NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I HAD MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID SERVICED AT KOONS FORD AFTER RECEIVING SAFETY RECALL 14S05 FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE RECALL IS TO REPAIR A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AFTER RECEIVING THE REPAIR TO CORRECT THE ISSUE IN SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14SO5, MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED STEERING / SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING ON THE FORD ESCAPE IS NOW VERY SENSITIVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FEEL UNSTEADY AT TIMES. (IF FEELS LIKE IT IS SWAYING SLIGHTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE.) WE FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE WITHIN A WEEK OF HAVING THE REPAIR DONE. AS WE CARAVANNED TO OUR SUMMER VACATION, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY. AT A REST STOP SHE ASKED IF I WAS TIRED AND HAVING TROUBLE DRIVING. SHE INFORMED THAT FROM HER VANTAGE POINT IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAR WAS SWERVING. I WAS WELL RESTED AND SHARED WITH HER THAT IT ALSO FELT AS THOUGH THE STEERING / SUSPENSION WAS LOOSE. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED, AT LOW SPEEDS, THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAS MORE PLAY TO IT NOW. *TR
2008 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING SYSTEM RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. SHE CALLED THREE DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY ALL HAD SOME TYPE OF ISSUE. RECALL # 14V284000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) AND AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AXLE AND AXLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,259.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
A WARNING APPEARED "STOP SAFELY NOW." WE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE WITHOUT THE LIGHT COMING ON AGAIN. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD THROTTLE BODY AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND LISTED AS A RECALL IN THE SERVICE REPORT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING), THE FAILURE SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OCCURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,222.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING SPACE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE DEALER ONLY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE BUT DID NOT INDICATE IF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE AND IF THE TORQUE SENSOR SIGNAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED AS A RESULT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,409. UPDATED 09-04-14 *BF UPDATED 11/28/2014 *JS
MY CAR IS UNDER RECALL FOR A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THE STEERING CAN GO DOWN. I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET A HOLD OF FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND CANNOT EVEN GET THEM TO ANSWER THE PHONES IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED. IT IS A DANGER AND I HAVE NO OTHER CAR THAT I CAN DRIVE. *TR
I RESPONDED TO A RECALL NOTICE 14S05. I CALL THE FORD DEALER IN MY AREA AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR 11/5/2014. THIS IS UNREASONABLE. HAD I CALLED FOR REGULAR SERVICE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE ME WAIT THIS LONG. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, IT BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC BUT RAN A RED LIGHT WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO A CURB IN ORDER TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FORD ESCAPE ON A TRIP THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON. THIS DID NOT INITIALLY CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS WITH NORMAL BRAKING WHILE DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS. AT THE END OF THE TRIP THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON EVERY STOP, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING STOPPING DISTANCE ON DRY GROUND. MY INVESTIGATION FOUND THE FOLLOWING: RUSTING OF THE DRIVESHAFT SURFACE APPARENTLY CAUSED OUTWARD PRESSURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT RIGHT ABS TONE RING RESULTING IN IT SEPARATING IN ONE SPOT. THIS PROBABLY CREATED A ERROR IN THE MONITORING BY THAT ABS SENSOR RESULTING IN THE LIGHTS COMING ON. THE RING MAY HAVE HELD FAST TO THE RUST UNDER THE REMAINDER OF THE RING DURING MOST OF MY TRIP CAUSING NO OTHER PROBLEMS. NEAR THE END OF MY TRIP THE CRACKED RING APPEARS TO HAVE SHAKEN FREE, SLIPPING ON THE ROTATING DRIVESHAFT SURFACE. THIS MAY HAVE MADE THE SENSOR THINK THE WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING AND APPLIED THE ABS TO THAT WHEEL EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DANGER THEN BECAME INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE ON DRY GROUND AND UNKNOWN PERFORMANCE ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. IN CHECKING AROUND, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE OTHER RING WILL CRACK EVENTUALLY DUE TO SIMILAR RUSTING. REPAIRING THIS REQUIRES THE RING TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE DRIVESHAFT SECTION IT IS MOUNTED ON. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 2008 FORD ESCAPE ELECTRICAL STEERING WOULD QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND GO INTO MANUAL STEERING MODE. IF THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ELECTRICAL STEERING WOULD WORK. CHECKED TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE STEERING PROBLEM ONLINE AND THE VEHICLE DID. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR 2008 FORD ESCAPE ELECTRICAL STEERING FAILURE RECAL # 14S05. TOOK THE 2008 IN FOR REPAIRS AT ED KOEHN FORD DEALERSHIP IN WAYLAND, MICHIGAN FOR REPAIRS. MECHANIC STATED THAT STEERING HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. NOW AFTER THE FIX (PROGRAMING) VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE NOT IN MOTION WHILE PARKED. UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE. FORD STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS BEEN FIXED AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD SPECIAL SERVICES FOR THE SHAKING STEERING (WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SITTING MOTIONLESS) AND DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT SHAKE UNTIL FORD MADE THE REPAIR FOR THE RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE (1-800-392-3673) WHICH STILL ADVISES IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. CASE #5055156-F5P7BQ. THE RECALL STATES THAT ALTERNATIVELY, THE DEALER MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TORQUE SENSOR OR THE STEERING COLUMN. IN THIS CASE, SINCE THE REPROGRAMMING DID NOT WORK THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED. IT APPEARS TO BE A CHEAP FIX BY FORD AT MY EXPENSE. NOW FORD WANTS $950 TO MAKE THE REPAIR WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED AT NO COST UNDER THE RECALL. *TR
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (APPROXIMATELY OVER 50 MPH), THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE WOULD COME ON. THE CAR WOULD GO INTO LIMP-HOME MODE AND ALLOW ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES ON A 60 MILE TRIP HOME, ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO 10 MILES AT A TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED AT TIMES WITH AN ENGINE OVERHEATING MESSAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED IT FOR ABOUT $1000. A WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE ON A 30-MILE HIGHWAY TRIP WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, BUT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE THEN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE ABOUT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.
WHEN THE VEHICLE APPROACHES 15-20 MPH THE RPM'S REV. VEHICLE ALSO WANTS TO STALL AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN IDLING. WHILE ALL THESE ISSUES START OCCURRING THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON IN THE VEHICLE. IT MAKES THE VEHICLE USELESS TO DRIVE AND DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and repaired under NHTSA Campaign number: 14V284000 (Steering) in 2014. The failure recurred in 2019 and was repaired by the owner however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE SENSOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SECOND AND FOURTH GEARS WERE FAULTY AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
SUBMISSION TO MARK FIELDS RE 2008 FORD HYBRID ESCAPE DEFECTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, A RED MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LAMP AND STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, WAITED 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE RE-STARTING IT AND DROVE A FEW MILES, BEFORE THE SITUATION REPEATED ITSELF, SEVERAL MORE TIMES, UNTIL HE ARRIVED HOME. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, HE NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO WHAT HE BELIEVED TO BE THE (MECS) MOTOR ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM PUMP, WHICH FROM HIS UNDERSTANDING, WAS UNIQUE TO THE 2005-2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND FOURTH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, ON THE HWY, IN WHICH THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE CAR ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE 2 FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. NONE OF THE 3 ADULT PASSENGERS WERE SERIOUSLY HURT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR $15,000, USED. THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE OPENED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. DJR
RECEIVED THE RED MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LAMP, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN WHILE ON HIGHWAY. CAUSE WAS A FAILURE OF THE MECS PUMP FORD PN 5M6Z-8C419-A. AFTER IT HAPPENED I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER REPORTS ISSUED FOR SAME ISSUE. SEE 10597458,10604791,10596349,10592073,10588181,10588170,10568053,10567619,10567234,10566464,10565177,10560868,10557567,10554859,10548328,10547463,10537539,10533928,10531556,10525970,10523932,10523371,10521436,10521116,10516178,10514445,10513916,10511202,10505543,10504308,10500579,10500159,10461261,10462036,10462214,10463235,10468355,10474060,10475192,10476583,10477359,10485797,10490135,10460373,10459919,10459596,10459518,10458744,10457505,10457488,10456830,10456625,10455257,10455049,10454894,10453205,10448469,10448468,10409310,10409374,10410388,10411980,10412392,10416615,10419367,10430477,10326667,10329839,10348540,10349760,10352951,10360029,10361122,10393862,10393924,10399209. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 30 MILES PER HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS DURING A DECELERATION PERIOD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE CORRECTION. *TR
2008 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING RECALL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEALERS ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A LOUD NOISE WAS MADE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. HAD CAR TOWED TO GARAGE AND THE 2ND AND 4TH BANDS WERE DESTROYED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. IT TOOK 1.5 MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE WORK. NOW HERE I AM AGAIN SITTING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SAME ISSUES 2ND AND 4TH BANDS DESTROYED AND THE ENGINE MOUNTS DESTROYED THIS TIME. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 7 MONTHS AND 6,526 MILES LATER AND I HAVE TO PUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND I CAN PUT THE SEATS DOWN FOR STORAGE AND WHEN I TRIED AND LIFTED THE PASSENGER SEAT UP BEHIND THE DRIVERS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WON'T RELEASE AND I CANNOT PUT THE SEAT UP. I HAVE TRIED A CAN OF AIR AND TAPPING ON THE RETRACTOR AND THIS WON'T RELEASE THE SEAT BELT SO I CAN PUT THE SEAT UP. *TR
MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE KEPT SURGING UP TO 5 RPM WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT! WRENCH SYMBOL APPEARED THAT SAID: THROTTLE/POWERTRAIN. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. CALLED FORD DEALER AND APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH ON 6/27; OF COURSE, I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED AND SAID IT IS MY TRANSMISSION!!?? HOW COULD THIS BE! I ONLY HAVE 80K MILES ON THE VEHICLE IN 5 YEARS! HOW IS THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE?! ONT HE NHTSA WEBSITE, I SEE THERE ARE MYRIADS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE, YET NO RECALLS?? NO WAY SHOULD I (CONSUMER) BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 80K MLIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S EVIDENT IT'S A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT! MY SUV IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE RE-EVALUATED BY ONE OF THEIR TRANSMISSION EXPERTS. *TR
AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM ON THE ABOVE DATE, I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 75 FROM CINCINNATI TOWARD TOLEDO AT AROUND 70 MPH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND THE COMPUTER ADVISED I SHOULD PULL OFF IMMEDIATELY TO SAFETY. WHEN THE ESCAPE CAME TO A STOP, I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN TWO MILES, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO LIMP OFF AN EXIT RAMP TO A SIDE STREET WHERE THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO RUN A BIT LONGER BEFORE CUTTING OFF HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DYING HAPPENED AT LEAST ANOTHER HALF DOZEN TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO AN ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR LOCATION NORTH OF DAYTON. FROM THERE, I STOPPED BY THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP (BEAU TOWNSEND FORD) AND THEY WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ENTERPRISE PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNTIL SEVERAL DAYS LATER ON 6/19/14 HOWEVER, AT THAT TIME THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE / SHORTED-OUT MOTOR ELECTRIC COOLING SYSTEM PUMP. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED THE FOLLOWING DAY HOWEVER, INCLUDING TOWING AND THE NECESSITY OF RENTING A VEHICLES (I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP), THE INCIDENT ENDED UP COSTING ME CLOSE TO $1,000. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING AND DID NOTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING INSTALLED ON TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON FILE REGARDING THIS PART AS WELL AS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHICH WAS FILED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. LET'S HOPE THAT FORD FINALLY STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND ADMITS THEIR GRAVE ERROR IN JUDGMENT BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PART. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO INCUR EXPENSES DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION SHOULD BE FULL REIMBURSED BY FORD. *TR
WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS STUCK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALMOST CRASHED INTO A BARN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANDERSON LINCOLN FORD (2500 WILDCAT DR, LINCOLN, NE 68521, (402) 458-9800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, A SYSTEM PATCH UP WAS COMPLETED INSTEAD. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HAWK EYE FORD (2027 US-34, RED OAK, IA 51566, (712) 623-5147), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.
RECENTLY ON 2 OCCASIONS I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND MY STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. ONCE MAKING THE TURN I HAD TO QUICKLY PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF AND THEN ON AND THE STEERING WAS OK. *JS
RIGHT & LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL IS RUSTING. *JS
MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE STARTED HAVING POWER STEERING FAILURES IN 6/11/2014 SAID THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE PROGRAM TO FIX IT UNTIL JULY. 2014. SO IN NOVEMBER 2014 I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE RECALL FIXED.. THEY SAID IT WAS A REPROGRAM FIX. AND AFTER 2 WEEKS IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN SO I HAVE IT TOWED ON A FLAT BED AND THEY SAY ANOTHER REPROGRAM FIX.. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SO JUST YESTERDAY JANUARY 14,2015 IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN!! OBVIOUSLY THEY NEVER FIXED THE RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE.!!! THEY TELL ME IT'S THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND IT'S NOT COVERED!!! OMG THE FIRST LETTER STATED EITHER THEY WOULD DO THE REPROGRAM FIX,THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE TORQUE SENSOR.AND IT WOULD BE COVERED PARTS AND LABOR. SO HERE I SIT WITH A PIECE OF JUNK THAT THE RECALL NEVER FIXED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN!! I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD PRETTY MUCH THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK AND I COULD FILE LEGAL PAPERS!! IF I HAD THE MONEY TO FIGHT FORD MOTOR COMPANY I WOULD HAVE ALREADY JUNKED THE PIECE OF CRAP AND BOUGHT A NEW CHEVY.. *TR
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
