IllustrationCAN NOT FILL GAS TANK, PUMP SHUTS OFF EVERY 30 SECONDS. DOES NOT MATTER IF TANK IS EMPTY OR NOT. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE OVER TIME. *TR
2006 Ford Escape
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape 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
360–25K
5425–50K
7750–75K
8975–100K
102100–150K
47150K+
405 reports with mileage · 59 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports9 fire reports18 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
18 reportsAT APPROXIMATELY 5:50 AM, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OF MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE PEDAL, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF AN INTERSECTION AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN STICKING BADLY. AFTER WORKING WITH IT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE PEDAL TO …
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AT APPROXIMATELY 5:50 AM, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OF MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE PEDAL, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF AN INTERSECTION AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN STICKING BADLY. AFTER WORKING WITH IT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE PEDAL TO DEPRESS. DURING THIS TIME MY VEHICLE WAS ESSENTIALLY 'COASTING' THROUGH TRAFFIC, I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. AFTER GETTING HOME THIS EVENING I SEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FORD ESCAPE GAS PEDAL STICKING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE FOR ME IF IT HAD BEEN LATER IN THE DAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I RESEARCHED STATED THE SAME SITUATION THAT I HAD, LOW AIR TEMPERATURE (IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 F) AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF AN INTERSECTION OR MERGING WITH TRAFFIC. FOR THE FAILED COMPONENT I AM SELECTING 'FUEL SYSTEM' BUT I AM NOT CERTAIN IF THIS IS THE CORRECT ONE. THE ACTUAL COMPONENT IS THE GAS PEDAL STICKING BADLY, I AM NOT CERTAIN IF IT IS THE PEDAL, THE CABLE OR THE THROTTLE-BODY THAT IS THE CULPRIT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL FILLER NECK, THE GASOLINE PUMP WOULD PREMATURELY SHUT OFF AND NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TO CONSUME FUEL TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY DETECTED A BLOCKAGE IN THE FUEL FILL PIPE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL FILLER NECK, THE GASOLINE PUMP WOULD PREMATURELY SHUT OFF AND NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TO CONSUME FUEL TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY DETECTED A BLOCKAGE IN THE FUEL FILL PIPE VENTING SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED A SPIDER NEST FROM THE VENT HOSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2.
FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. FUEL FILLER NOZZLE DOES NOT SHUT OFF, RESULTING IN FUEL OVERFILLING FROM THE FILL TUBE AND SPILLING OUT AROUND THE VEHICLE... SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *TR
WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A DEAD STOP AT TIMES THE GAS PEDAL WILL STICK. IT FEELS AS IF I'M STEPPING ON TO A BLOCK OF WOOD. I WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. HAVING TO PRESS RATHER HARD, ON TO THE PEDAL ALMOST STOMPING ON IT. FOR IT TO FINALLY 'RELEASE'. BUT NOW THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. NOW I WILL BE DRIVING (…
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WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A DEAD STOP AT TIMES THE GAS PEDAL WILL STICK. IT FEELS AS IF I'M STEPPING ON TO A BLOCK OF WOOD. I WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. HAVING TO PRESS RATHER HARD, ON TO THE PEDAL ALMOST STOMPING ON IT. FOR IT TO FINALLY 'RELEASE'. BUT NOW THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. NOW I WILL BE DRIVING (VEHICLE IN MOTION) AND THE GAS PEDAL WILL STICK. IT VARIES WITH THE SPEED, SO I CAN'T PIN IT ONTO A SPECIFIC SPEED LIMIT. I WILL STILL BE IN MOTION BUT THE PEDAL WILL BE A "BLOCK OF WOOD' AS I CALL IT. I WILL HAVE TO STOMP ONTO THE PEDAL FOR IT TO RELEASE. SINCE LIGHTLY STEPPING ON THE PEDAL SEEMS TO DO NOTHING. THAT IS WHY I HAVE TO 'STOMP' ON THE PEDAL TO ORDER FOR IT TO GIVE. AS FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM I PLAN ON TAKING INTO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. BUT RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE NOTICE OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SO IT SEEMS THAT I'M NOT ONLY ONE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. IT ALSO WEATHER ISN'T A FACTOR SINCE IT ACTS UP IN THE SUMMER ALSO IN THE FREEZING WINTER TEMPERATURES.
I OWN A 2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT . FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO, WHENEVER I TRY TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK WITH GAS, THE GAS PUMP TURNS OFF, PREVENTING ME FROM FUELING UP. I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT GASOLINE COMPANIES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. EVERYWHERE I GO, THE GAS PUMP WILL CLICK OFF ON ME AS IF THE GAS TANK IS FULL. I HAVE TO PULL OUT …
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I OWN A 2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT . FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO, WHENEVER I TRY TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK WITH GAS, THE GAS PUMP TURNS OFF, PREVENTING ME FROM FUELING UP. I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT GASOLINE COMPANIES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. EVERYWHERE I GO, THE GAS PUMP WILL CLICK OFF ON ME AS IF THE GAS TANK IS FULL. I HAVE TO PULL OUT THE GAS NOZZLE, PLACE IT BACK IN AND IT THEN TURNS OFF AGAIN. HAPPENS OVER AND OVER. TAKES ME APPROX. 15 MINUTES TO FILL UP TANK.I HAVE CONTACTED FORD & THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING & THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR GASOLINE FILL-UP PROBLEMS. YET, IF YOU RESEARCH THE INTERNET YOU WILL SEE TONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME GASOLINE FILL-UP PROBLEM. *TR
THE FOOT PEDAL TO ACCELERATE FREEZES UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL FREEZE UP AND I CAN NOT ACCELERATE. I HAVE TO TRY AND GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND START POUNDING MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL TO TRY AND GET IT TO RELEASE. I HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES OF 18 WHEELERS AND OTHER V…
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THE FOOT PEDAL TO ACCELERATE FREEZES UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL FREEZE UP AND I CAN NOT ACCELERATE. I HAVE TO TRY AND GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND START POUNDING MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL TO TRY AND GET IT TO RELEASE. I HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES OF 18 WHEELERS AND OTHER VEHICLES RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF ME ON THE HWY 114 I DRIVE HOME EVERY DAY FROM WORK. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO GET OUT OPEN THE HOOD AND TRY TO PUSH THE LEVER UP AND DOWN TO GET IT TO RELEASE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART. *TR
2006 FORD ESCAPE GAS FILLS VERY SLOWLY. GAS BACKS OUT THE TANK. FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE I AM 5000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 2006.....4 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE ISSUE. WANTS TO CHARGE ME $87 TO "DIAGNOSE" IT, PLUS LABOR, PARTS, ETC. DANGEROUS TO ME TO HAVE GAS SPILLING OUT OF VEHICLE BECAUSE …
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2006 FORD ESCAPE GAS FILLS VERY SLOWLY. GAS BACKS OUT THE TANK. FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE I AM 5000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 2006.....4 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE ISSUE. WANTS TO CHARGE ME $87 TO "DIAGNOSE" IT, PLUS LABOR, PARTS, ETC. DANGEROUS TO ME TO HAVE GAS SPILLING OUT OF VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DRAINAGE IS CLOGGED; THE GAS CAP COVER IS MISSING, SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT IT'S IN THE TUBE.....POOR CONSTRUCTION. *TR
Official recalls
315V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Sep 29, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
Sep 3, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
05V520000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
Nov 9, 2005
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.
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
1DP12006 · 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.