Worst 2004 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Suspension Failures
Body Structure
Unintended Acceleration
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Ford Escape.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension Failures | 148 | 1 | — | 129,735 mi | |
| Body Structure | 111 | 3 | 1 | 127,903 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 76 | 22 | 4 | 106,321 mi | |
| Airbags | 41 | 5 | 1 | 85,405 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 33 | 1 | — | 129,454 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 31 | — | 4 | 109,221 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 26 | — | 5 | 104,275 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 26 | 1 | — | 103,392 mi | |
| Brakes | 18 | 4 | 2 | 132,761 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 15 | — | — | 105,283 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 15 | 2 | — | 122,491 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 13 | 3 | — | 84,142 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 11 | 1 | — | 58,876 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 10 | — | — | 46,444 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 10 | 1 | — | 81,143 mi | |
| Fuel System | 7 | — | — | 123,586 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 6 | 1 | — | 77,700 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 6 | — | — | 56,317 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 5 | — | 1 | 112,000 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 5 | — | — | 97,051 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 | — | — | 46,220 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 Ford Escape
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~878,726 vehicles.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
Other Ford Escape Years
2004 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Ford Escape reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Ford Escape?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Ford Escape?
How safe is the 2004 Ford Escape?
Does the 2004 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Ford Escape?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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