Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2004 vs 2005 FORD ESCAPE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 263 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 218.4% more reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table

Component	2004 share	2005 share	Share change
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	16.5%	8.3%	▼ 8.3 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS	6.9%	1.8%	▼ 5.1 pts smaller share
ENGINE	6.7%	11.2%	▲ 4.6 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES	3.4%	7.2%	▲ 3.7 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3.8%	6.0%	▲ 2.2 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN	4.2%	6.3%	▲ 2.1 pts larger share
VISIBILITY	3.2%	2.3%	▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS	1.2%	0.4%	▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE	16.1%	16.9%	▲ 0.8 pts larger share
SUSPENSION	22.0%	21.2%	▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
WHEELS	5.0%	5.5%	▲ 0.4 pts larger share
PARKING BRAKE	0.4%	0.1%	▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM	2.6%	2.9%	▲ 0.3 pts larger share
STEERING	2.6%	2.9%	▲ 0.2 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.2%	not reported	▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.2%	not reported	▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.4%	0.5%	▲ 0.1 pts larger share
TIRES	0.2%	0.3%	▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	35.3%	35.5%	▲ 0.2 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

2004 8

Campaign components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION, and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2005 5

Campaign components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN, SEATS, and SUSPENSION

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21