IllustrationSunroof on the vehicle just shattered. No impact related cause. Maybe heat.
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
12 reportsMy steering started locking up and now my vehicle will stall and shut completely down while doing 65 miles an hour and now it won't run at all
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light and attempting to drive off, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond, almost causing another vehicle to crash into the rear of the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle to correct …
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The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light and attempting to drive off, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond, almost causing another vehicle to crash into the rear of the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle to correct the issue however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed back to her residence. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON SURFACE STREET TRUCK STARTED TO LOSE SPEED AND WOULDNT ACCELERATE. TURNED CAR OFF THEN RESTARTED PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE.
A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD ESCAPE, BUT WITHIN A SHORT TIME IT STARTED SHUTTING DOWN WITH NO WARNING. I LOST ALL POWER (STEERING AND BRAKES) AND HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. THANK GOD I WAS NEAR A PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS NO CARS COMING. NOW, EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE. WHEN GOING U…
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A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD ESCAPE, BUT WITHIN A SHORT TIME IT STARTED SHUTTING DOWN WITH NO WARNING. I LOST ALL POWER (STEERING AND BRAKES) AND HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. THANK GOD I WAS NEAR A PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS NO CARS COMING. NOW, EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE. WHEN GOING UP HILLS AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS, IT SPITS AND SPUTTERS AND SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING! IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND START TO PULL OUT AT AN INTERSECTION IT JUST SHUTS OFF. THE CAR WILL START RIGHT BACK UP BUT IT IS SO DANGEROUS WHEN IT JUST SHUTS OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE PUT IT IN THE GARAGE TWICE, BUT BOTH TIMES THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THERE ARE NO CODES BEING THROWN. I ALSO TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.. BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, ITS SO DANGEROUS AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR.
THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL OF MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE (LIMITED) IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SHOCK IS ABOUT TO BREAK THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE RUST HAS CAUSED EXHAUST TO POUR INTO THE VEHICLE. BEFORE KNOWING ABOUT THIS, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHAINCS BECAUSE I CO…
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THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL OF MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE (LIMITED) IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SHOCK IS ABOUT TO BREAK THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE RUST HAS CAUSED EXHAUST TO POUR INTO THE VEHICLE. BEFORE KNOWING ABOUT THIS, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHAINCS BECAUSE I COULD SMELL EXHAUST. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. A CANADIAN AUTO BODY PERSON (I LOVE ON THE BORDER) TOLD ME THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE HOLES IN THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL AND SHOWED ME THE LARGE HOLE WHERE EXHAUST IS LEAKING IN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT ALL ESCAPE OWNERS (2006 AT LEAST) NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF!!! I CAN'T TAKE AND ATTACH PHOTOS AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE WEATHER BUT CAN PROVIDE THEM ANOTHER TIME, UPON REQUEST. I SHOULD NOTE THAT I LIVE IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND THAT I HAVE TAKEN METICULOUS CARE OF THIS VEHICLE.
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING AND SHUTTERING NOISE LIKE MY WHOLE ENGINE IS GOING TO DROP ONTO THE FREEWAY. I GET TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT IT IN PARK. AS I TRY TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN THE ENGINE/MOTOR STARTS SHAKING YET AGAIN WITH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND WONT TURN …
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DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING AND SHUTTERING NOISE LIKE MY WHOLE ENGINE IS GOING TO DROP ONTO THE FREEWAY. I GET TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT IT IN PARK. AS I TRY TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN THE ENGINE/MOTOR STARTS SHAKING YET AGAIN WITH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND WONT TURN OVER. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED. MY CHILDREN WERE EXTREMELY SCARED AND BEING ON THE FREEWAY THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE TIMES.
THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. THE GAS PEDAL FELL TO THE CAR FLOOR AND THE CAR STOPPED ALL ACCELERATION. I WAS ON A CITY STREET UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT, SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. MY MECHANIC FIXED IT 9/23, AS THIS IS A DEALER ONLY PART AND I HAD TO ORDER IT.
THE 2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND I AM THE ONLY OWNER. THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL SHOCK TOWER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE COST WAS ESTIMATED AT OVER 1,000. DOLLAR TO FIX. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SAFETY …
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THE 2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND I AM THE ONLY OWNER. THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL SHOCK TOWER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE COST WAS ESTIMATED AT OVER 1,000. DOLLAR TO FIX. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE I REPLACED THE 2 REAR SHOCKS THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL RUSTING CLUNKING ISSUE HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND IS A VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE. PLEASE MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS COMMON TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE.
MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WE SPLURGED ON RUST PROOFING. WE JUST LEARNED THAT OUR WHEEL WELL HAS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD REFUSES TO HELP RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND WE COULD HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER…
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MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WE SPLURGED ON RUST PROOFING. WE JUST LEARNED THAT OUR WHEEL WELL HAS COMPLETED RUSTED OUT MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD REFUSES TO HELP RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND WE COULD HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER DISSATISFIED FORD ESCAPE CUSTOMERS ONLINE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY HELP FROM FORD. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. YES, OUR CAR IS GETTING ON IN YEARS BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE DISINTEGRATING FROM RUST ESPECIALLY WHEN WE BOUGHT A RUSF PROOFING PROTECTION PACKAGE. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT.
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.