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
FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2008 CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE WITH ABS LIGHTS ON THEN GOT REGEN BRAKES DISABLED WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL PRIOR TO TAKING OUT OF PARK. 41438 MILES (JUST OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE) AND JUST EXPERIENCE NO BRAKES WHEN I BACKED OUT. I CALLED THE SERVICE DESK AND THEY CLAIMED THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANY ISSUES WITH REGEN BRAKES ON MY CAR OR RECALLS. I LOOK ONLINE AND I FIND POSTS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.EPINIONS.COM/REVIEW/2006_FORD_ESCAPE_HYBRID/CONTENT_442261278340 AND I'M ABOUT READY TO JUST SICK A LAWYER ON FORD INSTEAD OF EVEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK OF HARMS WAY. NOT SURE HOW THIS WILL RESOLVE AS IT'S FRIDAY AND THEY SEEMED TO HAVE VACATED THE BUILDING SINCE I CALLED JUST BEFORE 6 AND WAS DISCONNECTED, CALLED BACK AND NO ANSWER. NOT EVEN A MANAGER AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO ME. I AM SCARED FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR... *TR
2008 FORD ESCAPE. NO PROBLEMS UP UNTIL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS CONDENSATION FROM USING MY A/C. HOWEVER, IT TURNED OUT TO BE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO FAIL AND SLIP OUT OF GEAR ON HIGHWAYS AND RURAL ROADS. *TR
CONDENSER/TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AND/OR FAILURE. 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THIS IS 3RD TIME LEAK/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH THE FIRST 2 HAPPENING UNDER WARRANTY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF TRANSMISSION REPAIR D/T THE "CONDENSER" NOT BEING MANUFACTURED BY FORD. THANKFULLY, NO VEHICLES WERE BEHIND ME WHEN I LOST TRANSMISSION FIRST TIME WHILE GOING UP A STEEP HILL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AT ANY SPEED, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND JUMP BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER HOSE WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ON HER DRIVEWAY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
TRANSMISSION COOLANT LEAK. ROLLS BACK, ENGINE SHUTS OFF, LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID. ACCIDENT RISK. FORD NOT GOING TO REPLACE BAD PART. *TR
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS IN HEAVY RAIN, MY VEHICLE SLID ON THE ROAD AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF A MACH TRUCK. THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BACK. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, ONLY BEING SOMEWHAT PROTECTED BY WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, PENDING INSURANCE INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT FAILED TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CABLE LINES FAILED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD REVVING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO PICK UP SPEED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CABLE LINES FAILED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER ASSUMED LIABILITY FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 29,500.
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR MANY OTHER FORD SUV'S BUT NOT THE ESCAPE. STARTED LEAKING JUST AFTER MY 36,000 WARRANTY RAN OUT SO THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $750 TO REPAIR. MY CAR IS 1 YEAR OLD. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A FLAT PARKING LOT AND THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME, THE PARKED CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT A SIGN. NO PERSON WAS INJURED. I THOUGHT THAT PEHAPS THE PEDAL WAS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED. THE SECOND TIME, ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICAL ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILE A CLAIM. I INTEND ON BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER AFTER DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO REPORT IT, BECAUSE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FATAL. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE IN 02/2008. LAST WEEK MY ESCAPE STARTED STICKING WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PETAL AND IT WOULD LAG THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN JUMP AND JERK FORWARD. THEN I NOTICED THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT IN FOR THEM TO CHECK BECAUSE TRANSMISSION ISSUES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WELL BOY WAS I SURPRISED WHEN THE FORD DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM CALLED ME AND SAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME $1600.00 TO FIX BECAUSE IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND LINE WAS LEAKING AND THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN EXTERNAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND HENCE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, ONLY INTERNAL PARTS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND NOW SEE THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR 08 ESCAPES YET FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT RIPPING OFF THEIR CONSUMERS. THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALER EVEN TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY WERE SEEING IN THE ESCAPES LATELY AND THAT THEY ARE FIXING THESE DAILY. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? HERE I THOUGHT I WAS DOING GOOD BY BUYING A NEW CAR LAST YEAR AND I AM HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH IT THAN I DID WITH MY 10 YEAR OLD MAZDA I TRADED IN FOR IT. *TR
I BOUGHT A FORD ESCAPE 2008 ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO. THE CAR STALLED OR DIED OUT SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. I THEN HAVE A FORD DEALER TO FIX THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING AND THE LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VERY LOW. THEY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND THE CAR LOOKS NORMAL NOW. HOWEVER, I DID BRIEF RESEARCH OVER INTERNET, AND FOUND TRANSMISSION COOLER SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD ESCAPE. I SUSPECT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND RECALL SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PREVENT SIMILAR FAILURE HAPPEN ON OTHER CARS. *TR
IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY BEFORE A TIRE WENT FLAT. DURING THE TIRE REPAIR, THE VALVE STEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. THE STEM WAS CRACKED AND CORRODED. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE'S OTHER VALVE STEMS SHOWED THEY WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE, AND THE SPARE STEM STARTED TO HISS AND LEAK UPON TOUCHING IT. ALL FIVE OEM VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *TR
MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED 4WD WITH APPROX. 29,000 MILES STARTED RUNNING A LITTLE LOUDER THAN NORMAL. THEN IT BEGAN SHAKING WHILE IN MOTION, USUALLY BETWEEN 35 TO 40MPH. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT HAS A BAD TRANSFER CASE. WHEN THE PART NEVER CAME IN I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A STOP SHIPMENT ON THE PART BECAUSE OF A DEFECT THEY FOUND IN THE MANUFACTURING. ALMOST A MONTH LATER THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE PART. HAD I NOT STILL BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY EXPENSIVE AND UPSETTING REPAIR. *TR
THE STOCK TIRES PROVIDED WITH THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE MODELS HAVE DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS. THE CRACKED RUBBER CAN EITHER CAUSE A BLOW OUT OR SLOW LEAK. ON MY ESCAPE, 3 OUT OF 4 VALVE STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND SHOWING MULTIPLE CRACKS. THIS IS ON A "COURTESY RECALL?". THE DEALERSHIP I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. SINCE THE NHTSA HAS NOT PROACTIVELY RECALLED THESE TIRES, KNOWING FULL WELL THERE WERE MILLIONS OF DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS SENT FROM CHINA, THE ONLY WAY I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE WAS BY HAVING ANOTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE OFFICIALLY RECALL THESE BEFORE PEOPLE START DYING TO BLOWOUTS. *TR
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED WITHIN A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD. WHEN I REPLACE THIS WINDSHIELD IT WILL BE THE THIRD WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER OWING IT FOR 16 MONTHS AND TRAVELING 20,000 MILES. THE CRACKS HAVE APPEARED IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION AND THE CRACK PATTERN IS THE SAME. *TR
I WAS ACCELERATING ON A FREEWAY ON RAMP AND SUDDENLY MY GAS PEDAL WAS NOT THERE - IT WAS LIMP. I CALLED FOR A TOW AND IT IS NOW AT THE DEALER. THEY SAY THE THROTTLE BODY IS STICKING AND THE CABLE IS BROKEN. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE RUSH HOUR AND LUCKILY I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OUT OF THE TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. *TR
THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE I OWN LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID THROUGH THE A/C CONDENSER. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ENGAGED INDICATING A PROBLEM AND THE SUDDEN STARTS BEGAN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT AND PROVIDES AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT GIVEN THAT THE AUTOMOBILE'S TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY DUE TO THE LACK OF FLUID AND SURGES FORWARD. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TSB ON THIS DEFECT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO ALL ESCAPE'S MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO A FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE CONDENSER THAT HAS THE FAULTY SEAM DESIGN. *TR
MY WIFE WAS STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL WHILE TRAVELING UP AN ON RAMP, THE GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF, SHE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 1/4 MILE WARNING. FORD HAS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM: # 7-25-9 (DEC. 24-07) AND 08-3-3 (FEB. 18-08). REPAIR IS A SIMPLE CALIBRATION. SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT, WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS? FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE MY MILEAGE WAS BEYOND WARRANTY. IT WAS NOT BEYOND WARRANTY WHEN THE FIRST TSB WAS ISSUED. IF THIS HAD BEEN A RECALL AND FORD HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ME, I WOULD HAVE HAD IT FIXED THEN, BEFORE IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR
WE BOUGT A 2008 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO,IT NOW HAS 70,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO GO OUT., AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THE COMPRESSOR AND THE GEARBOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRASMISSION FLUID POURS OUT AND IT SHIFTS SO HARD INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR THAT TIRES SPIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT IMPROPERLY. THERE WERE INTERMITTENT HARSH SHIFTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000.
WE BOUGHT THE ESCAPE IN MARCH 2008 WITH 17,000 MILES AND NOW HAVE 41,000 MILES. THE OTHER DAY IT STARTED TO NOT SHIFT RIGHT SO WE CHECKED THE FLUIDS AND SAW THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VERY LOW. WE FILLED IT AND IT STILL WASN'T REGISTERING AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. DEALER SAID THERE IS A SLOW LEAK AND WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT AT OUR COST BECAUSE WE'RE OVER THE 35,000 MILE WARRANTY. SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THE LEAK MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE STARTED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT COULD NOT GO BACK. CALLED FORD AND GOT NOWHERE WITH THEM. DID RESEARCH LAST NIGHT AND SAW ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ALONG WITH THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HEADING BACK TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE TSB. THE VEHICLE WILL SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY UNTIL FORD OR THE DEALER STEPS UP AND PAYS FOR THIS. FORD KNOWS IT'S A DEFECT SO WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO SPEND THE ESTIMATED $800 TO CORRECT IT. HOPING THEY END UP RECALLING THIS TO SAVE OTHER CONSUMERS THE HASSLE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH. *TR
I WAS PICKING UP MY TODDLER FROM DAYCARE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS TERRIFIED AND UNABLE TO STEER. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO EXERCISE THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT LOOSENED A LITTLE BUT WOULD KEEP LOCKING UP AFTER A FEW MINUTES. FOUND OUT LATER THIS HAPPENED TO MAY OTHER 2008 FORD ESCAPE DRIVERS AND THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKING UP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND COST WAS ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR. HAD TO GET A BRAND NEW STEERING COLUMN. A MONTH OR TWO LATER I FIND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS YEAR ESCAPES, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE FOR MOST OF THEM. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ON 2008'S THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. IF THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED, I THINK REFUNDS SHOULD BE ISSUED TO THOSE OF US WHO PAID ALL THIS MONEY TO HAVE THESE DANGEROUS ISSUES RESOLVED. *TR
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO EARLIER COMPLAINT #10256871 DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DO REPAIRS TO VEHICLE AT EARLIER DATE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW QUIT MOVING IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC REQUIRING IT BE TOWED. DEALER NOW REPLACED ENTIRE TRANSMISSION DUE TO COMPLETE INTERNAL FAILURE WHICH APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY LACK OF LUBRICATION TO INTERNAL COMPONENTS. DEALER COMMENTED THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COOLER RELATED DESIGN PROBLEM, WHICH RESTRICTS FLUID FLOW IN COLD CLIMATES. *TR
MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE IS CURRENTLY AT 16000 MILES AND I HAVE NOTICED FOR ABOUT A WEEK THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING. THEN WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL BUT DOESN'T. HOWEVER, WHEN THEN GOING INTO DRIVE MY CAR HAS STALLED 4 TIMES. I TOOK IT TODAY AND THAT WAS THE SECOND CAR TODAY BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY AUTOMATICALLY SAID IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS AND GOT ME A RENTAL CAR TILL TUESDAY. *TR
HAVE A 2008 ESCAPE WITH 15,500 MILES AND IT BEGAN SHIFTING HARD. TOOK A SHORT TRIP AND PROBLEM WORSENED. HUSBAND NOTED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING, RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER NEEDED REPLACED. STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THERE WAS NO COST TO ME OTHER THAN A DAY WITHOUT MY VEHICLE AND SHOP WAS EXCELLENT IN CLEANING MY VEHICLE FROM ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SPLATTERS. GREAT SERVICE BUT THIS PROBLEM ON SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. *TR
I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER. HER 2008 FORD ESCAPE STARTED JERKING AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING THEN ENGAGING. UPON CHECKING THE FLUID LEVEL I FOUND IT WAS SHOWING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DIPSTICK. MY DAUGHTER IS A REGISTERED NURSE AND DOES A LOT OF DRIVING WITHIN OUR TRI-STATE AREA SO AS STRANGE AS I THOUGHT IT WAS TO BE THAT LOW, I ADDED 2 QTS. OF FLUID. TWO DAYS LATER IT WAS THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN EXCEPT THIS TIME I HAD HER MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. AFTER DEALER INSPECTION SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACED. I CALLED THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER TO SEE IF WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE 3YR. 38,000 MI. WARRANTY BECAUSE HER MILEAGE WAS AT 43641. I ASKED ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER THE 5YR. 60,000 MI. POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS CALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER, AGAIN I WAS TOLD NO. NOW I AM SURE NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST BUT TO ME A TRANSMISSION COOLER SOUNDS AS IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION OPERATION! MY ARGUMENTS WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR PROVED FRUITLESS. WHAT REALLY TICKED ME OFF WAS WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC WHO HANDLED THE REPAIR SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING IN THE SEAM (FAULTY WORKMANSHIP???). THE END RESULT IS THE REPAIR COST MY DAUGHTER $667.04. WHEN I ASKED TO SEE THE OLD PART THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC HELD ONTO IT BECAUSE EACH MECHANIC KEEPS OLD PARTS TO SELL AS SCRAP. I WENT BACK AND GOT THE OLD TRANS. COOLER BECAUSE I FIGURED IF ANYONE SHOULD MONEY OUT OF THE SCRAP ALUMINUM IT SHOULD BE MY DAUGHTER. THE PLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLER RIGHT BEHIND THE GRILLE IS THE STUPIDEST DESIGN. WHY WASN'T SOME TYPE OF GUARD INSTALLED IN FRONT OF IT? *TR
STARTING AT AROUND 15,000 MILES MY WINDOW REGULATOR/MOTOR BROKE IN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE. CURRENTLY IN OCTOBER OF 2013 I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE WINDOW REGULATORS/MOTORS (4 TOTAL) IN MY CAR. THE WINDOWS BROKE AT AROUND 15,000 MILES, 30,000 MILES, 60,000 MILES AND NOW AT 85,000 MILES. WHEN SPEAKING WITH MY FORD SERVICE ADVISOR HE HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPES AND CONTINUES TO SAY THAT IS REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL. THE LAST WINDOW BROKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WAS FIRED AT ME AND MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DROPPED, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. AS STATED ALL 4 OF MY WINDOWS HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED AND THEY COST ABOUT $380 PER WINDOW TO REPLACE. FORD CUSTOMER CARE HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO THIS ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LACK OF SAFETY OF THE WINDOW MOTORS/REGULATORS WHICH CREATES AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS IN THIS FORD MODEL. I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS CLAIM SERIOUSLY AND RECALL THIS PART, AS FORD IS CREATING AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR
WHEN STANDING AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IT HAS A NOTICEABLE LEAN TO THE DRIVERS' SIDE (BOTH FRONT AND REAR) OF ALMOST 1/2 INCH. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATIONS DONE, TIRES ARE ALL THE SAME SIZE AND PROPERLY INFLATED AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE TANK IS FULL OR EMPTY. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT IS UNWILLING TO PURSUE IT. *TR
MY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS OFTEN WHEN BRAKING. IT AS THOUGH THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR A SPLIT SECOND, SIMILAR TO HOW IT CAN FEEL WHEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKES COME ON SKIPPING SOME IF ON ICE. BUT THIS IS OCCURRING ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS IN TO FORD THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE, BUT SAID THE BRAKES ON THE FORD 2008 ARE NOT THE GREATEST SO I SHOULD PROBABLY GET THEM REPLACED AND THIS MAY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I ALLOWED THE FRONT BRAKES TO BE CHANGED, THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT EACH TIME WHEN I FEEL THE BRAKES SLIP, THE ABS ACTIVE/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON IN MY CAR. HAS THERE BEEN OTHERS COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME ISSUE? *TR
I HAD COME BACK FROM A BUSINESS TRIP AND HAD PARKED THE CAR AT THE AIRPORT. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING, THE CAR WAS LURCHING, FEELING LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS CONTINUED ALL THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY, IT WORSENED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND DO MANY OTHER THINGS SURROUNDING THAT AS ALL THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. LUCKILY, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE PROBLEM CONCERNS THE WIPERS. EACH TIME IT HAS SNOWED AND WE HAVE NEEDED TO DRIVE IN IT, SNOW AND ICE BUILDS UP ON THE MIDDLE 2/3RDS OF THE BLADE LIFTING IT ENOUGH SO THE BLADE DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT AND CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND ASKED FOR "WINTER BLADES", I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE, I THEN ASKED IF THEY COULD PUT DIFFERENT ARMS ON OUR VEHICLE SO IT COULD ACCEPT "REGULAR" WIPERS, I WAS AGAIN TOLD NO. THE WIPER IS CALLED A CONTOUR WIPER AND WHAT BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR CONSUMER LINE HAVE TOLD ME, THERE IS NO OTHER WIPER ARM OR BLADE THAT WILL FIT THIS VEHICLE. OK, NOW THE DANGER FACTOR ARISES WHEN DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE BLADE LOOSES CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD, HENCE THE WINDSHIELD BUILDS UP SNOW AND ICE AND VISIBILITY IS NEAR ZERO. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAN IT IS TO STOP, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AND CLEAN IT, AND THIS IS NOT EASY ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, PROBLEM IS, WHEN YOU LOSE VISIBILITY, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP WHEREVER YOU ARE. THE DESIGN IS SO POOR AND I CAN NOT BELIEVE IN ANY TESTING THAT THIS DID NOT ARISE. AND TO DESIGN AND PUT SUCH A LIMITED AVAILABILITY PRODUCT ON A VEHICLE THAT CAUSES SUCH A DANGEROUS CONDITION IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THEY DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE OPTION FOR A CONSUMER TO REPLACE THESE WIPERS EXCEPT WITH THE EXACT SAME DANGEROUS PRODUCT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I MAY GET FORD TO TAKE A RETURN ON THIS VEHICLE OR TO REPLACE THIS WIPER. THANKS. *TR
THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN IT IS PUT INTO REVERSE. THE WHOLE VEHICLE IS "CHUGS" OR SHAKES WHEN IT IS REVERSING AT SLOW SPEEDS. HAS BECOME WORSE WITH TIME. VEHICLE PURCHASED MAY 2008 AND HAS 14,000KM. CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE DOOR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED HUGE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AND THE GARAGE DOOR WERE BLOWN AWAY AS A RESULT. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR TWO DAYS AND DISPLAYED NO SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE HOME AND THE VEHICLE WERE DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD FORWARD THE COMPLAINT TO THEIR ATTORNEY AND CALL THE CONTACT BACK WITH AN UPDATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AFTER DRIVING ABOUT TEN MILES. SUB ZERO WEATHER, VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HEATED GARAGE. IT WORKED OK OUT OF GARAGE, AFTER DRIVEN FOR THE TEN MILES REVERSE SLIPPED BADLY. POWERTRAIN LIGHT ON DEALER CHECKED FOR CODES AND CODE READ AS UNKNOWN PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION NOW HAS DELAYED ENGAGEMENT INTO REVERSE. DEALER CHECKED FLUID AND IT IS BURNT, AGAIN NO KNOWN CODES YET LIGHT IS STILL ON. VEHICLE IS 4 CYLINDER WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE THAT I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WHEN PUT INTO REV. IT WOULD SLIP AND OR CHATTER. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED TO ME THAT THEY CAN NOT GET IT TO DO WHAT IT DID FOR ME. THIS HAPPEN FOR A FEW DAYS. IT STARTED TO DO IT WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE AND AFTER DRIVING IT. I HAVE 333000 MILES ON IT AND DO A LOT OF OUT OF TOWN DRIVING. I WOULD LIKE IT FIXED BEFORE IT LEAVES ME STRANDED OUT OF TOWN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD IT FOR A WEEK NOW AND STILL CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO CODE SET FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
2008 FORD ESCAPE - WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE 2008 MODEL ESCAPE UTILIZES A NEW "SPRINGLESS" WIPER DESIGN. THE FORD EDGE AND TAURUS ALSO USE THE SAME WIPER DESIGN FOR 2008. THE DESIGN DOES NOT PLACE ENOUGH DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE WINDSHIELD TO ALLOW FOR CONSISTENT CONTACT LEAVING LARGE AREAS COMPLETELY MISSED BY THE BLADE. I'VE NOTICED THIS TO BE MORE PROBLEMATIC IN COLD WEATHER, WHICH MAY BE A RESULT OF THE BLADE MATERIAL STIFFENING ALLOWING FOR CURVED BLADE TO NOT FLEX AND LIE FLAT AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD SURFACE. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND THE DEALER, AND FORD DOES NOT MAKE A WINTER BLADE FOR THIS VEHICLE. AFTER MARKET BLADES ARE ALSO NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BLADE ARM AND BLADE ONLY SUPPORTS THE FORD STOCK WIPERS. FORD ALSO DOES NOT CURRENTLY OFFER AN OPTIONAL BLADE ARM FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT WOULD UTILIZE A DIFFERENT CONNECTOR. WITH THE WIPERS CONSISTENTLY MISSING SECTIONS OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW BECOMES LIMITED PRESENTING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. REPLACING THE BLADES WITH THE SAME EXACT DESIGN OF BLADE WILL NOT CORRECT THE DESIGN PROBLEM. *TR
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.
