I‘m looking at a 2003 ford escape with replaced control arms, front axles, and front rotors. My dad says that‘s a bad sign that they we‘re in an accident. He also said that if a car has frame damage like this then it will never be the same. I know almost nothing about mechanics and I don‘t think he knows enough. Is this true?
Dad may be wrong. 2003 Escapes often had their axles replaced because they came from the factory with fragile tone rings for the abs system, they broke easily, so new axles mean you won't have to deal with that. Front control arms are often done when servicing lower ball joints when a shop doesn't have the equipment to press them out of the arm, and new arms come with bushings so it's often a better way to go - another plus. New brake rotors just means it has new brakes, every car will require them at some point. Again, good that they're new. If you're concerned about a major accident, get it checked. Any mechanic or bodyman can tell just by looking at it.
Nearly all modern cars and FWD light trucks will have had the front axles replaced it the first ten years. that is the life expectancy of the CV joint boots and replacement drive axles is the standard repair. I agree with Dave C that the other front end parts are not unusual for the Escape of that era but that replacing the lower control arms on some other cars would be slightly unusual. However, that indicates early failure of the ball joints or bushings and not collision. I don't see any concern for collision damage in that set of parts. It sounds more like good service history to me.
At least once a year. The sun dries them out and they become inflexible and so don't do their job. You don't want to find out you need new ones when it's raining.
I replace mine twice a year. It seems like that's as long as they will last before they start leaving streaks on the windshield.
