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
2,417 reports, newest first.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 19, 2022
Electric power steering system not working causing the vehicle to default to manual steering which makes the vehicle extremely hard to drive. My safety is at risk because I do not have sufficient control of the steering of the vehicle. The car has been inspected by the dealership. There were no signs or lamps prior to the problem starting.
Structure, Dec 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the rear-end started swaying to the left and the right. The vehicle was bouncing while driving over potholes or imperfections on the roadway. The contact stated that the vehicle was also making a rattling sound while driving. The contact stated there was no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove to her destination and after stopping and inspecting the vehicle, she observed that there were large gaps inside the passenger’s side wheel well. The contact stated that the passenger’s side shock absorber had penetrated the trunk. Additionally, the front driver’s and passenger’s side control arms and subframe members were severely corroded. The contact observed that the frame was rusted on the driver’s and passenger’s side rear wheel wells. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the entire subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
Steering, Nov 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the power steering assist failed temporarily. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred increasingly while driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was not drivable. The message "Power Steering Assist Failure" was displayed. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Steering, Seat belts, Nov 18, 2022
The seatbelt shoulder strap will lock and will not unlock unless you release the buckle. We came out one morning and had no power steering it is equipped with electronic power assist The dealer said that there were no recalls for this particular condition. I found out from a shop that I used to work for that there were. My wife cannot drive the vehicle in this condition via surgurey. Thanks for listenig.
Steering, Nov 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked up and became difficult to turn. After restarting the vehicle, the steering operated as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure and referred her to another dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,054.
Steering, Nov 4, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and coming to a complete stop, the steering wheel jerked and turned independently towards the left, almost causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she steered the steering wheel all the way to the right and then steered back to the center. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft torque sensor kit and steering angle sensor calibration had failed and needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall as the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.
Steering, Nov 3, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel locked inadvertently and became significantly difficult to steer. A message indicating a power steering assist failure was displayed. The contact stated while attempting to veer to the side of the road, he lost control of the steering wheel and the vehicle struck a road construction barrier. The hood of the vehicle flew open and struck the windshield. The contact did not sustain an injury. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that he was informed by the local Pep Boys that his vehicle had an electric power steering; therefore, he could not add power steering fluid. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall as the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
Steering, Oct 19, 2022
Similar to the steering issues that others are experiencing, my Escape is pulling significantly to the right. I have had the suspension practically rebuilt, new tires put on and everything re-aligned, and the vehicle continues to pull to the right significantly. The mechanic checked with a local dealership who recognized that there are steering recalls with this make and model year, however my VIN does not appear to be included in the recall. This is a very dangerous situation, because if a situation arose to where I had to correct my steering wheel to the right to avoid a collision or animal, I would likely easily lose control. There are no warning messages on my dash associated with this.
Service brakes, Sep 17, 2022
The brakes stopped working correctly and are very unsafe. The Regenerative brakes get disabled, and the ABS light is on, you lose the power brakes stopping power. I have to step on the brake pedal very hard for the vehicle to stop. It feels like the old school pre-power brakes. I took it to the Ford dealer, and they want to charge 5000 + dollar to fix it, they also say parts are no longer available, they instructed me to call my insurance company and have it totaled. I read the escape hybrid forums and I see many people having this same problem
Steering, Sep 9, 2022
I bought it 2 months ago it's happened to me three or four times now when I'm driving all of a sudden the power steering goes out and there's no power steering at all .I found out by turning it off and turning it back on it works the power steering but it's very dangerous all of a sudden it goes out. It's called the steering modular unit sensor. There's no warning or nothing it's loses all power steering. There was a recall on it when I first bought it I checked it out but now it's not there I don't know what happened to it. The car is available for inspection. I have not had it expected. I did have an appointment to get it looked at at the dealership but I canceled the appointment due to very hot temperatures that day. I wrote it down on a piece of paper what the recall said at that time and it said it was the steering modulator sensor something like that. If I can find it I will upload the paper.
Suspension, Wheels, Sep 8, 2022
Driving in the highway, the back shock absorber felt down crashing against the back right tire.
Steering, Sep 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while a friend was operating the vehicle, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign 14V284000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 145,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2022
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR A FEW MONTHS . AT TIMES MY CAR WONT START. EVERYTHING COMES ON. iT FEELS VERY LOOSE AND HAVING TO PUSH IN THE KEY AND TURN IS VERY DIFFICULT AND HURTS MY HAND. PLUS THE ALARM BUTTON GETS PRESSED WHEN I TURN THE KEY.. i HAVE TO TURN KEY ON AND OFF WHILE PUSHING KEY INTO IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES AND PRAY THAT IT WILL CRANK. i HAVE HAD NO OTHER ISSUES OR REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED. i NOW HAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOP TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY i HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $400 FOR THIS REPAIR. i HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON REPAIR FOR THIS PART ON THE VEHICLE I OWN.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 17, 2022
ABS light on, vehicle stalling, dragging while driving 40mph or over. Brake petal non functional. *c1313, c1480, c1481 Brake hoses restricted not allowing brake pressure in caliber *HCU damage *Sway bar links damage, excessive noise and play
Steering, Aug 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the steering wheel was uncontrollable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ignition module switch needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Aug 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled, but restarted after 45 minutes. The vehicle stability assists system warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.
Steering, Jul 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was without power steering assist functionality. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The power steering failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the failure and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering, Jul 14, 2022
The power steering assist failed when I was driving home about 2 months ago. I cannot afford repair to the Power steering assist. The warning light came on as it failed. It put myself and the person with me at risk, as we were on a major highway. The Ford recall number as of 2014 is 14S05. My mechanic said it is most likely the Power Steering Assist motor.
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2022
I was sitting on a driveway that is at an angle. Not sitting flat…. My vehicle dies & Safety Alert Light comes on with the! In the middle of a triangle and vehicle dies will not stay started it will start and then shut off.Died in Middle of Road!!
Steering, Jun 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to vibrate and become very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the torque sensor but the vehicle would erroneously steer to the right. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the entire steering column was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number 14V284000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 78,000.
Air bags, Seats, Apr 28, 2022, crash
The contact's son owned a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 60 - 65 MPH, another vehicle rear-ended his vehicle in a hit-and-run collision. The driver's side front seat fractured and detached, hitting the contact's grandson's face. The airbags were not deployed upon impact. The contact's son sustained head injuries, and her grandson suffered facial fractures and a broken jaw. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Steering, Apr 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, he felt the steering wheel jerk to the left and while attempting to correct failure, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact observed that the "power steering assist fault" warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over safely and turned off the vehicle and upon restarting the vehicle the power steering was still not functioning as needed. The contact called an independent mechanic who went out to where the vehicle was parked and performed a temporary fix. The mechanic advised that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
Steering, Apr 19, 2022
CAR RAN OUT OF GAS AND WAS PROMPTED TO SAFELY STOP CAR I DID, THEN PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ASSISTED IN PUSHING OFF TO NEAREST PARK N RIDE LOT. WAS ABLE TO GET GAS INTO CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT A PROMPT CAME UP STATING POWER ASSIST FAULT. LOOKED ONLINE HOW TO FIX AND TRIED ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS BUT TO NO AVAIL, PROMPT IS STILL ON DASHBOARD. HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC YES CAN BE INSPECTED UPON REQUEST SAFETY WAS OK AS I TURNED HAZARD LIGHTS ON, NO PREVIOUS WARNING SIGN OR MESSAGES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. MILEAGE ON CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED 271,071
Steering, Apr 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the power steering fault warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact lost power steering; however, safely drove to the local mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the failure to the torque sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Service brakes, Apr 11, 2022
The HCU fails causing the car to have little to no braking power while driving, at random times. There is a loud grind coming from the front right.. Happens only when it is warm.