MyCarTSB

2008 Ford Escape Electrical Problems

102 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

102
Complaints
4
Fires
Jan 2016Dec 2016
Date Range

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

Owner Complaints (102)

highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2026

Your check engine light is flashing repeatedly, and you're experiencing noticeable vibration while driving. You may also notice oil and fluid leaking from the engine, which could indicate a bad head gasket. The leaking fluids and head gasket issue will likely need professional engine diagnosis and repair to prevent further damage.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11721440
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2025

While driving, your dashboard lights suddenly come on, your speedometer and RPM gauge drop to zero, and your air conditioning stops working. You can still control and drive the car, but the problem happens frequently and is frightening. Hitting a bump or tapping the dashboard sometimes fixes it temporarily. Ford diagnosed the dashboard instrument cluster as the faulty component.

NHTSA #: 11686741
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Filed: Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon arriving to her destination and pulling into a parking lot, after shifting the vehicle into park(P), the vehicle inadvertently lost electrical power and all electrical functionality, and the contact became locked inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to exit the vehicle and suffered heat strokes during a hot summer day. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to provide the cause for the failure. The contact stated that the mechanic at the dealer was also locked inside the vehicle due to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

NHTSA #: 11669247
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 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.

NHTSA #: 11480102
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FireFiled: Oct 2020

VEHICLE FIRE. FIRE STARTED IN AREA OF DRIVER'S SIDE TAILLIGHT WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN A PARKING LOT. SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA #: 11362212
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Sep 2020

SUDDENLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP PROPERLY.

NHTSA #: 11353193
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Aug 2020

"STOP SAFELY NOW". IT DID A COUPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND NOW IT WON'T TURN ON AT ALL.

NHTSA #: 11342672
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2019

IGNITION SWITCH NOT ALLOWING CRANKING DURING ENGAGING. SWITCH FEELS UNSECURED. ALSO DIFFICULT TO INSERT KEY . THIS IS A CONSTANT ONGOING PROBLEM . MILEAGE IS 85,XXX .

NHTSA #: 11277249
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO JIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION A COUPLE OF TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA #: 11244994
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2019

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL SURGES IN OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLS. THE SURGES ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THEY WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE ARE AT A STOP LIGHT, GETTING READY TO GO; AFTER HAVING MY FOOT ON THE GAS FOR A SECOND (OR LESS) A POWER SURGE WILL HAPPEN IN THE CAR (ABS LIGHT POPS ON AND 2 OTHERS). IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 OR 70 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A POWER SURGE HAPPENS. I DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT VIDEO OF THIS HAPPENING, BUT I WILL BE SURE TO GET ONE WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR SO TO BE SURE I HAVE THIS PROOF ON FILE FOR YOU, IF NEEDED. PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE WINTER. WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THE ENGINE JUST NEEDED TO WARM UP BECAUSE OF HOW COLD WINTER GOT BUT IT IS NOW WARMER AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, THE FIRST TIME WE HAD A POWER SURGE WAS IN LATE JANUARY.

NHTSA #: 11208194
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2019

THE SUV INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO A NO CRANK/NO START CONDITION. YOU TURN THE KEY AND IT DOESN'T CRANK. THIS HAPPENS WHILE I'M TRAVELING AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT A REST STOP AND PANICKING THINKING IT WASN'T GONNA START. SINCE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME MECHANICS CAN ONLY RELY ON WHAT THEY THINK COULD BE THE PROBLEM WHICH INCLUDE THE IGNITION SWITCH IGNITION LOCK MODULE AND STARTER RELAY. I'VE ALSO FOUND A VARIETY OF REVIEWS EXPLAINING EVEN AFTER PARTS ARE REPLACED THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTING FOR THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL. AND CONCERNING RECALL NUMBER 14V284000. FORD DEALERSHIPS ARE ONLY CLEARING THE RECALL CODES IF THEY CONSIDER THE PART NOT NEEDING TO BE CHANGED SO THAT AFTETWARDS WHEN THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR DOES GO BAD THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO CHECK IT OR FIX IT FOR FREE. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS TO HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED YET.

NHTSA #: 11206628
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2019

THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT START THE CAR. IT IS NOT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR ET AL. IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED, EVERYTHING COMES ON BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START.

NHTSA #: 11204161
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2018

TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A BASIC OIL CHANGE THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE CONCERNING THE STEERING. THEY PROCEEDED TO CORRECT WHATEVER RECALL NEEDED. UPON RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE BACK I HAD A HARD TIME TURNING MY KEY TO START THE CAR. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT "I MUST PRESS VERY HARD JAM IT IN THERE TO START IT" NOW A YEAR LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD AND WAS GOING TO COST ME $700 TO REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY 2008 FORD ESCAPES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THIS WAS A RECALL. NOW I AM STUCK WITHOUT MY VEHICLE UNLESS I PAY THE MONEY FOR THE VEHICLE THAT APPARENTLY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11152434
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2018

APPROX. A YEAR AGO THE BRAKES STARTED FAILING. SUDDENLY YOU HAD TO PUMP THEM EXTRA HARD TO STOP. WARNING LIGHT APPEARED THAT TIRES NEED INFLATING. THEY DID NOT. THEN AN ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN, NO EXTRA PUMPING NEEDED. THEN AT HIGH SPEEDS THE WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AND STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND YOU COULDN'T GO ABOUT 60 MPH. AHHH! WHEN YOU HIT BRAKES THEY DIDN'T RESPOND OR A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE HAPPENED. LOOKED IT UP, COMMON IN THIS YEAR'S HYBRID THAT ABS BRAKES FAIL. ONLY HAD 150K ON IT. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY WANTED $7400 TO FIX. WHAT? "PROPRIETARY ABS BRAKES MUST BE REPLACED." THEY WOULDN'T TURN WARNING MESSAGE OFF COMPUTER OR DO ANYTHING LESS. WOULDN'T CHECK HOSES, CIRCUITS, OR PADS. JUST A FLAT "$7400" WITH NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN ABS SYSTEM. WE FOUND OUT THROUGH COMPLAINT SITES ONLINE THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT'S EXTREMELY HARROWING TO BE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND HAVE THE CAR SUDDENLY START SHAKING AND THE BRAKES NOT WORK!!

NHTSA #: 11139294
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2018

MY KEY FOB UNLOCKED THE CAR, AS USUAL, PUT CHILD IN. GOT IN DRIVERS SIDE. PUT KEY IN IGNITION. ALL LOCKS LOCKED! CAR DID NOT START. I HIT KEY FOB AND THE PAD TO UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES... UNLOCKED MY DOOR... I ASSUMED ALL DOORS. WOULD NOT OPEN DOOR WHERE DAUGHTER WAS IN CAR SEAT IN BACK (BACK PASSENGER SIDE). KEY FOB OR DOOR UNLOCK WOULD NOT WORK TO UNLOCK IT. KEY FOB DID NOT WORK AT ALL AFTER THAT FIRST TIME AND DID NOT UNLOCK HER SIDE. I GOT HER OUT ON DRIVER'S SIDE BACKSEAT. WE HAVE VIDEO SURVEILLENCE SO INCIDENT SHOULD BE ON THERE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. END OF 100' DRIVEWAY. NO NEIGHBORS IN SIGHT. TERRIFYING TO THINK IF THE KEY FOB HADNT OPENED MY DOOR THAT LAST AND APPARENTLY ONE AND ONLY TIME, IF ID BE STUCK IN HOT CAR WITH DAUGHTER IN BACK SEAT.

NHTSA #: 11115148
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jul 2018

THE REGEN BREAKS DISABLED LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. THE BREAKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, IF AT ALL. NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STOP ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE BREAKS SOMETIMES LOCK ON AND THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE AT ALL. UNABLE TO GO MORE THAN 40 MPH. IF YOU ATTEMPT, THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND THE BREAKS SMOKE. I TOOK IT TO FORD FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY INFORMED ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE THE BEAK SYSTEM AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM BEING INTEGRATED. THE PART BY ITSELF IS $4200 AND THE VEHICLE BLUE BOOKS FOR ABOUT $3000 AT THE MOST. THE VEHICLE WON'T START OR EVEN TURN OVER. THE BATTERY IS GOOD.

NHTSA #: 11114429
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2018

VEHICLE HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. THERE IS DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER REQUIRING THE OPERATOR TO HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN, OFTEN WITH GREAT PRESSURE, THEN TWIST THE KEY TO GET THE CAR TO START. EVENTUALLY THE IGNITION MECHANISM WILL FAIL COMPLETELY REQUIRING THE ENTIRE IGNITION HOUSING WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE REPLACED AND AT GREAT EXPENSE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO START AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. REPAIRS COST OVER $500. THE PROBLEM NEVER AFFECTED ME DURING NORMAL DRIVING, ONLY WHEN THE CAR NEEDED TO BE STARTED. A SIMPLE SEARCH REVEALED MANY OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS REPORT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE SO IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THIS IS A RANDOM PROBLEM OR THE RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR. INDEED, THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED BY FORD. HOWEVER, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE, AS HAPPENED TO ME, THE CAR CAN AND WILL LEAVE THE DRIVER STRANDED WHICH, IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, IS NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE BUT ALSO A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY FORD. SINCE I ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR I THINK IT ONLY FAIR THAT FORD REIMBURSE ME THE COSTS.

NHTSA #: 11109880
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Mar 2018

THE COMPUTER CHECKS THE BRAKES UPON START AND THE COMPUTER IS FALSELY DETECTING AN ERROR WITH THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP PERIODICALLY. IT CAN OCCUR 1 IN EVERY 50 STARTS TO SOMETIME 5 ATTEMPTS IN EVERY 1 GOOD START. THE COMPUTER IF IT SEES AN ERROR WILL DISABLE THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WILL BRAKE SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWER AND LESS EFFICIENTLY WHEN IN ERROR MODE. THE COMPUTER GLITCH REQUIRES A TOTAL REPLACEMENT AND MUST BE REPROGRAMMED AT THE DEALER AT A COST OF $4 TO $5 THOUSAND. BASED ON THE THOUSANDS I SEE ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NATURE OF ISSUE (BRAKES AND SAFETY), I AM SURPRISED TO SEE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MANDATED. THE COST IS BEYOND REASONABLE AND I AM LEFT WITH DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR.

NHTSA #: 11082272
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2018

IGNITION SWITCH WILL STOP WORKING AND BECOME LOOSE, WHICH WILL PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING WHILE STATIONARY.

NHTSA #: 11065784
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2017

KEY IGNITION SWITCH IS DIFFICULT TO WORK. FORD TOLD ME TO PUNCH THE KEY IN HARD THEN TURN, WHICH WORKS MOST OF THE TIME. I'VE READ WHERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LOTS OF OWNERS. TO FIX THE PROBLEM, FORD SAYS IT WILL COST BETWEEN $800.00 - $1000.00, BUT THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. NO GUARANTEE. SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS SO PREVALENT, WHY NO RECALL TO FIX THIS COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 11051031
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE'S POWER BEGAN TO DECREASE AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP AND LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA #: 11044666
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2017

WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO START THE CAR, IT WILL NOT ENGAGE. HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING THE KEY IN HARDER AND HARDER TO GET THE KEY TO START. TAKES 20-30 TRIES TO GET THE CAR TO START. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BATTERY AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN IGNITION PROBLEM. HAVE READ THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. STEERING WHEEL TURNS AND ONCE CAR DOES START IT'S FINE.

NHTSA #: 11040919
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2017

PENDING FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE CONTROL UNIT. ABS, CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON THE VEHICLE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP. READING OTHER'S POSTS ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAPPENS OFTEN. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ONCE FAILURE IS PRESENT. ONLY WAY TO FIX IS WITH A $4,500 PART THAT YOU HAVE TO GET NEW FROM FORD....

NHTSA #: 11031482
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Aug 2017

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE BRAKE REGENERATION DISABLED IS DISPLAYED ON DASH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT CALLS FOR THE ECU TO BE REPLACED AND THE REPAIR IS $5,000. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPLACE THIS PART AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA #: 11014105
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2017

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MIN AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THEN SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 5-10 MILES PER HOUR DUE TO TRAFFIC. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHILE SLOWLY MOVING IN TRAFFIC, A TONE SOUNDED, A RED TRIANGLE APPEARED ON THE DASH AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SHOWED 'STOP SAFELY NOW'. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, SO THE CAR STALLED AND STOPPED ITSELF FOR ME WITH NO TIME TO REACT. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. IT JUST KEPT THE SAME MESSAGE 'STOP SAFELY NOW', WITH THE RED TRIANGLE DISPLAYED. EVENTUALLY A ROAD RANGER ASSISTED ME TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY PUSHING MY DEAD CAR WHILE IN NEUTRAL. I LET THE CAR SIT AND COOL OFF OVER NIGHT AND THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT IN THE MORNING WITH NO ISSUES AT ALL. AFTER READING ONLINE, THE FAILURE SOUNDS IDENTICAL TO OTHER FORD ESCAPE HYBRID PROBLEMS WITH THE FAILURE OF THE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT (MEC) PUMP. THERE WAS A RECALL THAT COVERED MY VEHICLE MODEL PRODUCTION YEAR MODEL AND LOCATION OF PRODUCTION, NHTSA RECALL NO. : 14V-526 MANUFACTURER RECALL NO. : 14S19. HOWEVER, AFTER INQUIRIES WITH NHSTA AND FORD, BOTH HAVE TOLD ME THAT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION THAT EITHER ENTITY WILL PROVIDE AS TO WHY MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE, WITH THE SAME PRODUCTION DATE, LOCATION, AND MODEL AS THIS RECALL, DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED EITHER, IF THIS HAD OCCURRED LESS THAN A MINUTE EARLIER, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND ONLY BY CHANCE IT OCCURRED WHEN TRAFFIC WAS MOVING SLOWER, LEAVING TIME FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO REACT TO MY STALLED VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA #: 11011284
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2017

FORD ESCAPE 2008 HAS IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING THE KEY WHEN PARKED, THERE IS NO IGNITION TO STARTER. PANEL LIGHTS COME ON, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT START. FORD RECALLED VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED THAT FORD DID NOT COVER ALL MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLES THAT EXHIBIT THIS FAULT.

NHTSA #: 11005873
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COLLAR AND BREAK AWAY BOLTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,500.

