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: service brakes
292 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Sep 1, 2015
WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE BRAKE WARNING CAME ON. I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, STOPPED, APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND RELEASED IT, BUT THE WARNING WAS STILL ON. IN A FEW MILES, I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS FINE. ON THE WAY HOME I GOT THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, REGEN BRAKES DISABLED, ABS LIGHT ERROR. THE BRAKES FEEL SPONGY AND IT TAKES A LOT OF ERROR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS GIVEN US AN ESTIMATE OF $4700 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS AND CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL!
Service brakes, Aug 24, 2015
I WAS DRIVING WITH FAMILY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT WENT TOTALLY FLAT. THE ABS AND CHECK BRAKES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES ARE CURRENTLY TOTALLY UNOPERATIONAL. I TOOK CAR IN FOR REPAIRS, TOLD THAT A NEW ABS CONTROL MODULE(HYBRID ECU & HCU) REQUIRED - COST $4000.
Service brakes, Aug 9, 2015
THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACKING LIGHT COMES ON DASHBOARD INDICATING A PROBLEM. WHEN I GO TO STOP THERE IS THIS TRACKING RESISTANCE WHEN APPLY BRAKES. FORDS DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE RIGHT ABS RING IS CRACKED ON THE BRAKES. GOT FIXED, NOW THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES, ONCE ON LEFT SIDE AND TWICE ON RIGHT SIDE. WHEN I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T WORK AND MAKE THIS TRACKING NOISE AS LIKE WHEN YOU ARE ON ICE. VERY SCARY, MY CAR NOW HAS 145,000 MILES THIS LAST TIME. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FORDS TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS PART, MY SON SAYS THAT THE WATER GETS UP IN IT AND CAUSES IT TO RUST AND CRACK. I'M SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY FORD ESCAPE 2008 WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Service brakes, Aug 3, 2015
I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, STRAIGHT ROAD WITH A SLIGHT DOWNHILL SLOPE. AS I PRESSED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I RELEASED PRESSURE AND PRESSED AGAIN. AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO PRESS THE BRAKES (BRAKES NOW IN SAFE/MANUAL MODE). I GOT AN ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING. AFTER I STOPPED, I PULLED OVER SHUT DOWN THE MOTOR, WAITED A MINUTE, AND RESTARTED. AFTER RESTART, BRAKES WORLD NORMALLY. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.
Service brakes, Jun 22, 2015
REGEN BRAKE DISABLE LIGHT ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $4700.
Service brakes, May 15, 2015
WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 35 IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS WHEN COMING DOWN HILL WENT TO HIT BRAKES AND BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AN WE HAD NO BRAKES. INFORMATION CENTER WAS SHOWING THAT BRAKES HAD BEEN DISABLED AND I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW CAR DOWN ENOUGH TO KEEP FROM COLLIDING WITH CAR IN FRONT OF US. LIMPED HOME IN CAR WITH NO BRAKES AT TIMES PULLED OVER IN PARKING LOT TURNED CAR OFF AN UPON TURNING IT BACK ON CAR RESET ITSELF AN WE HAD BRAKES FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME BECAUSE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AN WAS TOLD THE ABS HCU WAS BAD AN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS A 4500 PART AND WE HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A WEEK BEFORE. FORD NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BECAUSE IN OTHER FORUMS OTHER DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUES WITH BRAKE LINES AND MASTER CYLINDERS AND THIS PART THE ABS HCU
Service brakes, Apr 16, 2015
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR, AFTER DRIVING THRU THE INTERSECTION, LUCKILY NO CARS WERE COMING, I PULLED OVER AND THE ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON , I SHUT THE CAR OFF WAITED 10 MINUTES STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE BRAKES WORKED THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF A HALF OF DOZEN TIMES NOW. DEALER QUOTED ME $4659.00 TO FIX MASTER CYLINDER, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ID BE SURPRISED IF NO ONE HASN'T GOT HURT BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR
Service brakes, Apr 14, 2015
