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…
2005 Ford EscapeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,394 owner complaints about the 2005 Ford Escape, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 4 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 December 22, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Ford Escape has problems
1,394 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
459Suspension7 crash/fire/injury
434Structure6 crash/fire/injury
153Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
149Vehicle speed control6 crash/fire/injury
130Engine6 crash/fire/injury
117Power train1 crash/fire/injury
98Wheels
90Engine and engine cooling
49Steering
26219 other systems32 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 459 | 7 |
| Structure | 434 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 153 | 6 |
| Vehicle speed control | 149 | 6 |
| Engine | 130 | 6 |
| Power train | 117 | 1 |
| Wheels | 98 | 4 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 90 | 9 |
| Steering | 49 | 3 |
| 19 other systems | 262 | 32 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2005 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 · 2016 Q1
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Front assembly: head restraint
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.
no report yet
Doors: latch
Risk. IF THE LIFTGATE IS LEFT UNLOCKED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY OPEN DURING A 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?
121kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 407 suspension complaints. 25% were reported before 100,000 miles.
10under 30k miles100under 100k miles307100k 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.
Suspension
28 owners mentioned a cost$1,674median
Middle half: $1,200 – $2,238
Structure
28 owners mentioned a cost$1,387median
Middle half: $982 – $5,000
Electrical system
27 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,150 – $2,650
Engine
14 owners mentioned a cost$2,100median
Middle half: $2,000 – $2,338
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
2005 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
2005 Ford Escape safety ratings
2005 Ford Escape 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (20.9% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Ford Escape, and the recalls they led to.
- Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditNo recall
- Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionNo recall
In owners' words
What Escape owners report
Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The right lower control arm separated from the subframe due to subframe rust. It caused loss of handling and rendered the car immobile. It was caused by a panic stop at a low speed. The car was towed to an independent garage where it is awaiting repair. Parts affected were the subframe, CV axle…
Hello, The engine cradle subframe on my 2005 Ford Escape has completely rusted through on the right hand side where it attaches to the steering control arm. As I was driving the subframe broke which made it impossible to steer the car. This pulled my car off the road to the passenger side.…
My rear passenger side rusted right out completely and the strut mount is not attached to any part of the body. It caused my vehicle to swirve off the road almost hitting another vehicle when it was raining out also in the snow this occurred several times where my rear end jerked sideways pulling…
Own a 2005 Escape?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.