2001 Ford Escape Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DECELERATED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MORE MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE KEY WAS OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WHILE PARKED IN EMPLOYEE'S PARKING LOT THE FORD ESCAPE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE THEN CAUGHT FIRE . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND LOCK THE HATCH DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE MY DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR I PUT CHILD SAFETY ON WORKED FINE NEXT DAY WENT TO OPEN DOOR AND WOULD NOT OPEN SO WE TOOK DOOR PANEL OFF TRIED DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE EVEN SPRAYED WITH WD40 DID NOT WORK WE THINK IT THE LOCK MECHANISM IN BETWEEN DOOR AND BODY.MY NAME IS [XXX] HOW DO I GO ABOUT FIXING THIS I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN I NEED TO BE ABLE TO USES ALL THE DOORS MY CONTACT NUMBER IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS LATER THE DRIVER CAME OUTSIDE TO DISCOVER FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE FIRE MARSHAL EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

THIS MODEL HAS CHRONIC ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORKING. FREQUENT COMPLAINTS OF DOME LIGHT, DOOR LOCKS, AND RADIO NOT WORKING, ALTERNATOR/BATTERY REPLACEMENTS. IT SEEMS TO DRAIN FREQUENTLY AND EITHER NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER, AND/OR BLOW FUSES. THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AND WOULD SEEM FIT FOR A RECALL. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER BEING PARKED AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DESTROYED EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2013, MY WIFE AND I HAD MET FOR HER BIRTHDAY DINNER AT A RESTAURANT IN OUR TOWN. MY WIFE DROVE THE 2001 FORD ESCAPE TO THE RESTAURANT, ABOUT 5 MILES, FROM OUR HOME AND PARKED THE CAR. WE HAD BEEN AT DINNER FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES WHEN THE WAITRESS ASKED US IF WE DROVE A RED SUV. WE WERE LED TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS ON FIRE AND IN THE PROCESS OF BEING EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THAT IT LOOKED AS IF THE FIRE HAD STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THAT NOTHING ELSE LOOKED SUSPICIOUS. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE WIRE INSULATION ON THAT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ALL MELTED AWAY TO BARE COPPER AND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WIRING WAS STILL MORE INTACT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND RIM AND MELTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS SMOKE DAMAGED SINCE THE CAR WAS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. JUST GRATEFUL THAT MY DAUGHTER OR WIFE WEREN'T DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. *TR

WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK ON REAR DRIVER SIDE QUIT OPERATING CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO USE DUCT TAPE TO KEEP WINDOW IN PLACE AND DOOR CLOSED. THIS HAS NOW BEEN FIXED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST. NOW AM UNABLE TO USE EITHER DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. NO PROBLEM WITH WINDOWS AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER, AM UNABLE TO OPEN EITHER OF THE TWO DOORS. QUITE INCONVENIENT WITH OTHER PASSENGERS, PARTICULARLY WHERE THE FRONT SEAT IS INVOLVED...A LITTLE DIFFICULT CLIMBING OVER THE CONSOLE AREA FROM THE DRIVER SIDE TO GET TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND VICE VERSA...BACK SEATING AREA NOT QUITE SO BAD...STILL INCONVENIENT. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL REGARDING THIS AND/OR ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM? RIGHT NOW, THE EXPENSE TO REPAIR IS HONESTLY MORE THAN IT'S WORTH TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE...ANOTHER $400-500+. DOES MAKE IT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO LOAD AND UNLOAD---ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN! *TR

AFTER DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR 6 YEARS, IT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER SO MUCH THAT THE DASH LIGHTS FADE AND THE CAR ALMOST STALLS. THIS IS WORSE AT LOWER SPEEDS, COASTING, AND IDLING. THE ENGINE MISSES OUT SO BADLY THAT THE CAR JERKS FORWARD IF THE BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED FIRMLY TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN IT'S WORST AT IDLE, IT SHAKES HORRIBLY. I HAD THE PLUGS REPLACED (NOT CHEAP) BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ERROR SHOWING WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER I STARTED HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND A MECHANIC HAD ALREADY LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. AFTER HAVING THE PLUGS REPLACED, I HAD A LOT FEWER PROBLEMS BUT COULD STILL TELL THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS COLDER OUTSIDE AND/OR WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT THEN BEGAN TO GET WORSE AGAIN AND IS JUST AS BAD NOW AS IT WAS BEFORE I HAD THE PLUGS REPLACED. I DON'T WANT TO KEEP REPLACING THEM IF IT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING AGAIN. WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT ON AN UPHILL INTERSECTION JUST LAST WEEK, I PRESSED THE GAS TO PULL THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND BARELY ANY POWER RESULTED. I LET OFF THE GAS AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN, AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, JUST TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT IT DYING OR LAUNCHING MYSELF INTO ANOTHER CAR. IT SEEMS THIS MODEL YEAR MAY HAVE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES, BUT I'VE HAD ALL OF THE RECALL ISSUES ADDRESSED AND I'M STILL HAVING MAJOR ISSUES THAT AREN'T CHEAP TO FIX. I'VE ALSO HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING ENGAGED TWICE DURING THE TIME I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE AND THE INDICATOR GOES AWAY JUST AS QUICKLY AS IT APPEARED WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. *TR

I WENT TO START THE CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A BAD SMELL. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE AREA UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS ON FIRE. LUCKILY I HAD A SMALL CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT IT OUT. THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS IS BURNED RIGHT OFF WHERE IT PLUGS INTO THE ANS MODULE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY I HAD TO PUT BRAKE FLUID IN TWICE PER YEAR. I HOPE THE DEALER DOESN'T TRY TO RIP ME OFF AND SAY IT'S NOT COVERED FOR SOME REASON. THEY DO NOT LIKE TO FIX FACTORY RECALLS. *TR

THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAP LEAKS BRAKE FLUID AND THE FLUID RUNS DOWN THE WIRING AND DOWN THE FIREWALL OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BRAKE FLUID HAS CORRODED THE PAINT OFF OF THE FIREWALL, AND THEN THE FLUID GETS HOT AND SMOKES. BECAUSE THE FLUID RUNS DOWN THE WIRING, THE VEHICLE IS ALSO HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FORD HAS A RECALL 11S24 FOR VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAY THAT OUR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THE MASTER CYLINDER CAP CLEARLY LEAKS. THEY WON'T LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNLESS WE PAY $85 TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE ADDED TO THE RECALL.

CANNOT REMOVE IGNITION KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT DISCONNECTING BATTERY. *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE NEW. ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER, 2011 IT WAS PARKED IN OUR DOUBLE CAR ATTACHED GARAGE. MY SON CAME HOME AROUND 11:30 P.M. GOING THROUGH THE GARAGE AND DID NOT SEE OR SMELL ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND AND I, HIS YOUNGEST SON WERE ASLEEP ALREADY FROM THE FUMES. WE HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF OUR BEDS BY MY OLDER STEP-SON. HE SAW SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE DOOR GOING TO THE GARAGE. WE HE OPENED THE DOOR HE SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE ESCAPE. HE TRIED TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR BUT BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAD TO GET MY DOG OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND ESCAPE THROUGH MY BEDROOM WINDOW. AS A RESULT THE WHOLE HOME WAS BURNED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDERS IT A TOTAL LOSS. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND SIMILAR INCIDENTS FROM OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. I FORGOT TO SAY THAT WE RECEIVED OUR RECALL ON JANUARY 31ST OF 2012. ABOUT A MONTH TOO LATE TO TELL US NOT TO PARK IT IN OR NEAR A DWELLING. THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST HORRIFIC THING I HAVE EVER GONE THROUGH AND BELIEVE ME, I HAVE GONE THROUGH A WHOLE LOT IN MY LIFE. I WANT TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AS THAT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS THE ONLY RECOURSE I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT DOING THIS. *TR

STARTED VEHICLE APPROX 7AM DROVE 40MILES WITH NO EVIDENT PROBLEMS TO VEHICLE. STOPPED VEHICLE FOR APPROX 15MINS, UPON STARTING VEHICLE UP AGAIN HAZARD WARNING ON CONTROL PANAL BEGAN TO FLASH. ABS,AIR BAGS,BRAKE,WERE FLASHING ON/OFF.TURNED CAR OFF,THEN ON AGAIN,WARNING LIGHTS DID COME BACK ON. DROVE APPROX 3MILES,CAR THEN STARTED TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IMMADITATLY PULLED OVER ,TURNED OFF ENGINE. SMOKE CONT TO BILLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOR ALEAST 15-20 MINS. *TT

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, CAUSING POWER STEERING AND BREAKS TO STOP WORKING.

REAR LEFT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. 5TH DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WINDSHIELD WIPER IN REAR STOPPED WORKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE KEY WOULD TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AND THE TIRES LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE TRUNK-DOOR (5TH DOOR) CANNOT BE OPENED WHEN EXPOSED TO THE SUN OR TEMPERATURE IS WARMER. IT CAN ONLY BE OPENED AFTER IT IS COOLER IN THE EVENING OR AT NIGHT. THE REAR-LEFT- PASSENGER-DOOR LOCKED AND CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL. NOW PASSENGERS HAVE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE USING ONLY ONE RIGHT-PASSENGER-DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A VERY INCONVENIENT ONE. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR