NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
129 reportsClear category filter90,500 miles · May 16, 2019
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES DISABLED WARNING MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED NEWINS BAY SHORE FORD (219 W MAIN ST, BAY SHORE, NY 11706, (631) 665-1300) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,500. *AS CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #11208126
112,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Service Brakes
112,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING, VIBRATION FROM RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. ABLE TO STOP. CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. REGENERATIVE BRAKE DISABLED. VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WITH DTC - C1480. INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ABS. COST OF REPAIR OVER $5000 FOR HYBRID SPECIFIC REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER 2C…
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112,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING, VIBRATION FROM RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. ABLE TO STOP. CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. REGENERATIVE BRAKE DISABLED. VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WITH DTC - C1480. INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ABS. COST OF REPAIR OVER $5000 FOR HYBRID SPECIFIC REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER 2C286. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE PART FAILING ON INTERNET AND THIS SITE. WITH THE PRICE THE HCU QUOTED TO BE $4700, I JUST THE REST OF THE PARTS IN THIS VEHICLE MUST BE REALLY INEXPENSIVE (CHEAP) GIVEN THE ORIGINAL $28,000 PRICE TAG.
NHTSA ODI #11193126
134,000 miles · Mar 18, 2019
Service Brakes
I HAD ALL THE BRAKES STUCK WHILE DRIVING. ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LAMP WENT OFF ALONG WITH REGEN BRAKES DISABLED. MECHANIC`S DIAGNOSIS WAS ABS PUMP AND CONTROL MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST ABOUT 4500$ TOTAL.
NHTSA ODI #11187510
140,000 miles · Mar 13, 2019
Service Brakes
ABS LIGHT ON - BRAKES WORK MOST OF THE TIME, BUT NOT RELIABLE. REGEN LIGHT ALSO ON. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, ALMOST ALWAYS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. ON 2 OCCASIONS IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND FORCED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW TO 20MPH.
NHTSA ODI #11186586
211,000 miles · Mar 4, 2019
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND SYSTEM REGEN BRAKE DISABLE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND SYSTEM REGEN BRAKE DISABLE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.
NHTSA ODI #11184184
75,000 miles · Jan 30, 2019
Service Brakes
CHECK BRAKES LIGHT COMES ON WHEN REACHING 40 MPH, AND STAYS ON. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THAT. FORD DEALER INDICATES ENTIRE FRONT LEFT AXLE SHAFT NEEDS REPLACING DUE TO BROKEN TONE RINGS. VERY EXPENSIVE. OTHER REPAIR PROFESSIONALS SUGGEST THAT TONE RINGS CAN BE REPLACED SEPARATELY; MUCH LESS EXPENSE. FORD DEALER WON'T DO WIT…
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CHECK BRAKES LIGHT COMES ON WHEN REACHING 40 MPH, AND STAYS ON. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THAT. FORD DEALER INDICATES ENTIRE FRONT LEFT AXLE SHAFT NEEDS REPLACING DUE TO BROKEN TONE RINGS. VERY EXPENSIVE. OTHER REPAIR PROFESSIONALS SUGGEST THAT TONE RINGS CAN BE REPLACED SEPARATELY; MUCH LESS EXPENSE. FORD DEALER WON'T DO WITHOUT ENTIRE AXLE BEING REPLACED. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES AND IS DIFFICULT TO APPLY BRAKES.
NHTSA ODI #11173016
102,000 miles · Jan 10, 2019
Service Brakes
ABS LIGHT / BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON WITH A MESSAGE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM - REGEN BRAKES DISABLED - REPLACED BROKEN TONE RING, NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON - SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS UNSAFE ISSUE WITH THE 08 HYBRID - FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT
NHTSA ODI #11166397
165,000 miles · Jan 10, 2019
Service Brakes
BREAKS PERIODICALLY JUST WON'T WORK...GO OUT...THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS LISTED ON THE INTERNET. ITS SAYS YOU CAN REPLACE A 4000 PART...HOWEVER THE CAR REALLY ISN'T WORTH THAT MUCH. NOW IT WILL SAY REGEN BREAKS DISABLED
NHTSA ODI #11166295
113,000 miles · Dec 29, 2018
Service Brakes
I JUST BOUGHT A USED 2008 FORD ESCAPE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH 113,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT FROM A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST ALL BRAKE POWER. I WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST INTO A DITCH TO PREVENT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE DASH REA…
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I JUST BOUGHT A USED 2008 FORD ESCAPE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH 113,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT FROM A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST ALL BRAKE POWER. I WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST INTO A DITCH TO PREVENT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE DASH READ "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" AND "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED". THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AND I AM BEING TOLD IT IS LIKELY A FAILED HYDRAULIC BRAKE CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND VERY EXPENSIVE. HOW HAS FORD NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND KNOWN PROBLEM?
NHTSA ODI #11163965
113,000 miles · Oct 25, 2018
Service Brakes
WHILE DRIVING, OR SOMETIMES WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THE MESSAGE READS "BRAKE REGEN FAIL". THE BRAKES GET MUSHY AND BECOME MANUAL BRAKES. THE MECHANIC SAID I NEED A HYDRAULIC ABS BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHAUL. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN IT IS VERY HOT OUTSIDE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I COULD "F…
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WHILE DRIVING, OR SOMETIMES WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THE MESSAGE READS "BRAKE REGEN FAIL". THE BRAKES GET MUSHY AND BECOME MANUAL BRAKES. THE MECHANIC SAID I NEED A HYDRAULIC ABS BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHAUL. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN IT IS VERY HOT OUTSIDE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I COULD "FIX" IT BY TURNING THE CAR OFF, ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE, AND THEN RESTARTING. NOW, WHEN IT IS HOT, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED PROBABLY TWO DOZEN TIMES SINCE JULY.
NHTSA ODI #11142570
NHTSA investigations
3DP22005 · 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.
DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving
Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages
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.
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