Recently purchased car, check engine light came on. Diagnostics scan shows 2nd cylinder misfire, ignition coil faulty. Went online to check common issues with this model..it is a common issue with most 04 Escapes. Lots of complaints for wheel well rust..upon inspection, mine too is corroded and the shock is coming through the floor board in the hatch. I heard noises while driving but hadn't inspected it until now, as I just bought this vehicle. The corroded spots were concealed under the carpet. Unsafe to drive. My photos are too large to upload.

- Fort Atkinson, WI, USA

The vehicle was a 2004 Ford Escape. It was parked on the street, everything was turned off and the vehicle was not running. I was in work when I was informed that my vehicle was on fire. Nothing was on to start this fire, it happened spontaneously. The fire seems to have started in the vicinity of the drivers side engine bay. Previous to this incident, there were no mechanical or electrical issues with the vehicle.

- Mandan, ND, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle spontaneously caught fire under the hood and the check engine indicator illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. There were no injuries. The fire department was called to the scene. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

- Baldwinsville, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving unknown speeds, smoke emerged from the hood and the vehicle spontaneously caught fire without warning. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact called a local dealer (don's Ford, 5712 horatio St, utica, NY 13502) and was informed to contact the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer at 1-800-392-3673 and got the automated system before the call disconnected. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

- Whitesboro, NY, USA

My 04 Ford Escape has a 4 cylinder and is a manual. It has begun to accelerate by itself. It will accelerate whether it is in gear or in neutral. I assumed there would recall for this problem, as I know other vehicles have been in serious accidents with similar problems. I can take my foot off of the pedal and it will stay at a steady speed, or accelerate, on its own. Often when I'm switching gears, put it in neutral, it will self-rev itself up to 4000+ rpms! I will have to wait and coast for about 10 to 30 seconds for it to bring itself back down to a reasonable RPM to get it into the next gear. So, it is intermittent, but happens about 50% of the time you are driving it, and at times can be very dangerous. I assumed Ford might pay for the repair as this is a dangerous situation, however my dealer says "no" because there is no recall.

- Dodge City, KS, USA

Vehicle at idle, misfired. Pulled off and went to drive onto the highway. Vehicle lost all power and it got worse. A smell came from the front and smoke came out of the dash. Had the driver, two toddlers, and I (passenger) in the vehicle. Driver and I were coughing from the smell and the smoke. Had to roll down the windows in the front and partly roll them down in the rear during the rain. Made it 2-3 miles before we turned around and went back home.

- Lowville, NY, USA

ABS light and engine light came on while driving and vehicle shut down completely. Towed to shop to have replaced the alternator and battery bad. Since then 3- alternators, 2- batteries, 3- O2 sensors, and an airbag light that blinks on and off and illuminates when you honk the horn on the steering wheel. Also when turning on headlights, all dash lights and stereo console lights dim to almost invisible. Took to 4 different Ford dealerships and no one can figure out the problem!!!! this company should realize this car is a lemon, and back their workmanship. And blow this car up !!!

- Jackson, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 35 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes malfunctioned and the vehicle would not stop. The contact also indicated that the check engine light illuminated during the incident. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Granby, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. While servicing the vehicle, it was observed that the engine cradle was severely corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 169,000.

- Hart, MI, USA

At intermittent times vehicle will stall and die. After driving at 45mph and stop car will die in the intersection. Driving at 70mph on the highway vehicle will stall woth cruise control on. When it stalls at highwau speed it jerks so violently that kids in the back seat get bounced around. It doesnt stall when idling. Only in drive when start to take off from a stop or if your maintaning a steady speed. Then try to speed up or speed down.

