2008 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 2,417 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 72 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 45 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, floor shiftSep 29, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Campaign 15V606000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, wheel bearingJun 3, 2015
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Campaign 15E045000 on NHTSA.gov
Hybrid propulsion systemSep 3, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
Campaign 14V526000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMay 29, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
Campaign 14V284000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentSep 3, 2010
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Campaign 10E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
200 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 12, 2014
I WAS HEADING TO WORK ONE MORNING, AND I STARTED THE CAR UP AND DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND THE STEERING CAME BACK. (AT THE BEGINNING, SHUTTING THE CAR OFF WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM RIGHT WAY.) I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND DROVE DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING. THERE WAS ALSO A QUIET GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN (AT STOP LIGHTS ETC.), THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK MORE AND THE NOISE GREW A LITTLE LOUDER. AS THE DAYS WENT ON (3-4 DAYS LATER), THE SHAKING AND NOISE GOT WORSE UNTIL IT WAS AN UNCONTROLLABLE, CONSTANT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE NOISE BECAME SO LOUD AND HORRID THAT I THOUGHT THE CAR MIGHT BREAK DOWN. WITHIN THAT WEEK, AS I STARTED MY CAR, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ABOUT A TOTAL OF 10 TIMES, AND I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. UNLIKE AT THE BEGINNING, BY THE END OF THE WEEK, I HAD TO SHUT MY CAR OFF 4-5 TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING WOULD COME BACK. THE LAST DAY OF DRIVING THE CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SO LOOSE THAT IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL ON THE BACK ROADS/HIGHWAYS/FREEWAYS AND OVER POT HOLES. AT ONE POINT, I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND I ALMOST THOUGHT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL/CAR BACK. THANKFULLY, I (AND NO ONE ELSE) HAS DIED FROM THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE 2008 FORD ESCAPES, BUT IS THAT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE? *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 9, 2014
STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE FROM SIDE TO SIDE THEN LOST POWER TO STEERING WHEEL LIKE IT WENT FROM EASY TO VERY HARD TO STEER. TURNED CAR OFF THE RESTARTED AND IT WAS OK. NOW IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. WHEN I START CAR UP NO POWER, WHILE I'M DRIVING AND I LOSS POWER. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 9, 2014
MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN OCCURRED ON 3/8/2014 BEGINNING WHILE TRAVELLING ALONG A 2-LANE HIGHWAY (CA-74 AROUND IDYLLWILD AREA) AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M. VEHICLE DISPLAYED RED TRIANGLE ICON WITH EXCLAMATION POINT INSIDE THE TRIANGLE AND WORDS IN RED "STOP SAFELY NOW", AT WHICH POINT POWER TO THE ENGINE WAS DISABLED ALTHOUGH POWER STEERING APPEARED TO STILL BE ACTIVE. I THEN PULLED OVER AT A TURN-OUT (LUCKILY ONE WAS NEARBY SINCE I WAS GOING UPHILL AND LOSING SPEED QUICKLY). I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION AND WITHIN MINUTES RE-STARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL APPROXIMATELY MIDNIGHT AT WHICH POINT I WAS TRAVELLING ALONG A MAJOR FREEWAY IN SAN DIEGO I-15 SOUTHBOUND AT A SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED AFTER DISPLAYING THE RED ICON AND WORDS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN 4 SEPARATE TIMES. THESE 4 INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN A 6 MILE STRETCH OF EACH OTHER AND WITHIN A 20 MINUTE WINDOW. THERE WAS NO OTHER INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE - NO SYSTEM NOTICE OF OVERHEATING, FAULTY ELECTRICAL, ETC. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 28, 2014
THIS WEEK THE NEWS HAD STORIES ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS RECALLING SEVERAL CARS BECAUSE THE IGNITION CAN SUDDENLY TURN OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE EVEN DEATHS DUE TO BAD ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION FAILURE AND CAR LOSING POWER. THIS REMINDED ME OF AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHICH WAS SIMILAR. I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID LAST DECEMBER, ON I-280 IN SAN FRANCISCO DURING RUSH HOUR AT 65 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASH BEEPED AT ME, FLASHED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, DISPLAYED A MESSAGE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, AND THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER! I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY AND NO POWER TO SAFELY PULL OVER. I WAS LOSING SPEED AND SLOWED TO WHERE I CUT BETWEEN OTHER CARS AND OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I'M SURE I CUT SOMEONE OFF IN THE PROCESS. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. THERE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS BEFORE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED IT WITH CODE P1A0D, WHICH WAS A BAD COOLANT PUMP FOR THE ELECTRIC GENERATOR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION AS I DID WHERE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE AT HIGH SPEED AND PUT THEM INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS FINDS SEVERAL BLOG REPORTS OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS. FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS, BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD: MACDONALD V. FORD, CASE NO. 3:13-CV-02988, IN THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Feb 26, 2014
POWER STEERING WORKS INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL HAS A SLIGHT TWITCH MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT JUST RANDOMLY STOPS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG FORD ESCAPES. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 20, 2014
WHILE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS (65 -70 MPH) IN THE MIDDLE LANE, MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITH A RED TRIANGLE EXCLAMATION MARK INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE DRIVER MESSAGE CENTER READING 'STOP VEHICLE SAFELY', HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS, THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER INCIDENT ALMOST ENDED IN ME BEING REAR ENDED AND THEN IN A COLLISION AS I TRIED TO CROSS OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. I WILL BE TAKING MY CAR INTO THE SHOP TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 16, 2014
WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE, A WARNING LIGHT IN THE SHAPE OF A WRENCH STAYED ON. I LOOK IN THE MANUAL AND THIS SAID POWERTRAIN. UPON FURTHER CHECKING, I FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THESE ESCAPES. WHEN I STOP AT THE RAILROAD TRACK OR AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD WHEN I TAKE OFF. THE SHIFTING IS ROUGH AT TIMES. I ALSO JUST HAD TO HAVE THE DOME LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE REPLACED. THIS, TOO, I WAS TOLD WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR AND ALSO THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AND ON. THIS WAS A 103.88 REPAIR JOB AND THE DOME LIGHT, AFTER BEING REPLACED, IS LOOSE AND DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY. WHEN THIS HAVING TO BE REPLACED FREQUENTLY, I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A REPLACEMENT LIGHT THAT FIT THE ROOF CORRECTLY. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 8, 2014
STEERING WHEEL INITIALLY STARTED TO PULSATE AT STOP LIGHT.. NEXT INCIDENT I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING, TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED AND HAD STEERING BACK...NEXT INCIDENT STEERING WHEEL PULSATES WHILE DRIVING AND LOSES POWER STEERING WHILE AT SPEED.. PULL VEHICLE TO ROADSIDE AND RESTART AND REGAIN STEERING.. NOT HAVING THIS VEHICLE RECALLED TO FIX THIS ISSUE IS THE MOST INSANE THING I HAVE EVER HEARD OF.. IF A FRAIL PERSON OR ELDERLY HAS THIS HAPPEN TO THEM, PEOPLE WILL DIE.. ITS NOT A MATTER OF IF THIS HAPPENS BUT WHEN IT WILL.. IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.. ANYBODY READING THIS I HOPE YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN OR FAMILY OR FRIENDS OR ANYBODY FOR THAT MATTER DOES NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS MATTER GOING UNRESOLVED... IT IS MINDBOGGLING THAT FORD TURNS ITS BACK ON THIS ISSUE..IM NOT ALONE IN THIS, THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET.. CAN YOU IMAGINE A LOSS OR MULTIPLE LOSSES OF LIVES AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS BEING REGISTERED? PLEASE HELP *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 17, 2014
AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AND BRAKING AT A STOP SIGN, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 12, 2014
ON DEC 27 2013 WE WERE DRIVING ESCAPE . WHEN TRYING GO AROUND CURVE FORD LOST ALL POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED US TO ALMOST HIT WALL. MY HUSBAND DROVE TO SIDE ROAD. SHUT IT OFF . WAITED FEW MINUTES STARTED IT POWER STEERING WAS BACK. TOOK IT TO GARAGE WAS TOLD POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS GOING OUT . WAS TOLD IT BE 1123.00 COST. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JANUARY 3RD 2014. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT FORD KNOWS ITS NOT WORKING RIGHT. NEED A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. OUR ESCAPE IS NOT ONLY ONE DOING IT. THE ONES WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ARE FAILING. I'M SCARED DRIVE IT MUCH. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 6, 2014
CAR STALLED WHEN DRIVING ON HWY IN SNOW STORM ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ALSO, RPM'S CLIMB, JUST HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED 2 MONTHS AGO. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2008 SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED (INDICATOR WITH A TRIANGLE SHAPE AND AN ADMIRATION SIGN INSIDE). THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" SIGN WAS DISPLAYED AT THE SAME TIME. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE, THUS LOSING FULL CONTROL OF THE CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNED ENGINE BACK ON. THE PROBLEM REPEATED FIVE TIMES. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE RELATED TO THE COOLANT PUMP SYSTEM. FORD, PLEASE RECALL THE MODELS IMPACTED AND FIX THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 13, 2013
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS OR EPAS) FAILED. THE CAR INSTANTLY LOST ALL ABILITY FOR POWER STEERING, WITHOUT ALERTING THE DRIVER. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME. THE EPAS CAN SOMETIMES BE RE-INSTITUTED BY STOPPING THE CAR (IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AT TIMES, OR FREEWAY), TURNING OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY ... WAITING 10 SECONDS, AND RESTARTING THE CAR. BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN AT ANY TIME WITHIN THE SAME DRIVING INCIDENT. THE EPAS CONTINUES TO FAIL AT INOPPORTUNE TIMES, WITHOUT ALERTING THE DRIVER UNTIL FAILURE HAS OCCURED. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 17, 2013
IT WAS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 62 DEGREES. IT WAS SUNNY. THE STREETS WERE DRY. I WAS DRIVING SOUTH FROM AUSTIN TO NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS ON I-35 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 A.M. I HAD THE SPEED CONTROL SET FOR 55 M.P.H. AS I WAS LEAVING SAN MARCOS, AN ALARM TONE SOUNDED, AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY SHOWED "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER USING BATTERY POWER ONLY AT LESS THAN 20 MILES AN HOUR, CAUSING ISSUES WITH OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE, WITH MANY OF THE OTHER DRIVERS ANXIOUS TO GET TO WORK. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DID A PERIMETER SCAN FOR ISSUES. NONE WERE DETECTED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED FOR UNTOWARD ISSUES. THERE WAS NO SMOKE. THE ENGINE WASN'T OVERLY HOT. OIL WAS FULL TO THE APPROPRIATE MARK. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME ABOUT 1790 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND A FULL DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES DETECTED. AFTER COMPLETING THIS CHECK, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE FOR ANOTHER 20 OR SO MILES WHEN THE ALARM AND DISPLAY REPEATED AS ABOVE. AGAIN THERE WERE NO ISSUES. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT THREE MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE 75 MILE COMMUTE. THE RETURN TRIP HAD NO ISSUES. SINCE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT FORD HAS HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE THE FIRST ESCAPE HYBRIDS WERE ON THE ROAD, AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO DEFINITIVE PROBLEM OR CORRECTION. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA EXAMINE THIS TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL SHOULD BE PERFORMED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY ALARM THAT SHUTS THE VEHICLE DOWN COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 6, 2013, fire
I WAS AWAKE SITTING AT MY DINNING ROOM TABLE, I SMELT SOMETHING (BURNT RUBBER) SO I CHECK ALL ROOM IN THE HOUSE. I WALK OUTSIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM MY FORD ESCAPE THAT WAS PARK. I WOKE MY KIDS, CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GRABBED THE WATER HOSE. ONCE THE FIRE FIGHTERS WERE ON THE SCENE, THEY OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR, SMOKE EXITED THE DOORS EXPOSING OXYGEN CAUSING SOME FLICKERING OF THE FLAME TO START. WATER WAS DISCHARGED ONTO THE SMOLDERING INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE & COOLING DOWN IGNITION OF DASH AREA (RADIO IS LOCATED). THE HEAT WAS SO HOT THAT IT CRACKED FRONT WINDSHIELD, MELTED ALL PLASTIC FRAME INSIDE THE VEHICLE (MIDDLE AREA NEAR RADIO & SHIFT GEAR) AND BLACKEN ALL THE WINDOWS. ONCE FIRE WAS UNDER CONTROL, FIRE FIGHTER STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRE. BATTERY CABLE WAS ALSO CUT TO PREVENT ANY DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. BUT THEN I WAS IN SHOCK JUST THINKING OMG! I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK ALL WEEK AND PARK IT LATER THAT NIGHT. TODAY I STILL DON'T KNOW THE ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED, VERY PUZZLING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS FROM FORD DEALER ON THIS MODEL. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR MY VEHICLE INSURANCE FOR ANOTHER MONTH SO THERE FORE AM STUCK WITH THE BILL. I BOUGHT THE USE VEHICLE AT DRIVE TIME IN PHOENIX ARIZONA AND THE FINANCE COMPANY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY SITUATION BUT FOR ME TO PAY THE VEHICLE OFF. LIKE I SAID I STILL DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE EXPECT IT WAS CAUSE BY WIRING. I COULD SEE THE V SHAPE OUTLINE OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. NOT ONLY THAT BUT I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION, I HAD TO TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY AROUND IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START (NO RECALLS)? I AM STILL SAD BY ALL OF THIS BUT VERY THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE......WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED?
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 27, 2013
FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC WATER PUMP FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM CAUSES THE IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF THE VEHICLE LEAVING DRIVER NO POWER TO MOVE TO A SAFE AREA. THERE IS NO WARNING BUT JUST AN IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SHUTOFF UNTIL DRIVER CAN MOVE TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE AND LEFT US IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BEFORE I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PART CLAIMING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR HYBRID WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THE PART IS INTEGRAL TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 21, 2013
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A SUMMER NIGHT AT AROUND 9:00 PM, THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED, A RED WARNING TRIANGLE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DASH MESSAGE SCREEN SAID, "STOP SAFELY NOW." I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED IT OFF, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON 5 SEPARATE TRIPS SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER HAS HAPPENED, OFTEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. THE FAILURE OFTEN HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME TRIP. EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED HAS BEEN IN THE SUMMER AND IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EVENING. EACH TIME THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED ONCE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF. *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 10, 2013
SAME THING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. I HAVE PHOTOS FOR EACH INCIDENT. ABS LIGHTS, CHECK BRAKES LIGHT. AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS LIGHT UP. REGEN BRAKES DISENGAGED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH [XXX] AT FUTURE FORD HE ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN THE NEXT TIME IT DOES IT, DURING BUSINESS HOURS SINCE THERE ARE NO OPTIONS FOR AFTER HOURS. I GET OFF WORK AT 5PM AND PICK UP MY KIDS AND BY THE TIME THAT IS DONE THERE IS NOT TIME TO MAKE IT BACK TO DEALER. I AM MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PICK UP KIDS SO WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN TOMORROW I CAN GO STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP AFTER WORK OR ON MY LUNCH. I ALSO PLAN ON HAVING THEM CHECK THE TONE RINGS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP, BUT HAVE STILL NOT ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OTHERS HAVE HAD REGARDING SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 9, 2013
I LEFT WORK. PICKED UP DAUGHTER. CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, ABS, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON @ 530PM. DROVE TO PICK UP BOYS FROM SUMMER PROGRAM. GET IN CAR. LIGHTS OFF. 553PM. PUT CAR IN REVERSE. SAME LIGHTS REAPPEAR. 555PM. REGEN BRAKES DISABLED. TAKES PEDAL TO FLOOR TO STOP AND FEEL PRESSURE OF BRAKES. CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLING BACK ON INCLINE UNLESS BRAKES ARE ALL THE WAY APPLIED. TALKED TO [XXX] AT DEALERSHIP EARLIER. SAID TO BRING IN WHEN LIGHTS WERE ON, DURING BUSINESS HOURS. SAID THAT FORD WAS UNABLE TO HELP DUE TO NO WARRANTY. SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE HCU UNIT. I ASKED WHY THIS WASN'T MENTIONED AT MY INSPECTION A WEEK AGO. HE SAID IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE WHEN THEY LOOK AT IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 9, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF A RED TRIANGLE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING THE CONTACT TO PULL OVER. THE CONTACT LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR ELECTRONIC COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 6, 2013
MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE'S TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHILE IN OVERDRIVE. IT THEN WENT OUT AND REVVED UP TO 5,000 RPM'S AND WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE IN OVER DRIVE OR DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GET REAR ENDED. I HAD TO SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR AND LIMP IT HOME. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, May 28, 2013
DURING A 300 MILE TRIP, THE FEH "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING CAME ON AND CAR SHUT DOWN. WE WERE ON A BUSY LA HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY, READ UP ON THAT WARNING SYMBOL AND RESTARTED CAR WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT THEN. 25 DAYS LATER, DRIVING THE CAR ON 45 MINUTE TRIP, 'STOP SAFELY NOW' LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY. HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART CAR. AGAIN THIS WAS HIGHWAY DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NO CAR SHOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 24, 2013
WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED, THE ELECTRICAL PANEL HAS STARTED DISPLAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. THIS WAS HAPPENING SPORADICALLY BUT HAS SINCE STARTED HAPPENING MORE CONSISTENTLY. IT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 3/22/2013, WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN A VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. ONCE I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR, EVERYTHING APPEARS NORMAL UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. ON 3/23/2013 IT HAPPENED TWICE IN LESS THAN 5 MILES. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 21, 2013
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT, SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, YESTERDAY DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NO PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, NO SOUNDS, NOTHING. IT JUST STALLED. STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY. NO PROBLEMS DRIVING AFTER EXCEPT IT DID FEEL LIKE IT JERKED A BIT (ALMOST UNNOTICEABLE EXCEPT NOW I AM VERY AWARE OF THIS) ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN 5 MINUTES AFTER THE STALL. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASES AS A USED VEHICLE BACK IN JAN. IT IS A 2008. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT YESTERDAY ON THIS SAME ISSUE WHICH OCCURRED JUST IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND AGAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SO THIS IS THE 4TH "STALL" SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 7 WEEKS AGO. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Mar 14, 2013
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO PREVIOUS INCIDENT. $10486901 HAVING SPENT THE PREVIOUS ($900) TO FIND THE PROBLEM, CUSTOMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP. THEY AGREED WITH THE OTHER MECHANICS THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT GIVE ANYTHING IN WRITING TILL I PAID THEIR DIAGNOSTIC FEE ($135) AND SAW FOR THEMSELVES. I AGREED. NOW I HAVE SPENT ANOTHER ($1120) TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I ALSO HAVE IN WRITING FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE SPEED CANNOT BE VIEWED WHILE DRIVING (IT READS 0 MPH) AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CONTACT ME FOR THE NEXT STEP. *TR