NHTSA #: 10980219
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Dec 2016

ABS CONTROL MODULE / HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT HCU HAS GONE OUT ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. IT HAS LEFT ME WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING ABILITY. IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN ON THE HWY IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. IT IS A $6,000 REPAIR AND IT APPARENTLY REQUIRES A FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE $4,000 PART, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE / HCU. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR FAULTY HCUS IN THESE CARS!

NHTSA #: 10938496
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Nov 2016

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND TURNING A CORNER, MY POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I ALMOST DROVE INTO ANOTHER CAR, SO TO AVOID COLLIDING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC I WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT ACCORDING TO THIS WEB SITE IT IS. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO, CRASH?

NHTSA #: 10926011
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Oct 2016

WHEN SITTING IDLE AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, IT RUMBLES ROUGHLY, I HIT THE ACCELERATOR IT HESITATES TO GO THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN GETS A BURST OF SPEED. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS IN CITY STREET.

NHTSA #: 10914867
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2016

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, IT WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING MY CAR TO START. I HAD TO PUSH THE KEY IN ALL WAY IN...PUSHING IT HARD AND SOMETIMES JIGGLING THE KEY TO GET IT TO START. I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH (MODULE) AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I HAD A LOCKSMITH CHANGE THE IGNITION BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. FINALLY FORD SAID THAT IT WAS THE "IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING". THIS SEEMS LIKE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. AS THE FORD DEALER HAD TO ORDER A 2ND "SWITCH HOUSING" BECAUSE THE 1ST ONE (THE ONE IN STOCK) WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA #: 10904808
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Aug 2016

ONE MORNING, NO PRIOR WARNING, OR ISSUES WITH BRAKES OR MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WHAT SO EVER, I START TO DRIVE TO WORK AND AFTER TURNING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ONTO A MAJOR STREET MY BRAKE LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN MY BRAKES DON'T WORK! I PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ENDED UP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT TO GO THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. SOMEONE COULD HAVE DIED FOR SURE, AND IT WAS A HEART STOPPING SCARE! I PULLED OVER AND WALKED BACK HOME. LOOKED UP ONLINE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLES BRAKES SUDDENLY GOING OUT AND THAT IT IS A $5K FIX!! I HAD THE ESCAPE TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. THE NEXT MORNING I WANTED TO TRY A FEW THINGS TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN PROBLEMS I FOUND ONLINE. NOW, THE KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK, I MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR, STICK THE KEY IN, NO LIGHTS, NO SOUND, NOTHING. I TURN THE KEY AND AGAIN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WE HOOK UP CABLES AND IT STARTS RIGHT AWAY AND EVERYTHING WORKS. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS SO I TRY A SLOW DRIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BRAKE LIGHTS GO ON AFTER ABOUT 1/2 A MILE AND THE BRAKES ARE VERY SOFT, HAVE TO DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR JUST TO SLOW DOWN FROM 15 MPH. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID JUST BRING IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS, FOR $200/HR MINIMUM 2 HOURS JUST TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT!! NO THANK YOU, $400 TO TELL ME IT'S A $5K PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR'S WORTH MAYBE $6K PRIVATE PARTY! SO I NOW HAVE A WORTHLESS HYBRID SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. DO NOT BUY A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID!!! READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - FORD HAS NOT RECALLED!! *TR

NHTSA #: 10896103
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA #: 10888903
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER STALLING, THE EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COOLANT PUMP MOTOR FOR THE HYBRID BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA #: 10881607
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2016

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEY HAS TO BE FORCED IN AND CRANKED OVER WITH CONSIDERABLE TORQUE.

NHTSA #: 10876420
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN CORRECTLY TO START THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, BUT EVENTUALLY FAILED PERMANENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECCURED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA #: 10873410
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2016

ISSUE STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY OF FAILURE. THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING IS WITH STARTING THE CAR. THE KEY IS INSERTED AND TURNED, THE DASH INDICATORS TURN ON BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT START. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS ARE NEEDED TO START ENGINE. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS OCCURRING AT A RATE OF 9 OUT OF 10 ATTEMPTS AND IS CURRENTLY AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA #: 10864719
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Mar 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES. THE FAILURES INCLUDED THE LOSS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, STABILITY CONTROL, AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,412.

NHTSA #: 10850818
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STEERING
Filed: Mar 2016

HI MY NAME IS [XXX] I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND I AM HAVING STEERING WHEEL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE AND I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I LOOK LIKE THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IM HAVING AND THAT MIGHT BE THE STEERING WHEEL TORQUE SENSOR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10840168
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2016

I TOOK MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE IN TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED ON ELECTRIC POWER STEERING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF CORRECTLY TO START WITH. I FILED A COMPLAINT YESTERDAY FOR THAT ISSUE. I FORGOT TO MENTION AND ADD A COMPLAINT FOR ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING ALSO WITH THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE VEHICLE IT WILL NOT START. IF YOU REMOVE THE KEY AND TRY AGAIN THEN IT WILL START. OR IF YOU SIT AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RETRY TO START THE VEHICLE THEN IT WILL START. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE SHAKEN IN THE STEERING WHEEL. HOWEVER THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WAS A SEPARATE ISSUE AND BILL. I COULD ONLY AFFORD TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED FOR THE ELETRIC POWER STEERING WHEEL SO FOR NOW I CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY OUT AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. HONESTLY... I WANT TO CRY! EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND IT IS SOMETHING GOING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALSO I HAD TO GET THE SERPENTINE BELT FIXED LAST WEEK AS WELL. I DONT KNOW OF WHAT MORE I CAN SAY AT THIS TIME. MY NERVES ARE SHOT WORRING ABOUT WHAT WILL GO WRONG NEXT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I WORRY IF IT WILL START TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP FROM SCHOOL AND SOCCER OR IF SHE WILL BE LEFT STRANDED BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A RELIABLE VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION HAVING TO WORRY; ABOUT HAVING MONEY FOR REPAIR AFTER REPAIR. I AM SO DISCUSSED WITH FORD! ALSO I HAVE A ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE MAKING A NOISE. I THOUGHT THE NOISE COULD BE RELATED TO THE SERPENTINE BELT BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. IT IS SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE UNTIL I CAN GET THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED.

NHTSA #: 10839750
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2016

THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS STARTING AGAIN THE KEY JUST TURNS AND CAR DOESN'T TURN OVER AND IT BEEPS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PUT KEY IN RIGHT POSITION.

NHTSA #: 10839043
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Feb 2016

AFTER APPROX. 10 MINUTES OF STOP AND GO DRIVING AT <5MPH A TONE SOUNDED, A RED TRIANGLE LIT, AND THE LED INDICATED "STOP SAFELY NOW." THE ENGINE DID NOT STALL, SHUT DOWN, OR GIVE ANY OTHER INDICATION OF A FAULT, THEREFORE I CONTINUED DRIVING AT <15MPH TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER I RETURNED SEVERAL HOURS LATER THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY WITH NO FAULT INDICATION, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER FAULT INDICATION. I READ ON THE WEB THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED WITH OTHER 2008 ESCAPE HYBRIDS AND WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HYBRID SYSTEM ELECTRONICS COOLING PUMP. ONE COMPLAINANT INDICATED THAT THE 2008 ESCAPE HYBRIDS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE RECALL DOES NOT SHOW ON YOUR, OR ON FORD'S, DATABASE FOR THIS VEHICLE. HAS THIS BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY, AND WAS THERE A RECALL?

