After investigating a loud noise. I found out that my right rear shock tower was rusted out and making the noise. After researching the problem I found out that there are many people out there with the same problem. This is a very costly fix that Ford should have do do as a recall. This is also dangerous. If this part breaks while driving it could cause a accident or worse. Please consider this problem and as a safety issue. Recall this problem with Ford. The car is undrivable.

- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving various speeds he heard an abnormal sound coming from the right rear passenger side of the vehicle. The contact discovered that right rear wheel well was covered with rust causing the shocks to fail. An independent mechanic discovered that the shock absorber needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

While my son was driving he heard a loud clunking noise came from back of the car. He stop, pull over and take a look to see what happening and when he look in to the rear wheel well he see it was damaged badly. He made appointment to take car to Ford dealer to check it out. They checked it and told him that the shock mount had rusted completely through the shock mount and no longer attach to the car, they told him that he should not drive it because it could cause bad accident and very dangerous. He asked them about the corrosion recall which I got a letter from Ford but they said the recall is for a corrosion with the sub frame where it connect to the lower control arm and nothing about the problem my car having. They told him it will cost about $3000 to have it repair. I am very upset about this, the car only 10 years old. I check on line to see anyone has the same problem with 2004 Ford Escape with the same issue I could not believed that there are numerous complaint about same issue and it caught my eyes that most people had this problem at the same period of 10 years. I want to see the government should force Ford to have a recall before someone get killed or hurt. Ford should stand behind their quality if they are trying to hide this problem they should be punish to the extend of the law.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

I have a 2004 Ford Escape. I received a recall notice for a corrosion issue with the sub frame where it connects to the lower control arms. I haven't had an issue with it yet and was planning on getting the recall work done within the next couple of weeks. On 8/02/2014 when I pulled in my driveway I heard a loud clunking noise coming from the rearof my Escape. When I look in the right rear wheel well I could see an 8 inch area around the shock mount had rusted completely through the shock mount was no longer attached to the vehicle. I'm sure this could have caused a accident had I been driving down the road when it happened. I did a google search and found an endless list of people with the same issue. I called my local Ford dealer and was told they could do the recall work on the front of the vehicle but there was not a recall for the rear wheel well /shock mount. I can not believe there is not a recall yet for such a serious and common problem. Please look into this situation. I work for Ford and this makes me sick, they should not have to be forced into implementing a recall for such a serious problem. Ford should issue a recall on their own before someone is hurt or dies from this problem. This is a control item and Ford should be held accountable !

- Wakeman, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speed, there was an unusual sound that came from the rear of the vehicle. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road and observed that the rear wheel control arms had become detached due to corrosion. The contact did not notify a dealer or an independent mechanic however, she contacted the manufacturer and was told that there were no safety recalls in regard to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- Meriden, CT, USA

Driving down the road wirht my 2 young kids and all sudden go over the train tracks and the rear strut broke from the shock mount and came right up thru the vehicle I have found thousands of complaints on this issue, Ford needs to step up luck I gained control of vehicle with a 1 mont old baby and a 3 year old this is searious matter! someone is going to die because of this it needs to be fixed!

- Monteagle, NH, USA

July 26,2014 in October 2013, I could not get my car inspected ( Ford Escape 2004 ) because the sub frame in the front was so badly rusted the steering rods was falling off and would not pass inspection. This was before the recall notice. 14502/NHTSA recall 14V-165, so I had a new subframe installed. Reference # 10547199. [xxx] at clarion Ford would do nothing because there was no recall at the time. I have sent all the information, and cost, to Ford in June 2014 and have not heard nothing from Ford. Is there anything that you could do that would have Ford contact me? thank you information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lamartine, PA, USA

Right side shock tower rusted out. Car is unsafe to drive.

- Belleville, MI, USA

I bought my 04 Escape brand new, and am the original owner car garage kept, this is a severe safety issue!! rusted out wheel well and shock mount went right through the frame while driving at only 15 mph out of a parking lot.

