← New search

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 →

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

What owners actually said

219 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2015
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2006 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS A SPORADIC ISSUE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WHEN THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED, THERE WAS NO PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE POWER BRAKES FAILED, AND IN ORDER TO GET TH…

Read full complaint

2006 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS A SPORADIC ISSUE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WHEN THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED, THERE WAS NO PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE POWER BRAKES FAILED, AND IN ORDER TO GET THE BRAKES TO WORK AT ALL, HE HAD TO PRESS THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER EXPERERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER, THE INSIDE LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE RADIO CUT OUT. IT WAS DETERMINED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE SPORADIC BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. UPDATED 08/24/15*JB

NHTSA ODI #10680212

186,000 miles · Mar 15, 2015
Engine

I OWN A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID- I RECEIVED NOTICE LAST YEAR OF RECALL FOR STALLING. I ASKED DEALER IN DEC TO REPLACE. WAS TOLD PART WAS LIMITED AND AS LONG AS NO PROBLEM THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET PART.( ALSO ASKED IN JAN- NO CHANGE.. IN FEB THE VEHICLE STARTED STALLING NUMEROUS TIMES. AFTER THEN H…

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID- I RECEIVED NOTICE LAST YEAR OF RECALL FOR STALLING. I ASKED DEALER IN DEC TO REPLACE. WAS TOLD PART WAS LIMITED AND AS LONG AS NO PROBLEM THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET PART.( ALSO ASKED IN JAN- NO CHANGE.. IN FEB THE VEHICLE STARTED STALLING NUMEROUS TIMES. AFTER THEN HAVING THE CAR 3 DAYS. WAS TOLD THEY NO LONGER AM ABLE TO GET THE PART. TOOK IT BACK TWICE MORE AND AM NOW BEING TOLD THEY ARE NO LONGER MAKING THE PART . AND MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL.- IS THERE A NUMBER TO CALL AT FORD TO SEE WHY NO PART.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694320

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2015
Hybrid Propulsion System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT M…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10693570

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2015
Electrical System

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 …

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10692966

80,000 miles · Mar 9, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10692917

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2015
Hybrid Propulsion System

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, IT FEL AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. THERE WAS A WARNING, THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING WAS PRESENT. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK AND THE OVERHEATED WARNING WAS STEADY, EVEN THOUGH HE ENGINE …

Read full complaint

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, IT FEL AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. THERE WAS A WARNING, THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING WAS PRESENT. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK AND THE OVERHEATED WARNING WAS STEADY, EVEN THOUGH HE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE A COOLANT LEAK FROM A CRACKED HEAD WAS DISCOVERED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 14V526000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10692470

82,100 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Steering

ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. DOES GIVES MESSAGE "SERVICE PWR STEERING" ON DASHBOARD, BUT PROVIDES NO USEFUL FUNCTION. CAR DID NOT CRASH AT TIME OF FAILURE, BUT CONTROLLING IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT, REQUIRING HIGH PHYSICAL EFFORT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THOUGH MANUFACTURER…

Read full complaint

ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. DOES GIVES MESSAGE "SERVICE PWR STEERING" ON DASHBOARD, BUT PROVIDES NO USEFUL FUNCTION. CAR DID NOT CRASH AT TIME OF FAILURE, BUT CONTROLLING IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT, REQUIRING HIGH PHYSICAL EFFORT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THOUGH MANUFACTURER HAS RECALLED 2008 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM, 2006 IS NOT ON THE RECALL AND MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO PROVIDE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683722

157,872 miles · Jan 29, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,872.

NHTSA ODI #10679786

140,000 miles · Jan 18, 2015
Service Brakes

THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND A CHUGGING SOUND IN 2013.... TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE TONE RING ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS BROKEN AND REPLACED FOR $350.00. ON 12 JANUARY 2015, BOTH THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH MESSAGE TO SERVICE BRAKES. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DE…

Read full complaint

THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND A CHUGGING SOUND IN 2013.... TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE TONE RING ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS BROKEN AND REPLACED FOR $350.00. ON 12 JANUARY 2015, BOTH THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH MESSAGE TO SERVICE BRAKES. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS FAILURE OF THE ABS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM --- APPROX. $4,000.00 TO REPLACE. I DON'T HAVE $4,000.00 PLUS AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN THIS 2006 ESCAPE HYBRID.... THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY REPORTED, AND IS A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD APPEARS TO BE DISMISSIVE --- MUCH LIKE GM AND THE ACCELERATION ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED DEATHS DUE TO THIS ISSUE..... YET. WE NEED TO GET A RECALL BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676285

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2014
Hybrid Propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10668780

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.