Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hello, The engine cradle subframe on my 2005 Ford Escape has completely rusted through on the right hand side where it attaches to the steering control arm. As I was driving the subframe broke which made it impossible to steer the car. This pulled my car off the road to the passenger side. Fortunately I was not injured. Having now researched this issue, it is a common problem with 2005 Ford Escapes. This is very dangerous, and it should be addressed as it creates a life threatening situation.
Front left tower rod is going thru the wheel well from rust. This can cause major damage to myself, occupants, and the lives of others outside of the vehicle. The front left seatbelt light continuously alarms as if it is not connected. Is it? The back lights are always out not sure to replacement repeatedly. I'd the seatbelt good enough in an accident, I am not trying to find that it either. The lights are a ticket every time and are another hazard to other motorist. The main wheel rust was told to me upon a failed inspection. It is not fixed at this point just found out and looking for recalls but found many with the same exact hazard. The warning lights go off every minute and a half while driving in the dashboard. This has been since I purchased the vehicle last year. The same goes for replacing the back running light. …
I was driving at ~35MPH and suddenly hear a loud clanking sound from the rear right tire. The car has minimal rust however the rear right tire well has extensive internal weakness that caused the shock to disconnect from the frame. This happened completely unexpectedly and could lead to accidents and death. It seems this problem has been reported by hundreds of other drivers of similar makes and models.
The right lower control arm separated from the subframe due to subframe rust. It caused loss of handling and rendered the car immobile. It was caused by a panic stop at a low speed. The car was towed to an independent garage where it is awaiting repair. Parts affected were the subframe, CV axle joint and the front fender (From the wheel hitting it when it broke).
My rear passenger side rusted right out completely and the strut mount is not attached to any part of the body. It caused my vehicle to swirve off the road almost hitting another vehicle when it was raining out also in the snow this occurred several times where my rear end jerked sideways pulling my truck into a complete circle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 5 MPH, a whistling noise and a burning odor emitted through the vents of the vehicle. The contact coasted to the side of the road and noticed that the inner wheel well on the rear passenger side was corroded. The contact immediately called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall, and did not offer further assistance. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 177,250.
I was traveling at 60 MPH on a highway interchange. I hydroplaned, lost control of my vehicle, and hit a guard rail with the front driver's side head on. My vehicle bounced off the guard rail, traveled backwards, and hit the guardrail on the other side of the road on the driver's side rear. The car spun 90 degrees and came to a rest with the passenger side against the guard rail, opposing highway traffic flow. The airbags did not deploy, despite a 60-MPH collision. The suspension, wheel, and shock fell off in the collision.
While driving the car, whenever we would hit a bump of any kind the passenger side rear of the car made a horrible rattling/banging noise. I took it to the dealer and they told and showed me where the part that connected the shock to the wheel well had pretty much rusted away and was no longer safe to drive. The service writers and the body man all said this is a very common issue with this year and model. They conjectured that since we get snow in pittsburgh the roads are salted. Since the roads are slanted to the right to help drainage, that side is bathed in salt water. However I am also developing rust on the outside edge of the body panel on the opposite side. Why then is this not happening to other model years? Since it is not drivable I have had to schedule the repairs. …
While driving last week I heard a "rattling" I had not heard previously.I pulled over and inspected my wheels and discovered that the rear passenger wheel well above the top of the tire had rusted out.closer inspection revealed that the strut mount had completely separated from the vehicle and the strut had "speared" thru the interior plastic sidewall, thus rendering the vehicle inoperable.I shudder to think what might have happened had I had my child in the car and we were travelling on the highway.upon researching on you tube how to repair this problem,I was astounded to find out that the most common problem related to 2005-06 Ford escapes,was very specific in stating that the rear-passenger wheel well was rusting and corroding on these particular vehicles,sometimes resulting in the strut to become disengaged.this sounds like a very serious safety issue,but Ford customer relations …
My son was complaining that the back end of the car began rattling and "jumping" while driving in the city in nov of 2015. We had it checked out in dec and was told and shown how unsafe the car was to drive,due to the entire right rear wheel well and strut was completely rusted away. The only thing that was holding the wheel to the car was the plastic molding of the trunk area which was also melting away from the heat.I could not believe a car could disintegrate and deteriorate so badly. In good conscious the auto repair owner would not allow us to drive the car anymore. Nor would I want to. Plus, the cost to fix it was not worth the price of the car,and he couldnt fix it. He told me to list it on craigs list to sell the car in parts. …
Suspension complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2005 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 459 complaints about the suspension of the 2005 Ford Escape, 33% of the model year's 1,394 complaints. The component named most often is rear (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Escape suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2005 Ford Escape, though it has 4 recalls for other components. 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 121,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.