2006 Ford Escape Hybrid

I HAD GONE VA BEACH TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND WAS ON THE WAY BACK WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN JUST BEFORE THE HAMPTON ROADS BRIDGE TUNNEL IN NEWPORT NEWS. WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE DURING THE ENTIRE TRIP AND WAS LUCKY TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE. A AAA BE TOW TRUCK PULLED US OFF TO THE SIDE. WE TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT IT SHUT OFF. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS WORKING FINE. I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I JUST HAD THE COOLING PUMP REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. I LOOKED AT THE MANUAL AND IT STATED THAT WHEN THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY GETS TOO HOT THAT IT WILL SHUT OFF. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD FIND A WAY TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO STILL OPERATE ON GAS POWER WHEN HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY NEEDS TO COOL DOWN AND TO FIND A WAY TO ALLOW BETTER VENTILATION SO THE BATTERY DOES NOT GET SO HOT SINCE IT IS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK WHERE PEOPLE PUT THEIR BELONGINGS.

WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING. HAD BEEN IN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES WHEN THE ABS, BRAKE, AND SERVICE BRAKES, INDICATORS CAME ON ALL AT ONCE. DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT I DID IN FACT NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. TURNED ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND BEGAN TO MERGE OVER INTO RIGHT HAND SHOULDER, REPEATEDLY STOMPING ON BRAKE PEDAL. WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS APPROACHING A VERY BUSY 3-WAY INTERSECTION, OFF OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO SEE IF THIS WAS A MALFUNCTION, BUT ALL THREE INDICATORS CAME ON AGAIN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. PAID $5280.03 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO HAVE FAULTY HYDRAULIC UNIT REPAIRED, AND HCU AND HYBRID SYSTEM BLEED. HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST. VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS INCIDENT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURIES TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. ...UPDATED 04/11/17 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY SLOW TO PICK UP SPEED UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ON COLD MORNING, CAR STARTED DROVE DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE CAR JUST DIED, SAYING "BRAKE SAFELY NOW." SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY ON COLD DAYS WHEN HEATER IS ON. IT WILL NOT START AGAIN FOR 30 MINUTES. IT WILL START, BUT WILL CONTINUOUSLY DIE. WE HAD CALLED FORD IN MIDDLESBORO, KY AND SPOKEN WITH FRANK WHO SAID OUR VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS. I THEN FOUND OUT IT HAD A RECALL. I TOOK IT IN OVER THE WEEKEND AND HE THEN CLAIMED ON MONDAY THAT THE RECALL ITEM HAD BEEN FIXED. HOWEVER, WHEN I CHECKED THE WEBSITE, IT CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. WE HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED, BATTERY REPLACED AND IT CHECKED BY FORD OF MORRISTOWN, TN. THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH IT. WE HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE'S SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHO SAID IT WAS EITHER THE "ELECTRIC MOTOR WATER PUMP" OR COOLANT PUMP. *TR

WE PURCHASED THIS FORD ESCAPE HYBRID IN AUGUST, 2012, AFTER PROCURING A PRE-SALE EVALUATION AT FORD DEALER 1, INCLUDING A FULL VIN SEARCH FOR ANY INCOMPLETE RECALLS.THE EVALUATION FOUND NOTHING INCOMPLETE.RETURNING HOME 6.11.14, ON OUR RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE ESCAPE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FLASHED 'STOP VEHICLE SAFELY' AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TURNED OFF ALL POWER. RESEARCH INDICATED A FAILED OEM MECS COOLANT PUMP (TSB 08-24-5), AND WE HAD ISSUES GETTING THE CORRECT PART FROM FORD DEALER 1 AND SOURCED A DORMAN PART FROM THE LOCAL X AUTO PARTS STORE, SUPPLYING IT TO AN ASE-CERTIFIED SHOP FOR INSTALLATION (VEHICLE INOPERABLE/ON A LIFT). ANOTHER 'STOP VEHICLE SAFELY' EVENT OCCURRED 6.24.14 WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE ON AN EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE RAMP, WITH THE ESCAPE TAKEN TO FORD DEALER 2 FOR EVALUATION. FORD DEALER 2'S VIN CHECK FOUND CSP 07B48 AND TSB 09-18-6, NOT AVAILABLE PREVIOUSLY. FORD DEALER 2 MADE REPAIRS CONSISTENT WITH THE CSP/TSB ON 7.12.14 AT OUR EXPENSE. THESE SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS WELL-KNOWN TO FORD (BOTH CSP 07B48/TSB 09-18-6 AND TSB 08-24-5) WERE NOT IDENTIFIED BY FORD DEALER 1 IN OUR PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION, OR BY FORD IN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR OF THE CORROSION ISSUES IN THIS ESCAPE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT KNOWN/IDENTIFIED SAFETY ISSUES GENERATING AN ERRANT BCM SIGNAL DISABLING THE CAR MADE THIS PARTICULAR ESCAPE A TICKING TIME BOMB. WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUES DESPITE OUR DILIGENCE, BUT FORD HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.WE WERE FORTUNATE WHEN/WHERE OUR FAILURES OCCURRED. FOR ANYONE ELSE IN A SIMILAR ESCAPE WITH THE CSP 07B48/TSB 09-18-6 AND TSB 08-24-5 REPAIRS NOT ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED, THE NHTSA SHOULD COMPEL A LONG-OVERDUE RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR

WHILE GOING ABOUT 73MPH IN PASSING LANE-HEARD "BEEP" DASHBOARD HAD RED TRIANGLE LITE UP AND A MESSAGE TO STOP SAFELY NOW--THEN CAR JUST STOPPED!! I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE--PULLED OFF INTO MEDIAN--READ MANUAL--STARTED CAR UP AND WENT--ON RETURN TRIP SAME THING--ALTHOUGH NOW I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MY "EXIT"--ALTHOUGH WAS PANICKING GOING THRU TUNNEL IN BOSTON. FORD HAD RECALL ON THIS SYSTEM THAT ENDED IN 2009--I BOUGHT THIS IN 2012. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER--THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND FOR A STARTING FEE OF $120/HR THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK. I CALLED FORD IN MI-TOLD TOO LATE--TOO BAD..SO NOW I HAVE PRINTED OUT RECALL AND WILL BRING TO A DIFFERENT DEALER ON MONDAY. SAW THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING EAST ON I-26 IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 65 MPH IN 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRIANGLE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH SOUNDED AND LIT UP SAYING "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW". AT THE SAME TIME , WITH THE GAS PEDDLE FLOORED, THE SPEED OF THE CAR WAS SLOWING BY THE SECOND! THE GAS PEDDLE DID NOT WORK. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. PER THE MANUAL, WE WAITED AWHILE AND RESTARTED THE CAR, AND WERE ABLE TO GET IT HOME. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE LINE TO ASK IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE I DESCRIBED, BUT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING AN MECS PUMP FAILURE FOR $135. THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $800. DUE TO THE HIGH COST QUOTE AND KNOWING THAT IT ONLY TAKES 45 MINUTES OR LESS TO CHANGE THIS PUMP, WE TOOK IT ELSEWHERE. THE PART IS $277. OUR CONCERN IS THAT HOW COULD FORD DEALERS NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT, WHEN IN 3 SECONDS YOU CAN PULL UP HUNDREDS OF WEBSITES COVERING THIS FAILURE, AND THE DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT IT COULD CAUSE. NOW I HAVE FOUND THIS US DOT WEBSITE WHICH HAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALSO,I AM HOPING MORE PEOPLE WILL COME FORWARD TO GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD. *TR

ERROR CODE IS "STOP SAFELY NOW". I WAS DRIVING, AND ALL IN THE SUDDEN - AN ERROR MESSAGE CAME UP ON DASH DISPLAY "STOP SAFELY NOW". IMMEDIATELY, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY SHUT DOWN RIGHT AFTER, LOST THE ABILITY TO STOP, AND I HAVE NO CONTROLS OF ANY THING. I WAS LUCKY THAT I'M IN A MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT. I ALMOST GOT HIT WITH THE CAR DROVE RIGHT BEHIND ME. WHAT IF THIS INCIDENT OCCURS ON A FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. MY CAR IS FULLY WELL MAINTENANCE WITH SUCH LOW MILES FOR 2006. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND SAID STOP SAFELY NOW. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND 10 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE CAR DID NOT DO THIS AGAIN FOR OVER A YEAR. AT THAT TIME I WAS DRIVING IN TUCSON AZ AND IT LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION.FORTUNATLY IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A PARKING LOT.AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH WE REPLACED THE ELECTRIC COOLING MOTOR ONLY TO HAVE IT CONTINUE TO SHUT DOWN WITH THE STOP SAFELY NOW DISPLAYED. AFTER MORE RESEARCH WE REPLACED THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR WITH NO RESULTS. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE DIE. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING AND IT HAPPENS SO FAST. IF THERE IS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER YOU ARE STUCK IN THE ROAD AND A TARGET FOR OTHER VEHICLES TO RUN INTO. *TR

TIME OF DAY: 1800, TEMPERATURE ABOUT 80F. "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED ON CONSOLE. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING A HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE LEFT LANE AND SAFELY MOVED TO THE LEFT CURB AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE DIED. I KEPT TRYING TO START BUT NO SUCCESS. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A TOW TRUCK, I TRIED AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING HOME FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES, APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES. WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED AND THIS TIME THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THIS TIME, IT DIED WITHIN 3 SECONDS AFTER THE MESSAGE APPEARED. IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN OTHER CARS WERE APPROACHING AND WITH VERY LITTLE ROOM TO STOP AND REACT. THIS WAS IN A 35 MPH RESIDENTIAL ZONE. I HAD TO CALL A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST MANAGING THE TRAFFIC. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND CONTINUED THE LAST 2 BLOCKS TO MY RESIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MULTI CARS ACCIDENT HAD I NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE TO THE CURB BEFORE IT STOPPED. *TR