CarRecallWatchThe 2005 Ford Escape has 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 1,394 complaints with NHTSA, including 40 crashes, 20 fires, 28 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Suspension (459 reports).
2005 Ford Escape recalls
Shifter May Disconnect, Allowing Car to Roll Away
On certain 2001-2004 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles with a remanufactured CD4E transmission installed, the bolt securing the manual shift lever may not be properly tightened.
Most common 2005 Ford Escape problems
Problem areas named in the 1,394 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 459 |
| Structure | 437 |
| Electrical System | 153 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 150 |
| Engine | 130 |
| Power Train | 119 |
| Wheels | 99 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 91 |
| Unknown Or Other | 76 |
| Steering | 49 |
What owners report
I bought a 2005 Ford escape the VIN number on the dash and the title do match however the ECU and the door jamb VIN [XXX] which is for a 2006 Ford escape 4 cylinder 2.3. the vehicle I bought should be a 6 cylinder with a 3.0 l the mechanic says mismatched VIN the dealership refuses to listen. About the vehicle on [XXX] drove it 30 miles then was able to call the mechanic for some maintenance as his car was for my daughter and that is when I got to bad news of a mismatched VIN. Not even your odometer reading is correct has less on it now than it did back in 2018 and it's documented as accurate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Ford Escape on November 25, 2025. The contact discovered a mileage and VIN discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 199,500. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine inspection, and the dealer informed the contact that during the diagnostic test there was another VIN was associated with the vehicle, and the mileage listed on the diagnostic test was 199,345. The other VIN linked in the diagnostic test for the vehicle was associated with a 2006 Ford Escape, and the mileage was 199,345. It was later discovered that the dealer who had sold the vehicle to the contact had purchased
I had just started up my 05 Ford hybrid Escape reversed out of a parking space, applied my brakes and a loud warning noise went off, the ABS light & the Brake light went on, then I tried to brake while backing out of the parking stall. I had no brakes, petal went all the way to the floor. I shifted into drive to pull forward. The car wouldnât stop petal just went right to the floor, had very little resistance. I almost drove through the front glass doors of the P/T office across from the pharmacy in Cool, CA. The roads are mountainous windy and steep. I was definitely scared for my safety. I had to coast very slowly on the way home. I was on my way to work but instead I dropped it off at
Front Subframe rusted out causing loss of steering and control. Car came to a complete skidded stop . The front wheel nearly came off. The subframe issue is the same problem that resulted in a recall of the 2001-2004 Ford Escape.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. Upon starting of the vehicle, the contact placed the vehicle into drive(D); however, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle independently downshifted and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. The vehicle was shaking, and the vehicle failed to accelerate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where and the contact was informed that the transmission torqu
2005 Ford Escape questions
Does the 2005 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2005 Ford Escape: Shifter May Disconnect, Allowing Car to Roll Away; Hybrid Propulsion System; Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Escape?
Based on 1,394 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Suspension (459), Structure (437), Electrical System (153).
How do I check if a recall on my 2005 Ford Escape has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.