2001 Ford Escape Complaint Log

ONGOING PROBLEM AT 12,000 MILES WITH ENGINE 3.0 V6 STALLING, WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE AT 35-40 MPH WHILE COASTING DOWN HILL. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER MODULE AND ECC RELAY. NLM CONSUMER STATES KEYLESS ENTRY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE WEATHER STRIPS COMING OFF ON BOTH BACK DOORS. THE VACUUM LINE WAS LOOSE AND HISSING. THE COOLANT LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON DUE TO COOLANT BOTTLE FAILURE, ALSO THERE WAS A CRACKING NOISE UNDER THE DASH AND THE RADIO WENT OUT. *YH

OCT 15, 2001- WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL IN AUSTIN, TX, MY ESCAPE SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, STEER, OR SLOW DOWN! I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND LUCKILY AVOIDED ALL PARKED CARS OR PEOPLE (CO-WORKERS!) WALKING THROUGH THE LOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MAXWELL FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR! I CONTACTED THE PRESIDENT/ CEO TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. HE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE MOVED. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND HOPED IT WAS JUST A FLUKE. TWO AND-A-HALF YEARS LATER AND NOT A SINGLE PROBLEM, UNTIL LAST WEEK (APRIL 9, 2004). I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH AROUND A CURVE AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER OR SLOW DOWN! ONCE AGAIN, I WAS UNBELIEVABLY LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T HURT ANYONE OR MYSELF. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN AND SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER COASTING TO A STOP. I'M GRATEFUL THAT I WASN'T REAR-ENDED OR HIT HEAD-ON WHEN I COASTED OVER THE MIDDLE LINE.... (NEVERMIND THE HEART-ATTACK I ALMOST HAD FROM THE SUDDENNESS OF THIS!) I HATE TO IMAGINE THE OUTCOME IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 10 MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS MOVING AT 55MPH IN BUSY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON THE EXIT RAMP! I HAVE AN APPT TO TAKE THE CAR IN ON FRIDAY. COINCIDENTALLY, I DISCOVERED (THIS MORNING) THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM.... (2 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE MADE AWARE THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE????) WHAT A RELIEF. SO, I'LL BE BACK ON HWY 410 IN SAN ANTONIO NEXT WEEK AFTER I PICK MY CAR UP FROM THE SERVICE DEPT --- I'LL BE THE ONE IN THE FORD ESCAPE GOING ABOUT 60MPH..... I SURE HOPE I'LL BE ABLE TO STEER OR SLOW DOWN IF I NEED TO!! AT LEAST, I'LL BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THIS "SURPRISE" FROM NOW ON ( LIKE EVERYTIME I HAVE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE)! .... NOTHING LIKE PAYING $24,000 FOR A LITTLE EXTRA STRESS AND WORRY. THANKS, FORD. YOU ARE JUST SUPER.

VEHICLE STALLS/ BUCKS WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER. CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AKJG

WHEN DRIVING OR IDLING, MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE HAS STALLED 7 TIMES IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THE AUTO HAS ONLY 8600 MILES. I FIRST TOOK IT TO THE FORD SERVICE SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE AIR FLOW VALVE AND THE IDLE REGULATOR, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR STALLED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SHOP WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO THE SHOP MANAGER THAT I HAD READ ON THE INTERNET THAT A PCM RELAY COULD BE THE CULPRIT. THE FROD DELAER SHOP VERY HESITANTLY REPLACED THE PART TODAY. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE WHEN THE ENGINE HAS STALLED. I LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, THUS LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35/45MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT, LOSING ALL POWER. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, THEY COULDN'T FIX PROBLEM .THEY REPLACED VEHICLE.*AK

1.) COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. VEHICLE REFUSED TO RESTART; AND 2.) GEAR STICK SHAKES OR SHIMMERS VIGOROUSLY WHEN ENGAGED IN THIRD (3RD) GEAR.

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER STATES ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, CONSUMER LISTS STALL OCCURRED DUE TO ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD. *SLC

ENGINE STALLS WHILE TRAVELING. OCCURRED ONCE EACH IN JUNE, JULY, SEPT AND OCT. PRESUMED ELECTRICAL SHORT. COAST TO ROADSIDE, COME TO COMPLETE STOP, PUT IN PARK, TURN KEY AND TAKE OFF AGAIN. LAST INCIDENT WAS SHORTLY AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY - I CAN NO LONGER OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WITH ANY CONFIDENCE. *AK

ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS. HAD LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AKCONSUMER STATED THE DELAER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*SLC

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, DROVE HOME AND PARKED, NOTICED A LARGE BULGE ON INSIDE OF LEFT REAR TIRE, NEXT TO RIM, TREAD WAS COMING LOOSE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND CHECKED ON TIRE. MECHANIC PUT TWO PLUGS IN TIRE BECAUSE OF A HOLE ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, B235/70R16. *AK

FOUL ODOR COMING FROM AIRCONDITIONING VENTS. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THE FIRST TIME, AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A MOISTURE BUILD UP IN THE AIRCONDITIONING VENTS AND ALL THEY COULD DO WAS DISENFECT THE AIRCONDITIONING VENTS WITH A SPRAY. I TOOK IT BACK A SECOND TIME AND THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 4 TIMES AT 30-40 MPH. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

AUTOMOBILE STALLS, AND ALL POWER IS LOST, CONSUMER HAS TO PUT AUTOMOBILE IN PARK AND RESTART IT BEFORE IT GOES. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, THE MOST RECENT REPAIRS MADE BY THE DEALER WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IAC AND AIR INTAKE, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR ENGINE COOLANT AND BATTERY ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER REPLACED A PART ON THE COOLANT REC TANK, HOWEVER THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT 40/65 MPH THE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING OR CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 5 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *JB

ON FOUR OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR LOWER SPEED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

1) ON TWO OCCASIONS THE CAR'S ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER BOTH INCIDENCES. THE DEALER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THE CAR RIGHT AWAY ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE TOLD ME THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS WORKING ON A FIX TO THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER WAS UPGRADED AND I SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. NONTHELESS I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS TO YOUR AGENCY DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DEFECT AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A FAILUR ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORTUNATE THESE PAST TWO OCCURENCES BUT OTHER OWNERS MAY NOT BE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THEI MATTER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL THE OTHER FORD ESCAPE USERS AND UNSUSPECTING TRAVELLERS WHO MAY BE FOLLOWING A FORD ESCAPE. 2) I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REPORT ANOTHER UNRELATED PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. SEVERAL OWNERS SHARED THIS CONCERN ON AN INTERNET USER GROUP. I AM GETTING 12 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS CAR WHILE THE POSTED HIGHWAY MILEAGE IS 28 MPG. THIS IS EVEN LESS THAN THE POSTEN CITY MILEAGE OF 18 MPG. THE DEALER TESTED THE CITY MILEAGE BY HOOKING UP A CUMPUTER AND VERIFIED THE CITH MILEAGE TO BE AROUN 18 MPG. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CITY MILEAGE I AM GETTING. THE HIGHWAY MILEAGE IS WAY OFF AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IT DOES NOT MEET THE GOVERNMENT STANDARDS AND DOES NOT MEET THE STATED SPCIFICATIONS.*AK

ENGINE STALLING, INTERMITTENT, UNPREDICTABLE. DURING VARIOUS TIMES, DAYS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. SINCE 09/25/01 TILL LAST TIME WAS 12/01/03.*AK

OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS MY FORD ESCAPE HAS LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE AM TO WORK. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THE CAR WHEN IT LOST ALL POWER BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED FIVE DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. FORD REPLACED THE IDLE SENSOR AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN. FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY "CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND THEIR ENGINEERS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THE ESCAPES. I WAS OFFERED A TRADE IN AT THE LOSS OF $6,700.00 OR TO CALL THE 800 FORD NUMBER AND REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THE 800 NUMBER TOLD ME TO PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND WAIT FOR A RESPONSE (2-3 WEEKS). I AM NOW IN THAT STAGE OF MY COMPLAINT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD BECAUSE I LIVE IN A CITY WHERE THERE IS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INTERSTATES ARE CLOSE BY.

WHILE COASTING DOWN SLIGHT GRADE AT 35 MPH, ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING, STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD (REQUIRED GREAT EFFORT TO STEER AND BRAKE), WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY FOLLOWING VEHICLES. PUT CAR IN "PARK" AND RESTARTED W/O ANY PROBLEM (NO ENGINE STUMBLE), DROVE 7 MILES HOME WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEM, HOWEVER I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF RECURRENCE. I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER TOMORROW AND HOPE IT BEHAVES LONG ENOUGH TO GET THERE.*AK

STALLS WHEN STEPPING ON GAS FROM A STOP AND WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. BROUGHT TO DEALER TWICE ALREADY SINCE INITIAL OCCURRNCE. FIRST TIME (9/22): SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND TIME (10/8): REPLACED IAC VALVE (?). STILL STALLING THE NEXT DAY. CALLED DEALER 10/11: DIDN'T GET BACK TO ME. STOPPED AT DEALER ON 10/12: SAID THEY WERE GOING TO TALK TO A FORD TECH (WHO DIDN'T RETURN THEIR CALL). ALSO CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TALKED TO DEALER (WHO TOLD THEM SAME THING THEY TOLD ME). NOW HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY UNTIL I CAN TALK TO THEM AGAIN. NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

ENGINE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES IN BUSY TRAFFIC IN THE PAST TEN MONTHS. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIES. LOST ALL STEERING AND POWER TO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW AND HAS BEEN SEEN AT THE DEALER TWICE. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING AT ALL WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE!!! ALL FOUR TIMES IT HAPPENED HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS AND THE CAR GAVE NO WARNING AT ALL. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY REPLACED APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO. ON 9/08/2001, WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AGAIN, LEADING US TO CONCLUDE THAT ANOTHER SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. I NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT ON FIRST AND MANAGED TO PULL OVER. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WERE THEN ON, THE CAR HAD DIED WHILE I WAS MOVING. I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP. IN REVIEWING EDMUNDS AUTO SITE I THEN DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ESCAPE AND TRIBUTE. I PRINTED OFF SOME OF THE RESPONSES, TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO LONG FORD IN EUREKA, MO ON 9-11-01. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM AND ALSO TALKED WITH THE FORD ENGINEERS. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS STATING THAT FORD WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE IT UNLESS THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I THEN CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY SO THERE WOULD BE A RECORD, BUT WAS NOT ADVISED OF ANY "FIX" FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING THE NUMBER OF MILES I DRIVE EACH DAY ON VERY BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. I AM NERVOUS EVEN MOVING OUT OF THE RIGHT LANE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO BE CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER IN THE EVENT THIS OCCURS AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU CAN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTART AND HOPEFULLY IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN I WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLOWS AND I HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS AS WELL. SURELY WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS HAVE COMPLAINED, THEY MUST HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT IS WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT. *AK

