2005 Ford Escape: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2005 Ford Escape
On the 2005 Ford Escape, the failure owners report most often is other body or interior problem, and the reports cluster around 115,000 miles. The earliest to appear is complete transmission failure, reported by a median of 45,000 miles. Overall it scores 66 out of 100, high risk for a 2005.
High risk for a 2005 — 201st riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. 2,030 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2005 Ford Escape
Owners have reported 72 named failure modes on the 2005 Ford Escape, and the three most-reported carry 35% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other body or interior problem leads with 265 reports, about 3.9 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 90k to 138,000 miles.
Other suspension problem follows with 258 reports, usually reported between 99k to 143,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
Strut, shock or spring failure follows with 187 reports, usually reported between 105k to 156,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into suspension (513), body (417) and engine (224).
When these failures get reported
1,746 of the reports on the 2005 Ford Escape came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 109,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 11% by 50,000 miles, 40% by 100,000 miles and 82% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 53 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 100,000 and 110,000 miles, which alone holds 11% of the dated reports.
8% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, so this is mostly a story about older, higher-mileage cars.
In the order they tend to show up: complete transmission failure around 47k, ABS module or sensor failure around 58k, other visibility problem around 68k and other fuel system problem around 82k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 72. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 53 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 41 mention a crash, 24 a fire, 21 an injury and 2 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.64, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, other suspension problem at $350–$2,000, strut, shock or spring failure at $500–$2,000 and rust or structural corrosion at $500–$6,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
16% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other body or interior problem | body | 265 | 227 | 90k | 115k | 138k | 3.9 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 258 | 222 | 99k | 120k | 143k | 3.8 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 187 | 176 | 105k | 125k | 156k | 2.8 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 135 | 128 | 100k | 123k | 137k | 2.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 132 | 107 | 49k | 83k | 110k | 2.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 117 | 104 | 81k | 101k | 130k | 1.7 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 95 | 83 | 80k | 105k | 139k | 1.4 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 78 | 75 | 79k | 98k | 126k | 1.2 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 73 | 66 | 74k | 112k | 140k | 1.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 65 | 54 | 105k | 123k | 150k | 1.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 64 | 52 | 75k | 103k | 132k | 1.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 51 | 42 | 33k | 96k | 133k | 0.8 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 41 | 30 | 55k | 82k | 133k | 0.6 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 31 | 26 | 40k | 68k | 102k | 0.5 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 25 | 22 | 81k | 104k | 127k | 0.4 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 21 | 20 | 52k | 89k | 109k | 0.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 19 | 17 | 20k | 114k | 159k | 0.3 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 16 | 13 | 40k | 58k | 110k | 0.2 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 16 | 16 | 97k | 115k | 140k | 0.2 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 15 | 15 | 69k | 101k | 136k | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 13 | 12 | 42k | 47k | 55k | 0.2 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 13 | 11 | 79k | 93k | 168k | 0.2 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 13 | 10 | 80k | 99k | 133k | 0.2 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 11 | 10 | 82k | 100k | 147k | 0.2 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 11 | 7 | — | 89k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 10 | 9 | 76k | 101k | 164k | 0.1 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 10 | 10 | 85k | 95k | 104k | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 10 | 9 | 25k | 85k | 101k | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 9 | 3 | — | 113k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 9 | 7 | — | 100k | — | 0.1 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 9 | 6 | — | 119k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 8 | 5 | — | 57k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 8 | 7 | — | 94k | — | 0.1 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Oil leak | engine | 7 | 7 | — | 6k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 7 | 7 | — | 30k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 7 | 5 | — | 75k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 7 | 7 | — | 80k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 7 | 7 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 7 | 3 | — | 156k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 6 | 6 | — | 121k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 6 | 6 | — | 116k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 6 | 4 | — | 41k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 6 | 6 | — | 82k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 5 | 2 | — | 107k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 5 | 5 | — | 90k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 5 | 3 | — | 60k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Manual clutch or hydraulics failure | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 97k | — | 0.0 | $900–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 3 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 55k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 116k | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 3 | 3 | — | 83k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 3 | 3 | — | 67k | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 92k | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Intake carbon buildup | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $400–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 2 | 2 | — | 74k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 2 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 127 | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 158k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 2 | 1 | — | 80k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 147k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 55k | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 43k | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 28k | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.0 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| CVT failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 112k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 67k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 120k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 9k | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 65 | 40 | 75k | 99k | 127k | 1.0 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2005 Ford Escape draws about 30 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 93rd percentile of complaint rates among 2005 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 67,182 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2005 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other body or interior problem
On the drive home from picking up my ford escape, I noticed cabin noise at highway speeds. It took 6 service visits to jim keim ford to resolve this issue that was caused by loose cladding on the passenger door. Further, I began getting a ticking noise at slow speeds and bumpy roads during the resolution of the cladding problem. Jim keim sprayed silicone spray on the driver and passenger door molding to resolve this. The ticking noise returned within a couple weeks and krieger ford put anti-rattle tape on the a arms in the cabin to resolve this on 2 occasions. In all, I've had 8 service calls on this brand new $26000.00 escape. I've driven hundreds of miles in trying to resolve these noise issues to date. It goes without saying that a vehicle I genuinely looked forward to having has become a vehicle that I've already explored trading in and going with another make because I feel I have been treated poorly having to take my vehicle in for noise issues 8 times. *jb
The front driver side seat in my 2005 ford escape xlt is leaning and pointing to left. After speaking with the dealer, they said that ford purposely made the foam on the drivers side seat less dense than on the right side for easier access and exit of the vehicle. Still the slight twisting and defection of the seat to the left leaves me feeling like im in a poor driving position. The service manager also stated that hed been told by ford motor company that they are aware of the issue and that there is nothing they can do at this time, maybe a recall in the future but nothing right now. I cant be the only person concerned by the odd seating position and the feeling of distraction while im driving, which then becomes a safety issue in my eyes. Just thought this was worth a mention. *ak
Other suspension problem
Bought a 2005 ford escape limited 11,312 miles ago. Have had the car into the dealer six times because it keeps pulling to the left (into oncoming traffic). They have aligned, over aligned and replaced the tires. To this day, it still pulls to the left. Since it pulls to the left, a "head-on collison" is bound to happen. The ford dealer, mac haik, doesn't seem to care or has no interest in fixing this potental dangerous situation.*ak
Dt: the contact stated while driving vehicle pulled to the left. It felt as if the contact constantly was making a left hand turn. This problem was intermittent. The vehicle was inspected by the service dealer three times. It was determined thhat the alignment was within the manufacturer's specifications. The service dealer completed diagnostic testing and test drove the vehicle but was unable to duplicate the problem. He contacted the manufacturer. They said their engineers were aware there was a problem, and were working to find a solution. No repairs have been made. *ak update 1/4/2006 - *nm
Strut, shock or spring failure
The passenger-side rear wheel well has completely rusted through to the point where you can see into the cabin, and the shock/strut is mounted to nothing and is poking into my trunk. The metal all around the mount (or where it should be mounted) is completely corroded and rusted to the point of being completely detached, and the surrounding metal is stamped so thin to begin with that it is pliable. The shock is completely ineffective, and my car is a ticking time bomb of safety issues. I have contactedford several times, and ford canada is denying that this is a safety or quality issue and have taken no responsibility; they refuse to fix my car. I cannot find a recall at present, however there are numerous people reporting the same problem with their escapes, 6 alone on [xxx] and 5 on [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
The passenger-side rear wheel well has completely rusted through to the point where you can see into the cabin, and the shock/strut is mounted to nothing and is poking into my trunk. The metal all around the mount (or where it should be mounted) is completely corroded and rusted to the point of being completely detached, and the surrounding metal is stamped so thin to begin with that it is pliable. The shock is completely ineffective, and my car is a ticking time bomb of safety issues. I have contactedford several times, and ford canada is denying that this is a safety or quality issue and have taken no responsibility; they refuse to fix my car. I cannot find a recall at present, however there are numerous people reporting the same problem with their escapes, 6 alone on [xxx] and 5 on [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
Recalls on the 2005 model year
NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Ford Escape, affecting an estimated 129,655 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication , suspension:front:wheel bearing, hybrid propulsion system and seats:front assembly:head restraint. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
57 vehicles 2015-09-29- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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…
- Remedy
- 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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
576 vehicles 2015-06-03- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
70,209 vehicles 2014-09-03- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
134,365 vehicles 2006-04-07- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
- Remedy
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
262,113 vehicles 2004-12-20- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the liftgate is left unlocked, there is the potential that it may open during a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2005 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2005 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2005 — 201st riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 25 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2004 comes out best at 64 and 2017 worst at 77, with 2005 itself at 66.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2005, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2005–2007 generation specifically, 2005 is the strongest year at 66 and 2006 the weakest at 73.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2005-2007 generation, 2005 Ford Escape scores best at 66 and 2006 Ford Escape worst at 73.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other steering problem from about 20k, parking brake failure from about 25k, other powertrain problem from about 33k and other visibility problem from about 40k.
On a 2005 Ford Escape with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other steering problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
2,030 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 2,030 reports, 1,746 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 86% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Escape?
The most-reported failures are other body or interior problem (265 reports, median 115,000 miles), other suspension problem (258 reports, median 120,000 miles) and strut, shock or spring failure (187 reports, median 125,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Escape problems start?
Complete transmission failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 45,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 40,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 109,000 miles.
Is the 2005 Ford Escape reliable?
It scores 66 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 201st riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2005 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Ford Escape is best?
Within the 2005–2007 generation, 2005 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2006 worst at 73. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed