Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Over a few days I heard a banging sound in the car that I could not identify. My daughter looked under the rear passenger wheel well and noticed the shock was knocking against the rusted wheel well. The next day I went to a funeral and the shock pierced through the trunk. I called my body shop/mechanic and told him what the issue was. He said he had another Ford Escape 2005 in his shop with the same exact issue. He said it was a manufacturer defect. Ford didn't do a recall on the 2005 models even though they recalled prior years. I had tried to contact rizza Ford about the issue but received no response. In searching the internet I realized there are at least 300+ complaints written about this exact issue and Ford's handling of it. My mechanic had to practically rebuild/weld the wheel well. …
My well maintained 2005 Escape Hybrid developed a rattling sound on July 26, 2016. At first the rattle in the right rear happened only on bumps in the road. I thought it was my car jack coming loose in its compartment. I checked that and the jack was all secured, not rattling. I continued driving home and the rattle became a banging sound, and the right rear inside wheel area started to rattle and move towards the interior as I drove. When I got home I looked around the right rear wheel well area and was shocked to see how extremely rusted it is. The other wheel wells show very little rust. I looked up the problem on a Ford owners website and found that many many other people have had this same problem. It is a safety issue because some people report that the rusted out shock absorber mount breaks loose and the vehicle body collapses onto the wheel, sending the car out of control. …
The rear passenger wheel well has corroded very severely. The shock absorber is pushing into the interior wheel cover, causing it to become dislodged. I was driving on a city street, about 35 MPH, when I hear a loud scraping sound coming from the right rear side of my Escape. I noticed that the interior wheel cover was dislodged and moving around. I pulled over into a local park to examine what was causing the very loud scraping sound. I could see that the right rear wheel well area was very rusted and flaky. I drove home about 10-15 MPH, all the time the vehicle was making a very loud bumping and scraping sound. I consulted a Ford mechanic and was told that the vehicle could not be driven safely. …
We noticed a clunking noise coming from the rear end of the vehicle. Upon inspection, we discovered the rear passenger wheel well was completely rusted out and the strut is barely attached. The rust holes are so large, that insulation is showing, and the strut is hitting the plastic piece going into the trunk space. The vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive by a mechanic. While researching this issue, I have found multiple online forums about this problem. It is always the same area (rear passenger side) and is causing safety hazards, such as ruptured tires and unstable steering. This is a safety issue that Ford needs to recall!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid. While driving 25 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear passenger side wheel well. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and discovered the shock leaning against the wheel and a hole where the mounted bracket was located. The contact called loveland Ford (999 e eisenhower blvd, loveland, co 80537, [phone]) and was informed that the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.
The right rear wheel well/shock mount became badly corroded, resulting in the rear shock absorber and suspension being connected to a thin piece of metal, and the top of the shock absorber hitting against a plastic interior body panel. Had the thin piece of metal corroded entirely, a severe accident probably would have resulted. Various online sites report this same problem on the same year and model vehicle (2005 Ford Escape), but no recalls, as they have been for other Ford vehicles and other years of the Escape that have experienced this severe problem.
Vehicle developed loud banging noise in rear of vehicle. Upon inspection it was discovered that severe corrosion has occurred in the right rear wheel well, separating the top of the right rear shock assembly from the body of the vehicle, affecting handling of the car. After searching this issue on the web, it was also discovered that this corrosion is a widespread and ongoing problem with these cars, and a known issue to Ford motor corp. Who has to date declined to take any action to rectify this major structural and safety issue.
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.
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.
Heard rattling sound over right rear tire. Upon inspection the shock mount had completely cracked due to rust, making the vehicle dangerous to operate. When I looked it up online I saw that many others report this exact same defect in the same location.
Suspension complaints in other Escape Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the suspension of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, 16% of the model year's 190 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.