NHTSA #: 10838501
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA #: 10821388
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2016

EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON FREEWAY. PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO SHOULDER. VEHICLE RESTARTED. NO FAULT CODE FOUND

NHTSA #: 10821152
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS INOPERABLE AND THE STARTER KEY NEEDED TO BE FORCED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH EVENTUALLY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON AND THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 10809971
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Sep 2015

ALL THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN FIXED BY CAPITOL CITY FORD INDIANAPOLIS AND MACE FORD TERRE HAUTE, IN. I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE THRUST AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY MY CAR WILL NOT START. OTHER MECHANICS SAID IT WAS THE STARTER, ITS NOT THE STARTER ITS ELECTRICAL SENSORS. THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS NOT BEING EXCELERATED. SUSPENSION, HEATER SPEED CONTROL STOP WORKING WHEN THEY WORKED ON THE ELECTRICAL AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. THERE IS MORE. I DON'T HAVE MY DOCUMENTATION, BUT I WILL SUBMIT IT LATER. THE CAR IS AT THE SHOP - BEING LOOKED AND WORKED ON - ITS STILL NOT STARTING - SO WE DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION!! I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER HIT FROM FORD WHEN THEY ARE NOT EVEN FIXING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10778672
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2015

APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AFTER SHOPPING, WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR FINALLY TURNED OVER AND STARTED. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND DID NOT GO OUT THE REST OF THE DAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I CALLED A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS THE STARTER. I DID NOT THINK SO, BUT TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND THEY DID THE WORK AND REPLACED THE STARTER COSTING ME MONEY THAT I DO NOT HAVE AS I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. GOT THE CAR BACK LAST WEEK AND YESTERDAY WAS SITTING IN A CAR DEALER LOT AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO CALL FOR A RIDE AFTER SITTING IN THE HOT 90 PLUS DEGREE HEAT. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN TODAY AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRY AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHY IT WILL NOT START. TO ME AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. EITHER WAY, I AM TERRIFIED THAT IT WILL START A FIRE, OR WORSE LEAVE ME STRANDED WHERE NO ONE CAN COME AND GET ME. I AM AN ELDERLY WOMAN AND CAN NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES WITH MY CAR. IF THIS COULD BE LOOKED INTO AND TAKEN CARE OF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE THE INVOICES FROM THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PROMPT RESOLUTION OF THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA #: 10762132
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2015

I THINK MY VEHICLE HAS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER I TAKE THE KEY OUT SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL START BY ITSELF AND TODAY THE LOCKS STARTED LOCKING UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES. I WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS RUNNING. ALSO THE BACK WINDSHIELD MOTOR COVER FELL OFF AND NO LONGER WORKS. I CAN NO LONGER LOCK MY BACK WINDOW AND IT OPENS AND SHUTS THE WHOLE TIME I AM DRIVING. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT. MY LAST FORD ESCAPE I HAD 10 YEARS AND RACKED UP OVER 250,000 MILES - THAT CAR WAS A DREAM. THIS USED 2008 I BOUGHT SEEMS TO BE A LEMON : *TR

NHTSA #: 10736051
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FLINGE THAT CONNECTS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA #: 10722936
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Filed: Apr 2015

THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 2013 MY CAR IGNITION WAS NOT STARTING THE CAR I HAVE TO PRESS IN THEN TURN SO THAT MY CAR CAN START THIS WAS GETTING SO AGGRAVATING SO I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY SWITCHED OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THAT DID NOT LAST LONG. I AM NOW DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AGAIN AND IT IS EXPENSIVE. I AM SO TIRED OF MY CAR NOT STARTING WHEN I TURN THE KEY. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED BECAUSE OF IT AND I SOMETIMES GET STUCK AFTER SHOPPING OR AT WORK AND I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE KEY UNTIL IT START. I BELIEVE THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL I HAD LAST YEAR ON MY CAR I HOPE THAT FORD LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING GOING ON DEEPER THAN THE SWITCH AND FORD NEED TO FIX IT. I NEED HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10712983
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2015

OVER TIME MY VEHICLE HAS GOTTEN HARDER AND HARDER TO START. NOW I HAVE TO PRESS THE KEYS IN TURN TO HAVE THE VEHICLE START. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND SEVERAL USERS HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. (HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/BV8TDCF83VC) IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH PLASTIC CLIPS USED TO HOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH IN PLACE. THE MECHANIC IN THE VIDEO STATES THAT IT'S THE ROD THAT ENGAGES THE SWITCH, IT BECOMES LOOSE AND REQUIRES YOU TO PUSH THE KEY IN TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS IS POOR DESIGN BY FORD AND PLACES THE ONUS ON THE CUSTOMER TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10703018
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN VERY HOT WEATHER, THE BATTERY WOULD OVERHEAT AND A MESSAGE TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION WOULD DISPLAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THEY BATTERY PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CODE IDENTIFYING THE FAILURE WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA #: 10692486
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2015

KEY IS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN IGNITION. YOU HAVE TO PUSH AND TURN REALLY HARD. BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER A YEAR. EVERY TIME I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED, I HAVE TO HELP THE MECHANICS AND I'M A WOMAN. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK NEED REPLACING. $220 FOR PARTS WITH $734 AS THE TOTAL ESTIMATE WITH LABOR. IT'S GETTING HARDER TO START WHICH CAN BE SCARY IF I GET STRANDED. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A CAR. I'VE READ AT LEAST 30 OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WHERE IS THE RECALL,? *TR

NHTSA #: 10680770
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2015

2008 FORD ESCAPE FAULTY IGNITION IN ORDER TO START THE CAR THE KEY MUST BE PRESSED HARD INTO THE IGNITION WHILE TURNING OTHERWISE THE CAR WON'T START.IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO IT CAN BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10679702
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2014

VEHICLE WILL NOT START ,HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER TO BE FIXED COSTING OVER $300.00 AND ON 12/01/2014 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND WAS TOWED IN TO BE FIXED AGAIN COSTING OVER $700.00 AND THE SERVICE MANAGER JUST LAUGHED AND SAID THAT HAPPENS ALOT AND AT LEASED THE FORDS WON'T SHUT OFF LIKE GM ,THEY JUST DON'T START. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON FORD'S IGNITIONS TOO. *TR

NHTSA #: 10662481
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2014

THE IGNITION SWITCH MOVES IN IT'S HOUSING. MAKING THE DRIVER HAVE TO CRACK THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND/ OR TURN THE KEY VERY HARD TO GET IT TO START. SOMETIMES GETTING IT STARTED IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. THIS PART IS FAULTY. THERE SHOULD BE RECALL ON THIS IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO ENCOUNTER THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE. IT IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD FAIL AFTER ONLY 6 YEARS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA #: 10660227
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Nov 2014

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE POWER CUT OUT TO THE VEHICLE, AND THE THROTTLE STOPPED RESPONDING, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT VERY LABORED. AT THE SAME TIME THE WRENCH LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASH. USING THE FORWARD MOMENTUM I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, WHERE IT STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RE-TART THE ENGINE WHERE IT RAN LABORED AGAIN, AND STALLED OUT, THE THROTTLE WAS NOT RESPONSIVE DURING THIS TIME AT ALL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 RE-STARTS WITH THE LAST COMING AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT AWHILE, I WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT AND DRIVE IT NORMAL. THROTTLE RESPONSE RETURNED, AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS OFF. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED FOR MY WIFE AGAIN ON 11/12 WITH A SIMILAR RESULT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10654736
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Oct 2014

AS I WAS EXITING A RAMP, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING COMPLETELY. .FORCING ME TO PULL OVER, AS I CONTINUE ON IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN GAS IS PUSHED COMPLETELY DOWN. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON BUT LEAVES WHEN CAR IS OFF. DRIVING APROX. 3 BLOCKS BEFORE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN... *TR

NHTSA #: 10648468
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Oct 2014

THE ELECTRONIC COOLANT PUMP IS KNOWN PROBLEM AND FORD IS FINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE FIXING THIS THROUGH A RECALL OCTOBER 2014. (HTTP://WWW.GREENCARREPORTS.COM/NEWS/1094407_2005-2008-FORD-ESCAPE-HYBRID-RECALLED-ALSO-MERCURY-MARINER-HYBRIDS). DRIVING IN NEW MEXICO ON A FAMILY VACATION, THE CAR SUDDENLY SAYS TO STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING COMES UP. MIND YOU THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND IT'S OVER ONE HUNDRED DEGREES WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SOMEHOW, WE BARELY MAKE IT INTO LAS CRUCES, NM ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. SO, AFTER WAITING A FEW HOURS THEY TELL US THAT THEIR HYBRID TECH ISN'T THERE AND IS ON VACATION. REALLY? IT TOOK A FEW HOURS TO FIGURE OUT THAT HE WASN'T THERE? ANYWAY, THEY SUGGESTED TO TRY AND CONTINUE ON TO PHOENIX, AZ WHERE THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO. SO, WE TRY HEADING OUT, BUT THE CAR GOES OUT AGAIN AS SOON AS WE GET ON THE FREEWAY. SO, WE DO THE PULL OVER AND RESTART THING ABOUT TWENTY TIMES UNTIL WE MAKE IT BACK TO THE LAS CRUCES DEALERSHIP. WE HAD TO STAY IN LAS CRUCES FOR A WEEK, COSTING US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WHAT WE NOW CALL THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME. THIS HAS RECENTLY HAPPENED AGAIN WITH OUR ESCAPE, AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE US AGAIN TO FIX THIS. FORD NEEDS TO GET IT'S ACT TOGETHER, OR I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING FROM THEM AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10643563
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2014

ENGINE DIED MULTIPLE TIMES IN A PARKING LOT. CAR HAD BEEN IDLING AND HAD RECENTLY BEEN DRIVEN OVER THIRTY MILES ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 90 DEG F. HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT WAS CLOSED. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND NO DTC FOUND IN ECM. PAID THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TIME AND PICKED UP UP THE CAR. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CAR DIED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 10-20 MPH. DASHBOARD DISPLAY SAID TO PULL OVER AND PARK SAFELY. AFTER WAITING FOR 30 MINUTES FOR THE ENGINE TO COOL, WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE THREE MILES HOME. THE NEXT DAY AT THE DEALER, NO DTC FOUND IN THE ECM, BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE SYMPTOMS POINTED TO A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECALIBRATE THE THROTTLE BODY, SO THEY ASKED US TO APPROVE PAYING FOR A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING, WHICH WE DID. THIS SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM DIRECTS THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHENEVER IT DETECTS A SENSOR PROBLEM THAT IT CAN NOT RESOLVE. MOST CARS WOULD PRODUCE A CEL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND SET A LIMP HOME MODE. THE ESCAPE HYBRID SEEMS TO JUST SHUT OFF AND LET YOU HOPE FOR THE BEST. THIS MAY SEEM LIKE AN IRRATIONAL RESPONSE TO A MODEST PROBLEM, BUT THESE WERE THE SAME THINGS THAT HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PUMP PROBLEM FOR THE ELECTRONICS, WHICH IS NOW A SAFETY RECALL FOR 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRIDS. TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM, THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER TO REFUND OUR PREVIOUS PAYMENT FOR THE PUMP REPLACEMENT. I HAD TO ASK FOR IT AND AM NOW WAITING FOR THEM TO GIVE ME A REFUND, EVEN THOUGH THE FORD WEBSITE CLEARLY STATES THAT THEY SHOULD EXPEDITE REFUNDS FOR PRIOR WORK DONE ONCE A RECALL IS STARTED. UNHAPPY ON MULTIPLE LEVELS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10643732
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA #: 10618732
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jul 2014

I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T START MY CAR. SINCE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING MY KEY IN FURTHER AND FURTHER TO TRY TO GET MY CAR TO START. SOMETIMES IT TAKE 10-15 MIN BEFORE I CAN ACTUALLY GET IT STARTED. READING COMMENTS ABOUT THE CAR THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DONE. *JS

NHTSA #: 10616621
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2014

WHEN TRYING TO START THE IGNITION, IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO PUSH IN WITH THE KEY AND TRY THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL CRANK.IF I NEED TO BE IN A HURRY,I CAN'T,BECAUSE IT TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO GET CRANK.. *TR

NHTSA #: 10616139
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2014

AS WE WERE DRIVING, A "HAZARD" LIGHT COME ON THE DASH, THE ENGINE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF, AND A MESSAGE, "STOP CAR SAFELY," ALSO APPEARED ON THE DASH. WE DID SO, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. CAR DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. WE DID THIS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO TO GET HOME. HAD WE BEEN ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. A SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT OFF COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC BATTERY HAD OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP WAS NOT WORKING. I HAVE COME ACROSS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHILE LOOKING INTO MY SITUATION. SOME EXAMPLES: HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/COOLANT-PUMP-ON-HYBRID-MAY-FAIL-AND-CAUSE-CELENGINE-SHUTDOWN-562. *TR

NHTSA #: 10597458
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2014

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. ONCE I TURN THE CAR OFF, IT WILL DRIVE AND THEN REPEAT. INITIALLY IT ONLY HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY BUT NOW IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT REGULAR SPEEDS (25MPH). THE FIRST DEALER I TOOK IT TO TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLANT PUMP, I DID STILL THE SAME PROBLEM; I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER WHO SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FILTER TO THE COOLANT PUMP, I DID STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. TODAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD SO I REPLACED THIS, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM!!!! THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH NOSOLUTION. FORD, PLEASE RECALL THE MODELS IMPACTED AND FIX THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10592073
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2014

FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO, MY CAR HAS RANDOMLY STALLED, IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE "PULL OVER SAFELY" LIGHT WOULD LIGHT UP, AND THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE MY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BECAUSE IT IS SHUTTING DOWN. AFTER RESEARCHING, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO URGE FORD TO RECALL THE PART AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING DEFECTIVE CARS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10588181
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2014

WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS THE ABS LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF AND THE CAR SEEMED TO BE SLOWLY LOSING POWER. WHEN WHEELS WERE STRAIGHTENED AGAIN IT RAN AS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE, EACH TIME WHEN I WAS TURNING, THE ELECTRICAL PANEL WAS DIMMING AND THE GAS PEDAL LOST ABILITY TO PROPEL CAR. *JS

NHTSA #: 10585380
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2014

I OWN A 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT , V6 3.0 ENGINE. AT ABOUT 49,000 MILES, IT STARTED HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES . THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM, BUT NEVER TRIPS ANY SERVICE LIGHTS. I GO DOWN THE DRIVE WAY PRETTY GOOD, BUT WHEN I GET ON THE HIGHWAY, I HAVE TO HAMMER ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO GO AND THE RPMS GO WAY UP. THE FORD DEALERS CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE KNOW THAT IT'S FUEL RELATED AND HAVE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND SEVERAL SENSORS. IT HELPED FOR A SHORT TIME, SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER. BUT ITS RIGHT BACK TO STALLING OUT. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES AT ALL. THIS VEHICLE IS A COFFIN ON WHEELS ! P.S. THIS IS IN REGARD TO THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE BODY.

