2005 Ford Escape Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 37about this part
- Share
- 3%of 1,394 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the visibility of the 2005 Ford Escape, 3% of the 1,394 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,500 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving home the temp was about 25 degrees and my back window exploded , nothing hit it just shattered into 1000 pieces. The sound scare the proverbial .... Out of me . The rear defrost had been on earlier but I had shut it off 5 minutes prior to incident. I had glass replaced, which was covered by my insurance , but I had to pay for the cost of wiper motor.”
NHTSA complaint #10258638, filed 2009-02, 67,000 miles“Sunroof shattered in our 2005 Ford Escape for no reason. Luckily we were not driving at the time. Ford would not cover the defect. When checking on line there seems to be alot of complaints about this including times when the glass broke while driving. Ordered new glass for sunroof at my own expense.”
NHTSA complaint #10332263, filed 2010-05, 70,000 miles“Driving about 30 MPH down the street with my mother and heard a very loud crash almost like a tree limb falling onto the car. The rear window had completely shattered while we were driving. There was shattered glass everywhere inside and outside the truck.”
NHTSA complaint #10438173, filed 2011-12, 94,000 miles“I removed several bags from the back of my Escape (by opening the door), not opening the glass. After closing the door, I was gathering the items when the glass suddenly shattered. It was a cool morning (low 30's, the rear defroster had been on during a ~5 minute drive to work), but the glass had not been touched, opened or otherwise impacted. My hand was cut by the glass. I later learned that several other years of this model have had this problem, but there was no recall for this model year.”
NHTSA complaint #10493531, filed 2013-01, 108,000 miles“I have a 2005 Ford Escape. I started my car about 10 minutes before I had to leave for class, and put on the front and rear defrost. When I got in my car and started driving, the rear window imploded into thousands of pieces.”
NHTSA complaint #10369871, filed 2010-12, 100,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10014062Dec 13, 2004Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair.
- 10011159Aug 9, 2004Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 4% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 3 | 3% |
| 2022 | 4 | 2% |
| 2021 | 26 | 7% |
| 2020 | 71 | 4% |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2018 | 13 | 1% |
| 2017 | 15 | 1% |
| 2016 | 20 | 2% |
| 2015 | 21 | 2% |
| 2014 | 27 | 1% |
| 2013 | 38 | 1% |
| 2012 | 20 | 3% |
| 2011 | 45 | 3% |
| 2010 | 90 | 4% |
| 2009 | 13 | 1% |
| 2008 | 29 | 1% |
| 2007 | 11 | 4% |
| 2006 | 21 | 5% |
| 2005 | 37 | 3% |
| 2004 | 16 | 3% |
| 2003 | 5 | 1% |
| 2002 | 34 | 3% |
| 2001 | 36 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2005 Ford Escape
459 complaintsBody and structure
434 complaintsElectrical system
153 complaintsVehicle speed control
149 complaintsEngine
130 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
117 complaintsWheels
98 complaintsEngine cooling
90 complaintsOther or unknown
76 complaintsBrakes
66 complaintsFuel system
62 complaintsSteering
49 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 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