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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

178 reports
125,000 miles · Oct 6, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemHybrid Propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS. FRONTIER FORD IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA (3701 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, 95051) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SERIES OF FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS. FRONTIER FORD IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA (3701 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, 95051) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SERIES OF FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON APRIL 1, 2015. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA ODI #11032108

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2017
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TOMMIE VAUGHN FORD, 1201 N SHEPHERD DR, HOUSTON, TX 77008, (713) 869-4661) SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TOMMIE VAUGHN FORD, 1201 N SHEPHERD DR, HOUSTON, TX 77008, (713) 869-4661) SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HCU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD EIGHT TSBS FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICS AND ONE FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES, AIR. THERE WAS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED WITH NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN REPLACING THE PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11031925

340,000 miles · Sep 21, 2017
Structure

REAR SHOCK MOUNTS RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT. VEHICLE DRIVEN IN CENTRAL VA SO WINTERS ARE NOT THAT TERRIBLE, WHEEL WELLS ARE UNDERCOATED. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK BROKE THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11024888

115 miles · Aug 17, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

I WAS ABOUT 115 MILES INTO A 130 MILE TRIP, DOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY VEHICLE JERKED VERY HARD AND THEN STARTED MAKING LOUD SOUNDS LIKE PARTS FALLING OUT. ALL OF THE CARS BEHIDE ME HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS AND AVOID HITTING ME. NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS HAD COME ON UNTIL AFTER THIS HAPPENED. I STEERED TH…

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I WAS ABOUT 115 MILES INTO A 130 MILE TRIP, DOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY VEHICLE JERKED VERY HARD AND THEN STARTED MAKING LOUD SOUNDS LIKE PARTS FALLING OUT. ALL OF THE CARS BEHIDE ME HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS AND AVOID HITTING ME. NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS HAD COME ON UNTIL AFTER THIS HAPPENED. I STEERED THE CAR OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND DOWN THE RAMP INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND OIL WAS COMING OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND. A MAN LOOKED AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE COOLANT SYSTEM MESSED UP AND IT THROUGH A ROD IN THE MOTOR BLOCK. I GOT THE CAR ONE MONTH AGO AND IT WAS DOING GREAT. BY LOOKING UP ON TYPE CAR THERE IS OTHERS HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND RECALLS ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM. BUT NO ONE ON MY VIN. RECALL 14V526000

NHTSA ODI #11016016

150,000 miles · Jun 28, 2017
SuspensionWheels

DRIVERS SIDE REAR SUDDENLY BEGAN BANGING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. REAR STRUT MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT SO THE STRUT IS LOOSE AND BANGING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS NO SURFACE RUST ON THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS WOULD TAKE PLACE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT ATTACH THE STRUT SEC…

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DRIVERS SIDE REAR SUDDENLY BEGAN BANGING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. REAR STRUT MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT SO THE STRUT IS LOOSE AND BANGING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS NO SURFACE RUST ON THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS WOULD TAKE PLACE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT ATTACH THE STRUT SECURELY - ONLY SURFACE MOUNTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11002013

115,200 miles · Jun 19, 2017
Structure

LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 ESCAPE MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL BASICALLY ROTTED OUT AND HAS MESSED UP THE SHOCK AND STRUT ASSEMBLY AND KNOCKED THE TIRE LOOSE CAUSING TO RUB AGAINST THE SHOCK AND SMOKE, AND ALL YOU COULD SMELL WAS BURNING RUBBER. . AS I AM READING ALL THE FORUMS OUT THERE IS SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND…

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LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 ESCAPE MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL BASICALLY ROTTED OUT AND HAS MESSED UP THE SHOCK AND STRUT ASSEMBLY AND KNOCKED THE TIRE LOOSE CAUSING TO RUB AGAINST THE SHOCK AND SMOKE, AND ALL YOU COULD SMELL WAS BURNING RUBBER. . AS I AM READING ALL THE FORUMS OUT THERE IS SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND POTENTLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 115,200 MILES ON IT, NO WAY SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND PURCHASED THE WARRANTY (HOPING THEY COVER REPAIRS), MY QUESTION IS WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE WHY ISN'T FORD DOING A RECALL THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING A LAWYER TO SEE IF ANY LEGAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN. VERY SAD FORD!!!!! I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 3 WORKING TWO JOBS AND IS NOW WITHOUT A CAR, HAVING TO RENT A CAR AT $300/WK...ON TOP OF OTHER BILLS AND BUYING GROCERIES, HMMM.. SO FORD YOU TELL ME IF THIS WAS ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU KNEW THEY HAD TO CHOOSE TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AND KIDS TO SCHOOL OR BUYING GROCERIES?? ALL BECAUSE OF A KNOW DEFECT WITH YOUR PRODUCT!

NHTSA ODI #10999991

96,000 miles · Jun 13, 2017
Steering

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING OR MAKING TURNS. NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES APPEAR WHEN YOU TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM. IF YOU TURN OFF THE CAR POWER STEERING RETURNS BUT IT GOES OUT AGAIN SHORTLY DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10994611

96,000 miles · Jun 13, 2017
Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHT BEEPS AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY GO OUT SO THAT YOU CAN BARELY STOP THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10994608

137,000 miles · May 2, 2017
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEAR AN ALARM FOR "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM", AND LOSE ALL POWER TO MY BRAKES. PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH MINIMAL ABILITY TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10983132

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2017
Steering

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING ,

NHTSA ODI #10978516

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.