NHTSA #: 10577701
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2014

THE FAN SWITCH AND RELAY BOX HAS A ELECTRICAL MELT DOWN ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE FORD DEALER. THE FAN SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. THE LAST TIME IT COST ME ABOUT $250.00 WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND WILL COST ME ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPLACE. I FEEL FORD DID A PATCH JOB DURING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS NEVER CORRECTLY FIXED. I CHECKED ONE WEBSITE AND THERE WAS 923 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FAULTY FAN SWITCH. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FAN SWITCH AND RELAY BOX ON THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10569115
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 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

NHTSA #: 10568053
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 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

NHTSA #: 10565177
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 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

NHTSA #: 10554859
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Sep 2013

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?

NHTSA #: 10542310
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jul 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

NHTSA #: 10524277
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 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

NHTSA #: 10523932
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jul 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

NHTSA #: 10524042
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 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

NHTSA #: 10504308
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 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

NHTSA #: 10503874
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Mar 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

NHTSA #: 10503061
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS
FireFiled: Mar 2013

I TURNED ON MY SEAT WARMER ON DRIVER'S SEAT AND HEATER, WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT BOTTOM PART OF CONTROL PANEL WHERE IT MEETS THE CONSOLE. THE SMOKE GOT WORSE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING OVER TO TURN OFF AND GET STOPPED. BY THIS TIME THE SMOKE WAS QUITE BAD (HAD ELECTRICAL SMELL) I HAD ALL WINDOWS DOWN & SUN ROOF OPEN. THE CAR ALARM WENT OFF, THE HEATER WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I FINALLY GOT STOPPED AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. A LADY PULLED IN TO THE CHURCH PARKING AREA WHERE I WAS AND CALLED 911 FOR ME. BY THIS TIME YOU COULD SEE ACTUAL FIRE (FLAMES) COMING FROM THE SAME SPOT AS SMOKE. IT WAS AMAZING HOW QUICKLY IT WAS IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE BLEW UP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED IN TIME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE ONLY THING LEFT IS THE METAL SHELL AND THE TIRES. NOTHING IN THE INTERIOR. ALL WINDOWS AND SUNROOF BLEW OUT. BUMPERS, LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS MELTED. THANKS FORD. *TR

NHTSA #: 10501034
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2013

I WAS DRIVING FROM LA TO PASADENA AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY SUV SLOWS DOWN AND THERE'S A TRIANGLE WARNING SIGN. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE FREEWAY WAS NOT CROWDED AND EASILY PULLED OVER. MY FRIEND IS HEARING AND WAS ABLE TO CALL A TOW FOR ME. WE HAD TO TOW THE SUV BACK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SANTA MONICA. THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND SAID IT WAS THE COOLANT OR WATER PUMP THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED IT. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY ON ROAD TRIPS. I HAD AN ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING FROM BAY AREA TO LA. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I MADE IT TO THE SAME SM DEALERSHIP/REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I KNOW IT AFFECTED THE GAS BECAUSE I HAD TO REFUEL THREE OR FOUR TIME WHEN I NORMALLY HAVE TO DO ONE AND HALF TIME! AS A DEAF PERSON, IT IS SCARY TO BE HAVING THESE ISSUES ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAYS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10500579
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2012

THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER (INSTRUMENT PANEL) FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGES TO DROP TO ZERO. ALL THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS TURNING, CAR NOT STARTING ON, AC BLOWING WARM AI, WERE ALL SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PROBLEM. SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM HAS AMOUNTED TO ALMOST $900 IN EXPENSES. SENT IN COMPLAINTS TO FORD, WHO PROMISED TO ESCALATE THE ISSUE AND THEN NEVER CONTACTED ME. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO MENTIONED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND THAT IT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO A RELIABLE MECHANIC WHO CALLED IN A SPECIALIST TO FIND BROKEN CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE PANEL CAUSING IT TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE THE MECHANIC'S REPORT STATING THAT MANY SIMILAR MODELS HAVE THIS EXACT ISSUE AND IS SURPRISED FORD IN NOT GIVING ATTENTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 10486901
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2012

OUT OF NOWHERE IN SEPT AND OCT OF 2011 MY SUN ROOF, RIGHT PASSENGER AND RIGHT BACK PASSENGER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. THEY FELL STRAIGHT DOWN.. THE MOTOR AND THE BAND QUIT AND NOW COME AUGUST AND OCTOBER OF .2012 THE SAME THING ON THE LEFT. I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW ON 2008 OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME AND MONEY FOR A DEFECTIVE AUTO. *TR

NHTSA #: 10479842
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Sep 2012

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WITH APPROX. 50K MILES. AS WITH MANY COMPLAINTS RELATED TO ESCAPE HYBRID, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS AT APPROX. 70MPH WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LAMP LIT UP. STEERING AND BRAKING WERE NORMAL BUT I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF BUSY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC TO STOP. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I GATHERED MYSELF AND MY THREE TERRIFIED CHILDREN AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION, BUT I WAS ANTICIPATING THE ISSUE AND STAYED IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THIS ISSUE IS BEING REPORTED TIME AND AGAIN YET NO ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. WHAT IS FORD AND NHTSA WAITING FOR? THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE! PLEASE, BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR DIES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10476583
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jun 2012

WHEN DRIVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON, THE SPEEDOMETER/FUEL GAUGE/ETC MOVE TO 0 OR THE FAR LEFT. LOOKING ONLINE FOR FORD INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. CHECKED WITH THE MECHANIC WHO SAYS IT IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH FORD. THEY HAVE A BULLETIN ABOUT IT BUT IT WILL NOT CONSTRUE A RECALL UNTIL A DEATH OR INJURY FROM A CRASH RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. THIS MAY ALSO FALL UNDER A TORT LAWSUIT. *TT