I PURCHASED MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE IN DECEMBER, 2008 WITH 35K MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A LEAK IN MY TRANSMISSION COOLER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 ESCAPE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, BUT IT STILL IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. *TR
TOTAL TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE AT 48,000 MILES. *TR
AIR BAG AMBER WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AFTER STARTING ENGINE (SOLID LIGHT). MOST TIMES IT WILL GO OUT WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART. STAYS OUT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM RETURNS. THIS IS HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS HAVE CONFIRMED PROBLEM BUT DON'T HAVE A FIX. IS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL? *TR
I BROUGHT MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER NOTICING IT WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID TOWARD THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAR WITH NEEDING A REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AT A TOTAL COST OF $1,142. MY ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2007 AND HAS JUST GONE OUT OF WARRANTY HAD JUST OVER 40,000 MILES WHEN FLUID STARTED LEAKING. TSB 08-5-7 WAS ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. DEALERSHIP OFFERED 60 (FORD)/40 (ME) SPLIT OF COST, BUT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS ADMITTEDLY A DESIGN FLAW. I'VE ALSO READ OF MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
MY AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK FOR ME I WEIGH 126 THEY SAID IT CAN'T BE FIXED IT'S MADE FOR A CHILD I'M NOT A CHILD. I SHOULD OF BEEN TOLD THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE ESCAPE. I WAS LEAD TO BELIEVE I HAD THE SAFETY OF A PASSENGER AIRBAG. I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR IF I KNEW THIS. I WAS LIED TOO. I'M NOT SAFE. *TR
TODAY I NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLUID IS A RED, OILY FLUID. I DID A FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND NOTICED A SMALL LEAK OF RED FLUID COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I THEN CHECKED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL, AND IT WAS VERY LOW. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INDICATION LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD. THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP IS CLOSED TODAY, SO I WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE CENTER TOMORROW MORNING. *TR
IN DECEMBER OF 2007 I PURCHASED A 2008 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I HAD TO BRING IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS LOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SHIFTING IRREGULARLY(IT HAD 33,000 MILES ON IT). THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT SEAL OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AND THEY REPLACED IT AT THE DEALERSHIP. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO MY WIFE NOTICED THAT IT WAS SHIFTING POORLY INTO REVERSE, FIRST THERE WAS A PAUSE AND THEN IT WOULD SHIFT INTO REVERSE SHAKING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT NOW WE HAVE AN INTERNAL LEAK AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING THAT PROBLEM (IT NOW HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT). *TR
THROTTLE STICKS SHUT WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 30 DEGREES . HAVE TO FEEL AROUND FOR RIGHT SPOT TO GET THROTTLE TO MOVE AND VEHICLE TO DRIVE. HAD THROTTLE CABLE REPLACED ONCE BY FORD , HAS DONE THIS EVERY WINTER SINCE THEN . THIS YEAR BEING WORSE THEN NORMAL AND GOT STUCK SO PEDAL WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. *TR
MY GAS PEDAL STICKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. I'VE TALKED TO FORD ABOUT IT AND 3 OTHER MECHANICS AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY. I HAVE A HEATED GARAGE SO IT'S NOT FROZEN. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BUT IS EMBARRASSING AND DANGEROUS! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. ONCE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, IT DID SO AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
BEEN NOTICING LITTLE RED DRIPS AROUND THE RADIATOR FILLER TUBE SIDE. CLEANED AREA AND NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING FROM WHERE THE TUBES ENTER THE COOLER. NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM. BRINGING INTO THE DEALER. *TR
TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAK, CAUSING IT TO JUMP WHEN BELOW 20 MILES AN HOUR. WHILE IN BOSTON DURING RUSH HOUR, COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR