IllustrationREAR SUBFRAME BROKE ABOVE THE AXLE NEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL. SYMPTOMS ARE GRINDING NOISE DURING LEFT TURNS AS TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEMS ACTIVATE. FORD DEALER ESTIMATES COST OF $3=$8,000 TO REPLACE THE REAR SUBFRAME. ## VIN PASSED ## FORD ESCAPE HYBRID AWD 2006 ##
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape Hybrid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1725–50K
3250–75K
4575–100K
76100–150K
26150K+
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
Suspension complaints
7 reportsTHE RIGHT REAR SHOCK AND BRACKET THAT ATTACHES IT TO THE CAR IS RUSTING AND HAS BROKEN OFF CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND PRESENTS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.
THE RIGHT REAR FENDER WELL OF MY VEHICLE IS BROKEN AND CRACKED WHERE THE SHOCK MOUNTS AT THE TOP. THEREFORE, THE SHOCK IS BASICALLY ATTACHED TO NOTHING MORE THAN SOME BROKEN PIECES OF THE FENDER WELL. THE SPRING IS THE ONLY THING GIVING THE VEHICLE ANY SUPPORT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND IT MAKES AN ABDOMINAL NOISE WHEN GOING O…
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THE RIGHT REAR FENDER WELL OF MY VEHICLE IS BROKEN AND CRACKED WHERE THE SHOCK MOUNTS AT THE TOP. THEREFORE, THE SHOCK IS BASICALLY ATTACHED TO NOTHING MORE THAN SOME BROKEN PIECES OF THE FENDER WELL. THE SPRING IS THE ONLY THING GIVING THE VEHICLE ANY SUPPORT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND IT MAKES AN ABDOMINAL NOISE WHEN GOING OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP. FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART AND UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, HAS TOLD MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL ESCAPE THE SAME THING. I UNDERSTAND THAT RUST HAPPENS, BUT THIS IS QUITE CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR
RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING HAS GOTTEN WEAK AND STARTED TO FLEX. THE WHEEL WELL ABOVE IT HAS LOST THE INTEGRITY OF ITS PLASTIC COATING AND HAS CAUSED IT TO RUST OUT ENORMOUSLY. SHOCK MOUNT AND WHEEL WELL NEED TO BE REPLACE. FROM DOING SOME SEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 04-06 ESCAPE AND CAN LEAD TO A FA…
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RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING HAS GOTTEN WEAK AND STARTED TO FLEX. THE WHEEL WELL ABOVE IT HAS LOST THE INTEGRITY OF ITS PLASTIC COATING AND HAS CAUSED IT TO RUST OUT ENORMOUSLY. SHOCK MOUNT AND WHEEL WELL NEED TO BE REPLACE. FROM DOING SOME SEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 04-06 ESCAPE AND CAN LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE MOUNTING AND MAKE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND COLLAPSED, EXPOSING SHOCK. SHOCK IS BROKEN. YOU CAN SEE THROUGH WHEEL WELL VIA THE JACK COMPARTMENT. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ROUGH ESTIMATES ARE $3000-4000, REPLACING WHEEL WELL, SHOCK, AND RIGHT REAR QUARTERPANEL. LEFT WHEEL WELL INTACT AND GOOD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED CORROSION AROUND THE WHEEL AND SUSPENSION OF THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED CORROSION AROUND THE WHEEL AND SUSPENSION OF THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
WE HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID - AND JUST THIS MORNING, UPON HEARING AN ODD RATTLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEN DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AT THE LOCAL VETERINARY HOSPITAL, I INSPECTED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING AND DISCOVERED, TO MY SHOCK, THAT UNDER THE FACTORY BLACK INNER FENDER UNDERCOATING, WHICH WAS HANGING OFF, THE …
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WE HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID - AND JUST THIS MORNING, UPON HEARING AN ODD RATTLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEN DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AT THE LOCAL VETERINARY HOSPITAL, I INSPECTED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING AND DISCOVERED, TO MY SHOCK, THAT UNDER THE FACTORY BLACK INNER FENDER UNDERCOATING, WHICH WAS HANGING OFF, THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY PERFORATED WITH RUST, TO THE POINT THAT I COULD FEEL A FLOW OF COLD AIR FROM THE A/C EXITING THE CABIN THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS. I CALLED GANLEY FORD AS SOON AS THEY OPENED, BUT THE BODY SHOP WON'T BE OPEN UNTIL MONDAY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY CAR, AND WITH WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED, I'M RELUCTANT TO HAVE HER, OR ANYONE, DRIVE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM'S ADDRESSED - AND THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION IS ASTONISHING. WITH A 400++ POUND BATTERY LOCATED BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS, AND WITH THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION I JUST FOUND, I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED FOR THE LEFT REAR UPPER SHOCK MOUNT AND BODY PAN INTEGRITY, AS WELL AS FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND BATTERY PACK. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET INTO IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH THE PROPER FORD ZONE REPRESENTATIVE TO GET A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND DECIDE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - THIS IS A PREMIUM HYBRID SUV THAT I THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED BEFORE SELECTING TO PURCHASE, AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO EVEN MOVE IT FROM MY PARKING DECK AT THE OFFICE. THIS CAR, AND OTHER ESCAPES SUFFERING FROM THIS SAME ISSUE, ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF ESCAPES SUFFERING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD ASK SINCERELY THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE AND ACT QUICKLY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
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.