2001 Ford Escape Suspension Problems

WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP LAST YEAR, NOTICED LAST THAT THE FRAME ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE HAS RUSTED, IN SOME PLACES COMPLETELY THROUGH AND METAL HAS COMPLETELY FLAKED OFF. WILL BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, AND THAT CAR IS NOT REALLY SAFE UNLESS FIXED. I KNOW ESCAPE FRAMES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALLS, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT. DO I HAVE ANY REMEDY?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE ALLOWED THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM TO TRAVEL FORWARD EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,000.

WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO OUR MECHANIC FOR OTHER WORK TO BE DONE. HE NOTED THAT THE SUSPENSION PART (WHICH HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMEDIATED WITH THE APPLICATION OF A BRACKET WITH A RECALL) IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED. WHILE I SURELY UNDERSTAND THAT RUST IS A FACTOR OF TIME AND MILES, WE HAVE AROUND ONLY 90,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE BRACKET WAS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR FMC TO APPLY. AS A RESULT, I FEAR THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE WHO MAY ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION HAD BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE RECALL AND MAY BE UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT THEY ARE DRIVING A SAFE VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS AT THIS TIME, BUT WILL PROVIDE THEM LATER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE THE WHEELS. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS AND THE SUBFRAME EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. VILLAGE FORD (23535 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI 48124) WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

VEHICLE STEERS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF SUB FRAME AND RIGHT AXLE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 14S02 AT 89372 MI ON 9/23/2014 AND HAD CROSSBRACE INSTALLED PER RECALL. VEHICLE STORED IN HEATED GARAGE, ON 7/20/2017 WITH 105199 MI BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT WHEEL OFF CENTER AND VEHICLE SHAKING BADLY, GRINDING NOISE. FLAT BED TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED FAILED SUB FRAME AND BROKEN RIGHT AXLE. REQUESTED FORD REPAIR UNDER ORIGINAL RECALL WHICH ALLOWED FOR REPLACING SUB FRAME AND WAS DENIED FOR ELAPSED TIME. SAFETY ISSUE, COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AT SPEED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CROSS BRACE STARTED TO DETACH ON THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EWALD'S VENUS FORD (2727 LAYTON AVE, CUDAY, WI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CROSS BRACE WAS TIGHTENED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WAS TEMPORARY DUE TO CORROSION. FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE ERRATICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRACKET WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CONNECTED TO THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,779. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ *CN

1. DIFFICULTY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND WHEN THEIR APPLIED THE WHOLE BACK OF AUTO SHAKES TERRIBLY 2. THE BACK DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT LOCK AND THE BACK HATCH DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AND STAYS LOCKED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

SUSPENSION FAILED ON THE RIGHT FRONT DUE TO CORROSION WHEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY. FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE I AM 30 MILES FROM THE AREA COVERED BY FORD RECALL 14S02 AND YOUR CAMPAIGN 14V165000. HELP

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT THE DRIVE WAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,127. ...UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF

FORD ISSUED A RECALL IN APRIL OF 2014 FOR THE FRONT SUB FRAME RUST ISSUE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE CONTROL ARMS TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME CAUSING THE WHEEL TO KICK OUT THERE FOR HAVING NO STEERING. THE FIX THAT FORD DID WAS DRILL HOLES INTO THE ALREADY RUSTED SUB FRAME AND INSTALL A CHEAP 90 DOLLAR BAR THAT PROVIDES NO FIX TO THIS ISSUE. I TOOK MY ESCAPE IN OCTOBER OF 2014 TO HAVE THE FRAME INSPECTED AND TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. MY SUB FRAME WAS HEAVILY RUSTED AND THEY DID NOTHING BUT INSTALLED THE METAL BAR. I'VE BEEN VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND JUST LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING MY ESCAPE THE SUB FRAME SNAPPED AND HAD VERY LITTLE TO NO STEERING ONCE IT BROKE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, WHEN THESE SUB FRAMES BREAK THAT BAR THAT FORD INSTALLED DOES NOTHING TO KEEP YOUR STEERING UNDER CONTROL. I CONTACTED THE MOTOR COMPANY AND HAULED IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL ON THE ESCAPE. AFTER THE DEALER SHIP SENT PICTURES TO FORD OF THIS ISSUES THE MOTOR COMPANY SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING I HAVE TO DEAL WITH. NOW JUST THINK ABOUT THIS, THERE ARE A A LOT OF 2001-2004 ESCAPE ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE AND WHEN THESE FRAMES SNAP IT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER. LOSS OF STEERING AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF YOU CANT CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A SAFE STOP. I'M LEFT WITH MY DAILY DRIVING VEHICLE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THE MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT REPLACE MY FRAME THAT HAD HEAVY RUST AND RUST HOLES IN IT WHEN I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. I NEED MY FRAME REPLACED BUT THE MOTOR COMPANY CLAIMS THAT THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED WHEN THEY INSTALLED THAT CHEAP 90 BAR ACROSS THE SUB FRAME. IT WAS ME AND MY FOUR YEAR OLD SON IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FRAME SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING IT DOWN THE ROAD, VERY VERY UNSAFE FOR FORD NO TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME.