NHTSA #: 10462824
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2012

WE WERE DRIVING UP I-95 FROM FL TO VA WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE A LOUD WARNING TONE AND DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE STOP SAFELY NOW. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AS WE QUICKLY TRIED TO CROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC TO REACH THE SHOULDER. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE CAR WE STARTED IT UP AGAIN WITH NO CONSEQUENCE AND CONTINUED ON OUR TRIP. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL I DISCOVERED THE WARNING MESSAGE INVOLVED A COMPONENT OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I DECIDED TO TRY SHUTTING OFF THE ECON SWITCH (WHICH ACTIVATES BATTERY) AND ALL AC/ ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THIS WORKED BEAUTIFULLY FOR 100+ MILES UNTIL AT NIGHTFALL THE HEADLIGHTS KICKED ON AND OUR TROUBLES RETURNED. SINCE IT WAS SUNDAY NIGHT WE DECIDED TO STAY OVERNIGHT WHERE WE WERE AND GET IT CHECKED BY THE NEAREST FORD IN THE MORNING. THE DIAGNOSTICS ($95) REVEALED IT WAS THE MOTOR ELECTRONIC COOLING PUMP AT FAULT WHICH THIS DEALER DID NOT CARRY. WE CAUTIOUSLY CONTINUED USING THE NO ELECTRICAL METHOD AND WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REACH OUR DESTINATION 400MILES AWAY WITH NO MORE INCIDENTS, WHERE WE THEN TOOK IT TO OUR HOME DEALER FOR REPAIR. A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH UPON RESEARCH I'M LEARNING IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER ESCAPE HYBRID OWNERS. *JS

NHTSA #: 10462214
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2012

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID (PURCHASED IN APRIL 2007), WITH 67,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH, STARTING TO HEAD INTO THE SIERRAS OUTSIDE OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS, AND HAD TRAVELED 120 MILES THAT MORNING WHEN THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY CUT OUT, AND THE WARNING LIGHT "STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARED ON THE DASH. LUCKILY, IT WAS ONLY 6AM AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER CAR NEAR ME ON THE ROAD. I PULLED OVER 3 LANES, BRAKES AND STEERING WORKING, BUT WITH NO GAS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A MINUTE, STARTED IT UP WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR WARNING LIGHTS. I WAITED ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO, AND HEADED OUT ON THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT BACK UP TO 65MPH THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND THE WARNING SHOWED UP AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS ALREADY NEAR THE SHOULDER SO I STOPPED AGAIN. I WAS ABOUT TO GET INTO A SNOWY UPHILL CLIMB AND DECIDED THAT, NOT KNOWING WHAT THIS CAR WOULD DO, THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO CONTINUE. I DROVE SLOWLY TO THE NEXT EXIT, AND GOT MYSELF TURNED AROUND. FOR THE FIRST HOUR I DROVE AT UNDER 60MPH WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE 65MPH IN THE SECOND HOUR WITHOUT PROBLEM. I HAD THE ERROR CODES ASSESSED BY A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN MEC PUMP FAILURE (THE PUMP THAT COOLS THE ELECTRIC BATTERY). I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED WITH SO LITTLE TRAFFIC VOLUME. THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND THE SUDDEN CUT OUT OF THE ENGINE WAS STARTLING AND UNSAFE. I FEARED FOR MY LIFE WHILE HEADING HOME AS THE VOLUME OF CARS PICKED UP AROUND ME. *JS

NHTSA #: 10456830
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2011

THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT COMES ON AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAYS "TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT". AT THE SAME TIME THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VOLUME ON THE STEREO AUTOMATICALLY GOES DOWN OR STOPS WORKING OR CAN'T CHANGE STATIONS WHEN I GET THE TIRE PRESSURE MESSAGE OR REBOOTS ALONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWING HOT AIR. THE DOORS DON'T AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, WHEN THEY DO LOCK, THE AC COMES BACK ON. AS IT GOT WORSE THE DASH HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, SOMEDAYS IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP OTHER DAYS IT STAYS ON ALL NIGHT. SOMETIMES WHEN I RIDE OVER A SPEED BUMP IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT ALWAYS COMES BACK. *TR

NHTSA #: 10427196
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2011

1. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 71-73MPH WHEN A RED TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK APPEARD, MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND A "STOP VEHICLE SAFELY" MESSAGE CAME ACROSS THE DASH. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN ONE HOUR. EACH TIME, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. THE CAR WOULD START BACK UP PERFECTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SHOP BY KEEPING IT UNDER 60MPH ON THE FREEWAY. 3. THE SHOP SAYS I NEED A MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLING PUMP AND A PCM REPROGRAMMING. *TT

NHTSA #: 10412392
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2011

I OWN 2008 MODEL OF FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. ON THE INCIDENT DAY, THE CONTROLS AND BATTERY FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATIONS OR WARNING SIGNS. SIGNAL LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE. IN THAT CONDITION I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEAREST FORD DEALER ON THE DAY. SINCE TWO WEEKS, THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. I'VE BEEN TOLD OF COMPUTER AND CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS, AND THAT PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED ONE AT A TIME EVERY 2 OR 3 DAYS. I FEAR EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE GETS FIXED THAT SIMILAR FAILURES MAY OCCUR, AND THERE MAY BE RISKS TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAYS IN FUTURE . *TR

NHTSA #: 10404459
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2011

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED A SYMBOL OF AN EXCLAMATION POINT SURROUNDED BY A TRIANGLE. MOREOVER, THE DASH STATED "STOP SAFELY NOW." AT THIS TIME WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN A WORK ZONE THAT WAS ONE LANE, AND SURROUNDED BY CONCRETE BARRIERS, WITH NO SHOULDER. A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS FOLLOWING CLOSELY, SO WHEN I ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT FROM 65 TO NO POWER WHATSOEVER, I WAS ALMOST HIT. FURTHERMORE, I HAD TO BLOCK TRAFFIC TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE AND TO RESTART IT. MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID REPEATED THIS SAME OCCURRENCE MANY TIMES. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, UNFORTUNATELY ALL OCCURRING ON HIGHWAYS WHERE I WAS TRAVELING AT SIGNIFICANT SPEEDS. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY THAT HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS RECURRING PROBLEM, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. FORD HAS NOT POSTED ANY RECALLS, BUT THE BLOGS HAVE SHOWN THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS OCCURRENCE. PLEASE STEP IN AND ADVICE FORD THAT ALTHOUGH THE "LIMP HOME MODE" MAY BE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME.

NHTSA #: 10401673
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Apr 2011

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH EVERYTHING SHUT OFF, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL. NO WARNING AT ALL! HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD AND HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO FORD FOR SERVICE AND THEY FOUND THAT THE FORD MOTORCRAFT BATTERY THAT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED HAD LEAKED BATTERY ACID ONTO THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND CORRODED IT. $1,600. TO REPLACE IT. MY ESCAPE HYBRID WAS TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE MILEAGE WAS NOT AND FORD WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THEIR EQUIPMENT THAT FAILED AND THE BATTERY HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN LEAKING FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10395843
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2011

CAR FAILS TO START AND DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, THE CAR JUST WILL NOT START. THE ALARM LIGHT BLINKS FAST AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD ALARM LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE ODOMETER WILL RESET TO ALL DASHES, A WARNING READS THAT THERE IS A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, BUT I CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FORD TECHNICIANS CANNOT VERIFY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET IT TO HAPPEN IN THE SHOP. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT STARTS HALF THE TIME AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10382743
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2010

