Model year guide

2005 Ford Escape

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2005 Ford Escape is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 336 on record.

2005 Ford Escape at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints1,584
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$3,331

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2005 Ford Escape recalls 5

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift NHTSA Campaign #15V606000 · 29/09/2015

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 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lev…

Fix: 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 began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-4…

Hybrid Propulsion System NHTSA Campaign #14V526000 · 03/09/2014

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 overheating.

Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

Suspension:front:wheel Bearing NHTSA Campaign #15E045000 · 03/06/2015

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 vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimensio…

Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint NHTSA Campaign #06V111000 · 07/04/2006

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.

Fix: 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.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch NHTSA Campaign #04V602000 · 20/12/2004

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 THE INERTIA LOAD REQUIREMENT IN ONE DIRECTION.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2005 Ford Escape common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 1,584 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

2005 Ford Escape safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2005 Ford Escape 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2005 Ford Escape MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway24 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,888

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2005 Ford Escape worth?

Low
$1,300
Typical price
$3,331
High
$5,500

From 332 comparable 2005 Ford Escape listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2005 Ford Escape costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,440
Depreciation (5 yrs)$1,850
Total$16,290
Per mile$0.22

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($3,331) with the same model 4 model-years older ($1,839), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2005 Ford Escape trims & engines on record

Trims
XLT · Limited · XLS · XLT Sport · HEV
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 200 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 153 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 155 hp · 3.0L 6-cyl 201 hp

2005 Ford Escape vehicles on record

Other Ford Escape model years

2005 Ford Escape — frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Ford Escape have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2005 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Escape?

Based on 1,584 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are structure, power train, suspension.

What is the 2005 Ford Escape safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2005 Ford Escape crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2005 Ford Escape get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2005 Ford Escape at about 22 mpg combined (21 city / 24 highway).

How much is a 2005 Ford Escape worth?

Comparable 2005 Ford Escape listings run roughly $1,300–$5,500, typically around $3,331 (from 332 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.