2004 Ford Escape Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe rust-related rear body and suspension damage, typically a corroded right rear wheel well or shock mount, along with front subframe and lower control arm corrosion. A large share of complaints also involve unintended or stuck acceleration and illuminated air bag warning lamps. Reports cluster at higher mileages, though the rust complaints appear on vehicles well past 100,000 miles and also on garaged, lower-mileage examples.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Rear wheel well and shock mount rusted through

   • 195 complaints (39%)
   • median 125,715 mi at 11.1 yrs old (177 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2021

   Owners describe a banging or thumping noise from the rear, usually after hitting a bump, and find the rear wheel well or shock mounting area rusted through so the shock is no longer attached. Several report the strut or mount pushing into the trunk area, and body shops declining the repair or warning against driving the vehicle. Complaints frequently note this on the right rear side. Mostly reported between roughly 79,000 and 217,000 miles, on vehicles old enough to have accumulated corrosion.

   What to check: Inspect the rear wheel wells and upper shock mounts from inside the trunk and underneath for rust-through or a loose shock. Ask whether rear suspension repairs or body work have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The right rear inner wheel housing has almost completely rusted away causing the right rear shock absorber to break away from its top mounting and cause severe vehicle bouncing and swaying while driving making it almost impossible to drive the vehicle.many other Escape owners I have spoken to are having the same problem and an internet search of this problem confirms my findings.”

   NHTSA complaint #10537093, filed 2013-08, 82,400 miles

   “The right rear shock tower mount completely broke away from the vehicle subframe due to corrosion/rust. This caused the shock to lean outward toward the tire. This could not be seen by the undercoating as a problem previous and apparently allowed it to corrode to the point that it broke free. This exact same issue occurred in my insurance lady's Ford Escape, which I believe was only one model year different. Also only on the right rear shock tower. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10607016, filed 2014-06, 205,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended or stuck acceleration / speed control

   • 88 complaints (18%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (74 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2024

   Owners describe the engine revving or the vehicle accelerating without input, sometimes with the pedal staying down, and in other cases speed rising while cruise control is engaged. Some say dealers performed the speed control cable recall or replaced switches with little change, and others say they were told the vehicle was covered but never had the work done. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 150,000 miles, under varied driving conditions including cruise control use.

   Recall 12V353000Recall 04V574000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 04V574000 and 12V353000 were completed, and check that the accelerator pedal and cable return freely and do not bind against the engine cover.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2004 Ford Escape that the cruise control switch (deactivation switch) has gone bad on two (2) occasions since I have had the vehicle. The first time the dealer replaced it and I have not yet replaced it the second time. Is this common and is their a problem with these switches?”

   NHTSA complaint #10188177, filed 2007-04, 62,450 miles

   “On sunday, july 18th, 2010, while driving on 280 s. In the afternoon, I passed a vehicle that was traveling approximately 50 MPH on the highway. As I pressed the accelerator, the vehicle continued to accelerate. As this was the 2nd occurrence, I did not panic but tried a couple of remedies. I ensured the cruise control was off, it was. I tried to pop the gas pedal off the floor but it was limp. I tapped the accelerator to no avail. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10345004, filed 2010-07, 164,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Front subframe and lower control arm corrosion

   • 56 complaints (11%)
   • median 111,070 mi at 11.7 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2021

   Complaints describe the front subframe or the lower control arm attachment rusting through, producing a loud noise and steering that pulls or wanders. Owners say dealers attributed the damage to corrosion and, in some cases, told them the vehicle was not covered by the structure recall campaign because of its VIN, or that the recall repair had already been used. Reported from about 80,000 to 180,000 miles, generally on older vehicles in rust-belt use.

   Recall 14V1650003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V165000 was performed and check the VIN against it. Have a shop inspect the front subframe and lower control arm mounts for corrosion before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My daughter noticed her Escape wasn't driving right it was traveling sideway`s down the highway, I noticed her front tire`s were worn, especially the passenger`s front, it was worn on the outside. I spoke with a Ford mechanic that suggested new tire`s and a front end alignment, she had that service done, which did not make the vehicle drive any differently. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10508816, filed 2013-04, 165,700 miles

   “Just bought my 2004 Ford Escape k frame front passenger lower control arm mount rusted out exactly the way it is described in recall code 14s02 and my car VIN is not on the recall list for lower control arm”

   NHTSA complaint #11311078, filed 2020-02, 140,200 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light stays on

   • 42 complaints (8%)
   • median 74,508 mi at 8.0 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2022

   Complaints describe the air bag warning lamp flashing and then staying illuminated, sometimes after the horn or door locks act up. Dealers and mechanics reportedly traced it to side air bag harness connectors or seat belt pretensioner connectors, replaced them, and in some cases the light returned later. Reported from a few thousand miles to about 74,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the air bag light goes out after the self-test on startup, and ask whether the under-seat harness connectors or pretensioner connectors have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(1) I drive approximately 60 miles per day. Vehicle is used primarily for driving to work and transporting children to school & activities. (2) on 12/6/05, I returned vehicle to dealership for 2nd time due to air bag warning light illuminating. (3) per dealer description: performed self test on rcm module koeo b1998. Pinpoint test found high resistance in side air bag harness. Replaced connector under passenger seat per TSB 04-26-12. Cleared code & retest okay.”

   NHTSA complaint #10148879, filed 2006-01, 37,640 miles

   “Airbag sensor displayed on dash. Will not go off. Scheduling diagnostic test on friday 2/21/2014. Researched problem on internet, apparently this is happening much to often for it to be a individual problem. My mechanic stated it has become a common problem with Ford escapes. The cost to repair is not cheap. I cannot believe that the government has not intervened and alerted the public or at the very least Ford Escape owners. I am disabled and have no income at this time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10564770, filed 2014-02, 88,688 miles

Buying note. Corrosion checks matter most on this model year: inspect the rear shock mounts, front subframe, brake lines and fuel tank straps before purchase, and confirm which open recalls have actually been completed. A rust-free example with documented recall work is the safer starting point.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.