There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2008 Ford Escapein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Hazard flashers turn on by themselves any rime night or day even while driving. Transmission oil cooler leaks. Transmission shift lever bushing in shift cable broke [ Thankfully while not on the road ] This car only has 25,000 miles on it
The vehicle frequently shuts down with a stop safely now light displaying on the dash. Gives maybe a 5-10 second warning before the vehicle is immobile. Has not caused an accident for us but has occurred abruptly on busy roads increasing the risk of one. However, it usually occurs when idling in a drive through or light etc. The vehicle also frequently does something that causes the clock and date to reset to 2004. This seems to always occur between drives overnight.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked and attempting to shift into drive(D), the contact had to shift into 2nd gear prior to shifting into drive(D) to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel was sized and became difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Vehicle rolled backwards due to defective trans shifter bushing on transaxle end. In the process of replacing bushing if available from Ford
Car was parked on street with a slight downward slope behind it. It was turned off and placed in "Park". It rolled backwards down the street and hit a utility pole which caused it to stop. After seeing that it had "moved on its own" the shift handle was checked and still indicated the car was in "Park". Suspect some issue with the car actually being in park related to transmission, shift lever, or Ignition. The ignition has periodically displayed a reluctance to allow the car to start when the key is turned. The car will go to Ford dealer since I understand there was a large recall for this issue.
MULTIPLE SERVICE LIGHTS TURN ON, ALL GAUGES GO TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING, SEEMINGLY RANDOM. I HAVE HAD THE CLUSTER REPLACED AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A NEW CLUSTER. LOOKS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN 10024328/ FORD TSB 08-3-6. INFORMATION ON THE ISSUE IS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE CAR BROKE DOWN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT A FEW MILES FROM THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE AND WOULD NOT RUN. BATTERY LIGHT, WRENCH LIGHT AND STOP SAFELY CAME ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, DIAGNOSED WITH P0A7A AND P0A78 CODES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD HAVE COST MORE THAN THE CARS TRADE IN VALUE IF IF GOOD RUNNING CONDITION.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION- AFTER STARTING TORQUE GROWLS, WHEN I PUT IT IN ANY GEAR IT HESITATES THEN LURCHES SO MUCH THE TIRES SQUEAL, & SOUNDS,FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IN THE REAR OF SUV IS GOING TO FALL APART . ALSO WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT'S SCARING OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. SHAKES ME SO HARD IT HURTS MY NECK AND BACK. HAS ACTUALLY THROWN MY PURSE TO THE FLOOR BOARD WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE SEATS. ALL THESE MALFUNCTIONS HAPPEN WHEN I PUT IN GEAR WHEN STARTING OR AT RED LIGHTS & STOP SIGNS. DANGEROUS!!! PLUS TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID. I'VE QUIT DRIVING IT 08/08/2020 AFTER ONLY DRIVING IT OCCASIONALLY FOR 2 MONTHS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 06/11/2020. I DID/DO KEEP TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE SUV
DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE IF I LET GO OF STEERING WHEEL WHICH LASTED ABOUT A WEEK THEN ON MY WAY TO WORK AGAIN IT WOULDNT GO OVER 40 MPH AND WONT COME OUT OF GEAR. ON THE WAY HOME IT WOULDNT GO OVER 30MPH AND STILL WONT COME OUT OF GEAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOME WHERE UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LINKED TO A TRANSMISSION CABLE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN LINKED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT AND MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. IT THEN JUST STOPPED AND WOULDN'T SHIFT. THE ENGINE WOULD REV REALLY HIGH, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHICH MADE IT UNSAFE. I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, IT STARTED TO SHIFT REALLY SLOW WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE LIMP MODE. IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A VACUUM LINK AND REPLACED THE PART. I WENT BACK TO AMP REPAIR SHOP IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, IT DID THE SAME THING WITH THE ENGINE REVVING HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING IN THE MIDDLE OF GRATIOT AVE, A MAIN STREET IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP. I HAD IT TOWED TO USA TRANSMISSION IN MADUSON HEIGHTS, MI. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AND TOLD ME IT WAS IN FACT THE CD4E TRANSMISSION AND STATED THEY REBUILT A LOT OF THESE. HE ALSO SAID THE INTERNAL PARTS WERE WORN OUT BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANNY PAN. HE STATED THE COST TO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION WILL BE $3075. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY FORD ESCAPE HAS ONLY 120,000 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER. I WANT FORD TO ADMIT THAT THE CD4E TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO PAY %100 OF THE REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE IT UNSAFE, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS WELL AS OTHERS..
THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING EXHAUST PARTS TO BREAK. THE FORD OEM PARTS ONLY LAST ONE YEAR BEFORE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. RECENTLY, THE BAD MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MOVE SO MUCH IT CAUSED THE FRONT FLEX PIPE TO BREAK WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CLOGGED ONE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTORS TO CLOG.
