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

What owners actually said

464 reports

16,578 miles · Feb 21, 2007

Engine And Engine Cooling

LOUD NOISE WHILE STARTING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. IDLER PULLEY WAS SHREDDING THE SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY WAS OVERHEATING. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10183108

12,553 miles · Feb 21, 2007

Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING IN THE UP POSITION. TOOK GREAT FORCE TO FREE IT FROM THE UP POSITION TO GIVE THE VEHICLE GAS. AS THIS VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER SAID THEY KNEW OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. *…

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NHTSA ODI #10183107

19,000 miles · Dec 19, 2006

Tires

TL* - THE CONTACT IS CALLING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS 4 ORIGINAL TIRES. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TREAD/BELT ON TIRES. IT SEEMS LIKE ALL 4 TIRES HAVE SOME TYPE OF DEFAULT/DEFORM. THE CONTACT HAS DRIVEN HE 9,000 MILES ON HIS 4 TIRES. IF PICTURES OF TIRES ARE NEEDED CONTACT CAN PROVIDE THE…

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NHTSA ODI #10176586

2,000 miles · Dec 14, 2006

VisibilityInjury

THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING ON A ONE-LANE ROAD (OFF RAMP OF HWY 101), THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED SUDDENLY. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS APPEARED TO HAVE STRUCK THE WINDOW. THE SHATTERING OF GLASS RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND SOME DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CUSTOMER S…

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NHTSA ODI #10176096

11,000 miles · Nov 19, 2006

Seats

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VICTIM WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMELL OF SMOKE. VICTIM FELT VEHICLE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT. VICTIM PULLED OVER, STOPPED VEHICLE, AND STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE. VICTIM NOTICED THAT SEAT HAD A SMALL BURN HOLE IN IT CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION IN THE SEAT WARMER ACCESSORY. VICTIM HAD SEAT WARMER ACCESSORY ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. VICTIM DID NOT SUSTAIN BODILY INJURY. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SELLING DEALER (JORDAN FORD LOCATED IN MISHAWAKA, IN) FOR REPAIRS WHICH WERE PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173811

20,050 miles · Nov 2, 2006

Electrical SystemEquipment

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AM/FM CD PLAYER COMES ON WITH ENGINE/IGNITION OFF. BOUGHT VEHICLE IN 2004 AND LATER THAT YEAR BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE RADIO WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF AND DRAIN BATTERY. DEALER REPLACED RADIO UNDER WARRANTY. IN 2005 BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO DEALER AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOTHING DONE. IN 2006 BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER CHARGED $80 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. STATED PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE RADIO, OFFERED TO REPLACE RADIO FOR $390 PLUS TAX. I DECLINED AND HAD AN AFTER MARKET RADIO INSTALLED. PROBLEM PERSISTED. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO LOCATED A DEFECTIVE FUSE PANEL ACCESSORY CONTROL RELAY AND REPLACED IT. PROBLEM NO LONGER EXISTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172460

9,900 miles · Oct 12, 2006

Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AT 8:02 PM, THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE SEATBELT WAS WORN AND BOTH FOG LIGHTS AND HEAD LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE BOTTOM PORTION AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, BUT THE TOP PORTION FAILED TO OPEN. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING TWO FRACTURES OF THE STERNUM, A HEMATOMA TO THE LEFT CHEST, AND FRACTURES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, AS WELL AS, HEAVY BRUISING TO THE FOREHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. REPAIRS WERE MADE PRIOR TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINEER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #10170640

7,132 miles · Aug 25, 2006

StructureInjury

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8/11/2006 I WAS KNOCKED OUT AND PINNED BY THE REAR HATCH DOOR OF OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE. I OPENED THE REAR HATCH AND LEANED IN TO REMOVE SOME ITEMS FROM REAR OF THE FORD ESCAPE AND THE HATCH CAME SLAMMING DOWN HITTING ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND RENDERING ME UNCONSCIOUS (I AM NOT SURE AS TOO HOW LONG) I CAME TO FACE FIRST INSIDE THE FORD ESCAPE WITH THE DOOR PINNING ME DOWN AND MY FEET HANGING OUT THE REAR. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FREE OF THE REAR HATCH AND BECOME FREE. I FOUND ONE OF THE REAR STRUT SLAYING INSIDE THE REAR COMPARTMENT AND THE OTHER PRACTICALLY BROKE AND DANGLING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR HATCH. AFTER COMING TO MY SENSES I TOOK THE FORD ESCAPE TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP (SIMI VALLEY FORD) AND TURNED IT IN FOR WARRANTY TO FIX IT (WE HAVE THE 3YR/36000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER + THE TOP FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY , I CHECKED IT INTO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (SIMI VALLEY FORD) AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD FIX IT AND WOULD WE NEED A RENTAL CAR WHICH WE SAID NO WE HAVE MY FORD EXCURSION TO DRIVE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I RECEIVE A CALL FROM KEITH (SIMI VALLEY FORD SERVICE ) SAYING FORD REFUSES TO FIX OR STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM AND FOR US TO TURN IT INTO OUR INSURANCE. WE FEEL THIS IS FORDS DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT , SO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS SENT OUT A INVESTIGATOR BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. THIS IS A FORD DEFECT ON OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE WITH 7100 MILES AND FORD IS TRYING TO SAY ITS WEAR AND TEAR , WE DON'T THINK SO , WE FEEL ITS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH FORD IS TRYING TO AVOID. WE HOPE NO OTHER PEOPLE OR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE HURT BY THIS DEFECT , FOR THE HATCH IS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND COULD EASILY COULD KILL SOMEONE OF WEAKER STATURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166582

1,500 miles · Jul 3, 2006

Steering

SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION FELT AT STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENOUGH VIBRATION FELT TO CAUSE FATIGUE TO THE OPERATOR'S FOREARMS/HANDS - MOST UNPLEASANT WHEN DRIVING 100+ MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161329

10 miles · Jun 27, 2006

Seats

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES AT ANY SPEED ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE DRIVER SEAT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS CREATE A SEVERE PAIN AT LUMBAR BACK REGION. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE TWO FRONT SEATS WERE NOT ERGONOMIC, AS THEY WERE IN ALL VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY OWNED. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160925

Official recalls

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

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)

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

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.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

Ford Escape transmission problems →Ford Escape electrical problems →