RecallMyCar

2005 Ford Escape Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2005 Ford Escape, and owners have filed 1,394 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
1,394
owner complaints to NHTSA
40 / 20
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–29
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2005 Ford Escape

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Floor shift (power train) and gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 15V606000 Reported 57 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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…

    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…

  2. Hybrid propulsion system

    NHTSA 14V526000 Reported 70,209 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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…

    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.…

  3. Head restraint (seats)

    NHTSA 06V111000 Reported 134,365 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    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.

  4. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 04V602000 Reported 262,113 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

    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.

1,394 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2005 Ford Escape have filed 1,394 complaints with NHTSA; 40 describe a crash and 20 describe a fire. Reports cite 28 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 104,170 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 312 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 22, 2025 · Unknown or other

“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 pu”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 17, 2025 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2005 Ford Escape (Escape 2WD, Escape 4WD, Escape Hybrid 2WD, Escape Hybrid 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–29 mpg
City / Highway16–30 / 20–28
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.3/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Ford Escape model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escape model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Ford Escape05
2001 Ford Escape13996
2002 Ford Escape81,027
2003 Ford Escape7558
2004 Ford Escape6499
2005 Ford Escape41,394
2006 Ford Escape3464
2007 Ford Escape2254
2008 Ford Escape31,974
2009 Ford Escape11,693
2010 Ford Escape32,070
2011 Ford Escape21,316
2012 Ford Escape1603
2013 Ford Escape182,750
2014 Ford Escape162,088
2015 Ford Escape91,109
2016 Ford Escape41,144
2017 Ford Escape42,694
2018 Ford Escape41,810
2019 Ford Escape3592
2020 Ford Escape231,604
2021 Ford Escape19349
2022 Ford Escape19234
2023 Ford Escape11100
2024 Ford Escape876
2025 Ford Escape924
2026 Ford Escape23

Checking a specific 2005 Ford Escape

How do I know if my 2005 Ford Escape has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2005 Ford Escape; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V602000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.