- Fond Du Lac, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the rpms increased. In addition, the contact stated that the head lamps and interior lighting dimmed intermittently and there was a noise coming from the steering wheel. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the steering fluid was leaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V165000 (structure). The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 12,000. Updated 11/01/16 updated 10/05/2017

- Cottage Grove, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, there was a hesitation when depressing the accelerator pedal and the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic was unable determine the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

- Telephone , TX, USA

I purchased this vehicle 11 months ago, on Feb 13,2015 as I was driving my car began to make a very loud noise as well as causing the vehicle to drive unstable. The mechanic report stated that 3 separate spark plugs had blown out and ejected causing extensive damage to multiple mechanical mechanisms to my vehicle. My vehicle is currently un drivable, also the check engine light did not come on the dash board or the machine. Also prior to this incident my vehicle would accelerate while driving and also in park.

- Elmira, NY, USA

Vehicle brought into repair shop and found that the engine cradle and was rotted considerably. A recall notice on this problem was sent to the customer and customer took into bright Ford, Inc for the recall. Repair was done several months later and returned to customer May 16, 2004. Three months later we again have this vehicle in the shop and upon inspection the lower control arm bracket rotted off of the cradle and caused the lower control arm to be only mounted by the rear bolt. This car is considered a hazard to drive due to the right front tire movement not being controlled by steering. Brighton Ford on their invoice #19744, found the front sub frmae rusting through on right hand side. Sent quote for new sub-frame and were denied and they were told to put this cross brace on the vehicle. This repair is not in line with the repairs that were needed. The vehicle cannot be driven at this time and brighton Ford says it is your responsibility to determine repair. This was not a safe repair and knowingly told customer that it was repaired.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving around a turn about circle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that the failure recurred multiple times intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times and they were not able to replicate nor diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times to no avail. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Gardner, MA, USA

Had speed control on, when to slow down, stepped on brakes cruise control light came off but the car didn't slow down it speed up! I did have a recall call done on the car for this. But the fix didn't work. The car speed up to 90 mph. I had to take it out of gear to slow the car down. I did everything I could think of to stop the car from speeding up. Stomped on the brakes, push the cruise control button on and off. Towed the car and the repair guy said there was snow in the cruise control casing, that was causing it. He disconnected it.

- Coralvilee, IA, USA

I have a 2004 Ford Escape (6 cyl., front wheel drive) that now has over 110,000 miles. At 108,465 miles, the #2 catalytic converter blew and was replaced (along with all 6 ignition coils). A second mechanic found debris in the #3 catalytic converter, cleaned it and the exhaust system. (the engine was not getting enough air passing through the exhaust system and would barely make it up a hill.) then he discovered the right rear wheel well was rusting out posing a severe threat that the shock absorber will punch through into the body of the car making the Escape totally inoperable. A recall is already out for Ford minivans for the same issue but apparently not for the Escapes. Why not? this can be repaired at a cost of nearly $2,000. With the catalytic converter and ignition coils, I've already spent over $2500 and don't have the $2,000 for this necessary repair due to poor materials used to make this vehicle.

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

Transmission broke in the year2008 and then again in less then 18 months later. The car we as not even 5years old. Two transmission job. Ford need to do recall on the transmission. Spoke to other owners and they had problems too. I will let themknow where to file complaint. Ford knows their is problem with the transmission but won't admit to it because it is a so costly for them to fix it.

- Peekskill, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed, which located a failure at the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 130,000.

- Plattsburgh, NY, USA

Driving down road and the rpms on my 2004 Escape jump up. So I try to slow down and car keeps accelerating. Throw car into park because brakes wouldn't slow it down. Ever site I read says it is the accelerator cable. Supposedly this was replaced by dealer while in for air bag indicator light repair in December 2012. Under recall. Now when I start vehicle rpms jump, and get burning smell from motor. Cars rpms jump while driving down road also. Battery and alternator were replaced in May 2013 but since they were replaced battery indicator light is dimly lite upon accelerating. I have spent a fortune on this vehicle and every time I turn around it needs more work. I also after getting battery and alternator replaced had to put a new throttle body component in because motor was racing to 3000 rpms while in park or while foot was on break. Please help. I am scared to death to drive this vehicle like it is. Can not afford to put anymore money into it either.

- Milford, DE, USA