2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

Routine

Owners filed 178 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
101,548 milesMedian miles at failure

166 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000150,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes37
300
Suspension18
000
Steering18
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic18
000
Structure › Body17
000
Engine13
000
Engine and Engine Cooling9
000
Unknown or Other5
000
Fuel/Propulsion System5
000
Electrical System5
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Hybrid Propulsion System
Filed Jul 23, 2020121,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT FOUND NO DEFECTS UPON INVESTIGATION. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED TOM MASANO FORD LINCOLN (1600 LANCASTER AVE, READING, PA 19607) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL HIM BACK. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 12, 2019169,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED CORROSION ALL AROUND THE FRAME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2019100,000 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO LITHIA FORD LINCOLN OF ROSEBURG (1650 NE STEPHENS ST, ROSEBURG, OR 97470, (541) 537-4643) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO HYBRID FANS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, UPON INVESTIGATION, NO RECALLS COULD BE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WERE CURRENTLY ORDERING THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2019200,000 milesID

OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OF 'STOP SAFELY NOW' ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THESE ISSUES DIDN'T START UNTIL THE MEC PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. AFTER THAT MY 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING OR NOT START OR CUT OUT THE HYBRID POWER AND RUN ON ENGINE ONLY. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL OTHER SERVICE DONE THREE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING, STATING ONLY THAT THERE ARE NO CODES, SO NO IDEA WHERE TO LOOK. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE COMPUTER CAN KNOW TO TELL ME TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR, YET NOT RECORD A DTC. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FIRST WARM DAY OF THE SUMMER - DROVE ACROSS TOWN, PARKED IT, CAME BACK 20 MINUTES LATER AND IT WOULDN'T START, SHOWING 'STOP SAFELY NOW'. I LEFT IT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I DROVE IT HOME. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT SCANXL AND USED MY LAPTOP TO SCAN THE CAR. I FOUND P1A10, P1A14, P0A0A, AND P0A95. IF I CAN BUY SOME CONSUMER PROGRAM AND FIND THIS INFO, WAY IS FORD TELLING THERE ARE NO CODES? FORD ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY FANS TWO YEARS AGO, STATING THEY WERE COVERED UNDER SOME RECALL OR WARRANTY. SEARCHING THE INTERNET GETS ME 100'S OF COMMENTS ON THIS STOP SAFELY ISSUE WITH DOZENS OF POSSIBLE CAUSES DEPENDING ON THE YEAR AND MODEL. MY SCAN TOOL SHOWS A BATTERY VOLTAGE OF 665 VOLTS, THOUGH IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A 300 VOLT BATTERY. THE HYBRID EVAPORATOR TEMP CAN RANGE BETWEEN 220 AND 310 DEGREES F WHEN IT'S RUNNING OK. THAT CAN'T

Service Brakes
Filed May 31, 2019116,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JERRY'S FORD ALEXANDRIA (6510 LITTLE RIVER TURNPIKE, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312, (703) 256-5000), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 29, 2019130,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE "STOP SAFELY" WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. MANTECA FORD (555 N MAIN ST, MANTECA, CA 95336, (209) 239-3561) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED IN ORDER TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 27, 20191,200,000 milesCA

CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING MESSAGE ON DASH SAYS TO STOP SAFELY NOW CAR WILL START UP AGAIN AFTER WAITING A WHILE. CAR STOPPED WHILE ON FREEWAY BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER.

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 2019NY

WHILE COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL PASS THE STOP SIGN. FLOORING THE BRAKES CAUSED THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN SLOWLY. I ENDED UP PULLING OVER IMMEDIATELY, TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. I SAW NO CLEAR INDICATION OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG. WHEN I TURNED BACK ON THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS FINE, UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FEW CAR SHOPS BUT NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CAR WAS EVEN TAKEN FOR A TEST DRIVE BY THE MECHANIC BUT PERFORMED WITH NO PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE SHOPS RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER OR THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD NEVER OCCUR AGAIN. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE PAYING SO MUCH FOR A NON GUARANTEED JOB SO UNFORTUNATELY I AM STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES CONTINUES TO STOP WORKING AT RANDOM TIMES.

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 3, 201945 milesFL

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS. HAD 1700 DOLLARS OF WORK TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON ME YESTERDAY. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE WORK. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE BRAKES FAILED ON HWY 19 FL. PULLED OVER ,TURNED THE CAR OFF LIKE WHAT I READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS TYPE A VEHICLE, STARTED UP AND THE BRAKES WERE BACK' TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED IT. WHEN IS FORD GOING TO PUT A RECALL ON THIS, WHEN SOMEONE DIES.OF COURSE HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED IT. I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AND IT HAS LOW MILEAGE..

