2004 Ford Escape wheels problems

“MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE SUBFRAME RUSTING THROUGH WHERE IT MEETS THE CONTROL ARM RESULTING IN STEERING FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM UNDER WAY AND WAS RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF SEPARATION. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE RECALL AND INSTALLED A "BRACE" ON THE SUBFRAME BUT ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE SEPARATION, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURE/SEPARATION HAD ALREADY BEGUN THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT AND GAVE ME THE VEHICLE BACK IN A CONDITION WHICH IS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE", ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE DEALERSHIP. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAFETY ISSUE FOR WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT RESOLVE THE RECALL ISSUE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND FRAME FRACTURED AND CAUSED SPARKS TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“I HEARD RATTLING FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR LIKE A TIN THERMOS ROLLING AROUND. I LOOKED AT THE BACK AND WAS INSPECTING MY VEHICHLE. ONCE I TOOK OUT THE SPARE TIRE COVER I DISCOVERED A HUGE HOLE IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. I CALLED MY DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BE SERVICED. I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR AN ISSUE LIKE THIS AND I AM FINDING THAT MANY FORD ESCAPE OWNERS FROM 2005-2006 ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM CURRENTLY UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR AS MY DEALER IS NOT COMFORTABLE LETTING USE DRIVE IT, AND THEIR BODY SHOP WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT SAYING THAT IT WAS TO COMPROMISED AND WOULD BE LIABILITY”

“I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2004 FORD ESCAPE XLT WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES ON IT (12 YEARS OLD, 45,000'WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH). IT HAD UNDERCOATING TO PROTECT FROM RUST WHEN IT WAS NEW. VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF, LIKE NEW INSIDE! SO IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AFTER DRIVING IT 2 MONTHS WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL STARTED FALLING APART (WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT). WITHIN A 3 WEEK SPAN IT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DESTROYED. AGAIN IT WAS PROTECTED WITH UNDERCOATING AND STILL RUSTED OUT ALL THOSE YEARS IN A GARAGE BEING BARELY DRIVEN!!! I ASKED ABOUT GETTING BOTH SIDES DONE WHILE IT'S IN THE SHOP AND MECHANIC SAID THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WELL WAS FINE AND IN GOOD SHAPE, ALMOST NO RUST AT ALL. FORD STOCKS ONLY THE PASSENGER WHEEL WELL, NOT THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN MANUFACTURING FAILURE/SUBSTANDARD PART THAT FORD DOESN'T WANT TO OWN BEYOND SELLING YOU THE REPLACEMENT PART. I'M LOSING APPRECIATION FOR "AMERICAN MADE" VALUES. THIS ONE IS ESPECIALLY UPSETTING BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND I PREVIOUSLY HELD IN HIGH REGARD. THIS EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS AT HIGH SPEEDS ON MY TRIPS.”

“WHEEL WELL RUSTED THROUGH TO INTERIOR OF CAR, SHOCK DISLOCATED FROM WHEEL WELL. WE JUST MOVED TO RALEIGH FROM MICHIGAN. SEE RELATED NEWS ARTICLES: HTTP://WWW.USATODAY.COM/STORY/MONEY/CARS/2014/04/07/FORD-RECALL-FUSION-ESCAPE/7427299/ HTTP://TRUCKYEAH.JALOPNIK.COM/ALMOST-400-000-OLD-FORD-ESCAPE-SUVS-RECALLED-1560352974 HTTP://WWW.RIPOFFREPORT.COM/R/FORD-MOTOR-COMPANY/DEARBORN-MICHIGAN-/FORD-MOTOR-COMPANY-FACTORY-DEFECT-TO-ESCAPE-VECHICLES-DEARBORN-MICHIGAN-904056 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2004/FORD/ESCAPE/SUSPENSION/PROBLEM.ASPX”

“I AM SHOCKED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY ESCAPE IN REGARDS TO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL RUSTING OUT AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT. I INITIALLY NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE REAR SHOCKS SO I TOOK IT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FRAME ISSUE AND I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX AND SOME BODY SHOPS WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO FIX IT. HE ALSO STATED THAT I SHOULD DRIVE SLOW BECAUSE THE SHOCK MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. AT THIS POINT, I AM FURIOUS! I WENT TO A BODY SHOP TODAY ON MY LUNCH BREAK AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST UPWARDS OF $2,000 TO REPAIR. THE GUY AT THE BODY SHOP ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL 2004-2006 FORD ESCAPES AND WAS WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I AM SO FRUSTRATED AND AGITATED BECAUSE I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD I AM SO FED UP WITH HOW IRRESPONSIBLE THESE HUGE MILLION/BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES ARE. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN JUST IN MY LITTLE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE TODAY, FORD…”