Really glad I found this site. I have a 2012 and my mechanic noticed this issue the other day. He is really honest and has a good look around on every oil change. I was ticked! I have 210,000 km on it, a few other age-related issues, and it's also coming up for new rubber. I guess I will be scrapping her. Sucks as I do really like my little truck. Oh well. Best of luck to everybody else with this issue. It should be a recall...

Air conditioner drain is the problem ...but yes Ford should have recalled them

Happened to my 2010 Escape and then my 2010 Mariner. Luckily during an oil change the mechanic noticed ot on the Mariner (said it was super dangerous and could break next time I hit a bump). Spent $1K to replace the subframe. Last week I was rearended by a pickup truck (Mariner totaled) so once again I am on the seemingly impossible and daunting hunt for a 2010-2012 Escape or Mariner without a rusted out subframe. honestly reading all this makes me feel that for my own safety I need to finally move on (even tho its the only type of car I've ever owned, for the past 16 years) :( I wish Ford would address this, mostly for the safety part.

I’ve got a 2009 with the same issue. #ford needs to address this as a recall. They did on the first generation, but ignoring the second generation

A couple of days ago, my wife was supposed to take her 2011 Escape on the highway to get to work. My daughter didn't realize that her mom was going to be doing that and borrowed the car to go into town to run an errand. She was stopped at a light and as soon as she started turning to go through the intersection, she heard a bang and thought that a tire had popped. She had the thing towed home for me to fix and when I saw it coming off the back of the flatbed, I couldn't believe by eyes - a wheel was missing. The driver explained that he had to remove it so it would unjam and could be towed. The subframe had broken in two where the front part of the passenger control arm is attached. The wheel had pulled so hard to the right that the CV axle came apart. The wheel must have pushed back so hard that the front quarter panel pushed back and now rubs into the passenger door. The rotting must have progressed very quickly since 3 years ago it had been in a minor accident and no mention of rot was noted and just two years ago, I replaced both control arms (bad bushings) and didn't notice anything abnormal. The rest of the car has some minor rust but nothing of note. I can only imagine how differently the story could have ended if my wife had driven to work that day!

I have 2011 here with the same rotted out subframe from the AC dripping on it. I can’t understand how ford can get away with not recalling these. Hyundai has a recall right now checking for corrosion on the brake lines as well as the subframes that goes back at at least to 2010. Toyota has had multiple frame recalls. Ford needs to be held accountable. This is obviously a design flaw, they should be fixing the ones that need it as well as installing an extension on the AC drain. I had the same problem years ago with a T bird, rotted frame due to the AC, the rest of the car was fine, just like these Escapes, the other side is perfect. Everyone that is affected needs to file a statement or complaint.

Same thing happened to me last year. I don't understand how the subframe can rot away to nothing, yet the lower control arm looks brand new still.

Surely there are enough of these exactly the same problem to trigger a recall.

Agree that it should be recalled, but Ford won't as it's aged out, or so I've heard. Had my subframe replaced last week. Apparently there's enough of them, so Ford keeps replacements in stock.

Just found the same thing on my 2011 ford escape. Also, the frame on both sides in the rear beside the shocks is completely gone on the outside of the frame. All along the frame from front to back is rusted worse than I've ever seen. The Escape is taken care of and is simply a daily driver from New. I suspect these frames on these year vehicles are sub parts metal. I've been a mechanic for over 50 years never seeing this kind of rot on a daily driver car.

And this is why I went with a Mazda CX-7. I couldn’t find a Ford Escape that wasn’t rusted out to hell. My cx7 does have dings and dents but no rust. I’m happy

I purchased a new subframe from a dealer on line which is the same cost for a used on on e-bay. Also bought a couple of cans of expanding foam and filled the new one with it to prevent any water from getting in. Then I sprayed the outside with undercoating to seal the whole thing up.

With the prices of new SUV's it is worth fixing Going to look under my 2005 Escape next weekend

Yep. My otherwise solid 2012 just failed inspection because of the rotten k-frame.

Just happened to me. Fortunately I was in a parking lot, not driving at full speed.

I have a 2009 Ford Escape and just was made aware of the exact same issue.

I was told yesterday my truck was safe to drive after getting the exhaust done… 2 hours after picking my truck up … my son was driving at 100km on the QEW … he said he heard the tire pop and then the truck frame broke. He could have been killed or someone else could have been killed. And now I’m finding out this was Fords fault and this was preventable???

Mine is the exact same thing, passenger side is rusted trough and driver side is fine!

That’s great but you need a mechanic to take the pics and show what you are looking at. The passenger side rotted out and such. The mechanic needs to say in writing that the vehicle is not safe for operation. Then Ford might do something about it. I have a 2010 in the same situation. Doing that now with the better business bureau. Hopefully they will recall these vehicles.

When mine cut loose I was driving in the snow! Not deep snow but still! Spun me around in the road and thankfully it didn't catch and flip me ! But mine is bad on the driver's side

Mine is going like that too on my 2005. What I do is keep spraying oil on it to stop it getting worse.

Yes was just told and seen mine is rusting out on the passenger side as well $2000 to replace. Didn't know this was a thing would be nice if they would recall

Im spending 2700 to fix on a '09 Escape. Someone pointed it out to me. Disaster avoided.

