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2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escape Hybrid years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

167 reports with mileage · 11 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

2 reports
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15,239 miles · May 17, 2007
Air Bags

PROBLEM: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON. DATE BROUGHT VEHICLE FOR SERVICE WAS 03/07/06 WITH MILEAGE 15239 AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10191082

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2006
Air Bags

I OWN A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN I BOUGHT IT (BRAND NEW) I NOTICED AN AIR BAG ISSUE WHERE DURING DRIVING, IF THE PASSENGER MADE A SLIGHT SITTING ADJUSTMENT, THE AIRBAG WOULD DEACTIVATE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT REACTIVATE, OR TAKE A LONG TIME (5, 10 MINUTES). I TOLD FORD ABOUT IT, AND THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAGS SEAT GEL PAD SE…

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I OWN A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN I BOUGHT IT (BRAND NEW) I NOTICED AN AIR BAG ISSUE WHERE DURING DRIVING, IF THE PASSENGER MADE A SLIGHT SITTING ADJUSTMENT, THE AIRBAG WOULD DEACTIVATE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT REACTIVATE, OR TAKE A LONG TIME (5, 10 MINUTES). I TOLD FORD ABOUT IT, AND THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAGS SEAT GEL PAD SENSOR. THE SYMPTOM IMPROVED, BUT STILL HAPPENS. MY FIANCE IS 120LBS AND SHE SITS NORMALLY IN HER SEAT. IF SHE MAKES A MOVE TO READJUST (AS ONE WOULD ON A ROAD TRIP, OR LONG DRIVE) THE AIRBAG MAY STILL DEACTIVATE. INITIALLY IT WAS FREQUENT (75% OF THE TIME) HOWEVER NOW IT IS 50/50 (SINCE THE REPLACED GEL PAD). HOWEVER, IT IS TROUBLING TO KNOW THAT WHEN I AM DRIVING, SOMETIMES MY FIANCEE''S AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. WE FEEL VULNERABLE THAT THE SAFETY ITEMS WE PURCHASED TO PROTECT US ARE NOT ALWAYS THERE FOR US. I TRIED COMMUNICATING WITH FORD TELLING THEM IT STILL PERSISTS, BUT THEY JUST DON'T "GET IT". I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT AND THE CAR KNOWS IT - HOW CAN THE CAR DEACTIVATE THAT AIRBAG WHILE WE ARE DRIVING 60 MPH? THAT SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW - AS OBVIOUSLY THE PASSENGER CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, OR EVEN BEFORE THE DOOR OPENS. IN MY OPINION, IF THE CAR SENSES A PASSENGER WHEN STARTING TO MOVE, THEN THE AIRBAG SHOULD STAY ON - AT LEAST UNTIL IT STOPS MOVING (COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP). SO *MOTION* WOULD BE A CHECK POINT AND NON-MOTION WOULD BE ANOTHER POINT TO *REEVALUATE* - BUT DEFINITELY NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY DRIVING... I HOPE PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE GRANDEUR OF THE SITUATION WHERE THE AIRBAG PURPOSELY DEACTIVATES (FROM INCORRECT EVENT PROGRAMMING) WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE BELOW INCIDENT DATE IS IRRELEVANT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168806

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.