2001 Ford Escape Lights Problems
7 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (7)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC CABLE CONNECTOR ABOVE THE HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PART WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
MY SON WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN A BIG DEER CAME OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. HE JAMMED ON HIS BRAKES SKIDDING BUT STILL HIT THE DEER TOTALING THE CAR. NOT ONE OF THE AIRBAGS CAME OUT. HE WENT FORWARD HITTING HIS UPPER BODY AND FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. HE HAD HIS SEAT BELT ON. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE ACCIDENT. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY FRIENDS. HE TURNED BLACK AND BLUE AND STILL IS HURTING. THE CAR WAS JUST INSPECTED THE END OF OCTOBER. I FEEL FORD AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE. THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAGS NOT WORKING CAUSING INJURY. I'M WITHOUT A CAR...UPDATED 12/04/14*BF UPDATED 06/2/2015 *JS
UPON TURNING MY DIRECTIONAL ON TO MAKE THE LEFT HAND TURN IT HESSITATED TO COME ON WHILE THE DIRECTIONAL STILL STAYED DOWN TO GO LEFT. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS THE DIRECTIONAL CAME ON AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL AS A STREAM OF SMOKE OUT OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS BUTTON ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I SHUT THE DIRECTIONAL OFF AND THE SMOKE STOPPED AND CLEARED AWAY. I PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION WHICH WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY NOT USING THE DIRECTIONAL AGAIN. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE "TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FRIED." BEING THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONLY ABOUT 20 YARDS AWAY THEY CAME AND PICKED MY VEHICLE UP GIVING ME A LOANER VEHICLE TO USE. THEY TOLD ME THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $120.00 FOR THE PART AND LABOR. I HUNG UP WITH THEM AND WAS NOT HAPPY. THAT EVENING AFTER DISCUSSING THE MATTER WITH MY FATHER HE AND I FELT IT SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBLITY TO PAY THIS AMOUNT ON A DEFECTIVE PART THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. THAT NEXT MORNING I PICK UP MY VEHICLE AND ASKED THE BILL TO BE BILLED AND MAILED TO MY DADS BUSINESS, HE OWNS A NAPA AUTO PARTS STORE. AFTER HAVING SHOWED MY FATHER THE BILL AND HE CALLED TWO OTHER FORD DEALERSHIPS, THAT HE KNOWS AND DOES BUSINESS WITH. HE TOLD THEM MY SITUATION AND THEY INFORMED US THAT IT IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" AND THAT THEY FIX THE PROBLEMS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CUSTOMER. AFTER FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL ALL DAY WITH MY DEALERSHIPS MANAGER AND PARTS MANAGER THE DEALERSHIPS MANAGER SAID HE WOULD THROW THE BILL OUT AND NOT CHARGE ME BECAUSE WE ARE GOOD CUSTOMERS. WHY WOULD TWO OTHER DEALERSHIPS PERFORM THIS AT NO COST AND MINE WANT TO CHARGE ME? MY FATHER HAS ALSO CONTACTED FORD AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THIS AND HE WAS GOING TO GET BACK TO US. WHY ISN'T THEIR A RECALL ON THIS?
IN MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE LOST THEIR SEALS, AT SEPARATE TIMES WITHOUT ANY DAMANGE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING OCCURRED, AND WATER ENTER THE LIGHT COMPARTMENT, DIFUSING THE HEADLIGHT AND NECESSITATING ABOUT $300 IN REPLACEMENT COSTS, EACH. I JUST FIND IT VERY STRANGE THAT BOTH LIGHTS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT AROUND JUNE 2004 AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE JUST BROKE.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE HEADLIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LOW BEAM FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. *YH
WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL GO OFF WITHOUT APRIOR WARNING, HAD CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BAD SEAL CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FILL WITH WATER, DEALER STATED THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY RUIN REFLECTIVE BACKING, ONE OF THE FOG LIGHTS BLEW OUT. *SLC