I was driving home going about 45mph and all of a sudden I hear a loud noise coming from the left rear of the vehicle. Though it could have been the tire, so I pulled over to check and the shock is completely rusted and apart.

- Fort Bragg, NC, USA

The right rear fender wall has totally rusted out to the point the shock is not even attached to the frame. Internet search has shown this is happening on many many of these 2004-2006 Ford Escapes. We we're lucky to discover the defect before someone was hurt.

- Cohasset, MN, USA

Excessive rusting in right rear fender well, shock mount coming undone. Loud banging noise inside vehicle. Safety issue.

- Brazil, IN, USA

Loud banging sound for rear of car. On inspection the right rear wheel well had rusted through including the support for the rear shock absorber. The shock absorb punched all the way through the wheel well, and was unsupported, hitting the metal of the interior.

- Shaker Heights, OH, USA

The shock housing has completely separated from the body of the car due to rust. Internet searches have turned up hundreds of people who have the same issue with this model year. It poses a safety issue because the dismounted shock can cause handling issues as well as tear into the tire when driving.

- Melvindale, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side shocks were corroded. Additionally, the contact mentioned the vehicle was burning oil excessively. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic however, the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 120,000. Updated 08/27/2014 updated 09/4/2014

- Superior, WI, USA

Excessive wheel hub corrosion, shock freed and damaging interior and exterior wheel hub area. Not driving vehicle at this point, too dangerous. Advised by several mechanics to contact Ford motor with complaint. Ford motor call center took information and hung up on me. Would not direct me to supervisor. No recall at this point for 2006, but many complaints in former years regarding the same issue. Very dangerous situation and may have caused a tragic accident. If Agency would like pictures, please contact me.

- Orland Park, IL, USA

Right rear quarter panel rusted threw the wall.

- Warsaw, IN, USA

Began to notice a rattling noise/clunking in right rear corner of vehicle. Took the vehicle to our mechanic who told us that the right rear wheel well was completely rusted through and the shocks were exposed. Only the right rear wheel was rusted. Informed by our mechanic that the vehicle was not safe to drive and we would need to have it towed to the body shop. When we contacted the body shop and said we had an issue with the under body on our Ford Escape he new immediately that it was the right rear wheel well because it was the 3rd Ford Escape with the exact same problem in less than 2 months. We were fortunate that we only had to wait 3 days for the part as we were told that the last 2 Ford Escape owners had to wait 6 weeks because the part was on back order from Ford. Looked online and there were hundreds of complaints for Ford Escape with exact issue (always only the right rear wheel well) from 2004 on. Obviously this is a recall issue that should be address by Ford before someone is seriously injured or killed.

- Toledo, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the rear passenger wheel well and the shock absorber corroded and fractured and busted through the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the rear passenger wheel well and the shock absorber needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Superior, WI, USA

On March 12,2014 I was driving to the post office when my car made a loud "thunk" and began to shake severely. Feeling unsafe and being a short distance from my home I immediately returned there. Upon inspection I discovered that the right rear wheel well had rotted out and the shock had penetrated through the interior of the car behind the rear right passenger seat. The date of manufacture on the drivers door is 5/2005.

- Mansfield Center, CT, USA

I was traveling down the road at moderate speeds, I had a loud bang in the back and from that point on I had to slow down to 15. We brought it in to the mechanic and low and behold the wheel well has rusted out and the shock tower as well. The small shops won't do the work because of liability. And Ford said 3000 if and when they get the part. The car is a 2006 and we shouldn't have problems to this magnitude.