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 22, 2018122,000 milesPA

ABS LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY MY BRAKES ARENT WORKING PROPERLY TIMES WHEN IT DIDNT STOP HAD TO SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR AND PULL OFF TO SAFE SPIOT I WAS TRYING TO STOP

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Sep 17, 2018174,109 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CRASH OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EN ROUTE TO COCCIA FORD LINCOLN INC (LOCATED AT 577 E MAIN ST, WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702, (570) 823-8888) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ISSUED CASE NUMBER: CAS-14733790. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,109.

Steering
Filed Jul 4, 201899,000 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL COMPLETELY FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY AND A YELLOW WRENCH WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT COMES UNEXPECTEDLY BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MUSCLE THROUGH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE STEERING CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON AND IT HAPPENS ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME THAT I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN HOT WEATHER.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 4, 2018120,000 milesMI

THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS CORRODED VERY SEVERELY. THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS PUSHING INTO THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER, CAUSING IT TO BECOME DISLODGED. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF MY ESCAPE. I NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR WHEEL COVER WAS DISLODGED AND MOVING AROUND. I PULLED OVER INTO A LOCAL PARK TO EXAMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VERY LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. I COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA WAS VERY RUSTED AND FLAKY. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 10-15 MPH, ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD BUMPING AND SCRAPING SOUND. I CONSULTED A FORD MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE MANY HUNDREDS OF FORD ESCAPES THAT HAVE RUSTED OUT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELLS, THAT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE SHOCK ABSORBER PUSHES INTO THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE COLLAPSES ONTO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 4, 2018195,000 milesFL

THE CAR HAS TWICE LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THE RED WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR LOSES POWER BUT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES REMAIN FUNCTIONAL. THE CAR WAS ON RECALL FOR THIS EXACT THING AND I TOOK THE CAR IN. THE DEALER TELLS ME I HAVE THE BRUSHLESS COOLANT PUMP SO IT'S NOT DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT PUMP AND HE'S NOT REPLACING IT. BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT AND NOTHING ELSE IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR.

Structure › Body
Filed May 14, 2018162,000 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THE SHOCK LEANING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND A HOLE WHERE THE MOUNTED BRACKET WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT CALLED LOVELAND FORD (999 E EISENHOWER BLVD, LOVELAND, CO 80537, (970) 744-7101) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

Steering
Filed Apr 6, 201825,000 milesCA

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM BOB WONDRIES FORD IN ALHAMBRA, CA IN 2008 STARTING THE SECOND WEEK I HAD IT, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAY. IT HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I TOLD THEM THIS EVERY TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. THEY ALWAYS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I'VE REPORTED THIS TO FORD MO. CO. AND YOU BEFORE. 2008-2011 ESCAPES GOT RECALL AND REPLACEMENTS FOR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. I WANT THE SAME CONSIDERATION FOR ME AND OTHER 2005-2006 OWNERS WHO HAVE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEM. WOULD IT HELP IF ONE OF US DIED BECAUSE OF THIS?

Steering
Filed Feb 22, 2018190,907 milesOR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY ROADS MY DAUGHTER NOTICE THAT THE CAR WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHIKE SKING WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALSO NOTICED INCREASE RPM. THE SYMPTOMA KEPT GETTING WORSE UNTIL WE TOOK IT TO LES SCHWAB FOR DETAILED INPECRION.

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 2018160,000 milesVA

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATE (WITH SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM DISPLAYED) AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES FAIL TO MANUAL BRAKES ONLY, VERY SENSITIVE AND WILL LOCK THE WHEELS UP; TOUCHY WITH NO REAL FEED BACK, JUST APPLIED OR OFF WITH SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE REQUIRED. HAPPENED WHEN PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AND NEARLY WENT PAST THE PUMP, BUT SKIDDED TO A STOP INSTEAD. SYSTEM RESETS WITH EACH KEY CYCLE ON/OFF. IT IS SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENT. WHILE WAITING FOR MY FORD APPOINTMENT (CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE, VA), I DUPLICATED THE EVENT SEVERAL TIMES UNDER A CONTROLLED, OPEN PARKING LOT TEST AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTICS, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THE RECOMMEND REPLACING BRAKE LINES, THEN MASTER CYLINDER, THEN HCU. REPAIRS IN ORDER ARE $615, $1400, AND OVER $4900. DIAGNOSTICS RAN $130...WITH NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO MY PROBLEM.

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 30, 2017148,000 milesMA

RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT AREA RUSTED OUT AND CRACKED. HOLES AND CRACKS IN RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT WHEEL WELL AREA. LOTS OF NOISE AND METAL SHIFTING FROM THAT AREA.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 18, 2017185,000 milesMI

SHOCK TOWER ON BACK PASSENGER SIDE RUSTING OUT. LEARNED OF THIS FROM DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS AGO.

20 of 178 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20251000Routine
20244000Routine
202323000Routine
202268020Routine
2021122120Routine
2020288110Above average
20135000Routine
201215000Routine
201137000Routine
201059000Routine
2009153030Routine
2008443010Above average
2007124010Routine
2006219010Above average
2005 — this page178000Routine

Compare every Escape Hybrid year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.