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 10/8/10 IN A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WITH APPROXIMATELY 53,000 MILES ON IT. DEPARTED CORDOVA, TN ON A WEEKEND TRIP TO TALLADEGA, AL AND CHATTANOOGA, TN. DROVE STEADILY FOR 3 - 4 HOURS AT 65 - 70 MPH AND STOPPED FOR DINNER IN BIRMINGHAM, AL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR. RESUMED TRIP AND IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AT AROUND 8:30 PM ON AN UNLIT STRETCH OF I-20 AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 135 WEST OF BIRMINGHAM WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH THE MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LIGHT (RED TRIANGLE) CAME ON, THE INFORMATIONAL DISPLAY SHOWED "STOP SAFELY NOW", AND THE ACCELERATOR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. ALL THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON, STEERING APPEARED NORMAL, AND BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. WE WERE BASICALLY COASTING IN 70 MPH TRAFFIC TRYING TO CROSS 3 LANES TO GET OFF THE ROAD. MANEUVERED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WITH FLASHERS GOING. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE COMPOSING MYSELF, DECIDED TO TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT RESTARTED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES AND ALL SYSTEMS APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY DEALERSHIP. THEY RETRIEVED CODES P1A0D AND P0A3E AND SAID THEY HEARD A LOUD HIGH PITCHED NOISE FROM THE ELECTRONICS COOLING PUMP MOTOR WHICH THEY REPLACED. WE FEEL EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SOMEHOW GET SAFELY OFF THE ROADWAY WITHOUT CAUSING OR BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WE WERE ALSO LUCKY THAT THE FAULT DID NOT OCCUR AFTER MILE MARKER 147 BECAUSE, DUE TO CONSTRUCTION THAT WENT TO MILE MARKER 155, THERE WAS NO WAY TO PULL OUT OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10361122
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AS SHE TURN THE IGNITION OFF SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. SHE BELIEVES THE CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. SHE ALSO STATED THAT WHITE PARTIALS WERE ALL OVER HER SEATS AND INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,400.

NHTSA #: 10355681
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2010

I HAVE A 2008 FORD HYBRID ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING ON A RECENT TRIP - 70MPH IN 92 DEGREE HEAT, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASH THAT SAID "STOP SAFELY NOW." THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, AS I WAS TRYING TO GET HOME TO NC FROM FLORIDA. I WONDERED IF I HAD PURCHASED SOME BAD GAS, SO REFILLED THE TANK. I DROVE THE LAST 4 HOURS WITHOUT PROBLEMS, BUT THE TEMPERATURE FELL TO THE 70S. HOWEVER, YESTERDAY, AS I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM, I FOUND NUMEROUS MENTIONS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS "FIXES" ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SOME DRIVERS REPORTED THE SCARY SITUATION OF DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITHOUT A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON, AND THE SAME LOSS OF POWER. IT IS VERY SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. IN MOST CASES, AFTER THE POWER FAILURE, THE CAR STARTS RIGHT UP AND YOU CAN DRIVE ON, BUT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN FROM 10 TO 90 MINUTES. IT WAS VERY SCARY. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR IN YET, BUT THINK THE PROBLEM SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INVESTIGATED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT AND HAS NOT COME UP WITH ANY ONE "FIX." *TR

NHTSA #: 10329839
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2010

THE BATTERY DRAINS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OFF. IT TAKES ABOUT 2 DAYS FOR THE BATTERY TO BE COMPLETELY DEAD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANICS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE THE DRAIN WAS COMING FROM SO THEY FLEW IN AN ENGINEER FROM THE FORD FACTORY. HE HAD THEM REMOVE EACH FUSE & PUT THEM BACK IN 3 AT A TIME. THEN WAIT 2 DAYS TO SEE IF THERE WAS A DRAIN ON THAT ELECTRICAL LINE. AFTER OVER 3 MONTHS OF MY CAR IN THE SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE SMART JUNCTION BOX THINKING THAT WOULD SOLVE IT. IT DIDN'T. THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP I WAS DEALING WITH BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. I TOLD HER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW 2 YRS AGO BUT SHE DIDN'T CARE AT ALL. I POSTED MY PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET & HAD 2 OTHER PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY EMAIL ME WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. I'VE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. I'M ALSO IN THE MILITARY & NEED MY CAR FOR MY DUTIES. I'VE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. FORD HAS COMPLETELY ABANDONED ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10311759
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2010

DEFECT IN VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS - MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS SINCE 01/30/2010. THE DEALERSHIP STATED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE WIRES CORRODING AND CAUSING MECHANICAL FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ORDERED THE NEW WIRING SYSTEM AS AN EMERGENCY "ORDER" ON 01/30/2010 BUT DUE TO THIS BEING SUCH AN OVERWHELMING ISSUE FORD CANT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ! THIS IS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE 4X4, I SHOULD NOT BEING EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS WITH A NEW VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAS 46 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. OF COURSE NOTHING IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN YOUR WIRES CORRODE AND CATCH FIRE. THE DAMAGES SO FAR ARE AROUND $800.00. MY SON AND I BOTH SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FROM THE TRUCK BUT COULDN'T LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. ONCE IN THE FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WIRING THAT HAD CORRODED DUE TO ROAD SALT AND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AND THAT THEY ARE HOPING FOR A RECALL DUE TO THE VOLUME. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME THIS WILL BE ALL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS A "NOTORIOUS" ISSUE DOES NOT EASE MY MIND WHEN THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN WERE AT RISK !! *TR

NHTSA #: 10306371
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Nov 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 10,000.

NHTSA #: 10293042
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BACK-UP SENSOR ALARM DID NOT SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF OBSTACLES IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOW SOUND OF THE ALARM. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BACK-UP SENSOR SPEAKERS WERE INSTALLED AND DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER, LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPEAKERS COULD BE REPOSITIONED TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,200.

NHTSA #: 10245713
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEEDS, THE PARKING SENSORS FAILED. THE ALARM DID NOT SOUND LOUD ENOUGH TO ALERT THE DRIVER. THE BACKUP SENSOR FAILURE OCCURS CONTINUOUSLY WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPEAKERS WERE LOCATED IN THE INTERIOR REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ALARM NOT TO SOUND AS LOUDLY. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPEAKERS COULD BE RELOCATED TO THE INTERIOR FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,200. UPDATED 11-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. UPDATED 11/19/08. *JB

NHTSA #: 10245092
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TIRES,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Nov 2007

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY ESCAPE, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID "TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT". AT THE SAME TIME THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A THING WRONG WITH IT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME THE VOLUME ON THE STEREO AUTOMATICALLY GOES DOWN WHEN I GET THE TIRE PRESSURE MESSAGE ALONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWING HOT AIR. IT JUST GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THIS TIME AND THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS. THEY CONSULTED FORDS ENGINEERS AND WERE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH FORD (WHO HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT). THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE COMPUTER. IT DIDN'T FAIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME THE CAR WOULD JUST CONSTANTLY BEEP, THE MOST ANNOYING THING IN THE WORLD, AND THE DOORS DON'T AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. AS IT GOT WORSE THE DASH HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, SOMEDAYS IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP OTHER DAYS IT STAYS ON ALL NIGHT. THANKFULLY IT HASN'T DRAINED MY BATTERY. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES ALREADY AND I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY TO HELP ME WITH A LEMON LAW CASE. THE DEALER HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON. THE ADVISOR SAID THAT I WAS THE ONLY ESCAPE IN THE NATION WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT LOOKING ON THE WEBSITE MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE, THERE IS AT LEAST ONE OTHER ONE. MY CAR IS STILL DOING THIS EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ANOTHER TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE HEAR FROM FORD ABOUT A REPURCHASE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE MY ESCAPE IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS ONE MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10209011

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