Worst 2004 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
SUSPENSION
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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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 | 148 | 1 | — | 129,735 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 111 | 3 | 1 | 127,903 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 76 | 22 | 4 | 106,321 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 41 | 5 | 1 | 85,405 mi | |
| WHEELS | 33 | 1 | — | 129,454 mi | |
| ENGINE | 31 | — | 4 | 109,221 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 26 | — | 5 | 104,275 mi | |
| STEERING | 26 | 1 | — | 103,392 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 18 | 4 | 2 | 132,761 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 15 | — | — | 105,283 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 15 | 2 | — | 122,491 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 15 | 1 | 2 | 159,560 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 13 | 3 | — | 84,142 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 11 | 1 | — | 58,876 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 10 | — | — | 46,444 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS | 10 | 1 | — | 81,143 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 7 | — | — | 123,586 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 6 | 1 | — | 77,700 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 6 | — | — | 56,317 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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 | — | — | 108,081 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 4 | — | — | 113,250 mi | |
| VISIBILITY | 4 | — | — | 94,226 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 4 | — | — | 85,834 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 3 | — | — | 113,588 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 | 1 | — | 76,500 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 2 | — | — | 48,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 | — | — | — |
Recalls for 2004 Ford Escape
5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,408,502 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 2001-2008 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.
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
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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