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2006 Ford Escape Hybrid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Escape Hybrid years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

202 reports with mileage · 17 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 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

12 reports
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173,300 miles · Jul 3, 2018
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "STOP FOR SAFETY/HIGH MOTOR - COOLING" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "STOP FOR SAFETY/HIGH MOTOR - COOLING" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP WAS FAULTY. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,300.

NHTSA ODI #11105313

120,000 miles · Nov 5, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE MESSAGE STATING TO "STOP SAFELY NOW" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE MESSAGE STATING TO "STOP SAFELY NOW" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR ELECTRONIC COOLANT PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V526000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10652863

120,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE CARPOOL LANE, ABOUT 65MPH. HEARD A NOISE (SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE LOSING POWER) AND SAW THE WARNING LIGHT TO "STOP SAFELY NOW". HAD TO PULL TO LEFT IMMEDIATELY, WITH VERY LITTLE ROOM IN THE SHOULDER ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY. THIS WAS A VERY HAZARDOUS AND STRESSFUL SITUATION, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE CARPOOL LANE, ABOUT 65MPH. HEARD A NOISE (SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE LOSING POWER) AND SAW THE WARNING LIGHT TO "STOP SAFELY NOW". HAD TO PULL TO LEFT IMMEDIATELY, WITH VERY LITTLE ROOM IN THE SHOULDER ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY. THIS WAS A VERY HAZARDOUS AND STRESSFUL SITUATION, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE I HAD A TODDLER IN THE CAR WITH ME. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FAILURE OF THE MECS (MOTOR ELECTRIC COOLING SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THIS PART SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IT POSES WHEN IT FAILS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578001

99,500 miles · Oct 15, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion System

WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, SUDDENLY THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN. THE SHUT DOWN APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY COOLANT SYSTEM. FROM ONLINE REPORTS, THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IS VERY UNSAFE. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY SURROUNDING TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF…

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WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, SUDDENLY THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN. THE SHUT DOWN APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY COOLANT SYSTEM. FROM ONLINE REPORTS, THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IS VERY UNSAFE. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY SURROUNDING TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480159

120,000 miles · Sep 30, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN A WARNING APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY " STOP SAFELY NOW ". THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WE MANAGED TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT APPEARED TO WORK OK. DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" REAPPEARED AND THE CAR LOST POWER. WE PULLED OVER. WE WAITED …

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WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN A WARNING APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY " STOP SAFELY NOW ". THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WE MANAGED TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT APPEARED TO WORK OK. DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" REAPPEARED AND THE CAR LOST POWER. WE PULLED OVER. WE WAITED FOR 10 MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT DROVE US HOME. LATER WHEN WE WERE DRIVING UP OUR STREET, THE SAME THING OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10478008

82,500 miles · Aug 21, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS WITHOUT WARNING AND DISPLAYS A "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE. THIS HAPPENS ON LONGER TRIPS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO WARNING AND NO WAY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE ARE NO LONGER SAFE TO TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A DANGER TO ALL ON THE ROAD …

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WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS WITHOUT WARNING AND DISPLAYS A "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE. THIS HAPPENS ON LONGER TRIPS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO WARNING AND NO WAY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE ARE NO LONGER SAFE TO TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A DANGER TO ALL ON THE ROAD AND HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER AND OVER HAPPENING WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471745

50,000 miles · Jun 5, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

SINCE 2010, WHEN I'VE DRIVEN MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE STOP SAFELY LIGHT COMES ON. IT STOPS RIGHT IN TRAFFIC WITHIN MINUTES, LEAVING ME KNOW TIME TO PULL OFF. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD ALL KINDS OF WORK COMPLETED FROM BRAKES TO TUNEUP, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN. THIS WEEK WAS THE WORK, JUNE 3, 2012 THE CAR STOPPED ON …

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SINCE 2010, WHEN I'VE DRIVEN MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE STOP SAFELY LIGHT COMES ON. IT STOPS RIGHT IN TRAFFIC WITHIN MINUTES, LEAVING ME KNOW TIME TO PULL OFF. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD ALL KINDS OF WORK COMPLETED FROM BRAKES TO TUNEUP, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN. THIS WEEK WAS THE WORK, JUNE 3, 2012 THE CAR STOPPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO AND I WAS REALLY SCARED FOR MY LIFE AS OTHER CARS HAD TO PULL ON THEIR BRAKES. I HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG SINCE 2012, WHILE OTHERS TELL ME ONCE WE FIX THE BRAKES, THE FUEL FILTER, ETC THEN THE LIGHT WILL STAY OFF, I'VE HAD NO SUCH LUCK. I INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR ONLY TO BE SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I'M A MOM OF FOUR CHILDREN AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY HELP FROM FORD. I KEEP GETTING FIX THIS OR THAT ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME LIGHT COME ON AND BE STOPPED AGAIN, TIME AFTER TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460618

58,100 miles · Jan 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING THE WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW", ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR AND IMMEDIATELY PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON WHICH PREVENTED TRAFFIC FROM REAR ENDING ME. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOW…

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ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING THE WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW", ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR AND IMMEDIATELY PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON WHICH PREVENTED TRAFFIC FROM REAR ENDING ME. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AWAITING DIAGNOSIS WHICH I AM BEING TOLD BY THE DEAL WILL PROBABLY BE RELATED TO THE HYBRID BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375585

78,000 miles · Sep 15, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, RIGHT AFTER THE WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW", THE CAR SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. AFTER WEB RESEARCH, IT IS QUITE COMMON FOR THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CARS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THERE IS NO TIME FOR YOU TO STOP SAFELY BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN, NO…

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2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, RIGHT AFTER THE WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW", THE CAR SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. AFTER WEB RESEARCH, IT IS QUITE COMMON FOR THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CARS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THERE IS NO TIME FOR YOU TO STOP SAFELY BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN, NOT EVEN A 5 OR 10 SECONDS. THE DEALER CHECK IT OUT, IT WAS A WATER PUMP FAILURE CAUSED THIS, CALLED FORD, BUT FORD DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE REPAIR COSTS MORE THAN $600.00. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS NEED TO BE FIXED. WHO IS GOING TO DRIVE A CAR WHICH WILL SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY TIME TO RESPOND TO? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355792

42,000 miles · Jan 20, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CAUGHT FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 8 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS LAST USED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300478

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.