2001-'04 Ford Escape Recalled for Rust, Steering Problem

Just the Facts:

• Ford is recalling 385,762 2001-'04 Ford Escape SUVs because a rust problem may cause the lower control arm to separate, potentially resulting in diminished steering control, Ford told Edmunds on Monday.
• "We are aware of one crash that may be related to this issue, but no injuries," wrote Kelli Felker, a Ford spokeswoman, in an e-mailed message.
• Dealers will install a reinforcement crossbrace on the affected Escapes.

DEARBORN, Michigan — Ford is recalling 385,762 2001-'04 Ford Escape SUVs because a rust problem may cause the lower control arm to separate, potentially resulting in diminished steering control, Ford told Edmunds on Monday.

"We are aware of one crash that may be related to this issue, but no injuries," wrote Kelli Felker, a Ford spokeswoman, in an e-mailed message.

The affected Escapes were sold or are registered in so-called "salt belt" states in the Midwest and Northeast and in certain Canadian provinces.

"In some of the affected vehicles, a corrosion-related separation of the forward attachment of the lower control arm from the subframe may occur when vehicles are operated in high-corrosion environments associated with road salt use for an extended time," Felker wrote.

"Separation of the lower control arm from the subframe may result in diminished steering control, increasing the risk of a crash."

Some of the 2001-‘04 Escapes were built at Ford's Kansas City Assembly plant from October 22, 1999 to December 19, 2003. The recall also involves the 2004 Escape built at Ford's Ohio Assembly plant from May 1, 2003 through January 23, 2004.

Approximately 349,000 of the recalled Escapes are in the U.S., with the rest in Canada, Mexico and federalized territories.

Ford dealers will install a reinforcement crossbrace on the affected Escapes. A specific date for the recall has not been set. No information about the recall has been posted on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees vehicle recalls in the U.S.

Owners can contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Edmunds says: If you own the 2001-'04 Ford Escape, contact your dealer for repairs once you get your official recall notification. But if you have an immediate concern, get in touch with your dealer now.