Rear Suspension Shock Absorber problems of the 2005 Ford Escape - part 1

Tl the contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While the contact's daughter was driving at an unknown speed, she heard a strange sound and the vehicle began to swerve. The driver pulled the vehicle over to check for a flat tire, but the tires were fine. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home and then to an independent mechanic. It was diagnosed that the shock absorber mounts on the rear passenger side of the vehicle were damaged. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 189,319.

Right rear strut mount severely rusted and unsafe to drive. Shock absorber could come thru rusted mount on rear passenger side. Making all kinds of noice when driving. I talked to body shop said Ford Escapes are renown for walker sitting and rusting out these rear right mounts. The body shop said tfstvford has known about this serious unsafe defect.

The right rear "wheelhouse panel" rusted out around the shock absorber upper mounting bracket causing the shock absorber to become detached and non-functional while the vehicle was in motion, making a turn. This caused ride and handling concerns which affected vehicle safety. I have discovered that this is a very common problem with this vehicle and expensive to repair, ~ $1,500. 00.

After hitting a bump in the road loud noises started coming from the rear passenger wheel area. After getting home I discovered that the rear passenger wheel well was completely rusted out and the shock absorber is no longer attached to the vehicle body. I have found multiple issues identical to this in an online search. This is a known issue with the 2005 Escape and should be covered under a safety recall. There are existing recalls on 2001-2005 Ford Escapes for rust issues.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving 15 mph over a bump in the road, the contact heard an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to lasco Ford (2525 owen rd, fenton, mi) where it was diagnosed that the shock absorber went through the wheel well and would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

2005 Ford Escape. Heard bump followed by noise while driving. Checked car, found passenger side rear wheel well broken, upper attachment plate for shock absorber now in vehicle interior. Appears that wheel well rusted out from the inside: hidden from outside by undercoating in wheel well and hidden from inside by vehicle interior panels. 04 and earlier models recalled for same problem. Why no recall on 05 and newer? many hundreds of complaints online for this problem.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving 35 mph over a small bump in the road, the vehicle made a loud banging noise. The contact noticed that the passenger side wheel well was severely rusted. In addition, the shock absorber became disconnected from the frame of the well. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.

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.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving 42 mph, the contact heard a clanking noise coming from the rear passenger side wheel well. The contact stopped the vehicle and noted that the shock absorber had detached from the wheel well. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the wheel bearings failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the dealer stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive even after being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.

Rear passenger wheel well is rusted thru to the interior. Shock absorber is about to separate from the body. Unsafe to drive. Quoted $2,200 to repair.

Rusted out wheel well effecting the shock absorber top mount could break free while driving. I heard a new rattle investigated and found my whole wheel well above the top shock mount is rusted out. Got prices from four Ford dealers ranging from 900. 00 to 4000. 00 to repair it all of the dealers were aware of the problem and herd of many other examples. I am wondering way there hasn't been a recall?.

Entire right wheel well of the vehicle is rusting away. The shock absorber is mounted to this sheet metal, so it is no longer effective, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. I understand this is a common problem with these vehicles and Ford will do nothing to compensate me. Currently hearing a loud thumping at every bump, due to the shock becoming detached from the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving over a hump in the road, the contact heard a loud banging noise. The contact performed a test drive and discovered that the rear passenger wheel well had a rusted hole underneath the vehicle and the shock absorber was detached from the original mount. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Son came home one day said there is a lot of nosie int the back of the Escape. Once looking inside the back of the truck, I noticed I could see the driveway and tire. Once I went to look in the wheel well, I could see a very large hole in the wheel wheel. Total rust out of passenger side inner wheel well and shock tower. The hole has to to be at least 16" wide and 13" height. The rear shock is completely disconnected from the body sheet metal. It is only being held in place by the lower shock absorber bolt and nut. Vehicle only has about 100,000 miles. Totally afraid to let my son drive this to college. Siting in driveway until I can find someone to fix it. Called two Ford dealerships and said there is not recall and it is up to me to find someone to fix it. They told me over the phone it would be $5,000 to repair this. This will be the last Ford we ever buy if we have to scrape this because of this issue. Al. Dapoz.

2005 Ford Escape, have had a lot of clunking in back of car, and the rear right wheel well is falling/rusting apart (other wheel wells are not, just rear passenger side) right where shock absorber is mounted. Large rusted out hole in wheel well, and if I press around the wheel well, the black coating crumbles revealing crumbling rust behind it. Many other 2005 Escape owners with same issue. I have no money to fix this; this is a dangerous flaw should it break through while driving at high speeds. Should be recalled and fixed by Ford. It can't be said this is just "normal wear and tear" when only the one wheel well is consistently the one that is rusting while the other wheel wells do not. I have 125k on my Escape, but who knows how long the hole has been there.

I was driving along the highway on my way to work and hit a bump in the road. Immediately after that I heard a rattling noise in the rear passenger side quarter pane on every subsequent bump. When I was able to properly examine it I realized that the metal that connects the shock tower to the wheel well had almost completely rusted away. In August of 2012, with 154,523 miles on the car, I replaced the rear shock absorbers. There was no indication at that time of this problem developing. The metal on the vehicle seems to have an issue because it is rusting in other areas as well, such as the fuel filler neck, the bottoms of the rear doors, the bottom of the rear lift gate, the outer edges of the rear wheel openings, and at the base of the side view mirror.

Ford Escape 2005 passenger rear tire wheel well rusted away where the shock absorber mount bolts onto frame and now the shock absorber mount has nothing to bolt onto anymore. Shock absorber mount is not attached to frame anymore and now hits the frame of the SUV make very loud knocking sounds.

