Replacement Made Esay - Once you have the lift open, its an easy replacement. The trick is getting the lift open. You need to pull back the cover (inside) on the lift (there are several clips) then when pressing the release on your key pull up on the existing lock near the bottom. It took me a few tries to find the right place but it worked. Once open remove the 4 screws holding the bottom of the cover in place. To replace the lock remove 2 plugs and 3 screws They are those star shaped screws. I called several dealerships and the charge for the part was 30 - 60 dollars higher than it is on Amazon. A no brainer especially if you have prime.
The hatch wont open. When you push the button you can hear it clicking like its trying to but it does not work. Looked it up online apparenty I need a new actuator and seal because the seals go bad around the back window and water runs down into the actuator ruining it. Highly annoying because my cargo area is unusable unless I fold my seats down.
It has literally been one thing after another with this vehicle. NOW the rear hatch doesn't open. One of the features we love about our SUV's is the ability to put things in and out. Makes it hard now that this won't open, especially when trying to take in and out a dog kennel. Replaced a fuse for $30 but that didn't do anything. Called the dealership and they can't get me in until next week and will be anywhere from $60 - $120 to diagnose. UGH! :(
I just replaced the ignition and ignition housing on this vehicle last week as well, after it left me stranded. Not a happy Ford owner at the moment. Will update with how it was rectified!
Rear hatch lock mechanism let go, just after extended warranty finished. PITA to get open. Hit or miss. Removed the rear panel when I got the chance to get at the four screws underneath at the sill. Can unlock by hand reaching in the glass and grab the little rod the actuator is attached to. FORD...I smell another recall.
My liftgate hinges are horribly corroded and broken, I've tried to remove them and replace them but they're seized.
I've read about many other owners having the same issue and there's a high chance that the hinge will one day fully crack and the rear glass window will drop and break...causing more damages and more cost.
I think Ford should have a recall done on these parts because they're so common. 4 out of 5 Escapes that I see suffer from this deformity. From the older gens Escape (2002?) all the way to 2012.
It has literally been one thing and another with this vehicle, NOW the rear lift-gate doesn't open. One of the features we love about our SUV's is the ability to put things in and out. Makes it hard now that this won't open, especially when trying to take in and out a dog kennel. Replaced a fuse for $30 but that didn't do anything.
I just replaced the ignition and ignition housing on this vehicle last week as well, after it left me stranded. I think 2009 was the year for LEMONS with the FORD ESCAPE. Not a happy Ford owner at the moment. Will update with how it was rectified!
- luvmysbt,
Kailua Kona, HI, US
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After having it in the shop just last week for a tranny problem now my hatch won't open, but my glass will but my glass is hard to close because it doesn't want to latch, and my dash fan won't work in 1 and 2.
The rear hatch started not opening at times, then would not open at all!
The electric latch mechanism had failed and had to be replaced at the cost of $210.00 including labor. Now just waiting to see what the next odd thing is that fails on this vehicle!
I actually traded in a Nissan to get a truck for my new business. It requires me to haul drums(20) for activities for children and seniors. If the rear gate doesn't lift, the truck is useless to me. It is my first and last FORD! There is no inside latch options.
This is the biggest pain in the butt. Ford should have added a convenient "second" way of opening that back gate, some type of cable actuator behind or under something that you can pull if the electrical fails. Nothing like being locked out of the most useful part of your vehicle. This is the same thing that other users have complained about, the actuator blows and you are left buying a $160.00 part. I am lucky enough to be able to install it myself but I am sure most people also pony up for the mechanic fee which makes that $!60.00 part cost twice as much. Damn you Ford, damn you.
Tailgate is opening by itself....Even when door is open, one can hear the electronics opening and locking door continuously. More annoying, is the chime inside while driving and the display telling you the door is open....This is just a minor annoyance if it wasn't for the fact that this could also be a safety factor, which my wife pointed out....Since the door is unlocking by itself, and she uses vehicle at night, anyone trying to find an open vehicle could not only get in to damage/steal items, they could hid in back as well. until driver appears...It seems that the opening of the door, does not affect the opening, or locking of the driver/passenger doors. What galls me, is I found out from out local garage that Ford has issued a bulletin regarding this problem, but has not issued a recall, meaning the customer pays!!! This is not our first Ford product, having owned trucks in the past, which we found extremely reliable, but this is the first - and last SUV we will own, and Ford product, as their has been to many stupid items that went on this thing that needed repairs...I have owned numerous vehicles, and realize that problems pop up, but not like the problems we have had with this thing....
