Before buying this new 2021 Ford Escape, I had previously leased them twice for two years each. The first one a 2017 and it had a loose driver side rear tail light from the factory. I had no other issues with it but the 2019 had interior trim and dash board fit problems and, strangely enough, another loose driver side tail lamp. The AM radio had terrible reception on the lower portion of the band and I was promised that it would be replaced but it was on back order and they never replaced it. I reluctantly decided to purchase a new 2021 Ford Escape because we were down to one car and leasing would not be an option.
I thought that they had worked out the production issues in the 2020 model year and that it is a redesigned vehicle. Before I purchased it I did a walk around the vehicle and, to the eye, every thing seemed fine so I bought it and then when I got it home I looked over and noticed the driver side rear tail lamp was loose and the rear hatch was off center. The hatch closes but is off center so there is more of a gap on one side than the other. I went back to the dealer and they found that the lamp was not installed correctly and also it was loose. They said the hatch back could not be aligned and that it was just the way it was assembled on that day is was built. Really?
I have done a walk around the dealership looking at other 2021 Ford Escape hatch back and some of them are aligned correctly and some not. Also found the driver side rear tail lamp on several of them were loose.
The other issue which is the one I am reporting today is an annoying wind noise coming from the driver side door area. It appears at speeds above 45mph and at 35-40mph during a windy day. I went to the dealership to report the issue and I asked if anyone else reporting the same issue on current model year or previous. They said no. The dealer didn't have anyone specific that worked on problems like that so any mechanic would have to look at it. However, I am down to one vehicle and there is a courtesy vehicle shortage and I not have a way to pick up my wife from work while the vehicle is in the shop.
The suggested taping the door and window to see where the leak might be coming from and I did all that but have not been able to isolate its source. I've compared it to the passenger side and see no difference. If I move up toward the steering wheel, the noise disappears. If I move back to the normal seated position, I begin to hear it. All the door and window gaskets appear to be installed correctly and the door shuts properly too. There are no water leaks while driving in the rain.
It's not a whistling noise. Instead it's the sound when the vehicle is being hit by gusty wind. The wind noise sort of oscillates depending on the gusts. I would hate like hell to leave my vehicle for hours at the dealership only to tell me they can't hear it or can't find the source.
Like I said I leased two of them and no noise. I buy one, and where the hell did it come from? I regret to have purchased it. I believe the plant where this vehicle was built has some serious quality control issues and they don't give a damn. Yes some of the problems come from the vendors that supply production but when it comes to assembly of the vehicle, that points back to the worker and or the robotic equipment and the final product should not have passed quality control.
I am paying good money for this vehicle and I expect something in return for that. What ever happened to Quality is Job 1? I should not have to be stuck with a vehicle that has inherent production defects and have the dealership pass it off as that. I am almost certain that I will not buy another Ford product again. Shame on you Ford! You are losing customers.
Update from Jan 5, 2022: Thank you for contacting me.
The dealer had no way to accommodate me with a courtesy vehicle while investigating the source of the problem.
I was very dissatisfied with the quality of this vehicle and what I might face in the future if I kept the vehicle for any length of time so I decide to trade in the vehicle for a Toyota Rav4.
I no longer own the problem or future problems!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Before buying this new 2021 Ford Escape, I had previously leased them twice for two years each. The first one a 2017 and it had a loose driver side rear tail light from the factory. I had no other issues with it but the 2019 had interior trim and dash board fit problems and, strangely enough, another loose driver side tail lamp. The AM radio had terrible reception on the lower portion of the band and I was promised that it would be replaced but it was on back order and they never replaced it. I reluctantly decided to purchase a new 2021 Ford Escape because we were down to one car and leasing would not be an option.
I thought that they had worked out the production issues in the 2020 model year and that it is a redesigned vehicle. Before I purchased it I did a walk around the vehicle and, to the eye, every thing seemed fine so I bought it and then when I got it home I looked over and noticed the driver side rear tail lamp was loose and the rear hatch was off center. The hatch closes but is off center so there is more of a gap on one side than the other. I went back to the dealer and they found that the lamp was not installed correctly and also it was loose. They said the hatch back could not be aligned and that it was just the way it was assembled on that day is was built. Really?
I have done a walk around the dealership looking at other 2021 Ford Escape hatch back and some of them are aligned correctly and some not. Also found the driver side rear tail lamp on several of them were loose.
The other issue which is the one I am reporting today is an annoying wind noise coming from the driver side door area. It appears at speeds above 45mph and at 35-40mph during a windy day. I went to the dealership to report the issue and I asked if anyone else reporting the same issue on current model year or previous. They said no. The dealer didn't have anyone specific that worked on problems like that so any mechanic would have to look at it. However, I am down to one vehicle and there is a courtesy vehicle shortage and I not have a way to pick up my wife from work while the vehicle is in the shop.
The suggested taping the door and window to see where the leak might be coming from and I did all that but have not been able to isolate its source. I've compared it to the passenger side and see no difference. If I move up toward the steering wheel, the noise disappears. If I move back to the normal seated position, I begin to hear it. All the door and window gaskets appear to be installed correctly and the door shuts properly too. There are no water leaks while driving in the rain.
It's not a whistling noise. Instead it's the sound when the vehicle is being hit by gusty wind. The wind noise sort of oscillates depending on the gusts. I would hate like hell to leave my vehicle for hours at the dealership only to tell me they can't hear it or can't find the source.
Like I said I leased two of them and no noise. I buy one, and where the hell did it come from? I regret to have purchased it. I believe the plant where this vehicle was built has some serious quality control issues and they don't give a damn. Yes some of the problems come from the vendors that supply production but when it comes to assembly of the vehicle, that points back to the worker and or the robotic equipment and the final product should not have passed quality control.
I am paying good money for this vehicle and I expect something in return for that. What ever happened to Quality is Job 1? I should not have to be stuck with a vehicle that has inherent production defects and have the dealership pass it off as that. I am almost certain that I will not buy another Ford product again. Shame on you Ford! You are losing customers.
Update from Jan 5, 2022: Thank you for contacting me. The dealer had no way to accommodate me with a courtesy vehicle while investigating the source of the problem. I was very dissatisfied with the quality of this vehicle and what I might face in the future if I kept the vehicle for any length of time so I decide to trade in the vehicle for a Toyota Rav4. I no longer own the problem or future problems!
- bugg, Waterford, US