GOING APPROX. 25 MPH, SLOWING TO A STOP SIGN. APPLIED BRAKES AND PASSENGER TIRE MADE NOISE AND U JOINT BUSTED. RIM//TIRE WAS POSITIONED INCORRECTLY. RUST IS VISIBLE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED TO FORD RECALL OF ESCAPE SUVS DUE TO RUST THAT COULD CAUSE THE SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE.THE RECALL COVERS VEHICLES SOLD IN STATES WHERE HIGH CORROSION IS LIKELY TO OCCUR. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN BRADLEY, IL. WHAT DO I DO?? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V165000 (SUSPENSION) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED AFTER EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I JACKED UP THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE CAUSE AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE/SUSPENSION CRADLE WAS SUFFERED FROM ABNORMAL CORROSION THAT ALLOWED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION IS NOT PRESENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THEREFORE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A QUALITY ISSUE WITH THE COMPONENT THAT CAUSED A PREMATURE FAILURE AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A FORD QUALITY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED THAT COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY AND DEATH. *TR

RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM NO LONGER SECURELY ATTACHED TO CAR FRAME BECAUSE CRADLE OR SUBFRAME RUSTED THRU. QUICK SEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2001 - 2004. LEFT FRONT CRADLE THAT ATTACHES CONTROL ARM TO BODY IS GOOD. PERHAPS CONSTANT WATER DRIPPING FROM AIR CONDITIONER HAS CAUSED THAT AREA OF THE FRAME TO RUST. FORD DEALER CAN NOT FIND A SUPPLY OF SUBFRAME PART PERHAPS BECAUSE OF FREQUENCY OF RUST THRU FAILURE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DRIVING STRAIGHTFORWARD. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE LOWER ARM CONTROL TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,746. UPDATED 10/16/12*LJ THE CONSUMER REFERENCED CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: (11V030000) (FORD WINDSTAR) YEAR 1999-2003. A SEPARATION OF A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKET RESULTING IN A LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. UPDATED 10/18/2012 *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE TO BECOME FAULTY. HE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE NEW BRAKE LINES ON THE DEFECTIVE ROTORS AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HIS CHILD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED AFTER THREE HUNDRED MILES. THE USED CAR DEALER, FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, STATED THAT THEY WOULD PURCHASE A NEW MOTOR UNDER THE WARRANTY TO REPLACE THE NON-WORKING ENGINE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 123,800.

IN NOV. OF 2006, I TOOK MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT WAS TWISTING AND WAS NOT RETRACTING. MY CHILD'S BOOSTER SEAT WAS HELD WITH THIS BELT AND WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT DUE TO A FLAW, CONDENSATION WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE AND THAT IT HAD CAUSED AN INTERNAL SPRING TO RUST AND BREAK. THEY TOLD ME THAT IN 2002 + MODELS, IT WAS REDESIGNED AND THAT COIL OR SPRING IS NOW PROTECTED WITH A PROTECTIVE COVERING. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CORP AND THEY COVERED THE REPAIR AND I HAD TO PAY A $75.00 DEDUCTIBLE. NOW 13 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAD RE- OCCURRED. THIS TIME FORD MOTOR CORP. SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AGAIN REMINDED THEM THAT THIS FAULTY SEATBELT IS BEING USED TO SECURE MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S BOOSTER SEAT AND IT TERRIFIES ME TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HER IF I WAS IN A SERIOUS COLLISION. FORD DID HAVE A SAFETY SEATBELT RECALL ON A FRONT SEATBELT LATCH AND I COMPLIED AND I THINK THAT WAS IN 2004. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS THE PROPENSITY TO LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY IF IT IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR