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EnginePart report

2004 Ford Escape Engine Problems

Complaints
31about this part
Share
6%of 499 total for the year
Median mileage
109,748miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the engine of the 2004 Ford Escape, 6% of the 499 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 109,748 miles. 4 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“Vehicle at idle, misfired. Pulled off and went to drive onto the highway. Vehicle lost all power and it got worse. A smell came from the front and smoke came out of the dash. Had the driver, two toddlers, and I (passenger) in the vehicle. Driver and I were coughing from the smell and the smoke. Had to roll down the windows in the front and partly roll them down in the rear during the rain. Made it 2-3 miles before we turned around and went back home.”

NHTSA complaint #10981760, filed 2017-05, 140,000 miles

“My 04 Ford Escape has a 4 cylinder and is a manual. It has begun to accelerate by itself. It will accelerate whether it is in gear or in neutral. I assumed there would recall for this problem, as I know other vehicles have been in serious accidents with similar problems. I can take my foot off of the pedal and it will stay at a steady speed, or accelerate, on its own. Often when I'm switching gears, put it in neutral, it will self-rev itself up to 4000+ rpms! …”

NHTSA complaint #10994399, filed 2017-06, 120,000 miles

“As I was accelerating to pass a slow moving vehicle, I pressed on the gas petal and after I was back in my proper lane, my vehicle kept speeding and not backing off on the gas. I then put the car in neural and the engine continued to keep racing. I tried to stomp lightly on the gas petal to see if it would come back up but it didn't. I then shut off the engine and called the tow truck company.”

NHTSA complaint #10466470, filed 2012-07, 157,100 miles

“I purchased this vehicle 11 months ago, on feb 13,2015 as I was driving my car began to make a very loud noise as well as causing the vehicle to drive unstable. The mechanic report stated that 3 separate spark plugs had blown out and ejected causing extensive damage to multiple mechanical mechanisms to my vehicle. My vehicle is currently un drivable, also the check engine light did not come on the dash board or the machine. Also prior to this incident my vehicle would accelerate while driving and also in park.”

NHTSA complaint #10690626, filed 2015-02, 96,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025519%
20241317%
20232828%
20223314%
20214413%
20201228%
201931753%
20181,16964%
20171,58359%
201620017%
201523921%
201472735%
20131,26646%
20127312%
201124819%
201049324%
200925415%
2008834%
20072510%
20064710%
20051309%
2004316%
2003244%
2002364%
2001273%

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
Electrical system
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