2005 Ford ESCAPE - Ratings, Complaints and Recalls

The 2005 Ford Escape receives mixed safety ratings based on the available data. While it scored well with a 4 out of 5 in both the front crash driver side and front crash passenger side ratings, it achieved the highest rating of 5 out of 5 in both the side crash driver side and side crash passenger side ratings. However, its overall rating is marked as "Not Rated" due to insufficient data in various other crash test categories.

Unfortunately, this model does not come equipped with stability control, collision warning, or lane departure warning systems, which are features that can enhance driver and passenger safety on the road.

Additionally, the car has had a high number of complaints, totaling 1578, and has been subject to 5 recalls. It is essential for Ford to address these complaints and recalls promptly to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their customers. Safety should always be a top priority in the automotive industry to prevent accidents and protect lives.

Top stats at a glance

Complaint Count

1,578

Recall Count

5

Investigation Count

3

Safety Rating

Not Rated

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Safety Features

2005 Ford Escape 4-DR. Safety Features

Here are the safety features that come as standard on the 2005 Ford Escape 4-DR.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESC is an advanced safety feature in vehicles designed to help drivers maintain control during challenging driving conditions. By continuously monitoring various factors such as steering angle, vehicle speed, and individual wheel speeds, ESC can detect and reduce the risk of skidding or loss of control. It achieves this by automatically applying brakes to specific wheels to stabilize the vehicle.

No
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is a safety feature in vehicles that helps prevent frontal collisions by alerting the driver of an imminent collision with a vehicle or obstacle ahead. Using sensors such as radar or cameras, FCW monitors the distance and speed of vehicles in front, and if it detects a potential collision, it provides visual and/or auditory warnings to prompt the driver to take evasive action.

No
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is a safety feature in vehicles that alerts drivers when their vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane without signaling. Utilizing cameras or sensors to monitor lane markings on the road, LDW detects when the vehicle crosses these lines and triggers visual, auditory, or haptic alerts to notify the driver of potential lane departure.

No

2005 Ford Escape 4-DR. Safety Ratings

Here we have the crash and rollover ratings for the 2005 Ford Escape 4-DR. Where possible we've included the ratings for the oldest and latest models of this car so you can compare how the safety ratings have changed over time.

Frontal Crash Ratings

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Test 2005 Score 2022 Score
Overall Front Crash Rating Not Rated 5
Front Crash Driver Side Rating 4 5
Front Crash Passenger Side Rating 4 5

Side Crash Ratings

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Test 2005 Score 2022 Score
Overall Side Crash Rating Not Rated 5
Side Crash Drivers Side Rating 5 5
Side Crash Passenger Side Rating 5 5
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Front Not Rated 5
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Rear Not Rated 5
Overall Side Barrier Rating Not Rated 5

Rollover Ratings

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Test 2005 Score 2022 Score
Rollover Rating 3 4
Rollover Possibility % 0% 0%
Dynamic Tip Result Tip No Tip
Side Pole Crash Rating Not Rated 5

Complaints for the 2005 Ford ESCAPE

This chart show the number of complaints for each car component. A Higher number of complaints could indicate that this car might have a common fault. Something to look out for when purchasing one.

Component Complaints

Choose a component to see what complaints people have made about them.

Complaint:
"my rear passenger side rusted right out completely and the strut mount is not attached to any part of the body. it caused my vehicle to swirve off the road almost hitting another vehicle when it was raining out also in the snow this occurred several times where my rear end jerked sideways pulling my truck into a complete circle."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2023-01-04

Complaint:
"rust and corrosion on the wheel well caused the shock mount to come apart. now it is loose and very dangerous. ford must be held responsible for terrible design."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2020-10-03

Complaint:
"as i was driving there was a really loud clunking on the rear. i figured it was potentially a broken shock. in the passenger rear wheel well where the shock bolts to the frame was copletely rusted out. when i was hitting bumps it wasnt even attached to the frame. there was no way of repair. i am so greatful i was safe. and didnt get into an accident. one wrong bump. and the whole shock wouldve went through the trunk and could have caused a very serious accident."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2020-09-09

Complaint:
"tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. the contact stated that the subframe fractured while turning the vehicle into a parking lot. the vehicle immediately stopped and one of the tires became detached. the vehicle was towed to the contact's home. mike castrucci ford lincoln of alexandria (7400 alexandria pike, alexandria, ky 41001, (859) 448-9400) and the manufacturer were contacted and stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 163,000."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2019-12-04

