CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Escape has problems where the engine shuts down while driving. Ford finally issued a September 2014 recall. Time will tell if the recall fix really solves the problem.
However the 2005 Escape also has a defect where the PCM (Power Control Module) fries at around 100k miles. Ford extended the PCM warranty to 80,000 miles, but only after most owners were past the mileage limit. Now owners are on the hook for the average repair cost of over $2,000 (!!)
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
113,513 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.
From a stop this vehicle has a problem with the throttle. It is intermittent, but when it occurs you unable to press the throttle. It is jammed. It seems if I place the gear shift back into park then to drive it will be free again and drive normally. This started happening once in a while years ago, but seems to be occurring a lot more frequently now.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked, he noticed a burning oil smell and vapor emitting from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance and the contact was informed that there was an oil leak and a gasket would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
My son was driving the car and it started to sputter. Did the same thing the next time it was driven and has ever since. I had it to two mechanics which said that the #4 was misfiring and start coil problem. Replaced.. not working still. Have talked to two dealerships about it one told me to have it towed to them. Going to one closer so that I can talk to them. Both say there is a problem. From what I have read Ford company has not issued a recall to fix it. Not sure if I will be able to afford it. I prefer Ford but may have to go with a different Ford vehicle. We have had everything else but there is nothing like a Ford. Our last Ford truck was a 93 and we just got rid of it a year and a half ago still running. I do not want to give up on my Ford.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the PCM had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 114,487. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated that the spark plugs and coils would have to be replaced. After the repair, the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic who stated the computer would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 12/30/13
- South Milwaukee, WI, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The was able to restart the vehicle, which began driving roughly. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where a diagnostic was performed and concluded that the engine control module, coil assembly and the spark plug gasket would need replacing. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 170,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle lost acceleration power. The vehicle was taken to a repair center and the mechanic stated that the spark plugs, coils, computer and the catalytic converter had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 147,000. The VIN was not available.
The car would not run got it to the repair shop. Told me it was the PCM, 6 coils and spark plugs all needed to be replace ($2K to fix). I called Ford they seem to know about this issue. Told me even though the car is an 05 it was made in 04 so they could not help. I was told there was a program to fix this issue had to be within 8 years and 80K miles. Bad spark plugs are to blame. I disagreed 05 to 2013 is 8 years, they say no because it was made 10/14/04 so it would put me at 9 years 71K miles. I argued it was sold in 05 and that is what they should go by, they disagreed. After researching this online several people have had this same issue with the same year make and vehicle.
Driving at any speed, vehicle will suddenly loose engine power and engine will stutter or shake as someone pulled out one spark plug and vehicle is trying to compensate. Engine light will flash during this time aprox 40 seconds and then engine will catch and resume normal driving. Does not matter if engine is hot or cold, short or long distance this will happen randomly with out warning. Ac off heat off ac on heat on does not matter. We are now trying to google the problem and see what others have done with the same problem. Ford has been no help after reading the codes they try to fix what my personal mechanic has already replaced. Codes always read the same thing coils, fuel injection all have already been replaced and problem persists. Has been in to repair numerous times and spent 1,000's of dollars on vehicle.
After driving at high speeds and then slowing down, (for example: Getting off the interstate on the offramp) the Escape will stall out and the engine will stop. It will start again, but will stall out when the car is put into gear. This has happened multiple times to me. Mechanics have not been able to repeat the issue. There is a recall on the 2004 Escape due to this exact mistake, but the Ford dealership will not fix mine because they cannot repeat the issue.
Driving 55 mph on highway, car sounded like it downshifted into much lower gear (very loud) with jerky motion, immediately lost power, was climbing large hill, coasted to side of road in heavy traffic, lost power steering, made horrific grinding sound, and then stopped. Idled for 30-45 seconds, all dashlights came on before dying on highway. I have reviewed carcomplaints.com on this model Escape, they are notorious for PCM computer going with no notice. My mechanic informs me today that is the problem, cost for repair is about $2,000, not covered by the extended warranty I purchased. This is a well documented issue that clearly creates safety issues when driving at high rates of speed, with no warning. The car was "fine" by all other accounts, this happened out of no where.
9/10/12, while driving on the freeway my check engine light came on and my car started running very hard and started shaking and I could feel the car loosing power. I turned the steering wheel towards the right to pull over and as I pressed the gas pedal I could feel the car had shut off. I was able to pull off to the side of the highway and my car smell like something was burning. After sitting for about 15mins the car started and I was able to start the car and drove it at about 40 mph until getting off the exit to go home which was about 10 more miles. I had to continuously press the gas making the car accelerate between 30 to 40mph because the car started to repeat the same thing as I stated earlier. I took the car to the shop 9/13/12 (my car had 153224 miles) and was told there was misfire on #2 coil, so I paid to have the coil changed. 2/15/13 my check engine light came back on and the car was repeatedly hesitating, I took it the shop 2/19/13 (my car had 163071 miles) and had the same misfire code, so I paid to have all three rear coils changed, the owner showed me the old coils & the #2 coil look burned and burst open from the top. After changing the coils the check engine light came back on with the same misfire code for #2 coil and I paid to have it changed again 6/18/13 (my car had 171459 miles). The engine light came back on with the same code and I paid to changed it again 7/12/13 (my car had 173095 miles) after I drove the car about 50 miles the light came back on. I had the code read again on 7/30/13 (my car had 173920 miles) and it gave the same code for a misfire on coil #2. the owner of the shop advised me to take the car to the dealer and explain the problem and check if there has been a recall on the 2005 model. I called the Ford dealership and was told I would have to pay for them to do another diagnostic quoted at $140.
Within 1/4 mile of starting and driving from home, the engine began to run very rough, misfiring, idling rough, etc. Pulled over, opened hood, engine was idling very rough. No check engine light. Brought it back home. Total trip was less than 1 mile. Next day, started it up again, ran smoother, but had no power; very difficult to get above 20-30mph. Brought it to repair shop. They determined that all three catalytic converters were clogged up from broken/melted catalytic converter internal parts. Replaced all three catalytic converters, but repair shop could not determine the cause of the initial misfiring and catalytic converter damage. Check engine light never came on at any time. Total repair cost $2350. Car had been in the same shop earlier that week for state inspection and lube-oil-filter. No issues found at that time. Battery had failed two days before the problem, and was replaced the morning of the problem. The issue appeared upon first driving the car after the battery was changed.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the engine began to operate roughly. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic for inspection where they stated that the computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle would idle roughly and during inclement weather, the vehicle would shake with the illumination of the check engine warning light. In addition, the vehicle stalled while driving 55 mph. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic, who stated that the engine coil was defective, causing the computer to fail. As a result, the engine coil was replaced. A second coil was found to be defective after the repair. The mechanic stated that all of the engine coils needed to be replaced. The contact did not replace the engine coils. The failure mileage was 85,000.
My wife was driving all of sudden vehicle kept accelerating without her foot being on the gas pedal. She was traveling at 25mph when vehicle accelerated to 45mph on its own. She had to take action to avoid having an accident. The vehicle now will rev high when first turning on vehicle. The longer vehicle runs the higher the engine revs and increases speed on its own.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 mph the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing and advised the contact that the PCM and coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 106,000.
I just purchased the vehicle used from ogden Lincoln in westmont Illinois. On the way home from the dealer, the engine stalled twice while approaching a stop. No warnings, the engine just stopped. On both occurrences, I was able to restart the vehicle right away. I've owned this vehicle less then 6 hours now and I'm afraid to drive it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Beecher, IL, USA