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Electrical systemPart report

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 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025727%
20242736%
20234141%
2022198%
20213410%
202016010%
2019376%
2018573%
20171566%
2016958%
201513512%
201421610%
201333912%
2012427%
20111179%
201021610%
20091438%
20081367%
20073012%
2006347%
200515311%
2004316%
2003397%
200212312%
200113614%
2000120%

Other parts of the 2004 Ford Escape

Suspension
154 complaints
Body and structure
138 complaints
Vehicle speed control
98 complaints
Air bags
45 complaints
Wheels
34 complaints
Brakes
32 complaints
Engine
31 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
27 complaints
Steering
26 complaints
Engine cooling
18 complaints
Fuel system
17 complaints
Visibility (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