NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THIS IS 4TH TIME VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 3 TIMES WITHOUT ANY SUCCESSFUL FIX. TRAVELLING ~30MPH, NO A/C, STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. LOST ALL POWER AND BRAKING. FORD (VIA CUSTOMER RESPONSE CENTER - CRC) HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF PREVIOUS INCIDENTS AND HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. OWNER IS CURRENTLY AWAITING CALL-BACK FROM DEALERSHIP CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER PER CRC FOR RESOLUTION. *AK
VERY DANGEROUS STALLING AT HIGH SPEED. LOSS OF CONTROL, FORD UNABLE TO FIX. *AK
AFTER GETTING INTO VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLANKING SOUND, AND THEN A PART OF ENGINE FELL OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT IDLE PULLY FELL OFF. *AK
ISSUE OF ENGINE STALLING HAS HAPPENED FOR THE FOURTH TIME. INDICATIONS ARE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, GAS, AND BREAKS. NO SOUNDS TO INDICATE FAILER. CHECK ENGINE, OIL, AND BATTERY LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN VEHICLE HOOD IS LIFTED ONE CAN HEAR AN AUDIBLE SOUND OF ELECTRIC CURRENT. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN VEHICLE STARTS PROMPTLY. SITUATION OCCURS WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT APPROXIMATLY 35 - 45 MPH. FOR ME THEY HAVE ALL BEEN DAMP OR RAINY DAYS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL INTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT BEGIN TO FLASH, THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM
THERE IS A BOLT THAT HOLDS STEERING COLUMN IN PLACE. WHILE DRIVING THAT BOLT BROKE OFF, AND CONSUMER COULD NO LONGER CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. LOSS ALL POWER CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DRIVER INJURED VEHICLE TOTALED. NLM
VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITH OUT WARRING ON FOUR OCCASIONS. DEALER INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE; HOWEVER , ROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS NOISE IN THE CLUTCH, DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH, BUT IT IS AGAIN MAKING NOISE. *YD
CONSUMER STATED ALL FOR WHEELS WERE CHANGED TO P225/70R16, BUT NOT THE SPARE TIRE WHICH REMAINS A 15 INCH, TIRE AND WHEEL ARE ABOUT 1 INCH LESS DIAMETER THAN THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE, IN ADDITION THE SPARE WHEEL STAMPED IN THE BODY METAL IS SIZED FOR THE SMALLER 15 INCH WHEEL.
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES FAILED (P235/70R16AS, P235/70R16 1047). NLM
PULLEY DROPPED WHILE DRIVING. REPAIRS WERE MADE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AFTER MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE ENGINE HAS STALLED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. THE STALLING OCCURS AT LOW SPEED AND OFTEN WHEN TURNING INTO A DRIVE WAY OR PARKING LOT. *JG
CONTITRAC SUV M+S P235/80R16 104T--TIRES DO NOT GRIP ROAD WELL WHEN STARTING OUT ON WET ROADS AN IN SNOW---FORD CONSUMER SERVICE--THEY SAY TIRE SLIPPAGE WHEN STARTING IS A TYPICAL HANDLING CHARACTERTIC OF THIS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR
TRUCK STALLS WHILE IN MOTION BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 40-45 MPH WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THIS OCCURED SIX DIFFERENT TIMES WITH CAUSE NOT DETERMINED AND STALLING NOT RESOLVED. THE MANUFACTURE HAS CONTACTED THE OWNER WHICH HAS OFFERED EITHER TO BUY THE TRUCK BACK OR GIVE A REFUND. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR
ENGINE STALLS AT 40 MPH FOR NO REASON DANGEROUS. RELAY HAS BEEN RECALIBRATED WITHOUT SUCCESS 2 TIMES FROM CHEROKEE FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT IS HAPPENING TO FORD ESCAPE OWNERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY BASED ON MY RESEARCH FROM THE YAHOO FORD ESCAPE GROUP BOARDS ON HTTP://WWW.YAHOO.COM. DT
SINCE PURCHASE, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE TIRES TRACTION ISN'T RELIABLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE FIELD ENGINEER BOTH AGREE THAT THIS IS MERELY A "HANDLING CHARACTERISTIC". *JG
THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. SCC
THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY BENT AT 20,000 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED. THE BRACKET FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER INITIAL FAILURE. AS A RESULT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO LOCK UP, THE CLUTCH SLIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BROKE AND THE CLUTCH BLEW OUT. *JB *NLM
THE ENGINE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO BRAKES AND STEERING. *JB
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. *JB
THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND DID A COMPUTER UPDATE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *PH
WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL OR WHEN STOPPING THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. MECHANIC SAYS THE ROTORS NEED REPLACING. *AK
DRIVER SIDE DOOR FELL OFF WHEN THE DRIVER OPENED IT TO EXIST THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE TOP CLIP FALLING OUT WHICH CAUSE THE HINGE PIN TO LOOSEN AND FALL OUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE PARTS STARTED FALLING FROM UNDER ENGINE DEPARTMENT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. *AK
THE VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND VIBRATES BETWEEN 30 TO 50 MPH. THE DRIVER HAS TO SLOW DOWN FOR VEHICLE TO STOP VIBRATING. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT , WHILE DRIVING AT 40/60 MPH, VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION.UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR TO RESTART. DEALERSHIP WOULD RESET THE MAIN COMPUTER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF THE ATTEMPT FAILED THEN THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *MR *TS *NLM
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WOULD PERFORM ERRATICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HAD NOTICED SOME TREAD SEPARATING ON THE TIRES. *AK ALL FOUR TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AT OR AROUND 14,000 MILES. TWO SHOWED THE STEEL TREAD, AS A RESULT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS ROUTINELY SERVICED WITH ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *PH
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. *PH THE VEHICLE WOULD START BACK UP, BUT WAS DANGEROUS. FORD REPLACED A COUPLE PARTS THAT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT DIDN'T. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *SC *JB
THE VEHICLE STALLED SIX TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 45,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PFE SENSOR, COOLANT, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE FRONT CRANK SEAL AND THE DPFE SENSOR. AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND TIE RODS EVERY 10,000 MILES. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE ROTORS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE BRAKES GAVE OFF EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TWO WEEKS LATER, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER FELT TIRES SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 20, 000 MILES. GENERAL, GRABBERS AW, 225/70R15. *AK CONSUMER ALSO FELT SEVERE VIBRATION ON STEERING WHEEL WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM STEEL CORD. ALSO, IT WAS MEASURE BY A TIRE DEALER THAT OTHER TIRES WERE WORN AS WELL AND HAS A 400 TREAD WEAR RATING STAMPED ON THEM. *LA
NHTSA RECALL# 03V507000 SUBJECT:SEAT BELT BUCKLE COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FREE REMEDY. THE CONSUMER ALSO ASKED THE MECHANIC TO DO AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMER. AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES, THE DEALER'S MECHANIC CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL REPAIR AND THE OIL CHANGE WAS NOT DONE BECAUSE THE MECHANIC FORGOT TO DO IT. THE MECHANIC ONLY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OIL LIGHT AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
CONSUMER'S COUSIN IS THE OWNER OF 2001 FORD ESCAPE WHICH HAS A RECALL. SINCE THE COUSIN IS IN IRAQ, CONSUMER REQUESTED AN EXTENSION TO HAVE RECALL PERFORMED. *PH (DENEEN LEBAN ON BALF OF COUSIN BRIAN LEBAN). *JB
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTIFIED DEALER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN IT IS IN A INCLINED POSITION THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS. *AK