2005 Ford Escape Reliability
The 2005 Ford Escape has 1,584 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and body structure. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2003–2007), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Escape's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,584
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
44
Complaints citing a crash
20
Complaints citing a fire
2005 Ford Escape complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 model year, filed between 2004 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 489 | 31% |
| Body structure | 459 | 29% |
| Electrical system | 169 | 11% |
| Speed control / throttle | 152 | 10% |
| Engine | 148 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 136 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 126 | 8% |
| Wheels | 107 | 7% |
2005 Ford Escape recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2005 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V602000 | Dec 20, 2004 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | 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… |
| 06V111000 | Apr 7, 2006 | Seats — front assembly / head restraint | 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… |
| 14V526000 | Sep 3, 2014 | Hybrid propulsion system | 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… |
| 15E045000 | Jun 3, 2015 | Suspension — front / wheel bearing | 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… |
| 15V606000 | Sep 29, 2015 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / floor shift | 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… |
How the 2005 compares with nearby Escape years
Verdicts compare these Escape model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 598 | 9 | Body structure | Solid |
| 2004 | 499 | 8 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2005 (this page) | 1,584 | 5 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2006 | 720 | 5 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2007 | 393 | 4 | Service brakes | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2005 Ford Escape
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2005 Ford Escape can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2005 Ford Escape reliability FAQ
Is the 2005 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2005 Ford Escape has 1,584 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and body structure. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2003–2007), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Escape's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2005 Ford Escape problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Escape are suspension (489), body structure (459), electrical system (169), speed control / throttle (152). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2005 Ford Escape have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2005 Ford Escape, including 04V602000 (latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch) and 06V111000 (seats — front assembly / head restraint). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2005 Ford Escape compare with the 2004 and 2006 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2004 has 499 complaints and 8 recalls (solid); the 2006 has 720 complaints and 5 recalls (solid). The 2005 has 1,584 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2005 Ford Escape?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Escape research
Other Ford Escape model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2005 Escape, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.