Suspension Noise problems of the 2005 Ford Escape

Vehicle suddenly started making a banging sound so I took vehicle into our mechanic. Apparently the passenger side suspension was not properly sealed and the sheet metal in the wheel well has deteriorated to the point in which the shock tower has disconnected from the vehicle frame. I was refereed to a auto welding shop by my mechanic and was surprised to see that there were two of the same vehicles at the facility having the exact same problem resolved. The mechanic at this welding shop says that he is repairing personally 3 Ford Escapes per week for the exact issue and he was able to show me the two that he had just repaired over the past two days. I am now more shocked to see that there are over 500 complaints with this exact same complaint just at this NHTSA. Gov sight and that there are literally thousands of other identical complaints posted on the internet. This is an extremely unsafe safety issue. The fact is that the loud banging noise is enough to cause most owners to pause and to look into the matter and thus typically this issue does not result in an accident. However, safety issues and recalls should not only involve accidents or casualties. This is a very real problem impacting every single 2005 Ford Escape and costing consumers hundreds and thousands in repairs that Ford refuses to acknowledge.

When traveling at 40mph, a thumping noise could be heard in the rear of 2005 Ford Escape. Upon visual inspection, the passenger side rear wheel well was completely corroded, exposing the interior of the car. The mount of the shock suspension is corroded so badly that the shock is nowhere attached to the body and is what causes the thumping sound as it pushes up into the car interior. No other wheel wells on the car have anywhere near that level of corrosion.

While driving my 2005 Ford Escape hybrid I heard a dragging sound in the right rear of the vehicle. I stopped the vehicle to discover a piece of the inner wheelhouse suspension mount had separated and was rubbing on the right rear tire. This is a corrosion problem that has been reported many times to NHTSA and no enforcement action to date has been made to have Ford recall these unsafe vehicles for corrective action. I guess someone will have to die when the right rear suspension separates from the vehicle before NHTSA decides to act.

Noticed clanking noise coming from passenger side rear. Thought strut mount was failing. Removed inside panel to reveal wheel well seriously rusted out. Was informed by mechanic that this could lead to suspension failure. Checked online and found significant number of like vehicles affected by the same problem. Will probably cost $1500 to repair. Noticed Ford used what look like several thin layers of metal sandwiched together and that the rusting began from within.

On 2/20/14 I was traveling 65 mph on state route 219 in boston, NY, when a loud banging noise suddenly began to occur in the rear of my vehicle. This noise scared me and forced me to pull over on the shoulder of the expressway to inspect the rear area of my vehicle (while traffic continued at 65 mph). I could not see anything at that time so I slowly and cautiously drove my vehicle home. Upon further inspection, my husband found that the right rear(passenger) side rear shock had become totally detached from the completely rusted out inner wheel well and was protruding into the inside of my vehicle. Excessive rust could be seen along with several holes that had once been part of the wheel well. My vehicle is unable to be driven and is too costly to fix. After doing some research, I found that I am not the only owner of 2005 Ford Escape with this issue. This needs to be a recall! fortunately, this defect did not cause a serious accident because this is an integral component of my vehicles suspension. This 'defect' needs to be rectified before someone dies or becomes seriously injured.

Thumping sound from right rear of cargo deck. Upon interior inspection, no loose items in cargo area, no loose panels, and jack was not loose. Upon exterior inspection noticed rusted out portion of wheel well. Can see into interior (back of interior panel, carpeting, etc. ). Seems that thumping is due to wheel or suspension parts being improperly supported due to corrosion of/in area of wheel well. Specifically, shock and/or large coil spring are hitting interior panel(s) of vehicle.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side wheel well was completely rusted. The contact stated that there was a hole in the wheel well. In addition, whenever the contact traveled over a road bump, there was a loud bang from the rear of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the vehicle was determined to be unfit to drive. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told that the dealer deemed the vehicle unfit to drive because the strut and wheel well were detached from the vehicle. The dealer stated that it was only a matter of time before the rear passenger side wheel would detach from the vehicle. The current mileage was 97,000. Kmj the consumer stated while driving, he hit a large pot hole, and then he heard a huge bang from the rear of the vehicle. He thought nothing of it, so as he continued to drive, the noise became worse. When he arrived home, he opened the compartment and found the inside was damp with water. Upon further inspection, he noticed he could see through the inside of the vehicle into the street through a newly formed hole in the passenger rear wheel well. The crack started at the rear of the tire well to about the middle of the tire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but Ford didn't want to claim any responsibility. The rust was in an area that nobody noticed, as it was behind the sealer that was out in the tire wells of vehicles in the northcast. Ford inspected the vehicle, and informed the consumer, it was not safe to drive, as the suspension was compromised. The strut was very loose and he witnessed the crack get even bigger, as he tried to drive it back from the dealer. Also, the consumer had problems with the reverse lights flickering on and off. When he took the vehicle to the dealer, he was informed a new switch was needed. He declined the replacement. The consumer believed that may have been a symptom of the rust and the wires getting wet. Updated 12/04/13.