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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Power Train complaints

80 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2023
Power TrainService BrakesSuspensionInjury

Well to put it lightly my rear axial the whole rear end is a mess this did not happen from normal were there is not that many miles I am very confident that if I was mot train on how to control a car if it were to go out of control at a high speed this would be a whole different story just thank how many are still on the road th…

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Well to put it lightly my rear axial the whole rear end is a mess this did not happen from normal were there is not that many miles I am very confident that if I was mot train on how to control a car if it were to go out of control at a high speed this would be a whole different story just thank how many are still on the road this year 2006 escape is a ticking time 💣

NHTSA ODI #11499721

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2021
EnginePower Train

On Sunday May/23/2021 my car shut off suddenly with out warning after 3m of driving, the wrench orange lite came on, i was able to pull aside on the curb, turned off the car and waited a few minutes, i was able to turn the car back on, and the car restarted with out problem but the incident was there. when i got home i start loo…

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On Sunday May/23/2021 my car shut off suddenly with out warning after 3m of driving, the wrench orange lite came on, i was able to pull aside on the curb, turned off the car and waited a few minutes, i was able to turn the car back on, and the car restarted with out problem but the incident was there. when i got home i start looking on line for an explanation of what went wrong and i encounter that the 2006 Ford scape hybrid has been recall for stalling problems, somehow my car is not part of the recall according with the VIN number, but my car is a 2006 Ford Scape Hybrid, i don't understand why my car its not part of the recall and i hope that it did not fall under the cracks and i hope more that my car will not get stall in the freeway and cause an accident. please let me know if any additional information is need it

NHTSA ODI #11418514

140,000 miles · Oct 30, 2020
Power TrainService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

ABS FAILURE. THE CAR BRAKES MAY AT TIMES LOCK-UP WITHOUT NOTICE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE: THE TRANSMISSION ACTS AS IF IT'S IN NEUTRAL WHEN IN BOTH FORWARD GEAR OR REVERSE. TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD REPAIR BUT THIS ISSUE PERSIST. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO OCCUR FROM A BEGINNING ACCELERATION SUCH AS PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE …

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ABS FAILURE. THE CAR BRAKES MAY AT TIMES LOCK-UP WITHOUT NOTICE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE: THE TRANSMISSION ACTS AS IF IT'S IN NEUTRAL WHEN IN BOTH FORWARD GEAR OR REVERSE. TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD REPAIR BUT THIS ISSUE PERSIST. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO OCCUR FROM A BEGINNING ACCELERATION SUCH AS PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE AND ACCELERATING OR PUTTING CAR IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATING. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAY BE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPT TO PROCEED ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR ACT AS IF IT'S IN NEUTRAL. THIS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR ISSUE SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN FROM A TAKE OFF SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11372406

130,000 miles · Jan 27, 2020
Power Train

HAD A WINTER SPELL THAT BROUGHT ABOUT 6 INCHES OF SNOW. WHEN I LEFT FOR WORK I GOT STUCK AT A STOP SIGN AND FOUND MYSELF UNABLE TO GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. I THEREFORE EMPLOYED STANDARD WINTER DRIVING TACTICS SLOWLY CHANGING BACK AND FORTH FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IN A ROCKING MOTION TO GET THE VEHICLE UNSTUCK. AFTER FREEING THE VE…

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HAD A WINTER SPELL THAT BROUGHT ABOUT 6 INCHES OF SNOW. WHEN I LEFT FOR WORK I GOT STUCK AT A STOP SIGN AND FOUND MYSELF UNABLE TO GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. I THEREFORE EMPLOYED STANDARD WINTER DRIVING TACTICS SLOWLY CHANGING BACK AND FORTH FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IN A ROCKING MOTION TO GET THE VEHICLE UNSTUCK. AFTER FREEING THE VEHICLE I THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TOWARDS MY WORK BUT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STAY IN GEAR. NOW THE VEHICLE WON'T GO INTO A MOVING GEAR EXCEPT FOR EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT SLIPS BACK OUT OF GEAR AND WON'T MOVE. CAN ALSO HEAR A LOUD GRINDING / CLACKING NOISE COMING FROM UP FRONT AROUND THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11302405

