IllustrationMY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAVE 140,000 MILES ON IT FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS THE ABS LIGHT AND THE RED TRIANGLE STOP THE CAR SAFELY COME ON WHEN I START THE CAT. I PULL OVER SHUT THE CAR OFF RESTART AND ALL IS WELL UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. *TR
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 reports2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKE SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN FORD'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 05-8-5 (AUGUST 5, 2005) (NHTSA ID #10017553). PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT WITHOUT ANY KNOWN INCIDENT TO HAVE TRIGGERED THE PROBLEM. REPAIR HAS REQUIRED REPLAC…
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2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKE SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN FORD'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 05-8-5 (AUGUST 5, 2005) (NHTSA ID #10017553). PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT WITHOUT ANY KNOWN INCIDENT TO HAVE TRIGGERED THE PROBLEM. REPAIR HAS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM'S HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT ("HCU"). TOTAL COST HAS BEEN ABOUT $7,000. TO SUMMARIZE MY CORRESPONDENCE FROM FORD... "SINCE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ("NHTSA") IS NOT CONCERNED (I.E. NOBODY HAS GOTTEN KILLED BY THESE DEFECTIVE BRAKES) THERE IS NO NEED FOR A RECALL. THEREFORE, FORD HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR OR DEAL WITH MY PROBLEM." MY STORY IN MORE DETAIL AT HTTP://BLOG.YAGELSKI.COM/2010/01/MY-FORD-ESCAPE-HYBRID-BRAKE-REPAIR.HTML. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 60 MPH THE OVERHEAT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK OF A SERIOUS INJURY WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO D…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 60 MPH THE OVERHEAT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK OF A SERIOUS INJURY WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 10/29/09 *CN THE PUMP FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MAINTENANCE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR WAS OVERHEATING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,000.
BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID: HIGHWAY DRIVING, NO BRAKING DURING FAILURE - ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON CONSOLE. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE THEY "DIAGNOSED" MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. 06 JULY 09 BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID: NORMAL CITY DRIVING…
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BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID: HIGHWAY DRIVING, NO BRAKING DURING FAILURE - ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON CONSOLE. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE THEY "DIAGNOSED" MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. 06 JULY 09 BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID: NORMAL CITY DRIVING UNDER 35MPH ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON CONSOLE. *TR
THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT THIS MORNING. I WAS TRAVELING ON A PAVED ROAD DOING APPROXIMATELY 70 KMS/HOUR. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR WERE TEMPERATURES EXTREME. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A RIFLE GOING OFF AND GLASS SHATTERED EVERYWHERE. *TR
HAVE HAD THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE AND THE DASH "BRAKE" INDICATOR LIGHT GO ON RANDOMLY WITHOUT BRAKING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS (BEGAN IN MAY 2008) IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE (IN JUNE 2008) AND IS NOW DOING IT AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS THIS FIRST TIME AND CLEANED CONTACTS ACCORDING TO A FORD…
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HAVE HAD THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE AND THE DASH "BRAKE" INDICATOR LIGHT GO ON RANDOMLY WITHOUT BRAKING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS (BEGAN IN MAY 2008) IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE (IN JUNE 2008) AND IS NOW DOING IT AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS THIS FIRST TIME AND CLEANED CONTACTS ACCORDING TO A FORD SERVICE ALERT THE SECOND. I ALSO HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE FALL OF 2007. THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE" APPEARED AND THE DASH "BRAKE" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON OVER A THREE WEEK PERIOD FOLLOWED BY THE 4X4 SYSTEM AND ABS SYSTEM MAKING NOISE, JERKING THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN SHUTTING DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING (NOVEMBER 2007). THIS WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER BUT NOW THE CAR'S INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO ABLE TO FIXED. I AM WORRIED THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL FAIL AGAIN. *TR
SERVICE BRAKE SYS MESSAGE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID ALONG WITH BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. *TR
2005 FORD ESCAPE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL. DEALER TOLD THEM THERE WERE NO RECALLS. *KB
PROBLEM: SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN PARK AND WOULD NOT T RELEASE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DATES BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE: 04/11/07 MILEAGE 28972, AND REPLACED STOP SWITCH. ON 04/19/07 WITH MILEAGE 29102 REPLACED SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. ON 05/16/07 WITH MILEAGE 29653 DID NOT FIX IT. *AK
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.