WENT SHOPPING ON A SATURDAY, 4/4/15. CAME OUT TO MY CAR AND STARTED IT. ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, ALONG WITH MESSAGES STATING, "SERVICE BRAKES SOON" AND "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED". BRAKES WERE SENSITIVE AND UNPREDICTABLE, BUT CAR DIDN'T NEED ANY EXTRA EFFORT TO STOP. HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT MADE NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, LIKE A STRIPPED GEAR SOUND. TOOK CAR TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC WITH AN UPDATED MODIS. CHECKED CODES AND CAME UP WITH A DOZEN CODES. ( P1A0D, P1A0E, P1A0F, P1A10, P1A14, U0418, C1321, U2023, C1475, B2172, P0A0A, P1A0A) ALSO, WHEN HE TRIED TO GET CERTAIN TESTS TO WORK, THESE ERRORS CAME UP: (AN ERROR OCCURRED 34 (0X22) [#155] (MANUAL MSG - FORD (CAN) HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM AIR BLEED CHECK) (TEST HAS ABORTED ERROR 22 - CONDITIONS NOT CORRECT. CYCLE KEY AND RETRY.) AFTER DOING THESE TASKS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE THEM, ANY ASSISTANCE TOWARDS BRAKING WAS GONE. THE CAR REVERTED TO FAIL SAFE MODE AND REQUIRED MUCH MORE EFFORT TO STOP. IT TOOK THE MECHANIC MUCH MORE TIME AND PERSISTENCE, BUT HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GO THROUGH HIS TESTS AND CLEARED THE CODES AND RESET THE BRAKE SYSTEM. AS OF NOW, EVERYTHING WORKS AS IT SHOULD. THERE'S ONLY ONE PROBLEM. NOTHING WAS ACTUALLY A CONFIRMED FIX. THE IS NO GUARANTEE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WON'T GIVE OUT AGAIN. I'M MORE THAN CERTAIN IT WILL AND I DON'T LIKE TAKING CHANCES WITH MY VEHICLE. JUDGING HOW OTHER HYBRID ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED ON THIS PROBLEM, I GUESS I FEEL A LITTLE LUCKY THE BRAKES DIDN'T GIVE OUT WHILE DRIVING. YET. WHO KNOWS WHEN THEY WILL AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEY DO. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AS I'VE HEARD IT'S OVER $4000. I ALSO CANNOT SELL IT AS-IS IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. I AM AT A LOSS HERE AS I AGREE WITH OTHERS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE WAY BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS. *TR
Service brakes, Apr 3, 2015
OFTEN WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND A MESSAGE SAYS REGEN BRAKES DISABLED. THE BRAKES ARE WEAK WHEN DRIVING IN THIS STATE. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, THE ERROR USUALLY GOES AWAY AND THE BRAKES WORK NORMALLY. OCCASIONALLY, THE ERROR OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKES GET WEAK, AND I PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND ON TO CLEAR THE ERROR. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. THE DEALER HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES DID NOT GIVE CLEAR ACTION FOR FIXING IT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FOR $850 BUT THE ERROR CONTINUED. NOW THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE ENTIRE ABS MODULE AND HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR $5200. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. I THINK FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL OR OFFER SOME PAYMENT FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
Service brakes, Mar 26, 2015
THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS ARISEN WITH A GREAT DEAL OF OWNERS OF FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE HCU SYSTEM REPLACED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AS IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, NOR CONSIDERED BY THE COMPANY TO BE AN ISSUE DESERVING OF A RECALL, I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE ENTIRE THING, WHICH TOTALED $4,863.00 (AND IT TOOK FIVE DAYS TO GET THE WORK COMPLETED). I ALSO HAD TO PAY TO RENT A CAR FOR THE SEVERAL DAYS IT TOOK TO GET THE PART AND PERFORM THE WORK, WHICH WAS ANOTHER $200.00. DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THIS REPAIR AND THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH IT IS AFFECTING CONSUMERS, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BECOME A RECALL AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS THEY HAVE HAD TO MAKE. *TR
Service brakes, Mar 1, 2015
THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON AND ABS LIGHT ON ALSO. I DROVE IT AROUND THE CORNER AND BRAKES ARE VERY SPONGY AND NOT FULLY RESPONSIVE. I DO NOT TRUST DRIVING WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR
Service brakes, Feb 27, 2015
MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED AN ABS SYMBOL IN MARCH 2014. THE BRAKES BECAME ERRATIC AND I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED FOR A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC FOUND A BROKEN AND LOOSE ABS TONE RING ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AXLE. THE TONE RING AND WHEEL AXLE WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THEN, IN FEBRUARY 2015, MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED ANOTHER ABS SYMBOL. AGAIN, I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AND THE MECHANIC FOUND ANOTHER BROKEN AND LOOSE TONE RING. THIS TIME IT WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AXLE. AGAIN, REPAIR WAS DONE AT MY EXPENSE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE AND COMPENSATION FROM THEM. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THESE PROBLEMS SINCE THEY ARE NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL OR WARRANTY PROGRAM. MY CAR PROBLEMS SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL OR SAFETY PROGRAM FROM THE NHTSA. *TR
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jan 14, 2015