Update from Dec 9, 2012: I now don't have to worry about door opening by itself, as it now will not open at all....Have an appointment at a local garage, NOT dealership...I have no trust or faith in any of them, especially off warranty!!!!
Bought this Ford 2009 Escape new,wanted to buy American products,right?What a P.O.S.13000 miles and already the windshield washers quit,the door actuator[rear hatch] not working,trans.recall,expired warranty.Hate the dealer.Have to wait for hours for any type of ride home.[Live 5 minutes from [Palm Bay Ford,FL.].Taken it in for service during this time and they don't even top off the fluids and I really know they didn't change the oil filter.[Put an index mark on the old one to be sure].They can't answer simple questions at the service desk,always refer you to go talk inside with the manager.A/C needed a new blower motor resistor,told them what it was when I went in,they say "we have to see if we have the part",8 hours later I get the car back! I've changed resistors like that in Chevy Trucks and it takes 5 minutes!!! Right now I just need part # PA6GF30 rear door hatch lock actuator made by Kiekert [Germany]. Can't find it anywhere not even from Ford online.Hate to go to dealer,I'm in a bad mood with this.Kiekert USA 46941 Liberty Drive Wixom,MI.48393 has no online or customer service unless you are a manufacturer.Done.Anybody else out there with this type of service or reliability problem?
I have a 2009 that the rear hatch wont open! I called Ford and they said it just went off the warranty. This is totally a ford issue!! It would be nice if companies who cleary are in the the wrong would step up to the plate and take care of their customers.
THE REAR HATCH ON MY ESCAPE HAS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPEN. ON NOVEMBER 6, IT STOPPED ALL TOGETHER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECORD OF THE PROBLEM WITH FORD, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AS I AM 5,000 MILES OVER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I HAVE GOTTEN ESTIMATES OF $250 TO $1300 FIX IT. FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCTS.
one year ago the rear hatch switch failed and had to be replaced cost over 400.00
today the rear hatch lock motor failed cost to replace over 500.00. The dealer indicated that it was our own fault for not properly cleaning the vehicle which is a crock as it is generally washed weekly. some of the problem is we drive about 15 km of gravel road daily, but that aside how is the dirt getting into the interior of the hatch and fouling the electrical mechanisms. this problem seems to be reoccurring annually.
I purchased this vehicule new in 2009. From day one the hatch back door would not open on a regular basis. Most times it did open when I returned it to Ford service, but not always. It opens only when it wants to which is not good enough. It is a proverbial pain in the ass & Ford Canada says it is the dealer's problem. The dealer service mgr says there is no problem. I still owe money to Ford Credit & I am thinking of stopping payments if they don't correct the problem. My argument is that I am paying for a complete car not one that part of it doesn't work. I have always bought Ford vehicules, but since Ford won't stand behind this car I am finished with them. Next car will be GMC or foreign. JB
Intermittent problem rear hatch will not open dealer can not fix. Problem is combined with several dead batteries if the car sits for more the 3 days, I have had 1 battery replaced
Same problem as other user, rear hatch will not open on new Ford escape XLT, standard transmission. Problem is intermittent. I believe I have experienced this more than 10% of the time. Problem would not reproduce at dealer. At the same time (vehicle is just over 3 months old), I've twice taken it in because vehicle would not start. Dealer can't find anything wrong. Both are intermittent problems, however, having a vehicle not start is fairly serious. Is it possible that in conditions of rear hatch not unlocking, a relay remains open draining the battery. On both occasions when car would not start, it had sat for 2 days as well. Dealer cannot find a current drain, however, the case of stuck hatch was not examined.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The hatch wont open. When you push the button you can hear it clicking like its trying to but it does not work. Looked it up online apparenty I need a new actuator and seal because the seals go bad around the back window and water runs down into the actuator ruining it. Highly annoying because my cargo area is unusable unless I fold my seats down.
- ashbash8045, Snow Shoe, PA, US