Complaint:
"began hearing terrible noise from rear passenger wheel well. investigation revealed the entire wheel well and frame were rusted out. after replacing the wheel well and shock mount tower, still experiencing problems due to frame being rusted out. no longer able to drive the vehicle for safety reasons and it is headed to the scrap yard."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2017-10-03

Complaint:
"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."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2019-05-10

Complaint:
"the escape started making a squeaking noise for about 3 days while driving it on city streets and on the highway and then it started making a loud clunking noise and was banging like something broke loose. we thought the shocks broke. upon closer inspection we noticed that the frame at the right rear wheel well had completely rusted out and the shock had came off because there was nothing for it to attach to. we have the car parked because it is too dangerous to drive. it only has approximately 80,000 miles. our daughter had just purchased it in may 2017 from a local car dealer. i have researched but there was no recall on this and there very many complaints about the same issues with different year escapes."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2020-05-12

Complaint:
"the area around the shock support has slmost completely rusted out. this is super unsafe."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2018-12-11

Complaint:
"rear frame rusted through as well as passenger side shock tower,rusted so bad can see through to outside in 2 spots which allows exhaust fumes into interior of vehicle ,could cause exphixiation to occupants as well as loss of control due to rear of vehicle giving way and breaking in two on a roadway,damage wasn't visible until it totally busted through while driving! ford should recall due to safety as the 2004 was."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2018-02-10

Complaint:
"tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. the contact stated that there was an abnormal noise heard near the area of the rear passenger side wheel well. the contact stated that there was rust in that area, which was affecting the shocks. the dealer was not contacted. an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, but could not determine the cause of the failure. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was not available."
Components Involved: SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Date of incident: 2018-01-08

Recalls for the 2005 Ford ESCAPE

Component Recalls

Choose a component to see what recalls people have made about them.

Recall:
"ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 ford escape and mercury mariner vehicles manufactured march 31, 2001, to september 1, 2009. the affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3l or 3.0l engine and have had their cd4e transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between june 11, 2015 through july 15, 2015. these service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. as a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning."
Consequence:
If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Component(s) Involved: POWER TRAIN > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > LEVER AND LINKAGE > FLOOR SHIFT
Date of incident: 2015-09-29

FORD Overall Complaint Ranking

This table shows the ranking of car manufacturers when it comes to most complaints and recalls. The manufacturer with the most complaints is at the top. However this doesn't necassarily mean they should be avoided. Some manufacturers might just have more popular or affordable cars which a lot of people have bought. Which means there's more scope for a complaint to be made. Use the ranking table below as a part your wider research into buying a car.

FORD ranks 1 out of 44 in the complaints ranking table.

Manufacturer Complaint Count Recall Count Ranking
FORD 208,358 3,259 1
CHEVROLET 111,306 2,082 2
TOYOTA 81,019 1,852 3
HONDA 61,937 1,268 4
NISSAN 56,226 930 5
DODGE 45,756 827 6
HYUNDAI 44,150 649 7
GMC 34,441 1,410 8
KIA 29,832 501 9
CHRYSLER 27,698 254 10
TESLA 26,230 730 11
BMW 24,890 1,877 12
VOLKSWAGEN 23,125 829 13
MERCEDES-BENZ 19,066 2,925 14
SUBARU 18,513 703 15
MAZDA 10,599 364 16
PONTIAC 10,430 138 17
CADILLAC 9,434 444 18
AUDI 7,865 1,093 19
BUICK 7,851 279 20
SATURN 7,672 84 21
MERCURY 7,374 135 22
LEXUS 6,373 408 23
LINCOLN 5,897 423 24
ACURA 5,722 382 25
MINI 5,585 366 26
INFINITI 4,000 187 27
MITSUBISHI 3,912 397 28
VOLVO 3,875 727 29
PORSCHE 2,646 1,231 30
SUZUKI 2,272 123 31
FIAT 2,205 80 32
SAAB 1,536 76 33
JAGUAR 1,195 198 34
SMART 528 17 35
GENESIS 436 42 36
ISUZU 249 37 37
ALFA ROMEO 161 37 38
MASERATI 76 46 39
BENTLEY 46 159 40
POLESTAR 42 2 41
LUCID 14 6 42
CODA 4 2 43
MAYBACH 0 0 44

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