Took the car in after I started hearing this clunking noise from the back. Seems like there are hundreds of stories like mine...

Fortunately, I have choosen the best option I have been able to find out on forums and I installed the auxiliary shock mount kit that I ordered from Ebay 190$ + shipping (type ford escape shock mount, comes from Canada). I am not quite familiar to mechanics but I have to say this installation was quite easy with the instructions provided with the kit (you don't need any particular knowledge to do it, just owning a drill and a grinder is about all what you really need. The bracket and the patch are holding on quite good since.

I bought this escape and didn't see any wheel well rust, until I washed the wheel wells out and started to remove the under coating and put my hand though the wheel well into the inside of the back area. I then looked at the other side that to had the starts of rusting out like the other side. Now this escape had an inspection done on 12/14. Its lucky that I checked the under the under coating to see the issue if I didn't do that it would have been to late I my wife, the shock and mount would have ripped though and most likely had an accident. It cost $950.00 to fix. I have checked other escape's in that year range and the owners couldn't believe what I showed them, because you have to remove the under coating to see all the issue. Its an hidden issue and need's to be addressed by Ford. this escape only had 121,000 on it and always garaged. Its a major flaw.

I have the car regularly checked, especially the brakes which were recently serviced, and the rear tires were replaced at the same time. Weeks later, I noticed a strange noise from the rear of the car and when I had it checked I was told that excessive rust in the wheel wells has occurred and the car is not safe to drive. The cost to repair it far exceeds the value of the car. I don't want to sell it because if it's not safe for me, it's not safe for anyone to drive. I haven't decided what to do yet, but I am disappointed that this apparent defect hasn't been addressed by Ford. At this point I believe my only option is to donate the car to a charity in the hopes that it will only be used for parts. I hope that by posting this complaint, somehow Ford will be put on notice that they are putting the safety of its customers at risk.

I have always bought Ford Vehicles we bought this in mid July, 0 miles, 2005 Ford Escape, brand new. Never had any problems with this vehicle, just maintenance and tires replaced 3 times, oil changes. Was hit in the front end on the passenger side on August 31 when I took it to the repair shop, I told my insurance company that I think something happened to the back because right after I was hit I keep hearing this banging on the passenger side.When the mechanic went to look he told me this is all rusted out and told me $2000 to fix it. My jaw dropped. He also told me this is an issues with Ford Escapes rusting out on the passenger rear wheel well.

This vehicle was well taken care of I have a attached to pictures One pic is the driver side and the second pic is of the passenger side, driver side is fine some rust. This vehicle washed and waxed every weekend all year until it got cold then power washed each time the weather broke. Very disappointed this was a good reliable Vehicle for my family. If anyone knows what I can do besides trade it in please tell me.

I am one more victim of this sorry manufacturing job by Ford. One does expect some body rust perhaps, when your car is 10 years old and has 127,000 miles, but you don't expect the suspension to come apart; that is essentially what happens when a strut mount rusts out and your vehicle becomes undriveable. Took it to a tire and suspension shop, they couldn't help. They called a body shop, and the body shop asked them "Is it the right rear?" They had seen this problem before. So that's where I took it. The repair looks good but now I'm $2,300 further into this car, and I'm not sure how interested another individual or a dealer will be in buying it.

I bought this 2005 Ford Escape Limited for my 16 year old in December of 2014. Was told by dealer there was surface rust that would not cause any problems. After a few months we noticed the there was no shock on the passenger side and the wheel was completely rusted out with no upper shock mount. Then my 16 year old came home and said that the alignment went out so we took it to our mechanic. He started looking into why the alignment went out and found that the engine cradle was 75% rusted through all the way down to where the control arm bolts on. The tire could fall off at any time. After doing some research online I see the 2001-2004 recall for this same issue. FORD, this is not acceptable. You are putting our children and us at risk of injury and possible death is a wheel was to come off while driving. I have been a Ford guy for a long time, but they need to show that they care about the customers before I EVER buy another Ford.

I'VE CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE A FEW TIMES ASKING FOR A CONNECTION TO THE CEO BUT WAS TOLD THEY DON'T HAVE A PHONE # FOR HIM.THEY ALSO SAID HE DOES NOT SPEAK TO CUSTOMERS.AFTER EXPLAINING IN DETAIL THAT 5 BODY SHOPS/MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY CAN'T WORK ON IT AND THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THEY ALL CONCURRED IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE MATERIAL THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN.

AS AN HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERAN AND SINGLE PARENT OF ONE, I FIND IT DESPICABLE THAT SOME MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY CANNOT DO THE RIGHT THING BY THEIR CUSTOMER, BY ACCEPTING FAULT FOR THEIR PRODUCT JUST FALLING APART DUE TO LOUSY MATERIALS USED IN ITS' CONSTRUCTION. IN ADDITION,THEIR OFFICIAL WEBSITE HAS A HEADING FOR THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR THEIR CEOS', BUT WHEN YOU CALL IT, YOU ARE CONNECTED TO A LOW LEVEL CUSTOMER RELATIONS OPERATOR WHO TELLS YOU THEY CAN'T HELP YOU.

THANKS FOR NOTHING MR.WILLIAM FORD JR/CHAIRMAN OF FORD'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED THAT I JUST PAID OFF AFTER SOME FINANCING FROM FORD MOTOR CREDIT, HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY PARKING LOT WITH THE STRUT COMPLETELY THRU THE REAR PASSENGER SIDEWALL.YOUR COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO CALL ITSELF AN AMERICAN COMPANY.

Bought this 2005 Ford Escape 4x4 five years ago from my brother, who had bought it new. I loved it; it looked good and drove great.

Last Saturday coming back from Indiana, it started making a horrible thumping noise from the right rear every time I hit the slightest little bump, even at low speed. Managed to get it home.

On Monday drove it to Integrity Auto Body, a very reputable business. They told me they were UNABLE to fix it. The inner rear area that held the shock was rusted completely through. They also gave me a paper stating that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. I had it towed to another auto repair shop, and they were going to refer to yet another one. Have not heard anything back since then.

This vehicle has been serviced regularly and has 64,000 miles on it. If my Escape is not repairable, I may have to join those people who always claimed that FORD was an acronym for Found On Road Dead. I have owned several Fords in the past and never had anything like this. I am shocked, angry, and sad. Ford Motor Company perhaps needs a new slogan: UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

Exact same problem as everyone described in the right rear wheel well. Called local Ford dealership, they ran my VIN, but said there was no recall. The car is 10 years old, what do you expect? - mentality. The car only has 120K on it, so I expect to get another 3-4 years out of it, minimum. That's what I expect. Very disappointed in Ford.

I took it to a local body shop in North Attleboro, MA - Keilen's Auto Restoration. They custom fabricated and welded a new rear right wheel well in place. Replaced both rear shocks (the right one had completely rusted through at the top, near where the wheel well had deteriorated). They told me that the rear left wheel well was in the early stages of deteriorating as well. Had them patch that well and seal both of them up. They did the whole job in about 3 days from when I dropped off the car for $1045. Hoping that this is the end of the body rust issue in the rear!