Mechanic here, who also owns a 2010 escape. He’a right, thereason this happens is because the A/C water drips right onto that side of the subframe. Simply a design flaw

Having same issues on 2010 ford escape is there anything that can be done :(

Same thing on our '10 escape.

I have been trying to figure out why my 100k 2010 mercury mariners front end is still wobbly after replacing my tie rods and now realized that the passenger side of the subframe is rusted through and broken. it looks almost exactly the same as yours. it doesn't help living in the northeast so lots of salt during the winter

Would this also be called a cradle?? My mom's car was getting inspected and they said the 'front cradle' was completely rusted out and had HOLES in it.

Mine just failed today while I was stopping getting off the freeway today.

I just noticed this issue on my 2010 ford Escape. While I was driving in the dark I hit a pot hole which caused my subframe to brake where the passenger side lower control arm gets bolted in.

I attempted to establish a recall for this several years ago with a 2004 Escape. The people at the IIHS said, because it is clearly visible under the vehicle a mechanic can see it and notify the owner to have it repaired before it becomes a danger. I said that is true but it is clearly a design flaw and has been since they started making them, why should the cost of repairing such a flaw be placed on the owner. They said Ford did a recall on certain years from certain assembly plants up until 2004 they installed a brace across the bottom so the two sides couldn't separate. You would think they would have changed the design in 2008 with the redesign but instead they just added the brace at the factory and called it fixed. IIHS dropped the ball on this obvious design flaw and failed to order Ford to come up with a better design.

Only way to hold ford accountable is report to nhtsa and Federal trade commision. If enough people complain they will be forced..

Same here mine just failed on the way back from work. Ordered a replacement and will be replacing it this weekend..... smh

The wife has a 2010; since it’s spent most of its life in the desert, no rust

Mine don’t have one spec of rust on it

Yes!! I took my Escape to a mechanic and was told the same thing that it caused by where the air conditioner is located because water drips down. I'm so bummed. Any recommendations on buying new or used sub frame? FORD dealer quoted me $500 for a new sub frame.

2011 frame blew out and ripped the axle out. Same with my 2002 accord. Seems like they need to divert the water somewhere else

Just found out yesterday mines gone on the passenger side as well

I have a 2012 Ford Escape In mine broke passenger side while taking off from light and and brought me head on traffic lucky i got back to side roadit's gonna be 2 to 3000 to replace it engine cradle at shop I'm sick to my stomach 140000 miles runs like a top looks like junk yard don't have cash to fix

Have a 2008 rear frame around springs is gone on both sides. Total rust buckets!

It. not under sealed if it is from a dry state then it will rust. ti.s 14 years old so they will be no recall.

The water coming from the air conditioner is distilled water. Distilled water will eat up any metal it comes in contact with.

Mine 08 expac fream did the same thing. Iam very pissed. About it

I'm fixing up my steadily-used, steadily-maintained and steadily-washed 220K-mile 3.0L 2011 Escape. The last detail is this passenger side subframe. No where near as bad as seen in this video but needs either replacement or cover patch weld so the (still relatively small) rust cavity slows/stops for the next 2 years (my target for remaining life). Ford will do absolutely nothing. I will get replacement part for < $400 on the web if I can't find someone with a TIG welder. Daughter had a 2005 model which was much much worse in the same area. 6-cyl jeeps from now on.

Just had mechanic tell me that my 2010 Ford Escape has front subframe rotten half way around and is not worth fixing. Everything else on the vehicle is good, but now I am afraid to drive it.

It’s a super old car, seriously nobody is recalling it.

Same probleme here. I give up ford and change my truck

My 2010 Escape needs the same fix… obviously a very common problem with these vehicles. Can’t believe how much I’m paying to have it fixed :(

same issue on 2010 Mariner (so same vehicle)

My 2009 Ford Escape V6 had same problem at 220,000 k S here in Ontario, passenger side. $1,800 Cdn $ to replace. Exhaust another $900 so time to sell it to someone that wants a big project.

HELP (haha) Subframe Big Bolt tore capture nut inside frame loose when trying to replace control arm (and subframe was replaced so how TF did this happen?) Anyhow thinking 2.5" hole saw side of frame comfortably looking in wheel well sitting on stool, weld nut to frame, weld plug back in.

It is because of water condinsae from AC

I have a 2009. None of these problems

Happening to me right now. What would I say to Ford if I called?

Hello malachi.

I think that Americans have only their very lax inspection regime to blame. If I drove that to an MoT ( government licensed inspection ) station here in the UK - or anywhere in the EU for that matter - the vehicle would be impounded on the spot and could not leave the inspection premises unless on a trailer to be repaired. Typical example would be " er buddy, the frame is rusting out but you're ok, it passed the emissions test. Oh and did you know your brakes don't work safely.....see you next year". I suggest you look up online the requirements for an MoT pass and apply those standards to your vehicle......although it would result in less amusing vidoes of the "customer states" variety......oh HOW we laugh at those over here in safe vehicle land😂

ford told me no for recall. i have a 10 escape i had to pay out of my pocket

Shit, I just saw this on mine, a replacement subframe is 500 bucks from ford.

Wash your truck weekly in a salty environment and it will take years to rust like that got to wash that salt off.

I just bought a 2005 Ford Escape finding out the subframe was so thin .🫣😬 Changing shocks in rear was out of the question.🤨 It’s a $ 200.00 dollar salvage yard car now.😮

Mines a ten and same issues same spot