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6.2

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
51,850 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. sand, repaint (2 reports)
  3. replace panels/new metal (1 reports)
  4. see above explanation (1 reports)
2011 Ford Escape body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2011 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #10

May 012024

Escape XLT 2.5L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

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

Ford just has really poor painting practices. Out of the 3 Fords I've owned every single one rusted out prematurely.

- Andrew B., Janesville, WI, US

problem #9

Mar 042019

Escape XLT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,360 miles

Paint is bubbling rear passenger door above the wheel well. I hope Ford is going to stand behind their cars because I have had this car under coated every year.

- Debra K., London, ON, Canada

problem #8

Aug 012014

Escape XLT 3.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,069 miles

Bought this car in 2011. Found the rust in the rear wheel well in the year of 2014, within the standard warranty. So took it to dealer. Dealer maybe sanded the rust and painted the portions. After two years the rust came back, it's from the inside of meta panel. Called the dealer was told it's out of warranty.

Now this is 7 year old car, the rust and paint bubble under the rear wheel wells are getting worse, it's ugly.

The material that was used to make the car body is bad, which result in the quick rust starting in the 3rd year.

My friend bought a same car almost in the same time, also experiencing the same rust problem from his Ford Escape. I believe whole batch could have the same problem.

- Pingu P., Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

problem #7

May 202018

Escape Limited 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,500 miles

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

Discovered paint chipping of drivers door and rust coming through paint and the bottom of the drivers door is rusty.

- Derek P., Portcoquitlam, BC, Canada

problem #6

Sep 202017

Escape XLT 2.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,000 miles

I notice clear coat blistering on hood, then cracking and breaking. Auto body says it is Ford, paint they use.

- Dennis M., So.Plfd, NJ, US

problem #5

Feb 242017

Escape LXT 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,761 miles

I notice body paint is peeling off and rusting is developing tailgate and side doors . Have to be careful washing my car as much because peeling paint and rusting going on my car.

- Rosemary C., Buffalo, US

problem #4

Jun 162014

Escape SE V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,661 miles

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

rust: bottom tailgate,around wheels,front panel I never had a rusted vehicle in my whole life and that was very hard for me. I went to a dealership(Ford) to be told that since there were no holes, that this matter was NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I was further told that if there are holes appearing As far as I am concerned, the Ford warranty is not worth very much and this company tries to get away from it every time something happens ! Having been a customer of Ford for many years, I do know that they had problems with rust quite a few years ago but we are now in 2016 and this problem should have been settled many years ago. At the time Ford had their problems with rusting vehicles, I was using their Lincoln products of which I only have positive comments and I never had any rusting problems.

To come back to my Ford escape 2011, it looked like a very old and not maintained car. I was ashamed to go at my friends' place as rust and peeled off paint was very apparent and in places also very obvious. With all problems encountered with this car, I became to hate this vehicle !! Shame on you Ford !

- jocelyne.lauzierqc, Ste-Adèle, QC, Canada

problem #3

Nov 142015

Escape XLT 3.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

click to see larger images

bubbling paint/rust bubbling paint/rust bubbling paint/rust bubbling paint/rust

I’ve been a Ford customer for 40 years. Other than normal wear and tear, service and replacements parts, there has never been any problems with any vehicle-until now. I purchased a new 2011 Ford Escape XLT-car washed/hand washed & waxed at least twice or more each month. Recently, I noticed paint bubbles on both sides of the outer rear wheel well. Further inspection revealed rust under the lips of the wheel well. I took a picture on the inside of the wheel well which shows the metal separated from the wheel well liner. This is probably the cause of water and contaminates seeping in between the metal & paint causing the paint bubbles. This is NOT normal. Following Ford’s warranty protocol, I contacted the service department where I purchased the Escape in an attempt to have the damage repaired. To no avail, there was nothing they can do with an explanation that the Escape was out of the warranty period and that the rust did not have a perforation/hole (yet!) Next was the sales representative. No response yet. I’ve read I am not the only complaint regarding this widespread problem. Maybe it was another company that states their customers are their #1 priority.

Update from Jul 19, 2017: Met with the Service Department Manager at my local Ford Dealership. Since I was a loyal customer and they had some "loyalty money" left in their budget to repair the wheel wells-THE CAR WAS FINALLY REPAIRED.

- Martin M., Forest Park, IL, US

problem #2

Aug 032015

Escape XLT 2.5L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,855 miles

I only missed 1 year antirust and the rust started on the rim of the rear wheel. I asked my dealer if this is covered by the 5 years warranty and he said No. I don't understand how with come I have rust despite the treatment I did.

- Joe H., Montreal, QC, Canada

problem #1

Mar 152015

Escape XLT 2.5L 4cl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

Doing my spring cleaning & detailing found bubbling paint & rust on both rear wheel wells. One estimate was to remove complete quarter panels & another was to cut-out and weld in new metal.

- jeffain, Ft. Wayne, IN, US

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