the same issue.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

2005 Ford Escape. Rear passenger side shock mount completely rusted/broken. Wheel well and fender completely rotted out while the rest of the vehicle has no rust at all. Why has Ford not recalled the 2005 Escape, after seeing thousands of complaints about the same issue

- Mt Upton, NY, USA

Back pasenger wheel well is all rusted out, the bo;ts even rusted out and are missing the truck is undrivable and is not safe. I was driving and noticed alot of banging, pulled over thinking the back door wasnt closed properly. But found the rusted wheel well. I can push on the well and it just crumbles! there needs to be a recall on this before someone is injured!

- Nerstrand, MN, USA

Almost suddenly, a loud rattling sound from the rear started last week. When inspected, to my shock, the rear wheel well was totally, totally rotted out. This vehicle has been been garaged and carefully maintained since we bought it. In fact, for the past 8 years--it has been basically driven about 16 -20 miles per day. And again--garaged day and night. And now, almost immediately, it appears very unsafe to drive. As a result, I'm now searching for another car to buy--not wanting to spend +$1,200 on this repair.

- Swampscott, MA, USA

While driving we noticed a really loud banging noise coming from the rear passenger side of the car. Upon looking around we noticed significant rust inside the wheel well area. Took it to a body shop and was advised that the shock mount is rusted out. I took it to my local Ford dealer who said that they get a couple of these a week. The cost is at least $1.500 per shock mount. If there's a separation from the shock mount it could cause you to loose control. I don't understand why with the thousands of complaints with this "known problem " Ford isn't doing a recall! apparently the rust had been happening for a while but we never knew about it until the loud noise. Our mechanic advised us that it is not safe to drive.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

Vehicle started making a noise in passenger rear wheel. Upon inspection I observed that the well was completely rusted through where the shock is mounted. Learned that this is a manufacturing defect from thousands of complaints

- Owensboro, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact heard a loud banging noise. The contact observed that the wheel well had rusted a hole underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 01/10/17

- ,Marquette, MI, USA

The back rear wheel well rusted through and the shock went through the "floor" and panel of the SUV. I bought this with 65,000 miles on it and now has 89,000 and I can't drive it and no one will fix it. I paid $8500. For a SUV that I only drove for 11/2 years. I driving and heard a thumping sound so I stopped and didn't see anything. I drove 1/2 mile to my house and the noise was very loud, I looked again to see that the shock broke through the panel and not any of it is connected to the body of the truck. I got on a complaint website and hundreds of people are having the same problem at the same spot on the vehicle. When we bought the SUV my husband got on his back and looked at the undercoating and everything was fine. The muffler broke and the mechanic had my husband to look under the SUV and everything is rusted. The mechanic said the undercoat was faulty and trapped moisture between it and the body of the SUV. This thing is falling out from underneath me. The left rear is rusted out and this only started happening about 3 months ago. Everywhere there is a seam, rust is forming. I blamed in on the dealer for selling me a flood car, until I did more research and found out that hundreds of other people are having the same problems. Ford recalled other vehicles for the same problem, why did they keep doing the same thing? I am unemployed and this is my transportation. I have to drive it, hopefully I won't kill myself or anyone else when it falls apart on the road.

- Mellott, IN, USA

Takata recall passenger back tower wheel rusted on my 2005 Ford Escape the meter sensor keep going off like the doors are still open the rims of the car has rusted like we had the car for 30 years in motion when I notice the wheel tower rusted out

- Detroit, MI, USA

Right rear shock tower mount is completely rusted away. The shock has forced the tower up into the wheel well, through the plastic in the interior of the car. The car is unsafe to drive. Ford issued a recall for the exact same problem for 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured, but not for the 2005 model which has the exact same problem.

- Fitchburg, WI, USA

I have a 2005 Ford Escape that started making sounds in the back of the vehicle while driving in the town streets coming home when I hit bumps. We looked at the rear passenger side tire well and the shock mount is rusted through. The body is resting on the coil. I am afraid to drive it due to the danger of the body coming down on the wheel.

- Monmouth, IL, USA

Went to replace rear shocks. Rear passenger wheel well has rusted and I could move shock mount tower when truck is bounced. Also have banging and bouncing going on. Rides rough and have a rust hole and can see tire below. Bad engineering design. The Ford Motor Company should fess up and correct this, but they won't they got their money!!!

- Woburn, MA, USA

I bought my 2005 Ford Escape from a local dealership 15 months, and 6000 miles ago. I noticed that it just always felt "rickety", and had it in to be looked at three times during the first four months, and new tires, an "exciter ring" and sway bars didn't seem to really do much. Over the course of the llast month, I noticed a loud "knocking sound" coming from the back passenger side. I thought maybe the gate wasn't shut all the way. That wasn't it. I started driving with the seats down in the back, trying to watch and listen to where it was coming from. I looked up under the wheel well, and was shocked at the corrosion, and took it to the local muffler man. I was told that this "excessive rust and corrosion in the rear passenger wheel well is a defect in the vehicle", and that I needed to take it back to the dealership. I did. I was sent to a body shop and told to "raise hell with Ford", because this is a known defect. I got a quote of $8000 to fix it. I still owe $6000... I opened a case with Ford motors, and was told that they were "giving the dealership the green light to make it right", and that the dealership was obligated to take photos. No photos were taken, and the service manager told me he responded to my case, and that there was nothing else that was going to be done. And that "even if one of the body shops in town would work on it, it wouldn't be until at the earliest November". he then smirked at me, and said "so what are you going to do"? well. Here we are. This was July 25, 2016. I was told that the vehicle is undriveable, and that if I were in an accident, that my insurance wouldn't cover it because of the shock tower coming up through the inside of the car ( that started July 22, the day I stopped driving it, except to drive it to the dealership) that I now knew about but cannot fix.

- Gaylord, MI, USA

My 2005 Ford Escape has excessive fender well rust, a defect that causes the shock tower to dislodge from the frame, rendering the vehicle undriveable. It happens from the inside out, and when a thunking noise begins, it's too late. $8000 to repair a vehicle that I was told by every local body shop, wouldn't even really correct it. It's a structural defect. The shock tower is now coming through the cargo area of my car

- Gaylord, MI, USA

This vehicle and every other one I have seen has had the rear wheel well rust out and have the shock go up through the shock tower..it does not matter the brand either.. Ford Chevy or Dodge, they all do it.. why can't you guys help us out, and make these car companies stand behind there sheet metal for at least a 100 thousand miles.. we pay enough for these vehicles.. I am not rich you know..

- Alanson, MI, USA