Right rear shock absorber punched through horribly rusted wheel well into passenger compartment. I didn't hit anything. It just rusted through and totally failed. Very dangerous situation.

I had my daughter's car in the shop and noticed that the interior of the wheel well on passenger side rear was rotting away. This affects the suspension dramatically. It appears that it will eventually deteriorate to the point that where shock absorber mounts will eventually fail and could have disastrous results. This degradation is very similar to Ford's recall #13-s-01 on select Mini vans and where the rear wheel wells are rotting away. In my mind this issue poses just as serious a threat. Upon seeing my daughter's car I've had occasion to look at similar age Escapes and many have this condition on them as well.

My 2005 Ford Escape rear passenger side wheel well cracked. The shock absorber is hardly attached and is a safety issue. If it falls off it could cause an accident.

I have a 2005 Ford Escape took it to a shop today because of the banging from the suspension. When the mechanic put the car on the lift he saw that the entire wheel well around the shock absorber was rusted completely out. The extra stress on the shock absorber caused the bolt on the top to break off. The stress also caused the rear break line to fray almost to the point of breaking completely. This car is no longer safe to drive. I am just happy that my break line didn't break while I was on the road. I do not really know what options I have with the car since it is the only car I own and I have no other way to get to and from work.

Driving down street and ran over rough spot in pavement and heard a thump from the back of the vehicle. Next day drove over railroad tracks and there was a loud banging noise. I checked under vehicle at right rear wheel opening (passenger side) to find most of the wheel well rusted and gone from the shock mount location to the rear most part of the wheel well. The bucket or bracket that mounts the top of the shock absorber to the wheel well and chassis is just floating in mid air. When I look through the side compartment in the back of the vehicle I can see the top of the tire and the pavement and shock absorber.

Passenger side rear fender completely rusted through causing total detachment of shock absorber mount tower originally part of body/frame.

Tl-the contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the shock absorber became detatched and fractured through the rear passenger side of the trunk. The vehicle veered to the right and caused the contact to lose control without warning. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000. Sg.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, a very loud banging noise emitted from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician discovered that the passenger side rear wheel well was rusted and corroded, causing damage to the rear passenger side shock absorber. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 55,000.

The right rear wheel well has completely corroded, and the shock absorber upper mount has almost completely separated from the body, making the vehicle undrivable. . The left rear shock absorber mount looks like new. . . No sign of rust. Looking online at Ford forums, there are alot of people complaining of this very problem. Furthermore, model years 2001-2004 Ford Escape were recalled for the very same problem.

I began to hear a thumping sound from the passenger rear side like something was loose. It turns out that the wheel well is rusted through and the shock absorber is in danger of breaking loose which could cause further damage and make the vehicle difficult to control.

Right rear wheel well has on my 2005 Ford Escape has rusted completely through. The shock absorber is banging against the inner interior molding when the vehicle goes over a bump. There are large holes in the passenger compartment and the shock absorber is about to separate entirely from the wheel well leaving the suspension on the right rear side of the vehicle compromised. The wheel well on the left rear of the vehicle is in tact.

Passenger side rear shock absorber upper mount broke loose due to a corroded wheel well.

(case# 652370) (Ford Escape 2005 sub-frame defect) I wish to report an extremely unsafe condition that has occurred with my 2005 Ford Escape. The past several months, while driving the vehicle, I have noticed a loud metal-sounding banging noise whenever the car goes over even a slight bump/crack in the road. I have taken the vehicle into our local Ford dealership twice to have the problem checked out. First time, Ford replaced the links (?), which did not resolve the problem. The second time, I pointed out to service technician that the rear wheel well was rusted through. Service technician removed interior covering to further inspect damage, and discovered the shock absorber was sticking up into the vehicle. Service technician referred vehicle to their (Ford dealership) body shop, who's technician informed me that the sub-frame is rusted out and would cost at least $6000 to repair. I declined their repair offer, and brought the vehicle home. Upon further research (vehicle safety and recall websites), I was shocked to discover that many other owners of 2005 Ford Escapes are experiencing and reporting this same problem, and are frustrated and angry that a recall has not been issued by Ford. These vehicles are only nine years old, are now totally worthless, and are extremely unsafe to drive. I have been forced to find alternative transportation, which is a major inconvenience and expense for me.

You have failed to respond to our previous posts. We still await your report about this issue. The rear right wheel well has disintegrated leaving the shock absorber unconnected to anything at the top. It has been removed to prevent it causing further damage or damage to the break lines. Search on facebook under 2005 Ford Escape. There are loads of vehicles with exactly the same problem. This week someone reported their brake line had been damaged by this issue. This is a safety issue that Ford need to address urgently.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that whenever driving over a bump, the vehicle would make a loud knocking sound in the rear. The contact stated that he inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rear passenger side wheel well had corroded and the shock absorber was damaged. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

Excessive rust/corrosion in right rear wheel well. Shock absorber affected and pushing through wheel well into interior of car.

While washing the car, I noticed a hole in the passenger rear wheel well big enough to stick my fist thru without touching any metal. The shock absorber will soon be attached to nothing. It also appears the frame is rusting and getting thin. I am unsure of the structural integrity of the vehicle at this point and want to know the safety issues involved. I also want to know why Ford has not yet recalled these vehicles when the older models have been recalled. There is little difference in a 2004 and a 2005.

Passenger rear inner wheelhouse that holds shock absorber rotted and shock fell out Ford knows there is a problem because they have updated the part with a later model Escape part so to deny there is problem why did they update the part and discontinue making the part that came on 2005 Escape.