APPROXIMATELY IN MARCH OF 2014, WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND TRACTION CONTROL COMING ON FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THIS MADE DRIVING/STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE THE TONE RING AND SPEED SENSOR WERE REPLACED. IN DECEMBER 2014, WE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR ISSUE AGAIN. THE WORK WAS DONE AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP THOUGH SINCE THEY DID THE ORIGINAL WORK. YET AGAIN, IN JANUARY 2015 WE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AGAIN AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE LEFT FRONT SPEED SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME SORT OF FAILURE THAT IS OCCURRING TO TRIGGER THIS ISSUE. IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. THIS IS CRATING A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. *TR
Service brakes, Jan 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ESB SYSTEM AND THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Traction control system, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 19, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) AND FELT THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ
Service brakes, Dec 8, 2014
WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE LOSES REGENERATIVE BRAKING AND REVERTS TO FAIL SAFE MODE. MOST NOTABLY THIS OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT. BRAKES APPEAR TO FUNCTION NORMALLY, HOWEVER AT THE END OF A BRAKING CYCLE THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE STABILITY CONTROL DASH LIGHT QUICKLY FLASHES ON AND THEN OFF. ALSO, THE GAUGE THAT SHOWS POWER BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE BATTERY STOPS CHARGING THE BATTERY AND RETURNS TO THE NORMAL POSITION POINTING STRAIGHT UP. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE AFTER THIS OCCURRENCE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS OR AFTER EFFECTS ARE KNOWN. IT MAY HAPPEN AT ONE STOP LIGHT AND NOT THE NEXT. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. SOMETIMES IT MAY DO THIS 2 OR 3 TIMES WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC FOR 30 MINUTES OR IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AT ALL. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO A FAULTY HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS A COMPONENT FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, NOT DUE TO DRIVER-INDUCED DAMAGE OR WEAR. *TR
Suspension, Service brakes, Nov 21, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AXLE AND AXLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,259.
Service brakes, Oct 23, 2014
APPROACHING A STOP SIGN ON A HILL, I HIT A ROUGH PATCH IN THE STREET AND MY BRAKES FAILED TO THE POINT I HAD TO FRANTICALLY PUMP THEM TO NOT ROLL STRAIGHT INTO THE INTERSECTION. FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR DAYS, ANY TIME I BRAKED, THE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHILE VERY SLOWLY DECELERATING THE CAR, I OFTEN HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO BUILD SOME PRESSURE IN ORDER TO STOP. CLEARLY AN ABS FAILURE, IT SEEMED TO "FIX ITSELF" AFTER THOSE FEW DAYS. NOW AGAIN, 10/23/2014, HIT A POTHOLE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKES ARE DOING THE SAME THING. GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND READ ABOUT BROKEN TONE RINGS (SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT LOSS OF ABS), BUT NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN IT HAPPENS. I NEED TO TAKE IT IN, BUT I KNOW THE DEALERSHIP WILL GIVE ME THE RUN-AROUND AND TRY TO CHARGE ME AN ARM AND A LEG FOR SOMETHING THAT'S CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Service brakes, Sep 11, 2014
AFTER BEING PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND UPON RETURNING TO AND STARTING THE VEHICLE, I FOUND SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, THE SERVICE WRENCH & CHECK BRAKES. I WAS ALSO RECEIVING A MESSAGE ADVISING THE REGEN BRAKES WERE INACTIVE & TO CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOLLOWING HIS CHECK HE ADVISED THE HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM & DUE TO THE HYBRID NATURE OF THE VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I THEN CAREFULLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY. I WAS JUST INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE HCU ON THE VEHICLE HAD GONE BAD AND REPAIRS WERE GOING TO BE $5,000. AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THIS IS AN EXTRAVAGANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE TO PUT INTO A SEVEN YEAR OLD VEHICLE THAT ONLY COST $34,000 BRAND NEW. THE PART ALONE IS $4,000 ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I AM NOW FORCED TO EITHER HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE OR TRADE THE VEHICLE IN ON ANOTHER FORD. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CURRENT VEHICLE, I AM NOT OVERJOYED AT THE PROSPECT OF OWNING ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF CASES WHERE THIS PART HAS GONE BAD AND I FEEL IT IS TIME THESE VEHICLES GET RECALLED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WHILE WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE IT HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS OR WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOMEONE SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. NHTSA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS AND FORD NEEDS TO ADMIT THEIR ERROR AND DEFECT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Sep 9, 2014
