NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
178 reports130,000 miles · Apr 1, 2017
Service BrakesCrash
WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE, BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE THEN FAIL TO ENGAGE FOR SHORT SECONDS, THEN ENGAGE AGAIN, SYMPTOMS ARE INTERMITTENT. SOME TIMES IT WOULD TRIGGER A BRAKE RELATED DTC. TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT WAS A FAILED HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON AND OCCURRED ON …
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WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE, BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE THEN FAIL TO ENGAGE FOR SHORT SECONDS, THEN ENGAGE AGAIN, SYMPTOMS ARE INTERMITTENT. SOME TIMES IT WOULD TRIGGER A BRAKE RELATED DTC. TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT WAS A FAILED HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON AND OCCURRED ON A NUMBER OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLES FROM 2005 TO 2012.
NHTSA ODI #10969937
250,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Steering
SIMILAR TO THE 2008-2011 MODEL RECALLS, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE IN MOTION. THE WHEEL WAS BEING TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN IMMEDIATELY THE WHEEL FELT HEAVY AND THE POWER STEERING CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SYSTEM. THE TEMPERATUR…
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SIMILAR TO THE 2008-2011 MODEL RECALLS, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE IN MOTION. THE WHEEL WAS BEING TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN IMMEDIATELY THE WHEEL FELT HEAVY AND THE POWER STEERING CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SYSTEM. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES AND WET.
NHTSA ODI #10930378
138,000 miles · Nov 6, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
ENGINE OVER ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE, THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS THE ENGINE DOWN. ALSO, IN IDLE POSITION, ENGINE RPMS EXCESSIVELY INCREASE AND DECREASE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BOTH PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND ALSO WHILE IN MOTION SPIRATICALLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AT AT ANY SPEED (FROM IDLEI…
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ENGINE OVER ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE, THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS THE ENGINE DOWN. ALSO, IN IDLE POSITION, ENGINE RPMS EXCESSIVELY INCREASE AND DECREASE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BOTH PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND ALSO WHILE IN MOTION SPIRATICALLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AT AT ANY SPEED (FROM IDLEING UP TO 80 MPH).
NHTSA ODI #10924520
183,000 miles · Oct 20, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling
DISPLAYED "STOP SAFELY NOW" WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. RESTARTED AND DROVE A FEW MILES AND RECEIVED NOTICE AGAIN. REPEATED THIS CYCLE ABOUT 10 TIMES BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. HAD DEALER SERVICE CAR AND DO A BATTERY FAN RECALL. DROVE OKAY FOR A MONTH BUT NOW I AM GETTING THE…
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DISPLAYED "STOP SAFELY NOW" WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. RESTARTED AND DROVE A FEW MILES AND RECEIVED NOTICE AGAIN. REPEATED THIS CYCLE ABOUT 10 TIMES BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. HAD DEALER SERVICE CAR AND DO A BATTERY FAN RECALL. DROVE OKAY FOR A MONTH BUT NOW I AM GETTING THE SAME ERROR AND HAVING TO SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10917686
208,000 miles · Aug 29, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
RE: 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID DEFECT IN THROTTLE BODY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP12006 OPENED 10/2/2012 DEAR NHTSA, AROUND 4 MONTHS AGO, WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID IN NORTH CAROLINA. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS AND OUR OTHER 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID INCLU…
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RE: 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID DEFECT IN THROTTLE BODY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP12006 OPENED 10/2/2012 DEAR NHTSA, AROUND 4 MONTHS AGO, WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID IN NORTH CAROLINA. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS AND OUR OTHER 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID INCLUDING HAVING TO REPLACE CV AXLE'S IN BOTH VEHICLES, ENGINE ALERTS IN A LIMP HOME OPERATION OR COMPLETELY DYING OR STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND: REAR RIGHT DOOR ALARM HAS BEEN COMING ON CONSISTENTLY IN HOT WEATHER SERVICE EMISSIONS WARNING CAME ON AND THESE CODES CAME UP: C1524 ' BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL SENSOR CALIBRATION NOT COMPLETE C1218 ' LAMB ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING OUTPUT CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION (THIS CODE CAME UP IN 4/2016 AS WELL SOMEONE SAYS IT COULD BE A BULB BURNED OUT P0126 ' COOLANT THERMOSTAT TEMPERATURE BELOW THERMOSTAT REGULATING (TWICE) P0685 ' ENGINE CONTROL MODULE POWERTRAIN CONT. POWER RELAY CIRCUIT /OPEN WHILE DRIVING, BOTH CARS HAVE FAILED AND MANY TIMES FORD SERVICE WOULD SPEND OVER 3 WEEKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH OUR VEHICLES. AFTER AROUND 3 WEEKS, FAIRWAY FORD OF KINGSPORT, TN'S MECHANIC, BOB, NOTIFIED ME THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND A P1A0C CODE, WHICH COSTS ALMOST $1,000 TO REPLACE. DESPITE THIS RECALL, WHEN I ASKED FORD SERVICE AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN FACT, AT ONE DEALERSHIP, I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK WITH A DAMAGED WINDOW AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AS WELL. I'M ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT, A RECALL TO BE ISSUED AND FOR FORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #10899284
150,000 miles · Aug 11, 2016
Engine
ITS DRIVING OK AND THEN IT STARTS LOSING POWER TO 20 MPH AND IT WONT SPEED MORE FROM THERE UNTIL ITS TURN OFF FOR HOURS THEN IM DRIVING AGAIN AND IT KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING.
