IllustrationGAS PEDAL STICKS, I PURCHASED THIS CAR ONE YEAR AGO. IT HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH STICKING SINCE I PURCHASED IT. *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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
99 reportsGAS PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS COULD NOT DRIVE NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED IT. *TR
THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS IN COOLER WEATHER, I HAD STARTED EXPERIENCING MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING WITH THE THROTTLE CLOSED. IT WAS MAINLY A NUISANCE AT FIRST BUT IT STARTED TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD PUT MY ENTIRE WEIGHT ON THE PEDAL WITHOUT IT BUDGING. AT MY SOONEST CONVENIENCE AND MOSTLY BECAUSE I HAD A WARRANTY ON THE …
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THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS IN COOLER WEATHER, I HAD STARTED EXPERIENCING MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING WITH THE THROTTLE CLOSED. IT WAS MAINLY A NUISANCE AT FIRST BUT IT STARTED TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD PUT MY ENTIRE WEIGHT ON THE PEDAL WITHOUT IT BUDGING. AT MY SOONEST CONVENIENCE AND MOSTLY BECAUSE I HAD A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS STILL RELATIVELY NEW TO ME, I DROVE TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE DIFFERING METALS OF THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, SO THEY ENDED UP REPLACING IT... IT ONLY COST ME $100 AT THE TIME DUE TO THE WARRANTY. HERE I AM ABOUT THREE YEARS LATER AND I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE A WARRANTY SO I INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE MYSELF AND DISCOVERED THE THROTTLE BODY IS MOSTLY PLASTIC WITH AN ALUMINUM BUTTERFLY... I ALSO DISCOVERED A TAR-LIKE RESIDUE ON THE EDGES OF THE BUTTERFLY. I PROCEEDED TO CLEAN THE ASSEMBLY, THEN REINSTALLED IT AND THERE WAS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT... MY ACCELERATOR FEELS VERY DIFFERENT, IN A VERY GOOD WAY. I'M TIRED OF LARGE COMPANIES HIDING ISSUES LIKE THIS. IT GETS OLD AND CAUSES GOOD PRODUCTS TO CONTINUE TO GET CHEAPER. MY MONEY COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE THAN REPLACING A PART THAT OBVIOUSLY NEEDED MORE ENGINEERING ATTENTION BEFORE BECOMING PRODUCTION. *TR
PROBLEMS WITH GAS PEDAL STICKING/ LOCKING UP. WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN IDLE DASH LIGHTS, A/C AND RADIO TURN ON AND OFF, THEN THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND BEFORE THE ACTUAL ENGINE SHUTS OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DOWN HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTINUED TO PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED BUT THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DOWN HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTINUED TO PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED BUT THE FAILURE SOON RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK. THE DEALER STATED THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE THROTTLE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,884.
DRIVING ALONG AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS IN THE UP POSITION. IF YOU NEED TO SPEED UP THE PEDAL WONT MOVE. IT IS LOCKED IN THE IDLE POSITION. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN I COULD NOT SPEED UP TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF AN 18 WHEELER. IT NEARLY RAN OVER ME. THE PEDAL HAS STUCK AT LEAST 15 TIMES SINCE I H…
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DRIVING ALONG AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS IN THE UP POSITION. IF YOU NEED TO SPEED UP THE PEDAL WONT MOVE. IT IS LOCKED IN THE IDLE POSITION. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN I COULD NOT SPEED UP TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF AN 18 WHEELER. IT NEARLY RAN OVER ME. THE PEDAL HAS STUCK AT LEAST 15 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 ESCAPE. IF THE PEDAL STICKS AT THE WRONG TIME, SOMEONE SOMEWHERE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
MY VEHICLE DIES WHEN THE TRUCK IS WARMED UP AND I PUT IT IN GEAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT DIES AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS AND IN REVERSE. ANOTHER TECHNICIAN TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO RIDE AROUND WITH THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THROWING A CODE. AFTER A WEEK, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER IN CLEVELAND, MS, AND THE S…
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MY VEHICLE DIES WHEN THE TRUCK IS WARMED UP AND I PUT IT IN GEAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT DIES AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS AND IN REVERSE. ANOTHER TECHNICIAN TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO RIDE AROUND WITH THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THROWING A CODE. AFTER A WEEK, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER IN CLEVELAND, MS, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR. BUT, THAT IT WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THE FORD DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE VALVE AT A COST OF $900. THE TRUCK DIED ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
MY CAR GAS PEDAL KEEPS STICKING LIKE THERE IS ROCK UNDER IT. I ALMOST WRECKED TONITE BECAUSE OF IT!!!! IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
ACCELERATOR STICKS, WOULD NOT GO DOWN. STARTED STICKING WHEN STARTING ENGINE AND WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL DRIVEN FOR A FEW MILES. CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND WOULD STICK WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A SIDE ROAD TO A BUSIER ROAD BELOW A HILL WHERE ONCOMING TRAFFIC COULD BE POPPING OVER HILL AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. WOULD HAVE TO CON…
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ACCELERATOR STICKS, WOULD NOT GO DOWN. STARTED STICKING WHEN STARTING ENGINE AND WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL DRIVEN FOR A FEW MILES. CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND WOULD STICK WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A SIDE ROAD TO A BUSIER ROAD BELOW A HILL WHERE ONCOMING TRAFFIC COULD BE POPPING OVER HILL AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STOMP ACCELERATOR, FINALLY WOULD TAKE OFF. STUCK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING DURING SNOW STORM, HAD TO CONSTANTLY STOMP ACCELERATOR, WOULD TAKE OFF AT A HIGHER THAN SAFE SPEED AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO USE BREAK WHICH WAS NOT SAFE ON SNOW COVERED ROAD. STUCK IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. HAD TO CONTINUE TO STOMP ACCELERATOR, FINALLY MOVED BEFORE ANYONE STRUCK MY VEHICLE WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO COLD WEATHER BUT LAST TIME IT STUCK THE WEATHER WAS WARM. DEALERSHIP FINALLY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AT MY EXPENSE OF $400 WITH MILEAGE AT 89888.. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS IT FURTHER AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. AFTER 3 OR 4 ATTEMPTS THE ACCELERATOR FREED UP. IT THEN WORKED FINE THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. THIS OCCURRED FIVE TIMES SPORADICALLY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2012. THIS BEHAVIOR RETURNED APRIL 201…
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WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS IT FURTHER AND IT DID NOT RELEASE. AFTER 3 OR 4 ATTEMPTS THE ACCELERATOR FREED UP. IT THEN WORKED FINE THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. THIS OCCURRED FIVE TIMES SPORADICALLY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2012. THIS BEHAVIOR RETURNED APRIL 2013. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND FREED UP 3 OR 4 TIMES IN A ROW DURING A MORNING COMMUTE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY (5L8Z*9E926*A BODY ASY) AND GASKET (4L5Z*9E936*AA) TOTAL COST WITH LABOR $474. *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.