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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

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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150,000 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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 SIMULTA…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10609584

117,306 miles · Jun 12, 2014
Power TrainSteering

COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING WITH NO WARNING WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LEFT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITHOUT POWER TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597970

153,325 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Power Train

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE REOCCURED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSE OR …

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE REOCCURED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSE OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 156,325.LJ

NHTSA ODI #10563664

99,000 miles · Jan 9, 2014
EnginePower Train

CAR STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559232

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN YOU ENGAGE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, AFTER FEW MINUTES THE SERVICE WRENCH LIGHT GOES ON. THE ISSUE IS THAT MY SUV FORD ESCAPE IS STALLING WHILE IN MOTION OR SUDDENLY SURGING FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. AFTER HAVING MY DEALERSHIP AND OUTSIDE MECHANIC REVIEW THE ISSUE. THE ROOT CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE FAULTY TH…

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WHEN YOU ENGAGE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, AFTER FEW MINUTES THE SERVICE WRENCH LIGHT GOES ON. THE ISSUE IS THAT MY SUV FORD ESCAPE IS STALLING WHILE IN MOTION OR SUDDENLY SURGING FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. AFTER HAVING MY DEALERSHIP AND OUTSIDE MECHANIC REVIEW THE ISSUE. THE ROOT CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. APPARENTLY A COMMON ISSUE AMONG FORD ESCAPES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522881

155,000 miles · Aug 25, 2012
EnginePower TrainCrash

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED (55MPH), ENTIRE POWERTRAIN (GAS ENGINE AND HYBRID MOTOR) COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNING LEADING TO AN ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION CENTER JUST DISPLAYED "STOP SAFELY NOW." THERE WAS N…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED (55MPH), ENTIRE POWERTRAIN (GAS ENGINE AND HYBRID MOTOR) COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNING LEADING TO AN ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION CENTER JUST DISPLAYED "STOP SAFELY NOW." THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS AT ALL. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER SITTING FOR ONE HOUR, VEHICLE RESTARTED AND DROVE PERFECTLY FOR ANOTHER 3 DAYS, THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON LOCAL STREETS, LEAVING THE CAR IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. BROUGHT INTO SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I AM ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472438

30,441 miles · Mar 29, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SHE NOTICED THIS AFTER HEARING LOUD SCREECHING NOISES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SHE NOTICED THIS AFTER HEARING LOUD SCREECHING NOISES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,441. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED..

NHTSA ODI #10393614

108,000 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

DRIVING MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID ON I 5 WA STATE. WARNING LITE CAME ON THAT SAID STOP SAFELY NOW AND MY ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO UNSAFELY MANEUVER 4 LANES TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT THE ENGINE ON.. I READ MY MANUAL AND IT SAID TO TRY AND START, WHICH IT DID. 3 MILES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. T…

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DRIVING MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID ON I 5 WA STATE. WARNING LITE CAME ON THAT SAID STOP SAFELY NOW AND MY ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO UNSAFELY MANEUVER 4 LANES TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT THE ENGINE ON.. I READ MY MANUAL AND IT SAID TO TRY AND START, WHICH IT DID. 3 MILES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS WENT ON FOR 4 OR 5 MORE TIMES. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND LIMPED TO A FORD DEALER. THEY REPAIRED IT, IT AS A HYBRID COMPONENT COOLING PUMP. IT COST ME $726.00. THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. I VIEW THIS AS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353329

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.