IllustrationRIGHT REAR SHOCK BECAME DETACHED FROM UNDERBODY OF CAR CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITION DUE TO ADVANCED RUST THROUGH.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape Hybrid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
1625–50K
2350–75K
2675–100K
60100–150K
28150K+
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
What owners actually said
178 reportsDRIVING HIT A SMALL BUMP THEN STARTED TO HEAR A BANGING IN BACK PASSENGER WHEEL. PULL OVER TO LOOK THE HOLE SHOCK TOWER WAS RUSTED OUT. *JS
WHEEL HOUSE ROTTED OUT SHOCK/SPRING BROKE THRU WHEEL HOUSE HITTING ON HYBRID BATTERY. *JS
RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT BROKE AWAY FROM FENDER WELL DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST IN SURROUNDING AREA. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THE WHEEL WELL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THE WHEEL WELL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A MANHOLE COVER. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS TYPICAL ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER HOME AND PULLING TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT AS WELL AS THE SERVICE NOTIFICATION SHOWED UP AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HCU AND CONTROL MODULE ASSEMBLY WERE DEFECTIVE. *TR
THE "WRENCH" LIGHT AND "ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE INFORMATION SYSTEM FLASHED "SERVICE NOW" AND "SERVICE EMISSION SYSTEM." THE CAR SUDDENLY SEEMED TO BOG DOWN AND SLOWED TO AROUND 15 MPH. FROM THERE IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. THE ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND SEEMED MUSHY. ONCE AT 30 MPH THE C…
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THE "WRENCH" LIGHT AND "ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE INFORMATION SYSTEM FLASHED "SERVICE NOW" AND "SERVICE EMISSION SYSTEM." THE CAR SUDDENLY SEEMED TO BOG DOWN AND SLOWED TO AROUND 15 MPH. FROM THERE IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. THE ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND SEEMED MUSHY. ONCE AT 30 MPH THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND JERK. IT ALSO STALLED WHEN SLOWING. THESE ARE THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS THAT OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WHICH FORD HAS RECOGNIZED AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT UNDER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION # 13N03 FOR ESCAPE MODELS 2009-2012. THE FORD DEALER SAYS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, AS OF THIS WRITING FORD IS NOT COVERING THE REPAIR FOR EARLIER MODELS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME ENGINE, SAME SYMPTOMS, SAME REPAIR NECESSARY. COME ON FORD, DO THE RIGHT THING! *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND THE "SERVICE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON THEN ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER THE "STOP SAFELY" LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT HAD TO BE RESET (SHUTDOWN WAS TO P…
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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND THE "SERVICE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON THEN ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER THE "STOP SAFELY" LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT HAD TO BE RESET (SHUTDOWN WAS TO PROTECT THE HYBRID BATTERY). ONCE FORD FIXED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO GET CAR TO START AGAIN, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER HAD FULLY DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL HOUSE AND WAS BASICALLY A DANGLING PIECE. FORD COULD OFFER NO HELP "THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT OR CAPABILITY TO FIX" AND SAID I HAD TO GO TO A AUTO BODY SHOP TO HAVE THE PIECE WELDED BACK TO THE FRAME. TURNS OUT THERE IS NOTHING THERE TO WELD, THE ENTIRE CONNECTION HAS ROTTED OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FROM WHAT I CAN FIND ONLINE THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPES AND FORD REFUSES TO DEAL WITH IT. CARS WITH THESE ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT I WAS ONLY DRIVING 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET, IMAGINE WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED IF I WAS TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE PIECE JUST FELL OUT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FIX THAT FORD OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE BURDEN OF DEALING WITH FINANCIALLY ON A CAR THAT IS LESS THAT 10 YEARS OLD. MY CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS A LOT OF LIFE LEFT IN IT, BUT NOW THIS FIX IS GOING TO COST CLOSE TO $2500. THIS SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED SO FORD HAS TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE! HAS ANYONE CONSIDERED FILING A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR DEFECTIVE CAR PARTS??? *TR
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HATCH WINDOW HINGES BROKE LEAVING THE WINDOW HANGING. BOLTS OXIDIZED THROUGH PRODUCING THIS FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED EVEN IF THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE WINDOW. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOW COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND/O…
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BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HATCH WINDOW HINGES BROKE LEAVING THE WINDOW HANGING. BOLTS OXIDIZED THROUGH PRODUCING THIS FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED EVEN IF THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE WINDOW. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOW COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND/OR PERSONS THAT WERE FOLLOWING. THE LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE PART # IS 420A68. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
2DP22005 · 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.