- Hawthorn Woods, IL, USA

The right rear shock tower mount completely broke away from the vehicle subframe due to corrosion/rust. This caused the shock to lean outward toward the tire. This could not be seen by the undercoating as a problem previous and apparently allowed it to corrode to the point that it broke free. This exact same issue occurred in my insurance lady's Ford Escape, which I believe was only one model year different. Also only on the right rear shock tower. In speaking with the body shop on the repair, they have also heard of this issue and state that Ford has not recognized it as a recall issue. This is a costly repair, and time consuming repair as the vehicle is gone for almost a week. This is also a very dangerous issue due to how it falls apart. We are lucky we were within the city limits and only traveling about 30 mph when it occurred.

- Elkhorn, WI, USA

2004 Ford Escape. Consumer writes in regards to lower control arm rust recall notice. The consumer stated while driving on the interstate, he heard a loud noise from the rear wheel well on the passenger side. He pulled over, and discovered the shock was hanging down. He was unable to pull it of. So he drove back home, and upon further examination, he discovered there was no fender left on the shock. Also, the trunk lid was rusting. The consumer he was able to remove the key from the ignition while the gear was in drive. The consumer stated he pulled into the driveway, shut the engine off and placed the keys in the console. He exited the vehicle to remove items from the back seat. Soon after, the vehicle started to roll backwards. Updated 06/01/16.

- Deerfield, OH, USA

Rusted out right wheel well with structural collapse. We bought this car used from a local Ford dealer in April of 2013. This car was being driven on a freeway on June 15, 2014 when a loud thumping started in the right rear wheel on. On inspection the right rear wheel well is rusted out. The support that the shock absorber is attached to was completely eroded and a part of it punched through the wall into the interior of the trunk area. We felt it was not safe to drive. We had it towed to another Ford dealer who diagnosed the problem. The estimated cost of repair is $2259. Review of the NHTSA complaint web site reveals many other owners with exactly the same problem.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

I have a hole and rust forming in the passenger side rear wheel. This is beginning to expose the shock area. I live in a high salt area.

- Glenshaw, PA, USA

TL -the contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that in June 2014, she received NHTSA recall campaign number: 14V165000(suspension). She attempted to have the vehicle repaired but the parts were unavailable; however, Ford on numerous occasions could not provide a solid answer on when the parts would be available or how long it would take to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced the failure.

- Troy, MI, USA

Rear passenger shock mount rusting out.

- Arden Hills, MN, USA

On a family vacation, the rear passenger side upper shock mount experienced complete failure, breaking away from the rear wheel well entirely. Imagine my outrage when I come to find out that rusted out passenger rear wheel wells are a common problem on the Ford Escapes for this year. The well-being of my family was put in jeopardy because Ford has failed to issue a recall on this flawed engineering. That is shameful. This is a serious safety issue that could've ended poorly for me and my family! please address this issue.

- Manhattan, KS, USA

Recall notice arrived in the mail on Saturday May 31st. Called local Ford dealership on Monday morning June 2nd at 8 am< to make an appointment and was told the earliest opening they had was December 22nd 2014- this is way too far away if there is a safety concern with my vehicle - dealership is romano Ford on burdick street, fayetteville NY 13066 - (315) 637-4668 is there any way to get faster repairs"?"

- Cazenovia, NY, USA

We were driving out of our subdivision and heard a loud banging noise that continued from that point. We pulled over an investigated and found the right rear shock had come loose at the top mount. Upon further review by a repair shop, the wheel/fender well has corroded including the integral shock mount. The vehicle is unsafe to drive.

- White Lake, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle being serviced, it was advised that the sub frame was extremely corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who advised that the vehicle was not worth repairing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V165000 (suspension front) however, the contact no longer owned the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

- Cooperstown, MD, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front passenger side wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wheel house strut mount was entirely rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem, the approximate failure mileage 105,000.

- North Tonawanda, NY, USA