NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
443 reports85,000 miles · Jul 21, 2016
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10887465
116,742 miles · Jul 10, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering
THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICES 14S05 / NHTSA RECALL 14V-286 AND 14S09 / NHTSA 14V526000 WERE PERFORMED ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT GO AWAY. SINCE THE RECALLS, THE CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH REDUCED STEERING RANGE, KEY/IGNITION NOT TURNING, POWER SURGE WHILE DRIVING, LOCKING STEERING WHEEL, AND THE WOR…
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THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICES 14S05 / NHTSA RECALL 14V-286 AND 14S09 / NHTSA 14V526000 WERE PERFORMED ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT GO AWAY. SINCE THE RECALLS, THE CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH REDUCED STEERING RANGE, KEY/IGNITION NOT TURNING, POWER SURGE WHILE DRIVING, LOCKING STEERING WHEEL, AND THE WORST: A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF THE POWERTRAIN WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN A STALL-LIKE CONDITION, PUTTING OUR LIVES AT RISK. ON JUNE 11, 2016 THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND STEERING HOUSING REPLACED. WE ASKED FOR SERVICE TO CHECK THE ENTIRE CAR-- EVERYTHING!!!!-- AS THE CAR HAD BEEN ACTING STRANGELY WITH POWER SURGES AND LOCKING STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. TODAY, JULY 10 2016, WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE-5 IN CA, HEADING FROM HOME (DANVILLE, CA) TO COLLEGE (SAN DIEGO, CA) THE CAR'S SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING UP THE GRAPEVINE, A SECTION OF FREEWAY THAT IS EXTREMELY CROWDED AND FULL OF LARGE 18 WHEELERS. MY POOR DAUGHTER (WHO NOW OWNS THE CAR) CALLED ME, SCREAMING HYSTERICALLY, FULL OF TERROR AND FEARING FOR HER LIFE. SHE HAD NO POWER, WAS UNABLE TO STEER, DID HER BEST THE DODGE THE 18 WHEELERS AND "LIMP MODE" OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. SHE'S NOW ON THE WAY WITH TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO DROP THE CAR OFF AT FORD OF VALENCIA CA. I TOLD HER DO NOT EVER DRIVE THAT CAR AGAIN. IT IS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10883875
100,000 miles · Jul 2, 2016
Steering
STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE DRIVING IN MARCH, 2016. HAD TIRES/ALIGNMENT CHECKED OUT ALL GOOD. WHEN IT STARTED VIBRATING WHILE STOPPED IN MAY, 2016, I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A RECALL WHICH WAS ALREADY DONE IN JANUARY, 2016, AND THE RECALL IS CLOSED NOW, SO I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
NHTSA ODI #10882225
88,250 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
THE TRIANGLE/! SYMBOL COMES UP AND ENGINE LOSES ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE 2008 ESCAPE HYBRIDS ARE SUPPOSEDLY NOT COVERED FOR THROTTLE BODY ISSUES AND MY COOLANT FAN FOR THE BATTERY IS SUPPOSEDLY "UPDATED" AND DOESNT NEED TO BE REPLACED. . OVER 700 DOLLAR FIX…
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THE TRIANGLE/! SYMBOL COMES UP AND ENGINE LOSES ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE 2008 ESCAPE HYBRIDS ARE SUPPOSEDLY NOT COVERED FOR THROTTLE BODY ISSUES AND MY COOLANT FAN FOR THE BATTERY IS SUPPOSEDLY "UPDATED" AND DOESNT NEED TO BE REPLACED. . OVER 700 DOLLAR FIX FOR SAFETY AND FLAW IN QUALITY OF PATS?
NHTSA ODI #10876950
100,000 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10876897
70,000 miles · Jun 24, 2016
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEY HAS TO BE FORCED IN AND CRANKED OVER WITH CONSIDERABLE TORQUE.
NHTSA ODI #10876420
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2016
EnginePower Train
IT WAS BEEN MORE THAN COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD ERROR MESSAGE" STOP SAFELY NOW" ON MY FORD 2008 ESCAPE HYBRID. DURING THAT TIME, I WAS DRIVING INTERSTATE ROUND 50-60 MILES PER HOUR AND ALL OF SUDDEN, IT STOP THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY GET IT FIXED. UNTIL RECENTLY, MAY 22, 2016 AND JUNE 20,2016 THE ERROR "…
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IT WAS BEEN MORE THAN COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD ERROR MESSAGE" STOP SAFELY NOW" ON MY FORD 2008 ESCAPE HYBRID. DURING THAT TIME, I WAS DRIVING INTERSTATE ROUND 50-60 MILES PER HOUR AND ALL OF SUDDEN, IT STOP THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY GET IT FIXED. UNTIL RECENTLY, MAY 22, 2016 AND JUNE 20,2016 THE ERROR "STOP SAFELY MESSAGE" CAME BACK. I TOOK TO THE SAME DEALER I USED TO GO BUT THIS TIME. I LEFT IT FOR 2 DAYS BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO DIAGNOSE WHATS IS THE ISSUE. I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THOSE DAYS BUT MY CAR WAS NOT FIX OR THE DEALER SAYING IT WILL TAKE A WHILE. I AM SURE THEY KNOW WHAT IS THE ERROR CODE. IS THIS A RECALL?I SEEN OTHER COMPLAIN IN HERE ALMOST THE SAME LIKE ME.
NHTSA ODI #10876306
60,000 miles · Jun 23, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE "TURN OFF ENGINE IMMEDIATELY" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, A LOCK WITH A KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE "TURN OFF ENGINE IMMEDIATELY" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, A LOCK WITH A KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2013. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10876135
85,000 miles · Jun 8, 2016
Engine
WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE THEN STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55+). A RED HAZARD LIGHT THEN CAME ON, AND A STOP SAFELY MESSAGE CAME ON. PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER, AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE ALLOWED FURTHER DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 20-30 MILES BEFORE THE ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #10873281
104,000 miles · Jun 1, 2016
Steering
BACK IN APRIL, 2016 I NOTICED THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING MORE AND MORE AS I DROVE DOWN THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO DRIVE SLOW TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT SAFELY. I HAD THE WHEELS CHECKED, MY ALIGNMENT WAS GOOD, AND NOTHING WRONG FROM THERE. THE TIRE GUY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATED INTENSELY WHIL…
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BACK IN APRIL, 2016 I NOTICED THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING MORE AND MORE AS I DROVE DOWN THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO DRIVE SLOW TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT SAFELY. I HAD THE WHEELS CHECKED, MY ALIGNMENT WAS GOOD, AND NOTHING WRONG FROM THERE. THE TIRE GUY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATED INTENSELY WHILE I WAS AT A STOP! AFTER TAKING IT TO THE FORD DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A STEERING WHEEL RECALL THAT WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO TO PREVENT THIS ENDED UP HAPPENING ANYWAY. FORD RECALL WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS BECVAUSE "THE RECALL IS CLOSED."
NHTSA ODI #10871755
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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