MY CAR HAS DISPLAYED THE ISSUES THIS MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW WILL NOT START AGAIN. IT STOPPED DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON BOTH FREEWAYS AND RESIDENTIAL STREETS. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, GAS AND BRAKE HAVE NO EFFECT, AND FLASHES A MESAGE THAT SAYS TO STOP SAFELY NOW (EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT ANYWAY). IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF RECALLS I'VE READ ABOUT FOR THIS CAR, YET MY VIN NUMBER SAYS THERE ARE NONE ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE REEXAMINED.
MY VEHICLE WILL BE IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY HAVE A SHIFTING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE AND STUTTER AND LOOSES POWER NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PRESS YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDDLE. MY ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF A COUPLE TIMES AND THEN ONCE MY VEHICLE SHIFTED, IT WOULD IDLE ROUGH AND ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE WHEN I WOULD STOP AT A LIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON SINCE. I TOOK IT TO HAVE THE ERROR CODE READ FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON BUT IT WAS ONLY A GENERIC CODE. ONE OF THE CODES WAS FOR AN AIRBAG SENSOR. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.
I BOUGHT THIS USED ESCAPE ABOUT 2 YRS AGO, FIRST YR OVER $400 INTO STABILIZER BAR SWAY BARS FRONT END REPAIRS,,OK, SECOND YR, GUESS WHAT? YES TRANSMISSION 3RD GEAR OUT...AFTER DOING REVIEWS ON HERE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. WHEN ONE LIVES ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU LIVE ON $100 A WEEK DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH FOR REPAIRS,, YES I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO SOME MAINTANCE BUT HOLLY COW THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS NOT CHEAP. I HAVE ONLY PUT 9,223 MILES ON THIS SUV SINCE I HAD IT. WITH AS MANY PROBLEMS AS THERE IS WITH THE ESCAPE TRANSMISSION ONE WOULD THINK FORDS WOULD GET IT RIGHT, WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS NOT EVEN A RECALL. EVERY PLACE I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO I'T LIKE HERE COMES A OLE LADY WE'LL TELL HER ANYTHING AND EMPTY HER WALLET, CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE CRAP I WAS TOLD WITH DIFF $$ MAKING MY HEAD SPIN, WHO DO YOU BELIVE WHEN FORDS LET YOU DOWN AND DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD PERSON BUT NOT ANYMORE!! I CAN'T MAKE PAYMENTS AND REPLACE TRANYS ON A FIXED INCOME. I AM DOING MY HOMEWORK NOW AND IT LOOKS LIKE CHEVY HERE I COME. FORD GET IT TOGETHER
THE FRONT WHEEL HUB STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS AROUND 10 THREE 2018. THEN ON 12 20 2018 THE HOOD CAME UNDONE AND SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD. EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE 2015 IT HAD POWER ASSIST PROBLEMS IN THE STEERING.
WHEN YOU TAKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH ON CHANGING GEARS AND AFTER A CHANGE OUT OF LOGAN HER INTO HIGH GEAR IS SYKES WORKING FINE WINE STEP ON THE BRAKES THE TRUCK STARTS BOUNCING FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK AND I TOLD YOU TO THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY SAID THERE'S NO ANY RECALL ON MY VIN NUMBER BUT I HAVE A PART THAT IS LISTED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT SITE IS GOOD THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE IS A FORD ESCAPE 2008.
2008 FORD ESCAPE TRANSMISSION IS BAD ALREADY LOST 2ND GEAR WAS A RECALL BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT RECALL BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION WARRANTY I'VE ONLY HAD MY VEHICLE 1 YEAR AND 10 MONTHS I STILL OWE FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REOPEN THE RECALL MY FORD ESCAPE IS AT A DEALER SHIP IN G-VILLE OHIO I AM ON A FIXED INCOME DISABILITY MY MOM IS ALSO DISABLED I HAVE A DAUGHTER WITH BRAIN CANCER I HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO TAKE HER APPOINTMENTS I REALLY NEED MY VEHICLE AND I THINK FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REOPEN THE RECALL AND REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION AND PAY FOR ME TO GET A RENTAL CAR
I PAID FOR MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED IN JULY 2018. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR FOR SERVICE ROUTINELY WITH FORD DEALERSHIP AND JUST RECEIVED SERVICE THE WEEK PRIOR. I EXPLAINED I WAS GOING FOR A TRIP TO AZ (400 MILE ROUNDTRIP) AND NEEDED A FULL CHECK AND SERVICE. EVERYTHING PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS. ON MY RETURN TRIP UP A HILL, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER AND LIMPED HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND CODES WERE NOT COMING UP FOR THE WRENCH LIGHT AND AFTER KEEPING IT FOR ADDITIONAL DAY, THE 2ND AND 4TH GEARS ARE OUT AND IT WILL TAKE A WEEK TO FIX. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE AND I JUST HIT THE 90,000 MILE MARK. UNBELIEVABLE THAT A TRANSMISSION GOES OUT AT A 90,000 MILE. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE VEHICLE AFTER PAYING SO MUCH FOR IT AND MAINTAINING ALL SERVICES. NO DISCOUNTS WERE OFFERED.
VEHICLE LURCHES, STALLS, JERKS, LUNGES, SLIPS AND SO ON.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026