Drivers side rear suddenly began banging when going over bumps. Rear strut mount completely rusted out so the strut is loose and banging on the inside of the trunk. Vehicle is unsafe to drive. There is no surface rust on the vehicle and there was no indication that this would take place. Manufacturer did not attach the strut securely - only surface mounted on the inside of the wheel well.

- Watertown, WI, USA

Vehicle has 95,000 miles on it and the entire back passenger rear well is completely rusted out, so much so that the shock is pushing up into the inside of the vehicle. The rest of the wheel wells are fine and show very little wear and the vehicle runs just fine. When doing some research on this issue, it appears that a multitude of people are encountering this very same issue with just that same specific spot. My fear is that this makes this very unsafe to drive in the event I hit a large bump or pot hole.

- Hugo, MN, USA

Passenger side rear wheel housing rot creating unsafe vehicle. This seems to be a known defect in the Escape hybrid 2005; see website: www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/escape/2005/body_paint/excessive_wheel_well_rust.shtml several people including myself have documentation regarding the issue. It is only the passenger rear wheel housing, I have receipts, pictures of the parts and from the Ford dealer who did the repairs. When the car was brought in to the shop it was deemed a driving hazard. We are lucky it was noticed before a personal injury occurred. Repairs were $2,000.

- Cromwell, CT, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the service center for routine maintenance, the independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and discovered that the rear passenger side wheel well was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000. Updated 09-04-14

- Monroe, NY, USA

Right rear shock became detached from underbody of car creating hazardous condition due to advanced rust through.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

The passenger side rear wheel well has rusted through and it sounds like a bomb going off when you drive over a manhole cover. I was told this was typical on this type of car. Only on the passenger side, never on the driver side.

- Melvindale, MI, USA

I was driving my vehicle and the "service soon" light came on then about 10 seconds later the "stop safely" light came on and my vehicle shutdown and would not restart. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest Ford dealership and found out that there was a failure with the electrical system that had to be reset (shutdown was to protect the hybrid battery). Once Ford fixed the electrical system to get car to start again, they informed me that the passenger side rear shock absorber had fully detached from the wheel house and was basically a dangling piece. Ford could offer no help "they didn't have the equipment or capability to fix" and said I had to go to a auto body shop to have the piece welded back to the frame. Turns out there is nothing there to weld, the entire connection has rotted out and needs to be replaced. From what I can find online this is a recurring issue on 2005 Ford escapes and Ford refuses to deal with it. Cars with these issues are extremely unsafe to drive. Luckily I was not involved in an accident when this happened but I was only driving 35mph on a side street, imagine what could've happened if I was traveling at 70mph on the highway and the piece just fell out. This is an extremely difficult fix that Ford owners should not have the burden of dealing with financially on a car that is less that 10 years old. My car is very well maintained and has a lot of life left in it, but now this fix is going to cost close to $2500. This should be further investigated so Ford has to fix this safety issue! has anyone considered filing a class action suit for defective car parts"?"

- Medford, MA, USA

Noticed a loud banging noise in the back passenger side. Looked in wheel well and it is completely rusted out. You can see right through the car. Took it to the repair shop and they told me they have seen many exact scenarios. Shock is attached in a way that it rubs against the wheel well causing corrosion.. no other rust on the vehicle and it is stored in the garage. I am the original owner and have given scheduled maintenance and repair. In looking further in to this it is a common complain. Clearly a design flaw. A recall is needed as this is a huge safety issue. The wheel can fall right off = and that will cause serious injury, please investigate.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

I was driving home and slowed down to go over some railway tracks. As I went over the tracks I heard a "thud" coming from the rear of the vehicle. The sound continued as I went over bumps, and I discovered once I arrived home that the passenger side rear wheel well was completely rusted out and the shock was unattached at the top. Since then the top of the shock has pierced through the interior cabin wall.

- Markham, AA, USA