Ford Escape Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 1,145 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Ford Escape across 22 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (459). The words owners use most often: “wheel well” (31% of reports).
- 1,145suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 30mention a crash
- 11mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 18%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Wheel well: mentioned in 358 of 1,145 complaints (31%)
- Rear passenger: mentioned in 187 of 1,145 complaints (16%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 153 of 1,145 complaints (13%)
- Shock mount: mentioned in 143 of 1,145 complaints (12%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the Ford Escape at $1,950, and half of them between $1,350 and $2,800.
Based on 31 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 911 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,145 complaints, 30 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 11 an injury.
Ford Escape suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Escape | 5 | 2% | 48,500 |
| 2021 Escape | 7 | 2% | 41,513 |
| 2020 Escape | 9 | 1% | 19,000 |
| 2019 Escape | 3 | 1% | 54,000 |
| 2018 Escape | 11 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2017 Escape | 8 | 0% | 34,000 |
| 2016 Escape | 7 | 1% | 57,099 |
| 2015 Escape | 13 | 1% | 31,301 |
| 2014 Escape | 18 | 1% | 46,000 |
| 2013 Escape | 27 | 1% | 49,098 |
| 2012 Escape | 12 | 2% | 46,000 |
| 2011 Escape | 32 | 2% | 84,000 |
| 2010 Escape | 34 | 2% | 108,000 |
| 2009 Escape | 19 | 1% | 65,000 |
| 2008 Escape | 31 | 2% | 129,000 |
| 2007 Escape | 19 | 7% | 88,618 |
| 2006 Escape | 65 | 14% | 111,000 |
| 2005 Escape | 459 | 33% | 121,000 |
| 2004 Escape | 154 | 31% | 123,481 |
| 2003 Escape | 90 | 16% | 120,831 |
| 2002 Escape | 80 | 8% | 125,000 |
| 2001 Escape | 42 | 4% | 100,199 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists suspension for the Ford Escape. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
White foggy smoke from exhaust. Backing sensor or driving sensor are off when sensing environment. Car suspension not fully stable sorta drift to left or right.
I have a 2011 Ford Escape AWD 3.0 engine. I took it for NY state inspection and it fails due the right side front subframe is rusted and unsafe. Ford has a recall on models up to 2004 but this vehicle has the same issue of the A/C draining on it causing the rust. I have been an auto tech for over…
My car began to shake significantly when going over 60 mph on the highway. I had to drive under the speed limit. When I had the car checked, they said the shocks had been leaking and it impacted the alignment, causing my tires to become âwavyâ and unsafe to drive. I had to get a set of 4 new…
1. I purchased a 2010 Ford Escape that had a preexisting rusted frame defect. That is shown by the Ford vehicle history report and related service documentation, which support that the problem existed before I took possession of the vehicle. The vehicle was determined as unsafe to drive and later…
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The vehicle was taken to Midas for a service appointment, and the contact was informed that the rear shocks were leaking. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was informed that the rear shocks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Escapes have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,145 owner complaints about suspension for the Ford Escape. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Escape suspension?
No recall currently lists suspension for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the Ford Escape?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,950 (half paid between $1,350 and $2,800), from 31 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “wheel well”, in 358 of 1,145 complaints, followed by “rear passenger” (187).
Other Ford Escape problems
- Engine problems (7,206)
- Power Train problems (4,654)
- Steering problems (3,944)
- Electrical System problems (2,524)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,330)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (2,298)
- Structure problems (2,296)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,833)
See all Ford Escape problems.