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: steering
1,237 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Apr 13, 2010
WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET, THE STEERING WHEEL 'LOCKED' AND WOULD NOT TURN. I JAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS WAITING TO PULL OUT. I PULLED HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT FINALLY MOVED. AFTER THAT, IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT HAS NOT DONE IT SINCE, BUT MAKES ME NERVOUS WHEN DRIVING IT. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER YET. *TR
Steering, Mar 22, 2010
I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THIS CAR IS HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND TURNING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ALTHOUGH YOU CAN GO ON FORD ESCAPE CUSTOMER FORUMS AND SEE COUNTLESS INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE SOME RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. I HAVE ASKED FORD SEVERAL TIMES TO HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAY THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN $1700 CHARGE. THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MOST OF THE POSTINGS I SAW AND WITH MY OWN VEHICLE AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE. CONTINUOUSLY PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN AND ALSO FOR MYSELF HAVE GOTTEN THE ANSWER FROM FORD THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I AM NOT HAPPY BECAUSE I HAVE TO EXPEND THE MONEY TO FIX THIS BUT MORE SO I WANT TO HAVE THIS ISSUE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. IF AN ELDERLY PERSON WERE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THAT PROBLEM THEY WOULD WRECK BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING THE STRENGTH TO KEEP THE WHEEL IN MOTION CORRECTLY. SAME MAY BE WITH A YOUNGER DRIVER. PLEASE PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM FOR ME. *DT
Steering, Mar 14, 2010
LOST COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL TWICE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 4, 2010
MY 2008 ESCAPE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR FOR MAJOR ISSUES. 1) I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL 2) I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK, 3) I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID I THANK GOD THAT THE THIS HAPPEN TO THE CAR WHILE ITS UNDER WARRANTY, SO THE DEALER REPLACE THE PARTS FOR FREE. I JUST CANT UNDERSTAND WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO MANY UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS HAS TO SPEND EXTRA MONEY IN HARD TIMES TO GET THERE CAR REPAIR. I CALLED FORD AND THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOTED IN MY ACCOUNT. WHAT WILL THAT DO FOR ME NOTHING! *TR
Steering, Mar 3, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON SO THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART AND THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59725 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60212.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Tires, Equipment, Feb 26, 2010
TCCF TRANSMISSION COOLER CONDENSER FAILURE- JULY 16,2008 REPAIRED; -LEAKING -SLIPPING ON SHIFTING-HAD VERY LITTLE TRANSMISSION OIL ON DIP STICK WHEN REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP UNDER THE 36,000 LIMITED WARRANTY--AFTER 4 DAYS JULY 20, 2008 WIFE WAS REAR ENDED BY A DWI TRAVELING AT ESTIMATED MORE THAN 75 TO 80 MPH(MY WIFE TRAVELING ON A STATE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL REGULATED SPEED OF 50 MPH) -DAMAGES OF OVER $13,500 TO OUR CAR-ALL SHOP AND REPAIRS DONE BY FORD DEALERSHIP , OUR ONLY SHOP AND SERVICE PLACE FOR THIS ESCAPE 2008. ON FEBRUARY 9, 2010(AT 21,000 MILES LATER THE 2ND TCCF-LEAKING FLUID SEEN IN SNOW-DEALERSHIP AFTER CONTACT WITH FORD.COM REPLACED AND REPAIRED UNDER GOOD WILL CUSTOMER PLAN OF THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ALSO REPLACED ON OUR COMPLAINT OF A "CLACKING" TYPE NOISE , A STEERING RIGHT FRONT ASSEMBLY AT NO COST TO US) THERE EVIDENTLY A TSB ON IT. IN ADDITION WE HAVE A HEATING-COOLING FLOW OF AIR FROM OUR HEAT AND AIR VENTS PROBLEM-TEMPERATURES NOT AS WE REGULATE THEM.. THE DEALERSHIP HAD REPLACED A ACTUATOR IN BEHIND DASH(HAVE RECORD OF THAT ALONG WITH ALL SERVICE DATES ON FORD OWNERSHIP HOME PAGE-BELIEVE IT ABOUT ON PREVIOUS SERVICE FOR OIL CHANGE) ON COMPLETION OF RECENT REPAIRS AND OUR VEHICLE RETURNED TO US ON FEBRUARY 18, 2010 WE ADVISED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE CONTINUING AIR-HEAT REGULATOR PROBLEM-ADVISED THEY WOULD REEXAMINE IT ON NEXT SERVICE OR AT OUR CONVENIENCE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS STOOD BEHIND THE FORD, WE MUST ADMIT THAT-BUT OUR INCONVENIENCE AND THE SO MANY THAT HAVE SEEN BY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET SEEM TO WARRANT A RECALL AS TO ALL THREE RELATED PROBLEMS--SOME OF WHICH SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE SAME TCC PROBLEMS. *TR
Steering, Feb 19, 2010
WHILE RETURN HOME ON I70 FREEWAY GOING DOWNHILL AT APPROX. 70MPH THE ELECTRICAL ASSISTED POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO STEER GOING AROUND A CURVE. THIS ONLY LASTED A FEW SECONDS THEN IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN... *TR
Steering, Feb 2, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 78,000. UPDATED 3/16/10 *CN UPDATED 06/17/10*JB
Steering, Nov 24, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. HE ALSO OWNS A FLEET OF 2008 AND 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER STEERING. USUALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE RESTARTS, STEERING BECAME LESS DIFFICULT. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLEET OF VEHICLES ARE WARRANTED FOR ONLY 36,000 MILES. THE STEERING COLUMNS ON THE FLEET OF VEHICLES WERE REPLACED FOR $1,000.00 EACH. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Steering, Sep 19, 2008, crash
ON MONDAY, 15 SEP 2008, ON MY WAY TO WORK (ABOUT 7AM) MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRIED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. ON TUESDAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. I CALLED THE DEALER FIRST THING WEDNESDAY MORNING TO SCHEDULE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN ON THURSDAY. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON WEDNESDAY, I WAS GOING TO DROP IT OFF AT THE DEALER SO THEY COULD START RIGHT AWAY. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN AND THIS TIME I COULD NOT STOP BEFORE DRIVING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A ROCK WALL. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT I STILL HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. THE DEALER SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR. *TR
Steering, May 28, 2008
WHEN BACKING UP IN REVERSE, WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. *TR
Steering, Jun 10, 2007
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 FORD ESCAPE ON JUNE 2,2007. MY DAUGHTER IS ACTUALLY COOWNER/DRIVER. SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE ON WED, JUNE 6 AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START IT, IT WAS LOCKED UP. NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE STEERING, ETC. TO WORK. SHE SAID IT WAS LOCKED IN ADVANTRAC MODE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, WHERE SHE WORKS. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE, AND IT TOOK THEM 2 1/2 DAYS TO GET A DIAGNOSIS TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THEY SAY PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILAABLE UNTIL JULY 5, 2007, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. HER CAR PAYMENT IS DUE BEFORE THEN, AND SHE HAS ONLY DRIVEN 240+ MILES. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, OR IT WAS NOT INSPECTED PROPERLY BEFORE BEING SOLD. THEY SAY THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THERE HAVE BEEN MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN THEY WILL ADMIT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD CANCEL OUR PURCHASE, AND TAKE THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE BACK. I DO NOT WANT TO WORRY ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT LOCKING UP, CAUSING A ROLLOVER,ETC. I THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP IT . WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET HELP, I WILL PROBABLY CALL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VIRGINIA TOMORROW. I AM VERY UPSET OVER THIS HAPPENING, AND FEEL THAT WE GOT CONNED INTO BUYING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, SO WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR TROUBLE, AND RELEASED FROM THIS PURCHASE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU.