repaired · 2017 Q1
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear…
2004 Ford EscapeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 499 owner complaints about the 2004 Ford Escape, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-606 the manufacturer reports only 21% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 3, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Ford Escape has problems
499 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
154Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
138Structure5 crash/fire/injury
98Vehicle speed control26 crash/fire/injury
45Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
34Wheels
31Electrical system
31Engine
27Power train
26Steering
11220 other systems13 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 154 | 1 |
| Structure | 138 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 98 | 26 |
| Air bags | 45 | 6 |
| Wheels | 34 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 31 | 5 |
| Engine | 31 | 4 |
| Power train | 27 | 1 |
| Steering | 26 | 1 |
| 20 other systems | 112 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2004 Ford Escape recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Structure: frame and members
Risk. A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
no report yet
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Risk. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING…
Show 2 more recalls
no report yet
Doors: latch
Risk. IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A CRASH.
no report yet
Vehicle speed control: cables
Risk. AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do suspension problems start?
123kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 139 suspension complaints. 24% were reported before 100,000 miles.
1under 30k miles33under 100k miles106100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
9 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $390 – $400
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other Escape year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escape median. How we score
9961,0275584991,3944642541,9741,6932,0711,3206042,7532,0911,1481,1922,7101,8336041,62135623810278263
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Ford Escape safety ratings
2004 Ford Escape 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
6 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2004 Ford Escape, and the recalls they led to.
- Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditNo recall
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRENo recall
- Cruise Control CableNo recall
- Engine Compartment FireLed to recall 12V-005
- Stuck ThrottleLed to recall 12V-353
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRENo recall
In owners' words
What Escape owners report
Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The body panel around the rear driver side shock mount has almost completely rusted away. Driving one day, I started to hear a loud clunking noise from the rear driver side. It started to get louder the more I drove it. Upon inspection, I found the body panel had completely rusted around the shock…
in an attempt t improve the safety and drivability of m 2004 ford escape I went to have my shocks, struts, control arms, sway bar end links and ball joints and steering arms replaced. upon the installation I was informed that the rust on the sub frame is at a critical level and in danger of…
THE WHOLE UNDERBODY IS RUSTING AWAY ESPECIALLY THE FRAME, COULDN'T EVEN GET REGULAR MAINTENCE DONE SINCE THE RUST SO BAD. WE ALWAYS WASHED THE UNDERBODY AFTER IT SNOWED AND THAT DIDN'T STOP THE RUST FROM EATING AWAY THE SUV. I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR BUT WHEN I DO A VIN CHECK IT SAYS NO…
Own a 2004 Escape?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.