- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
- The 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 position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Vehicle safety record
2005 Ford Escape Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2005 Ford Escape have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in September 2015 for the floor shift.
NHTSA data checked
AFar fewer problems than a typical Escape year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2005 Ford Escape recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
- The risk
- Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
- The 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.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
- The problem
- Certain sport utility vehicles equipped without side air curtains or moonroofs fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "Occupant protection in interior impact." During testing, the free motion head form registered a measurement above the permitted limit at the left hand a-pillar trim area.
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
- The fix
- Dealers will make modifications to the energy absorbing material located above the headliner in the affected area free of charge. The recall began on may 19, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
- The problem
- Certain 2004-2005 sport utility vehicles and certain 2001-2003 sport utiity vehicle having rear liftgate components serviced with 2004 equivalent components fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 206, 'Door locks and door retention components.' The rear liftgate latching system does not meet the inertia load requirement in one direction.
- The risk
- If the liftgate is left unlocked, there is the potential that it may open during a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the rear liftgate latch release rod, the release rod attachment clip and the door handle return spring. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2005 Ford Escape yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Ford Escape: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1,696 | 3 | D |
| 2008 | 2,417 | 5 | F |
| 2007 | 393 | 4 | B |
| 2006 | 720 | 5 | C |
| 2005 | 0 | 5 | A |
| 2004 | 499 | 8 | B |
| 2003 | 598 | 9 | C |
| 2002 | 1,070 | 10 | D |
| 2001 | 1,027 | 15 | D |
2005 Ford Escape vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Ford Escape | 0 | 5 | A | |
| 2005 Hyundai Tucson | 185 | 8 | D | Compare |
| 2005 Toyota RAV4 | 141 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2005 Subaru Forester | 93 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2005 Kia Sportage | 68 | 3 | B | Compare |
| 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander | 19 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2005 Honda CR-V | 0 | 14 | C | Compare |
| 2005 Ford Crown Victoria | 193 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Ford 500 | 99 | 0 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2005 Ford Escape
Does the 2005 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2005 Ford Escape: floor shift (September 2015); wheel bearing (June 2015); hybrid propulsion system (September 2014); head restraint (April 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2005 Ford Escape had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2005 Ford Escape a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 100 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Ford Escape year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford Escape years have the most complaints?
2013 (2,757), 2017 (2,708), 2008 (2,417). See every Ford Escape year compared.
What should I do if my 2005 Ford Escape has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data