MyCarTSB

2006 Ford Escape Wipers & Visibility Problems

24 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data

24
Complaints
1
Recalls
Jan 2011Dec 2012
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Wipers & Visibility Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #05V520000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

Owner Complaints (24)

highVISIBILITY,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2025

Your sunroof suddenly shattered without any impact or accident—possibly due to heat exposure. This is a significant structural issue that will require sunroof replacement to restore proper function and weather sealing.

Parts you may need:

As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.

NHTSA #: 11664348
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2018

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED COMPLETELY. NO OTHER CARS WERE AROUND ME AND THE CAR HAD BEEN WARMED UP FOR QUITE A WHILE AND THERE WAS NO WAY SOMEONE COULD HAVE SHOT OR THROWN SOMETHING TO HAVE REACHED ME AS WELL AS GOING 70MPH. ALSO THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A BULLET OR ROCK.

NHTSA #: 11156698
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2016

THE BACK WINDOW SHATTERED AT THE GAS STATION AFTER I GOT GAS AND PUT AIR IN THE TIRES. AS I SLOWLY CAME TO A ROLL MY BACK WINDOW EXPLODED IN THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT. SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. IT'S ALL OVER THE GROUND AT THE GAS STATION AND THE TINY PIECES ARE ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BARELY IN MOTION AS I HAD NOT EXITED THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA #: 10935342
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jan 2016

REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD ONTO THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA #: 10820637
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2015

CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR CARPORT OVERNIGHT (12/24-25, 2015). WHEN I CAME OUT THE REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. MOST OF THE GLASS WAS OUTSIDE THE CAR, PERHAPS 5 PERCENT WAS INSIDE. NO FALLEN BRANCHES, NO SIGN OF FOUL PLAY, NONE OF OUR OTHER CARS WERE DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. I LOOKED UP AND FOUND THAT SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF "RANDOM REAR WINDOW EXPLOSION" HAD BEEN REPORTED ON FORD ESCAPES, AND THAT THERE WAS AN ACTIVE NHTSA INVESTIGATION HAPPENING, SO I WANTED TO ADD OUR INCIDENT TO THE LIST.

NHTSA #: 10816204
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Jan 2014

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY, NO ONE WAS IN OR AROUND IT. I WAS LOOKING OUT THE FRONT WINDOW WATCHING IT SNOW OUTSIDE WHEN I SAW THE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODE AND GLASS FLEW ALL OVER THE DRIVE WAY. THE BROKEN GLASS WAS VERY EASY TO SEE BECAUSE OF THE FRESH SNOW ON THE DRIVE WAY. ONCE AGAIN NO ONE WAS NEAR OR IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10562285
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2012

I WAS DRIVING HOME AROUND 9 PM. IT WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS ON. MY TWO KIDS WERE IN THE BACK SEAT AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE JUST SHATTERED. WE PULLED OVER TO SEE IF SOMEONE HAD THROWN SOMETHING AT THE CAR, BUT THERE WAS NOBODY AROUND EXCEPT A FATHER AND HIS YOUNG CHILDREN. HE HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING BUT SAID HE HEARD THE WINDOW BREAK AS WE DROVE BY. THERE WAS GLASS ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I AM THANKFUL THAT MY KIDS WERE NOT HURT, BUT I AM SHOCKED THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN. I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10490528
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BEING UTILIZED DURING RAINY WEATHER WHEN THEY SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA #: 10468289
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Nov 2011

REAR WINDOW EXPLODED PROCEEDING AT GREEN LIGHT, IN TRAFFIC, AT 10 MPH. DEFROSTERS AND WIPERS WERE ON DUE TO LIGHT RAIN. LOUD BANG AND GLASS FILLED THE VEHICLE. STOPPED VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS FOUND TO RULE OUT FOUL PLAY. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10435241
mediumVISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2011

I DROVE 7 MILES TO WORK. IT WAS A LITTLE FOGGY/DEWEY OUT SO I TURNED ON MY REAR DEFROST. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE LOW 60'S, SO COOL, BUT NOT COLD BY ANY MEANS. I PARKED MY CAR AND ROLLED THE WINDOWS (ALL 4) DOWN @ 3 INCHES. WHEN I PARKED MY CAR @ 8:00AM IT WAS FINE. BY 9:10AM, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BACK WINDSHIELD OF MY CAR WAS "BROKEN". WHEN I WENT TO CHECK MY CAR, THE BACK WINDSHIELD HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT. THERE WAS BARELY ANY GLASS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AS IT HAD ALL BLOWN OUT 3-4 FEET INTO THE PARKING LOT. I DID HAVE THE LOCAL POLICE RESPOND JUST IN CASE AND THE OFFICER SHRUGGED AND QUESTIONED/STATED "FREAK ACCIDENT". I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON THESE VEHICLES, YET NO PUBLIC AWARENESS HAS BEEN MADE. I AM JUST GLAD THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING LIKE WITH SOME REPORTS I'VE READ. MY INSURANCE WOULD COVER A "RECYCLED" REAR WINDSHIELD/WIPER AND I AM TERRIFIED TO USE THE REAR DEFROST ON THE NEW ONE KNOWING THAT IT CAME FROM THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE OF VEHICLE FOR FEAR IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TT