NHTSA ODI #10895113
120,000 miles · Aug 9, 2016
StructureSuspension
MY WELL MAINTAINED 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID DEVELOPED A RATTLING SOUND ON JULY 26, 2016. AT FIRST THE RATTLE IN THE RIGHT REAR HAPPENED ONLY ON BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY CAR JACK COMING LOOSE IN ITS COMPARTMENT. I CHECKED THAT AND THE JACK WAS ALL SECURED, NOT RATTLING. I CONTINUED DRIVING HOME AND THE RATTLE BECAME A…
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MY WELL MAINTAINED 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID DEVELOPED A RATTLING SOUND ON JULY 26, 2016. AT FIRST THE RATTLE IN THE RIGHT REAR HAPPENED ONLY ON BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY CAR JACK COMING LOOSE IN ITS COMPARTMENT. I CHECKED THAT AND THE JACK WAS ALL SECURED, NOT RATTLING. I CONTINUED DRIVING HOME AND THE RATTLE BECAME A BANGING SOUND, AND THE RIGHT REAR INSIDE WHEEL AREA STARTED TO RATTLE AND MOVE TOWARDS THE INTERIOR AS I DROVE. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED AROUND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW EXTREMELY RUSTED IT IS. THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS SHOW VERY LITTLE RUST. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON A FORD OWNERS WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE REPORT THAT THE RUSTED OUT SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT BREAKS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE BODY COLLAPSES ONTO THE WHEEL, SENDING THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS COMMON PROBLEM IN THE '05 ESCAPE HYBRID VEHICLES. I CANNOT DRIVE MY WELL MAINTAINED CAR BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL BANGING, THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND PERSONAL INJURY. I'M ATTACHING PHOTOS OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE DEFECT IN THE RIGHT REAR. PLEASE GIVE THIS COMPLAINT YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND ALERT OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS OF THIS IMMINENTLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA ODI #10894350
40 miles · Aug 9, 2016
Service BrakesSteering
THE BRAKES ARE HARD, RUNS ALL THE WAY TO STOP THIS HARD .EL WHEEL CAN NOT TURN EASILY TO THE SIDES. IT GIVES ME THE CODE U0418, U0413. IS IS NOT DUE TO WEAR IS A MANUFACTURER FAILS
NHTSA ODI #10894271
130,000 miles · Jul 8, 2016
Service Brakes
BRAKES GO STIFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING FOR NO PRESENTED REASON AND CAUSE A SHOCK TO DRIVER AND HAVE TO LET GO OF BRAKES THEN PRESS DOWN TO SEE IF THEY WILL WORK. HAPPENS IN MOST IF NOT ALL KIDS OF CONDITIONS, NOT JUST ONE SPECIFIC KIND OF SITUATION. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.
NHTSA ODI #10883540
181,000 miles · Jun 29, 2016
Service BrakesCrash
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKING OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WITH THE 3RD OCCURRENCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION ON JUNE 28, 2016 ON A CITY STREET. VEHICLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES, AND WARNING LIGHTS EVENTUALLY RESET WITH NO ADDITIONAL ACTION TAKEN. BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERA…
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INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKING OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WITH THE 3RD OCCURRENCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION ON JUNE 28, 2016 ON A CITY STREET. VEHICLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES, AND WARNING LIGHTS EVENTUALLY RESET WITH NO ADDITIONAL ACTION TAKEN. BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION.
NHTSA ODI #10881510
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.