I WAS TURNING RIGHT ON A STOP LIGHT AND FRONT LEFT ABS TONE RING BROKE. CAR SLIPPED GEARS AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR 5-10 SECONDS. RSC LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY. CAR CONTINUED TO DO THIS RANDOMLY AND ABS BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. ISSUE IS WITH TONE RING ON MANY FORD ESCAPES FROM 2000-2008. RINGS OFTEN BREAK BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE RUST BUILD UP ON FORD COMPONENTS CAUSING EXPANSION. PART IS CONSTRUCTED VERY POORLY AND AS A RESULT SAFETY IS COMPROMISED AND SERVICE REPAIRS PROFIT GOES UP! *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS TONE RING BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 29, 2014
WHILE DRIVING MY FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FORD ESCAPE ON A TRIP THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON. THIS DID NOT INITIALLY CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS WITH NORMAL BRAKING WHILE DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS. AT THE END OF THE TRIP THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON EVERY STOP, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING STOPPING DISTANCE ON DRY GROUND. MY INVESTIGATION FOUND THE FOLLOWING: RUSTING OF THE DRIVESHAFT SURFACE APPARENTLY CAUSED OUTWARD PRESSURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT RIGHT ABS TONE RING RESULTING IN IT SEPARATING IN ONE SPOT. THIS PROBABLY CREATED A ERROR IN THE MONITORING BY THAT ABS SENSOR RESULTING IN THE LIGHTS COMING ON. THE RING MAY HAVE HELD FAST TO THE RUST UNDER THE REMAINDER OF THE RING DURING MOST OF MY TRIP CAUSING NO OTHER PROBLEMS. NEAR THE END OF MY TRIP THE CRACKED RING APPEARS TO HAVE SHAKEN FREE, SLIPPING ON THE ROTATING DRIVESHAFT SURFACE. THIS MAY HAVE MADE THE SENSOR THINK THE WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING AND APPLIED THE ABS TO THAT WHEEL EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DANGER THEN BECAME INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE ON DRY GROUND AND UNKNOWN PERFORMANCE ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. IN CHECKING AROUND, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE OTHER RING WILL CRACK EVENTUALLY DUE TO SIMILAR RUSTING. REPAIRING THIS REQUIRES THE RING TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE DRIVESHAFT SECTION IT IS MOUNTED ON. *TR
Service brakes, Aug 27, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Aug 20, 2014
WHILE DRIVING, BOTH THE "ABS" AND "PARKING BRAKE" LIGHTS CAME ON. AS I CAME TO A STOP, I NOTICED THE BRAKING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT AND I HAD TO PUSH HARDER TO STOP COMPLETELY. AT THE SAME TIME THESE LIGHTS CAME ON, A MESSAGE CAME ON SAYING "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM", FOLLOWED BY "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED". I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED ON MAY 25, 2014. SINCE THEN THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, MY BRAKES, SEEM TO LOCK UP SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THEY DON'T FULLY LOCK UP, BECAUSE I AM STILL ALLOWED TO SPEED UP. IT LAST FOR MAYBE 20 SECONDS OR SO AND THEN RELEASES. I AM SURE ALL OF THIS IS RELATED SOMEHOW. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AT MANY FORUMS AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES WITH THE REGEN BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN MORE COMPLAINTS OR ANY INVESTIGATIONS. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS NOW, I AM NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER OR NOT. SOME OF THE FORUMS I READ, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT TRAINED TECHNICIANS COULDN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I LOVE MY HYBRID AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET RID OF IT ALREADY AND GET ANOTHER VEHICLE. I CAN'T EVEN REALLY AFFORD TO HAVE IT SENT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WORKED ON. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS? CAN FORD PAY FOR THIS? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEDAY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AND I COULD BE INJURED, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR
Service brakes, Aug 11, 2014
A WARNING CAME ON LETTING US KNOW THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HAD TO BE PULLED UP AND DEPRESSED AGAIN TO FULLY STOP VEHICLE. WE WERE FORTUNATELY ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE DEALER AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN. WE ARE WAITING FOR THE FULL DIAGNOSIS. THE INITIAL REPORT WAS THAT THE HCU FAILED AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO DETERMINE IF ANOTHER PART IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ISSUE. THEY WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE HCU IS IN FACT THE ISSUE BEFORE THEY REPLACE A $5,000 PART UNDER WARRANTY. *TR