- Grandville , MI, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, he heard a rattling noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the subframe and the rear passenger's side strut had corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- North Canton, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph on rough road surfaces, a loud banging noise emitted in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a collision center, who informed her that the rear passenger's side wheel well was completely covered with rust. The rear passenger's wheel well and shock mount disengaged. The failure also caused damage to the rear interior floorboard. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

- Barberton, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that a noise emitted from the rear passenger side wheel while driving. The mechanic inspected the wheel and found that the rear passenger's side wheel well was corroded with a hole. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 70,000...updated 04-22-14 updated 04/24 /14

- Chicago, IL, USA

About a week ago I noticed a noise in the rear of my Escape. After inspection the shock mount appears to have rusted out and completely separated from the vehicle creating a hole the size of my arm in right side passenger wheel well. After further research online this seems to be a common problem that Ford claims doesn't exist. I bought my car from a used auto dealership and have not even owned it for a year yet.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

The right, rear wheel well and shock support is nearly entirely rusted out. The rust damage I've observed appears to be much more significant than otherwise would have occurred due to normal wear and tear. The left wheel well is not suffering from the same corrosion problem. A quick google search shows that this is a seemingly widespread problem impacting 2004-2006 Ford Escapes. I've checked with my local Ford dealership, and contacted Ford corporate, and have been told that there are no known issues. I do realize that I live in new england and that the vehicle is 8-years old. However, I take very good care of my vehicle, and the damage I'm seeing seems to be clearly above beyond what would be warranted from normal wear and tear.

- Somersworth, NH, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal became stuck in open throttle and the contact was unable to depress pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the failure was unknown but replaced the throttle. The failure recurred and vehicle was repaired a second time. The contact also stated that on another occasion while driving over a road bump, the vehicle made a loud noise. When the contact made a turn the vehicle would lean to the side more than normal. The vehicle was taken to dealer and the failure was determined to be the stabilizer links for the front driver and passenger sides. The vehicle was repaired by replacing the stabilizer links. The failure recurred on the front passenger side stabilizer link, which was replaced a second time. The manufacturer was made aware of both failures however no assistance was provided. The VIN was unavailable. The current mileage was 110,000. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- Laconia, NH, USA

I was pulling out of a parking space with the wheel turned to the left & heard a loud clunk like something fell from underneath my car, like my car literally was falling apart. I got out to check and my tires were okay, and nothing was hanging or leaking from the car. So I drove to my office which is about a mile away. I went to make a left turn into my office complex and I heard the clunking again. I parked and went inside to call a mechanic. The mechanic across the street from my office took it for a test drive & said it sounds like my transmission was sticking for some reason. He called a transmission guy he knows not far from there & I was able to drive it there. He drove it & said it was clunking bad & it sounded like a transmission problem. He kept it over the weekend to look everything over. On Monday afternoon he contacted me & said that the clunking was the wheel bearing hub assembly and once they fix that, that could still just be the first part of the problem. He was right. After test driving it again he heard another noise that I can't describe in words. He said that it was the transfer case & something about the transfer case controlling the 4-wheel drive which is all related to the transmission. At first I was going to let him order the generic parts, but after I did some research on the warranties for 2006 Ford Escapes I called him back and spoke to him about what I found about the power train and transmission modules under the emissions warranty being covered up to 80,000 miles. He said emissions has to do with pollution. So I just said order the Ford parts instead in the event that I have to revisit this situation. Although I would've saved about $100 now I'm not willing to take that chance if something else happens & Ford say they are not responsible because they are not Ford genuine parts. My car is still in the shop because they had to order the parts and then they will be able to complete the replacement of the transfer case and parts.

- Levittown, PA, USA

- the contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. While driving at 15 mph the contact heard a popping noise when she depressed the brakes and noticed that the brake light illuminated. She had to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who stated that the wiring harness should be replaced. The dealer changed the wiring harness. However, six months later the contact experienced the same problem. The dealer was inspecting the vehicle to determine the reason for the most recent failure. The current mileage was 16,900 miles. Consumer has included multiple invoices stating brake system went out. The dealer performed multi point inspection and performed the various tasks: Reinstalled side front panel, replaced harness, alignment of front end and rear, replace upper strut bearing and bushing, bled brake system. Update/16tr the ABS light and brake light illuminated.

- Raleigh, NC, USA