When I'm driving my vehicle & making left turns it makes a loud noise. To me it sounds like the transmission just fell out. I'm enclosing some documents of recalls that I've found. My truck is also rusting out so bad that when I put my grandson in his car seat, the legs of my pants get caught on it.
2007 Ford Escape suspension problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 18 suspension complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Escape, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report severe rear shock mount corrosion that causes shocks to detach from the vehicle body, usually after hitting bumps. The failures produce loud clunking noises and can occur with as little as 3,900 miles on the odometer or many years later; one owner with 164,000 miles found the entire upper shock mount broken free and the shock moving freely into the cabin. Frame and subframe rust is widespread—owners describe frame rails rotting from inside out and wheel well areas corroding heavily. At least one owner required steering corrections of nearly 90 degrees due to subframe damage.
Front lower control arm bolts shear on some vehicles, causing wheels to separate during normal backing. ABS tone rings fracture on the front axles (both driver and passenger sides), disabling ABS and traction control—a pattern that repeats; one owner experienced two failures within two weeks at 46,000 miles. Stabilizer links fracture and front tires wear prematurely in circular patterns, suggesting alignment issues tied to suspension degradation. Dealers acknowledge some failures but deny others are common, and no recalls have been issued despite owner research indicating these are known problems. Repair costs for shock mounts alone run $600–$1,200, and frame replacement can exceed that. One owner purchased the vehicle used and discovered dangerous corrosion just two months later.
Same Ford Escape suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Shock Mount Corrosion and Failure
Upper rear shock mounts corrode and rust out, causing the shock absorber to disconnect from or break free from the vehicle body. Owners report the shock moving loosely, striking interior panels, or becoming completely detached during normal driving.
When: Various mileages from 2 months of ownership to 164,000 miles; one failure at 3,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunking or knocking noise from rear suspension, especially over bumps; Shock visibly loose or disconnected from body; Vehicle pitching and pulling to one side; Shock pushing through corroded metal; Vehicle pulling to one side requiring nearly 90-degree steering correction
Repairs/costs cited: Shock replacement required; repair estimates range from $600 to $1,200 or more. One dealer attempted welding but declared repair unsafe and beyond patching. Subframe replacement may be necessary in severe rust cases.
Frame and Subframe Corrosion
Extensive rust and corrosion affecting the vehicle's frame, subframe, and undercarriage. Owners describe frame rotting out from inside and underneath, shock tower rusting completely through, and rear frame rails deteriorating.
When: Observed as early as 2 months after purchase; failure noted at 40,000 miles, 89,236 miles, and 164,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible rust on underside and rear wheel wells; Frame or subframe rotted or crumbling; Steering wheel pulling requiring significant correction; Knock or clunking noises from rear; Suspension geometry affected by frame deterioration
Repairs/costs cited: Repair costs estimated at $600 to $1,000 for shock mount area alone. Full frame replacement needed in severe cases. One owner reported repair at independent shop did not resolve the ongoing issue.
Front Control Arm Bolt Failure
Front lower control arm bolts shear, and bolts on the wheel hub can shear. These failures cause wheels to separate or become loose during normal driving.
When: At 6.5 years of age; bolt sheared with threads requiring repair
Symptoms owners cite: Wheel separation from vehicle while backing up; Steering pull or instability; Sheared bolt requiring drilling out; Thread damage requiring repair
Repairs/costs cited: Sheared bolt drilled out, threads repaired, and front axle replaced. Repair performed at dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford does not acknowledge this as an issue.
Tone Ring Fracture and ABS/Traction Control Loss
ABS tone rings on the front axles fracture or break, causing loss of ABS and traction control function. Failures occur on both driver and passenger sides, often in sequence.
When: First failure at 46,000 miles; second failure two weeks later; also at 53,339 miles and 88,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated on dashboard; 4WD light blinking intermittently; Loss of ABS function; Loss of traction control; Brakes fail to respond properly
Repairs/costs cited: Complete axle replacement required to repair tone ring; repair cost approximately $250 per axle. Warranty on repairs is 12 months/12,000 miles, resetting to original install date if part replaced again.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One service manager stated this is not a common issue. Owner research found it to be a common problem with repeat failures. No recalls or service bulletins listed.
Rear Suspension Failure
Complete failure of rear suspension system, including shock attachment points or entire suspension assembly, while braking or driving over uneven roads.
When: At 3,900 miles when braking at 60 mph; at 70,000 miles when vehicle pulled to one side at low speed
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of rear suspension support when braking; Vehicle pulling to one side; Loss of control or stability; Vehicle unable to restart after failure
Repairs/costs cited: One service manager confirmed failure occurred when brakes applied at 60 mph. Control arm detached from subframe in another case. Repairs not completed in reported instances.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford engineer provided related information on one failure. No recalls issued.
Stabilizer Link Fracture
Front stabilizer links fracture and fail, typically causing squeaking or clunking noises during driving.
When: At 53,339 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal squeaking noise while driving at 20 mph; Audible clunking from front suspension
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced both front stabilizer links.
Front Tire Wear Pattern (Alignment Related)
Front tires wear bald and develop circular wear patterns in unusually short mileage, suggesting suspension geometry issues or misalignment.
When: Tire wear noted after approximately 2,000 to 4,000 miles of driving
Symptoms owners cite: Bald tire wear in circular pattern; Premature tire failure
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple tire replacements required in short timeframe; likely linked to suspension or frame damage affecting alignment.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2007 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2007 Ford Escape?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 60,702 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 89,236. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,702; a quarter make it past 140,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Ford/Escape.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.