THE SUV WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MID-DECEMBER 2000. ON 9/7/07, I WAS SLOWING DOWN, ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE, TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE SUV SHUT ITSELF OFF AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. IT HAD 1/3 TANK OF GAS. I SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC INTO PARK, TURNED THE KEY, THE CAR STARTED AND I EXTRICATED MY 7 YEAR OLD SON AND MYSELF FROM THE BUSY INTERSECTION AND FROM THE MOUTH OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC (WE LANDED IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, MUCH TO A JEEP'S DISMAY). I DROVE SLOWLY TO MY SON'S SCHOOL (3 BLOCKS DOWN), THEN TO WORK WHERE I NOTIFIED FORD VIA IT'S 800 NUMBER. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT AFTERNOON WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THE DEALERSHIP. ON 9/8/01, I CALLED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR WAS READY. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO REVIEW THE REPAIRS WITH ME & MY HUSBAND AND TO EXPLAIN WHY THE REPAIR "FIXED" THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THEY REPLACED A VALVE WHICH CONTROLS AIR FLOW. HE SAID THIS WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF, ESPECIALLY IF I HAD BEEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS ENGAGING THE BRAKES WHEN IT SHUT OFF, SO I ACCEPTED THIS EXPLANATION. I PACKED MY 7 YEAR OLD INTO THE SUV AND LEFT. WITHIN 7-10 MILES, THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF, AGAIN (ONLY 26 HOURS AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND THE SUPPOSED "FIX")! THIS TIME I WAS ACCELERATING UP A SEMI-STEEP INCLINE. MY EYES WERE FORWARD. I NOTICED OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY FIELD OF VISION A RED GLOW. I LOOKED DOWN AND THE OIL LAMP WAS GLOWING. I JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED WITHIN 1,000 MILES AND THE CAR WAS JUST AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MORNING, SO THAT COULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. I THEN NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE OTHER DASHBOARD LIGHTS (MOST IN WHITE LIGHT) ALSO WERE LIT UP. AT THAT POINT, THE STEERING BEGAN TO LOCKED UP AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE SUV TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER'S DRIVEWAY ON THE RIGHT. WE NARROWLY MISSED BEING MOWED DOWN BY A VAN WHICH HAD GAINED SIGNFICANT MOMENTUM HAVING JUST SWOOPED DOWN THE DOWNGRADE AND WAS RACING UP THE INCLINE. 1/4 TANK GAS.

WHILE DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE,THE DEALER REPLACED A VALVE WHICH CONTROLLED AIR FLOW, THE NEXT DAY THIS PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN WHEN GOING UP A SEMI-STEEP INCLINE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A METALLIC RATTLE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN ACCELERATING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. NLM

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THEN, VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER,AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MY ENGINE HAS STALLED AT LOW SPEEDS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THIS OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN I'M DECELERATING OR BRAKING TO PREPARE FOR STOP. IT HAPPENED TWICE AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN I WAS NOT DECELERATING/BRAKING. ENGINE STARTS UP IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING STALLS.*AK

MY FORD ESCAPE 2001 STALLS WITHOUT ENGINE TURNING OFF FOR ABOUT 5-7 DURING TAKE OFF TURNS. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG, SECOND TIME AN IDLER VALVE WAS REPLACED AND THIS LAST TIME THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. I CALLED TO INFORM MECHANIC OF PROBLEM AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT COULD BE WRONG. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY TRUCK IS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. NO ONE AT FORD KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. PLEASE HELP. PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767684

ENGINE STALLED WHILE GOING DOWNHILL, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WENT OUT SO VERY HARD TO CONTROL ON AN INCLINE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SAME SITUATIONS WITH THIS VEHICLE.

THE LEFT FRONT AXLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE TURNED. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE AXLE WITH AN AXLE FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT THIS AXLE MAY CAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE FORD HAS NOT REDESIGNED THIS PART. I'M ALSO A BIT SUPRISED THAT MY DEALER HAD REPLACED THE SAME AXLE ON ANOTHER ESCAPE AND FORD STILL HAS NO TSB OR RECALL.*AK

HOSE CLAMPS ON BOTH TRANS COOLER HOSES IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WERE NOT FIXED ONTO HOSE. TOP HOSE BLEW FROM TRANSMISSION COOLER AND RESULTED IN LOSE OF MOST ALL TRANS FLUID. TRANS STOPED WORKING. FLUID WAS ALL OVER FRONT LOWER PART OF VEHICLE INCLUDING BOTH INSIDES OF DISK BRAKES. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WARRANTY REPAIR IS IN PROGRESS. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STATED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS SITUATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.*AK

BRIEFLY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT UPON ACCELERATION ABOVE 50 MPH, THIS HAS CAUSED 2 NEAR COLLISIONS ON I-95, TIRE SPLIT OPEN & ROOF RACK BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING*AK (DOT NUMBER: A3083JJ390 TIRESIZE: A3083JJ390)

VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE; ONCE AT 30 MPH, AND SECOND TIME AT 45 MPH. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM FIRST TIME, SECOND TIME DEALER REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER.*AK

STALLS OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC AT 30 TO 35 MPH ON DECLINE WHILE BRAKING; ENGINE STALLED RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. MANAGED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL WITH DIFFICULTY TO COAST OFF TWO LANE HIGHWAY TO SHOULDER. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND WAITED 2-3 MINUTES. RESTARTED VEHICLE WITHOUT PROBLEM AND RETURNED TO DEALER FOR SERVICING. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING OF STALL WHICH HAS OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC WHERE REAR-ENDING BY FOLLOWING VEHICLE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. BELIEVE COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ON 2001 AND 2002 ESCAPES. DT

CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN, THERE WERE NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. ALSO, SPEED PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *AK

ON 2 OCCASIONS ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE COASTING AT 35MPH. *AK

WAS TRAVELING 40MPH ON HIGHWAY WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND POWER STEERING DIDN'T RESPOND. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER CLEANED GROUND CONNECTIONS UNDER THE BATTERY. SUB WOOFER INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

WHILE THE ESCAPE IS DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL TUGS A LITTLE THEN IT LOCKS COMPLETELY UP, THEN THE BRAKES FAIL, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP IS TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MY ESCAPE HAS DONE THIS THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. TWO OF THE INCIDENTS ALMOST RESULTED IN CAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN NOT BE STEERED. THE CAR TOTALLY FREEZES UP WITH ALL ENGINES LIGHTS COMING ON. THE SPEED DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. ALL THREE OCCASSIONS MY CD PLAYER HAS BEEN ON, THE AIR HAS BEEN ON LOW AND MY LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON. AFTER THE CAR FINALLY STOPS BY USING THE EMERGENGY BRAKE, I SHUT EVERYTHING OFF AND IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CLUTCH SLIPS AND VIBRATES WHEN ENGAGING. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM JLG

OVER A PERIOD OF 2 MONTHS, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER DURING THE AM DRIVE TO WORK. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCASSIONS, ALMOST EXACTLY 7 MILES FROM MY HOME. GOING 20-30 MILES PER HOUR DURING EACH OCCURRENCE. CAR JUST LOSES ALL POWER, AS WELL AS BRAKES, STEERING, ETC. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED CAR OFF, CAR STARTS UP, AND DOES NOT RECUR FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER THREE TIMES- THEY CANNOT REPLICATE, CANNOT FIX. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION-- I AM MINUTES FROM THE INTERSTATE AND COULD BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM. DEALER IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS THE LAST TIME. WE WILL EXPLORE GETTING A SWAP FROM FORD OR LEMON LAW IF WE HAVE TO. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, AND THE CONSUMER LOST POWER OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *MR

WHILE TRAVELING 15-20MPH ON A NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE STREET CONSUMER RAN INTO A PARKED CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER 360 DEGREES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED RIB IN THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER THINKS THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE ROLLED OVER AS EASILY AS IT DID. *SLC

TRANSMISSION LOST REVERSE GEAR. PROBLEM NOT FOUND UNTIL TRYING TO BACK FROM PARKING SPACE. VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PUSHED OUT OF LOT. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF PROBLEM UNTIL IT OCCURRED.*AK

MY ESCAPE STALLED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. MY SPEED WAS 40 MPH OR LESS. THERE IS THE TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND ALL POWER IS LOST.IT STARTS UP WITH NO PROBLEM.*AK

BELTS SEPARATED INTERNALLY CAUSING SIDEWALLS TO FAIL. INSPECTION BY TIRE DEALER SHOWED NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR PUNCTURE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W208DK8711 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

GEAR SHIFT LEVER STICKS IN FRONT OF RADIO. WHEN CHANGING RADIO STATIONS HANDS KNOCKS GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE PRODUCES SO MUCH BRAKE DUST THAT THE WHEELS TURN BLACK ONLY AFTER THREE OR FOUR DAYS OF DRIVING, FORD STATES NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *SLC