Takata recall: Passenger rear panel rusted out inside wheel well

- Niles, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the inner fender well on the rear passenger side had rusted and fractured. The failure caused the axle to be unstable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the shock mounting bracket detached from the inner fender. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Taylor, MI, USA

Rust frame on wheel wells and other frame issues...

- Camp Hill, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact heard an unusual noise near the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the frame was rusted out. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 109,475.

- Peoria, IL, USA

While driving on the freeway started hearing a loud sound and the car became bumpy and bouncy. Pulled off the freeway, but could not identify the problem. Took to a garage and told right rear inner shock mount and fender panel had rotted. Ford had a replacement part for this condition, but did not have a recall. Labor cost due to welding was $1300, total cost $1,966. How could Ford have a replacement part, but not a recall? tried 3 garages only 1 (who had a welder) would consider the job. Car could not be driven...condition worsened quickly and had to drive 10 mph to get estimates with blinkers on...hoping no one would hit us. Scary! had to replace inner shock mount and fender panel, install, weld, and seal. Also needed new rear shocks.

- Germantown, WI, USA

Entire right wheel well of the vehicle is rusting away. The shock absorber is mounted to this sheet metal, so it is no longer effective, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. I understand this is a common problem with these vehicles and Ford will do nothing to compensate me. Currently hearing a loud thumping at every bump, due to the shock becoming detached from the vehicle.

- Naperville, IL, USA

Rust around quarter panel back end, rust through passenger wheel well area. To the put the it is rusting and eventually the wheel well will no longer whole the strut in. Which puts me at risk of getting seriously hurt. This SUV is located in a southern state no reason for it to rust like that. I've seen and owned older vehicles that didn't rust.bad metal or rust protection. To get fixed I'm looking at $1000 to $4000 who has that to pay for something like that when Ford knows there is a issue and hasn't fixed it yet.

- Crossville, TN, USA

Right rear shock tower mount is completed rusted away causing the shock to travel up into the wheel well

- Burlington, WI, USA

2005 Ford Escape 4X4 V6 passenger side rear wheel house rusted significantly enough to cause rear wheel shock connected to wheel house to forcefully separate and begin colliding with the inside plastic moulding in the trunk of the car. Damage was initially found while in motion, noticed by a rattling noise in the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection and removal of the plastic trunk housing, the entire top of the wheel well was very clearly rusted. The shock was still connected to a piece of the wheel house. The rear passenger shock had forcefully disconnected the piece of the wheel house it was attached to because of the overwhelming around of rust. Auto-body shop quoted a $2,000 repair (for a car bought for #3,600) to order a new wheelhouse and install it. Professional auto body shop teams quoted that the issue wasn't something you could patch or lightly repair, and the shock would need to be reattached to the body of the car to be driven safely. Ford was contacted twice and replied with their apologies that the customer was experiencing this issue, knowingly aware that the 2001-2004 models of this vehicle were recalled for the exact same issue and that hundreds of other customers have seen this issue around 120,000 miles. The issue seems to always be on the rear passenger side with no significant rust or damage on the drivers side.

- Middletown, NY, USA

Rear wheel wells rusting out as well as rear seat wells under doors rusting off in huge chunks, cruise, cd player doesnt work, radio shorts out on volume control goes louder instead of lower volume, also front axle had to be replaced at joe lake tire do they use timken products?

- Monroe, MI, USA

This car has 80000miles on it and is totally rusted out in the rear passenger wheel well and shock tower. I have been quoted 5000 to fix the car to meet safety standards. I can see the tire all the way thru the metal.

- Manassas, VA, USA

I had finance a 2005 Ford Escape XLT after had the vehicle for two month I notice a strange sounds for the back of the vehicle I track and found out that the rear. Underneath the car panel where the shockwas at is rusted all through. The the front tire is wear and the vehicle is driving bad shocks struct and wheel elignment was all effect with the rust panal from shocks...

- Detroit, MI, USA

The frame of the vehicle has rusted and the suspension broke free while it was being driven. Ford has recalled up the model year of 2004 because of frame rust through in the northern states. In speaking with the repair shop he said he has seen a number of these problems. I called Ford customer service and was told my car has no known issues.

- Rochester, NY, USA

109,000 miles on my car, had a slight rumbling sound in trunk area, sound recently got much louder. Brought it in for an annual nys inspection and car would not pass due to right wheel hull rust. Large hole in wheel well, was advised to not drive the car and contact a body shop. Quoted $600-$800 for the repair. Upon research it appears this is a common problem in this model car. 2001-2004 Escapes were recalled for the same reason but not the 2005.

- West Sayville, NY, USA

In July of 2015 I brought my 2005 Ford Escape to the dealer because of very loud noise in the rear while driving. Noise was the same whether on a street or the highway. The mechanic found the passenger side rear wheel well was completely rusted out. I have a friend with the very same make, model, year and is now going through the exact same issue. There are other areas of rust on the body that seems to me to be coming on prematurely. I see there is a recall for this issue, but only up to model year 2004. Please....the 2005's have the very same issue!

- Lowell, MI, USA

The rear right wheel well is rusted and the shock fell off. It is dangerous and scary. The matrrial used in building it is very poor

- Henniker, NH, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the frame rail that the shock absorbers were bolted to was rusted significantly as well as the interior fenders. The vehicle was inspected, but not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 137,076.

- Boonsboro, MD, USA

Rear passenger wheel well rusting out around shock attachment. Just discovered this today but through online research it appears to be a very common problem and should be a know issue to the manufacturer - they had a rust recall for 2001 - 2004 models

- Berkley, MI, USA

Rear wheel well rust out. We purchased this car new at al packers white marsh Ford 11-13-04 we also opted for the complete ziebart package. The end of Dec.15 my wife said thumping noise from rear heard when going over a bump in road. I checked all around and under car, found nothing. On Jan.22nd 2016 when she got home from work she said get your coat you need to see this. When I got to the car I could not believe what I saw. Most of the ziebart under coating was gone from the right rear wheel well and there was a huge hole that ran from the back of the wheel well forwards through and past the shock tower mount.then the blizzard of 2016 happened. I got on the net and found out we are not the only people this has happened to. I called Ford usa headquarters on Jan.26 and 27th. I was told there are no service bullitens or recalls on my vehicle at this time. I was given a case number, and told take the car back to a Ford dealer so a certified Ford person could go over the car and document the problem and give me an estimate to fix the problem. Then if I get the repairs done keep my receipts, and if and when it becomes a recall I might get partial or full refund. Thanks for calling Ford have a nice day. After this I took the car to our local mechanic. He said he didn't do that work he sent me to a local body shop that told me it was a major job they said thousands of dollars. File a complaint and go back to Ford. Most of all park it do not drive the car it is not safe. The car window sticker says final assembly Kansas plant. Does anybody else have that same sticker" is this problem a bad batch of parts at only that Kansas plant" this was not an escort, aspire, even a Ranger it was a 30,000. Dollar Escape. They got the money they should fix this my car has 84,000 miles.

- Dundalk, MD, USA

The rear right wheel well is severely rusted. The shock mount is detached from the body and frame. The shock is loose and fell off. There is no way to weld the mount to the frame. The repair will cost thousands of dollars and teh vehicle is unsafe to drive

- Norwood, MA, USA