2004 Ford Escape Electrical Problems

Your Escape has a wiring grounding problem that's draining your alternator. When you use the windshield wipers, headlights, and heat or AC all at the same time during rain, your alternator fails the next day and won't work properly — even after replacing the battery and fuses. You've had to replace the alternator multiple times because it keeps failing in the same situation, and your car has completely shut off while driving on the highway. The cigarette lighter also doesn't work, so you can't charge your phone or use navigation. The fix will likely involve finding and repairing the faulty ground connection in your electrical system.

THE VEHICLE WAS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. IT WAS PARKED ON THE STREET, EVERYTHING WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. I WAS IN WORK WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. NOTHING WAS ON TO START THIS FIRE, IT HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE DRIVERS SIDE ENGINE BAY. PREVIOUS TO THIS INCIDENT, THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE.

DROVE MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE 20 MINUTES TO GET PIZZA AND COME BACK HOME PARKED IT AT 8PM BY 12:30AM NEIGHBORS BANGING ON DOOR YOUR CARS ON FIRE!!!! I'M IN BELIEVE THE ABS MODULE CAUGHT FIRE RECALL IS OUT FORD SAYS MY VEHICLE DOESN'T APPLY

WE OWN A 2004 ESCAPE. THAT TWO WEEKS AGO CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. WE ALSO HAVE HAD BRAKE LINES GO BAD DUE TO PART FAILURE TWICE. AND THE TOTAL OF THREE ALTERNATORS. NOW WE HAVE SPOKEN TO FORD REGARDING THE 01-03 FIRE ISSUE. BUT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYRHING TO CONSIDER THE 04 EVEN THOUGH IN RESEARCHING THE ACTUAL RECALL IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULF LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. WE ARE SELLING OUR VEHICLE TO THE SEALER SUE TO LACK OF RELIABILITY. BUT WANTED TO VET THE WORD OUT ON THIS ISSUE. OUR ENGINE ALSO IDLE AND TRIES TO PULL THE VEHICLE FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY IDLE AIR CONTROLL VALVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

ORIGINAL OWNER, FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY, SOMETIMES FOR 1 DRIVE, SOMETIMES FOR DAYS AT A TIME THEN GO AWAY. THE LIGHT COMING ON AND GOING OFF WOULD HAPPEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT DOESNT MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT, IVE CHECKED THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT AND IT IS FIRMLY SEATED. IN THE PAST YEAR I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY, BRAKE AND NOW ABS LIGHT COME ON. IN JANUARY OF 2014 MY ALTERNATOR DIED AND I HAD IT REPLACED, IN JANUARY OF 2015 I HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY. BATTERY LIGHT HAS SINCE GONE AWAY, BUT OTHER LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY. BASED ON THE TYPE OF WORK I DO, IM CONVINCED THERE IS A SHORT OR BAD GROUND SOMEWHERE BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO BEGIN. FORD WANTS $160/ HR TO DIAGNOSE THIS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT ABUSED AND HAS ABOUT 110K MILES. SINCE THE WHOLE CAR IS BASED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, I FEEL THIS IS SOMETHING FORD SHOULD LOOK AT, DIAGNOSE AND FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT EXAMINED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND NOTICED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT WAS BURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, IT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR MY CAR STARTS TO SPIT, SPUTTER AND RUN ROUGH, THERE IS A NOTICEABLE LOSS OF POWER AND MY GAUGES FIRST TOP OUT THEN THEY BOTTOM OUT THEN THEY GO BACK TO NORMAL. FORD CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CODE FOR THEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AROUND A TURN ABOUT CIRCLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE NOR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

CAR'S ENGINE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND COMPLETELY STALLED GOING 45 MPH DOWN A HIGHWAY, ACCIDENT AVOIDED AS CAR BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. CAR WOULD NOT START, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHO FOND TWO ENGINE COILS DEFECTIVE AND ALL SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS REPEATED ISSUES WITH DEFECTIVE COILS AND DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL ON A HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPS. THIS IS POOR ENGINEERING ON FORD'S PART AND DEMAND THE US GOVERNMENT FORCE A RECALL! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 65, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, CAUSING THE RADIO, SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGE TO DECREASE TO ZERO FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO SECONDS AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,600. THE VIN UNAVAILABLE.

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ON THE WAY BACK, IT AGAIN CAME ON AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES - IT FLASHED A FEW TIMES AND THEN STAYED ON. THE FORD DEALER TESTED THE CAR AND SAID THE WARNING LIGHT WAS CAUSED BY BOTH FRONT PRETENSIONER CONNECTORS COSTING $397.99. I LOOKED UP PRETENSIONER ON THE INTERNET AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS SPECIFIC TO 2004 FORD ESCAPES. THERE WERE ALSO SOLUTIONS SUCH AS DISCONNECTING THE LIGHT, IGNORING THE LIGHT, AND RIGGING THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD DEFECT THAT MAY LEAD TO LACK OF SAFETY AND HIGHWAY DEATH. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT CONSUMERS MAY IGNORE.

MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE I BOUGHT USED FROM A DEALER AFTER LESS THEN 4 MONTHS AN IGNITION COIL POPPED I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR CHANGED COIL AND SPARK PLUGS GOT IT BACK AND LESS THEN 2 DAYS LATER ANOTHER IGNITION COIL POPPED. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ALTERNATOR IN MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES NOW SINCE 2006. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM CAN'T FIND ANYTHING AND IS NOT WILLING TO HELP SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED WAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO. WHEN IT WAS IN FOR REPAIRS THEY STATED THE FORD DEALER IT WAS TAKEN TOO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BUT THEY GOT A LETTER OF SUCH IN ACCURATE INFO FROM THE DEALER THE CLAIM WAS DROPPED. I KNOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR FORD I HAVE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE YOUR COMPANY TO BUY MY CAR AND GET ME INTO A NEW ONE OR AT THE VERY LEAST REPAIR THIS ISSUE AND ANY ISSUES THAT MAY BE FOUND IF AND WHEN THIS IS LOOKED INTO. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT BREAKS DOWN EVERY TWO YEARS. SOMETIME MORE. PLEASE HELP. MY CAR IS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4WD. MILEAGE: 111925VEHICLE LOCATION: INPOSSESSIONIF CONTACTED DEALER: YESDEALER NAME: DIEHL MOTOR. *TR

2004 ESCAPE REFUSED TO OPERATE STARTER AFTER BEING OPERATED WITH LOAD AT SLOW SPEEDS, FOUND NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD AND NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY 6M MILES AGO LAST YEAR. SAME PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED BEFORE AND AFTER BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPL. PRIVATE AUTO SERVICE SHOP TESTED... SYSTEM CHARGING SUBNORMAL BELOW 900 RPM. WILL NOT KEEP BATTERY CHARGED ESPECIALLY WHILE A/C ON, DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC IN PHOENIX,. AZ. DEALER REFUSES TO LOOK AT IT OR TEST IT NOW, EVEN THOUGH THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBLEM CONTINUED TO EXIST. SUV HAS 31,301 MILES ON IT AS OF 10/20/07. THEY HAVE STALLED EVERY TIME I TOOK IT BACK AND JUST KEEP SAYING "IT CANNOT BE." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET OR WHEN SAND HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE GROUND DUE TO SNOW, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE, THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES AS IT SHOULD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ONE YEAR. HE CURRENTLY HAS AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 07V56000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) DOES NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,175 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FORD ESCAPES JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING, THERE ARE NO WARNINGS SIGNS. THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. THIS STARTED HAPPENING DURING THE WEEK SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2006. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON 12/9/06 AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN AND THE DEALER CHANGED THE AIR CONTROL VALVE, AND THE CRANK SHAFT TIMING SENSOR. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD CONTACT THAT THEY HAD CONTAMINATED FUEL AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. THE STALLING OCCURS TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AGAIN FOR REPAIRS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER, NO INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THIS FAILURE.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD FLASHES AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND THEN REMAINS ILLUMINATED. AFTER HAVING THE CAR INTO THE SHOP THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE CIRCUIT AND WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $100 JUST TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAY COST MORE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT APPEARS THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR ESCAPES AND IT FAILS AFTER BEING FIXED REPEATEDLY. *JB

CONSUMER 2004 FORD ESCAPE STALLED AT SLOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS AWARDED A REPURCHASE OF HER 2004 FORD ESCAPE AFTER ARBITRATION DUE TO THE STALLING PROBLEM. *NM

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2004 ESCAPE LAST YEAR, AND WE HAVE JUST LOST THE VEHICLE TO A FIRE. UNFORTUNATELY, MY ENTIRE 5,000 SQ. FT. BARN IS TOTALLY DESTROYED AS WELL, AND I NEARLY LOST MY HOME. SHE PARKS HER ESCAPE IN AN OPENING IN OUR DETACHED BARN TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE WEATHER. ON THE MORNING OF 3/5/05 (4:45 AM), I WOKE TO A GLOW IN THE WINDOW, FINDING THAT MY BARN WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WHEN I FIRST DISCOVERED THE FIRE, THE FLAMES WERE CONTAINED TO THE AREA OF THE BARN WHERE HER ESCAPE WAS PARKED. THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY, AND WE LOST THE STRUCTURE AND THE ESCAPE. LOCAL FIRE INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING AT THE ESCAPE AS THE CAUSE OF FIRE. THEY BELIEVE THE WIRING MAY HAVE IGNITED WHILE SITTING IDLE (NOT RUNNING). I FOUND MANY INSTANCES ON THE INTERNET WHERE SOME FORD MODELS HAVE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITTING IDLE, BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY REFERENCE TO THE ESCAPE. CAN YOU ADVISE IF YOU HAVE HISTORY OF SUCH FIRES WITH THE ESCAPE? I APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION TOMORROW, AND I AM TRYING TO COLLECT AS MUCH INFORMATION ON SPONTANEOUS FIRES ON FORD PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY THE ESCAPE.*JB *NM