1 miles · Mar 12, 2019
Power Train

WELL, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND UP KEPT SINCE DAY ONE, AND BEFORE THAT MY MOTHER. THE SHIFTING SOLENOIDS ARE STARTING TO GO, WHICH MEANS THE TYRANNY WILL EVENTUALLY GO. IT SEARCHES TO FIND GEARS AND HAS NEVER BEEN BEAT ON. THIS IS QUITE A NUISANCE, CONSTANTLY PULLING OVER AND STARTING IT UP AGAIN JUST TO SHIFT. NEVER HA…

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WELL, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND UP KEPT SINCE DAY ONE, AND BEFORE THAT MY MOTHER. THE SHIFTING SOLENOIDS ARE STARTING TO GO, WHICH MEANS THE TYRANNY WILL EVENTUALLY GO. IT SEARCHES TO FIND GEARS AND HAS NEVER BEEN BEAT ON. THIS IS QUITE A NUISANCE, CONSTANTLY PULLING OVER AND STARTING IT UP AGAIN JUST TO SHIFT. NEVER HAS BEEN LOW ON FLUIDS EITHER. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE ESCAPES IS THE TRANSMISSION AND ALTHOUGH MINE IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL, AS ALL OTHERS ARE, I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN OUTDONE BY FORD [XXX] ME OVER. HONESTLY THE WORST TRANSMISSION ISSUE I'VE SEEN WITH ANY MODEL FROM FORD, OR MUCH LESS CHEVY AND GMCR OR TOYOTA. MY COROLLA LASTED LONGER THAN THIS ONE, OVER 200000 IN FACT! THE FACT OF IT IS, THIS ONE DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO 200000. WTF THIS STARTED OUT OF NOWHERE, NO WARNING, NOTHING. TURNED THE VEHICLE ON ONE DAY AND IT JUST DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT. JW I'M LOOKING AT A 4000 DOLLAR BILL TO FIX IT WHILE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AS WELL. I DIDN'T EVEN PAY OVER 2500 FOR THIS THING SO FOR IT TO BE ACTING THIS WAY WHEN IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TREATED W RESPECT IS NONSENSE. I WANT THE RECALL TO BE EXTENDED TO MY MODEL AS WELL, SEEING HOW THEY ALL ARE RECALLED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11186165

125,000 miles · Jan 18, 2018
Power Train

AFTER DRIVING MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE ON THE FREEWAY REACHING SPEED OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR IT WILL STALL. STARTS UP AND WHEN PLACED IN GEAR TO DRIVE IT STALLS AND SHUTS OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11063417

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2018
Power TrainStructure

SIMILAR TO EARLIER MODELS 2001-2004/5. TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED OUT FOR CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND DAUGHTER WAS TOLD THE SUB-FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE WAS RUSTED AND CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11063015

96,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017
Power Train

TSB 07-5-6 TORQUE CONVERTER AND SOLENOID FAILED AT 96000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.HAPPENED EXISTING THE FREEWAY AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC

NHTSA ODI #11052403

79,000 miles · Oct 25, 2016
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE WENT OUT ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. UPON ON HAVING A MECHANIC TEAR IT APART, IT WAS FOUND THAT A BEARING AND THE CLUTCH WENT OUT IN IT. THE SAME MECHANIC, BEFORE WORKING ON MY TRANSMISSION, DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT FORD HAS NOT IS…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE WENT OUT ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. UPON ON HAVING A MECHANIC TEAR IT APART, IT WAS FOUND THAT A BEARING AND THE CLUTCH WENT OUT IN IT. THE SAME MECHANIC, BEFORE WORKING ON MY TRANSMISSION, DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL KNOW WING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A SHIFT KIT THAT WAS NOT THERE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT NO FORD TRAINED TECHNICIANS WOULD WORK ON MY ESCAPE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10918923

108,000 miles · Sep 30, 2016
Power Train

I AM ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TRANSMISSION GO OUT ON THEIR 2006 FORD ESCAPE - I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY SON - STOPPED AT RED LIGHT - LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE - HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/ESCAPE/2006/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTML

NHTSA ODI #10910759

Official recalls

3

15V606000 · 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

1

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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