FRIDAY JUNE 6TH, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30PM WHILE DRIVING AROUND A MODERATE CURVE IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL 'LOCKED' IN A RIGHT TURN. BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING, THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE TURN AND LEFT THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WENT HEAD ON INTO A LARGE STONE LINED CULVERT (APPROXIMATELY 6-8' DEEP), HIT THE FRONT END INTO THE CULVERT WALL, FLIPPED ACROSS THE DRIVE DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CULVERT, AND THEN ROLLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES UNTIL IT CAME TO REST ON IT'S WHEELS, APPROXIMATELY 20-30' FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT. ALL OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. THERE WAS NO FIRE, BUT THE ENGINE DID SMOKE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND, MIRACULOUSLY ONLY HAD SEVERE STRAINS, BRUISING, LACERATIONS, AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THERE WERE MULTIPLE WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. *TR
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE WHEN TRYING TO START CAR.THE WHEEL HAS TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES BACK IN FORTH IN ORDER TO START CAR.IT HAS NOW BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO START,TAKING 4-5 MINUTES OF TURNING AND JOSTLING THE KEY TO START THE CAR. *JS
WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A STOP-SIGN, I GO TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO. AFTER ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS OF PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO TURN ONTO A STREET, THE VEHICLE WILL THEN SURGE PICKING UP A LITTLE SPEED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY TRAFFIC WHEN TURNING ONTO A STREET NUMEROUS TIMES. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS ONLY WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN I NEED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT LET ME. SO BASICALLY THERE IS A DELAY FROM THE TIME I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, TO THE TIME THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY KICKS IN AND GOES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! *TR
WHILE DRIVING, BOTH THE "ABS" AND "PARKING BRAKE" LIGHTS CAME ON. AS I CAME TO A STOP, I NOTICED THE BRAKING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT AND I HAD TO PUSH HARDER TO STOP COMPLETELY. AT THE SAME TIME THESE LIGHTS CAME ON, A MESSAGE CAME ON SAYING "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM", FOLLOWED BY "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED". I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED ON MAY 25, 2014. SINCE THEN THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, MY BRAKES, SEEM TO LOCK UP SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THEY DON'T FULLY LOCK UP, BECAUSE I AM STILL ALLOWED TO SPEED UP. IT LAST FOR MAYBE 20 SECONDS OR SO AND THEN RELEASES. I AM SURE ALL OF THIS IS RELATED SOMEHOW. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AT MANY FORUMS AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES WITH THE REGEN BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN MORE COMPLAINTS OR ANY INVESTIGATIONS. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS NOW, I AM NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER OR NOT. SOME OF THE FORUMS I READ, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT TRAINED TECHNICIANS COULDN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I LOVE MY HYBRID AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET RID OF IT ALREADY AND GET ANOTHER VEHICLE. I CAN'T EVEN REALLY AFFORD TO HAVE IT SENT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WORKED ON. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS? CAN FORD PAY FOR THIS? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEDAY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AND I COULD BE INJURED, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE PRIOR TO EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT FELT A STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY IN THE RECALL INDICATING THAT THEY HAD PROVIDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE ELECTRIC COOLING PUMP FAILS CAUSING THE MOTOR TO SHUT DOWN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEED TO RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CROSSED OVER THE YELLOW LINE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,191.
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CROWDED NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MANY PEOPLE CROSSING THE ROADS WITH THE WEATHER BEING WARM. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CAR STALLED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK, SO I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, HELD THE HORN DOWN AND WAVED FRANTICALLY THROUGH MY OPEN WINDOW. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH SPACE IN FRONT OF ME SO I COULD ALLOW THE CAR TO CRUISE TO A HALT. I UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO ROLL THROUGH A STOP SIGN WHERE THE PEOPLE WERE AWARE THAT I WAS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. UPON STOPPING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF, I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR ANY SMOKE OR OTHER ISSUES. I LET THE CAR SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES, AND THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN. I WAS WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF MY RESIDENCE SO I ROLLED THE CAR ALL THE WAY HOME WITH MY HAZARDS ON. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SITUATION WITH MULTIPLE INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES (SMALL CHILDREN IN AREA). FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR
MESC PUMP FAILURE. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. HYBRID COOLANT PUMP FAILURE. *TR
DRIVING IN THIRD LANE ON INTERSTATE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED VEERING TOWARDS THE LEFT AND HAD NO CONTROL. IT VEERED ME INTO THE CONCRETE WALL AND THEN I STOPPPED. BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED. *TR