2004 Ford Escape Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 31about this part
- Share
- 6%of 499 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the electrical system of the 2004 Ford Escape, 6% of the 499 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,500 miles. 5 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving down the road about fourty five miles per hour I pushed the gas to go up a hill and lost all power to the engine. I removed my foot from the engine and it picked up enough speed to get to the side of the road. After being towed home it would crank but if you moved shifter knob or pressed gas it woukd die out.”
NHTSA complaint #11014790, filed 2017-08, 206,100 miles“The vehicle was a 2004 Ford Escape. It was parked on the street, everything was turned off and the vehicle was not running. I was in work when I was informed that my vehicle was on fire. Nothing was on to start this fire, it happened spontaneously. The fire seems to have started in the vicinity of the drivers side engine bay. Previous to this incident, there were no mechanical or electrical issues with the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11129616, filed 2018-09, 183,000 miles“Drove my 2004 Ford Escape 20 minutes to get pizza and come back home parked it at 8pm by 12:30am neighbors banging on door your cars on fire!!!! I'm in believe the ABS module caught fire recall is out Ford says my vehicle doesn't apply”
NHTSA complaint #10874615, filed 2016-06, 190,000 miles“While driving at about 45 miles per hour my car starts to spit, sputter and run rough, there is a noticeable loss of power and my gauges first top out then they bottom out then they go back to normal. Ford can't find the problem because it doesn't code for them.”
NHTSA complaint #10611379, filed 2014-07, 125,680 miles“Original owner, for almost 3 years now the airbag light would come on periodically, sometimes for 1 drive, sometimes for days at a time then go away. The light coming on and going off would happen for no apparent reason. It doesnt matter if someone is sitting in the passenger seat or not, ive checked the connector under the seat and it is firmly seated. In the past year I have also had the battery, brake and now ABS light come on. In january of 2014 my alternator died and I had it replaced, in january of 2015 I had to replace my battery. …”
NHTSA complaint #10701246, filed 2015-03, 80,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10020067Jan 1, 2006Pcm failure - electrical accessories intermittent - inoperative.
- 10018063Oct 7, 2005Restraint system - safety belt buckle and pretensioner diagnostic trouble code (dtc) b1877 and/or b1881.
- 10013116Sep 6, 2004Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated - system lean diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) - service tips. Various models including 2004 f-series.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 27% |
| 2024 | 27 | 36% |
| 2023 | 41 | 41% |
| 2022 | 19 | 8% |
| 2021 | 34 | 10% |
| 2020 | 160 | 10% |
| 2019 | 37 | 6% |
| 2018 | 57 | 3% |
| 2017 | 156 | 6% |
| 2016 | 95 | 8% |
| 2015 | 135 | 12% |
| 2014 | 216 | 10% |
| 2013 | 339 | 12% |
| 2012 | 42 | 7% |
| 2011 | 117 | 9% |
| 2010 | 216 | 10% |
| 2009 | 143 | 8% |
| 2008 | 136 | 7% |
| 2007 | 30 | 12% |
| 2006 | 34 | 7% |
| 2005 | 153 | 11% |
| 2004 | 31 | 6% |
| 2003 | 39 | 7% |
| 2002 | 123 | 12% |
| 2001 | 136 | 14% |
| 2000 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2004 Ford Escape
154 complaintsBody and structure
138 complaintsVehicle speed control
98 complaintsAir bags
45 complaintsWheels
34 complaintsBrakes
32 complaintsEngine
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsSteering
26 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Ford Escape
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology