Is the 2001 Ford Escape a bad year?

Keep it, but watch the engine

The engine draws 4.5× the complaints of a quiet Escape year, spread over 29k–115k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.

The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.

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. 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.

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. Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm. A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

If brake fluid leaks from the cap, it could come in contact with the antilock brake system (ABS) module wiring harness connector. Corrosion can develop in the electrical connector leading to melting, smoke or a fire.

On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector may have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the module connector, creating a potential for an electrical short. An electrical short might cause an ABS malfunction that would illuminate the ABS warning light, and in some cases, the module may overheat resulting in burning odor, smoke, and/or fire.

Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. Loss of brake fluid can result in poor braking performance, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

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… If the liftgate is left unlocked, there is the potential that it may open during a crash.

On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines, during deceleration, the engine can stall. Should the engine stall, a vehicle crash could occur.

On certain sport utility vehicles, a post within the safety belt buckle covers could fracture, which could affect latch function, resulting in either a "No latch" Or "Partial latch" Condition. In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.

Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The windshield wiper linkage can disengage due to a broken ball socket. This condition will likely result in sudden and complete loss of the windshield wiper function, or of the wiper function on the driver side only, increasing the risk of a crash.

Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The o-ring seals in the fuel line connector at the outlet end of the fuel filter were damaged when the line was connected to the filter during vehicle assembly. In some cases, this damage could result in a fuel odor, or possibly in fuel dripping from the connection. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Vehicle description: some 4X2 sport utility vehicles not equipped with an antilock braking system may have inadvertently been built with 4X4 rear hubs instead of 4X2 hubs. If the incorrect hubs are installed on a 4X2 vehicle, the rear wheels can loosen, or in some cases, separate from the vehicle. This condition could cause loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control. The speed control cable can have a cracked or missing speed control cable servo cap locating tab. The locating tab could enter the servo clutch cavity and interfere with the speed control servo clutch. If either of these conditions occurs and the speed control is used, the speed control could prevent the throttle from returning to idle, resulting in a stuck throttle. A stuck throttle could result in a crash.

Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. These vehicles may have a mis-assembled or incorrectly manufactured nut that attaches the steering wheel assembly to the steering column. The nut could be upside down in the steering wheel assembly, which could overstress the steering column shaft when the nut is tightened. Either of these conditions can lead to the steering wheel becoming loose or separating from the steering column, resulting in loss of steering control.

Stuck Throttle

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

Engine Compartment Fire

Engine compartment fire

Engine compartment fire