NHTSA #: 10427622
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Jan 2011

THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE REAR WINDOW WASHER WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON AN EXPRESSWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THEREFORE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY IMPAIRED. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND REPORTS OF THE WASHER FLUID LINE BECOMING DISCONNECTED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP. THE ON LINE REPORTS SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, TOLD WHERE THE FAULT WAS AND THAT THE RIGHT SIDE INNER FENDER HAD TO BE REMOVED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THE FAULTY CONNECTION, AND ADDED PLASTIC WIRE WRAPS TO SECURE FOUR CONNECTIONS IN THE AREA FROM COMING LOOSE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10374069
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Jan 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. SHE STATED THAT THE WINDOW EXPLODED INTO THE VEHICLE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HINGES BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOW TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

NHTSA #: 10374627
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2010

I DROVE MY CAR FROM MY HOME, TO WORK THAT MORNING. IT WAS A LITTLE CHILLY SO I TURNED ON MY REAR DEFROST SO I COULD SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW. I DROVE MY NORMAL COMMUTE, ABOUT 7 MINUTES TO WORK, PARKED MY CAR, AND WENT INSIDE. WITHIN 20 MINUTES I HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND NOTICED THAT MY BACK WINDOW WAS BLOWN OUT AND EXPLODED ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE AND FILE A CLAIM TO HAVE THE WINDOW REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10372714
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2010

2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT - LIKE MANY OTHERS, MY REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO REASON. HAD GLASS/REAR WIPER REPLACED BUT WAS THEN BLOWING FUSES. SO NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE REAR WIPER MOTOR REPLACED ON TOP OF THE GLASS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF SAME ISSUE BUT STILL NO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10372078
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Nov 2010

I PULLED MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE INTO MY GARAGE, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, GOT OUT AND SHUT MY DOOR WHEN THE REAR WINDOW JUST EXPLODED/SHATTERED. I HAD MY 3 YEAR OLD AND 7 MONTH OLD (WHO WAS REAR FACING) IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA #: 10365336
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2010

2006 FORD ESCAPE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. *TR

NHTSA #: 10314725
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2010

I HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE AND I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORK AND CAME OUT AFTER I STARTED MY REMOTE STARTER INSIDE TO FIND MY CARS REAR WINDOW BLOWN OUT. MY HUSBAND HAD TURNED ON MY REAR DEFROST THAT MORNING. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ON BEFORE, WHICH I AM SURE IS THE CAUSE BEHIND IT. I CAME HOME AND CALLED POLICE. MY REAR GLASS WINDOW AND THE ARMS FOR IT ARE RUINED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED. THEN I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND THE FORD FORUM AND HEARD EVERYONE ELSE'S INCIDENTS AND IT SOUNDED QUITE FAMILIAR. I AM HAPPY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD, I HAVE A SEVEN YEAR OLD THAT SITS IN A BOOSTER SEAT AND IF IT HURT HIM IN ANY WAY I WOULD FEEL SORRY FOR FORD CAUSE I WOULD BE THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE. OR WHERE I WAS PARKED AT MY WORK (NURSING HOME) THAT IS WHERE THE RESIDENTS GO OUT FOR A CIGARETTE SO IF IT EXPLODED IN THEIR FACE. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LAW SUIT FOR SURE, NOT TO MENTION WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10303552
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2009

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60MPH, 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE, REAR WINDOW DEFROST ON, REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10294866
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW HAD SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83900. UPDATED 1/14/10 *CN UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB

NHTSA #: 10294948
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2009

31 DEGREES DRIVING 5 MPH.. I HAD A 45 MIN COMMUTE TO WORK HAD THE DEFROST ON WHEN I LEFT HOME.. GOT TO WORK AND MY REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT. NO OTHER MOVING VEHICLES AROUND AND SMOOTH WELL MAINTAINED PARKING LOT. THE GLASS WENT IN BILLIONS OF PIECES OUTSIDE ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 10 FEET BACK AND INSIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10294328
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2009

REAR WINDOW "EXPLODES" FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NO ONE INSIDE - REAR DEFROSTER HAD BEEN ON PRIOR TO SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. *TR

NHTSA #: 10290340
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Nov 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE REARVIEW MIRROR SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD COST $700 TO REPLACE THE REARVIEW GLASS. THE REAR PASSENGER HAD GLASS STUCK IN HIS SKIN AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MINOR CUT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000.

NHTSA #: 10249341
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE 2006 FORD ESCAPE WITH 100 FAILURE MILEAGE SHE TURNED ON THE HEAT ONE RAINY DAY AND BEGAN TO SMELL A PERFUME/GRAPE CANDY ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATER VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER , AND THE ENGINEER LOOKED IT OVER, BUT WILL NOT SPECIFY WHAT TESTS THAT THEY DID, IF ANY. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THIS ODOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6000.*AK UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB

NHTSA #: 10182012
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2006

THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING ON A ONE-LANE ROAD (OFF RAMP OF HWY 101), THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED SUDDENLY. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS APPEARED TO HAVE STRUCK THE WINDOW. THE SHATTERING OF GLASS RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND SOME DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED AND FORD REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. NOTHING WAS DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA #: 10176096

Other 2006 Ford Escape Issues