2005 Ford Escape Hybrid complaints

DRIVING AT 8AM BETWEEN BOULDER, CO AND LONGMONT, CO, ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2013. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 30 DEGREES, WHICH IT HAD BEEN AROUND FOR THE WHOLE DRIVE, ABOUT 45 MINUTES AT THAT POINT. I HAD JUST COME DOWN FROM ABOUT 8000FT ELEVATION TO ABOUT 5000FT ELEVATION (WITH A GOOD BIT OF UP AND DOWN AND SOME BUMPY ROADS IN BETWEEN), BUT HAD BEEN AT THAT ELEVATION ON CITY STREETS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THERE HAD BEEN LIGHT SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS, BUT NONE ONCE I WAS ON THE PLAINS. I HAD BEEN RUNNING MY REAR DEFROST OFF AND ON (THOUGH I DIDN'T NOTICE IF IT WAS ON OR OFF AT THE EXACT TIME OF THE INCIDENT), AS WELL AS HEAT AND FRONT DEFROST. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE, THEN SAW THAT MY REAR WINDOW WAS GONE, COMPLETELY SHATTERED. I HAD OPENED THE REAR WINDOW TO LOAD THE CAR BEFORE LEAVING. *TR

NOTICED A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. LOOKED IN WHEEL WELL AND IT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH THE CAR. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN MANY EXACT SCENARIOS. SHOCK IS ATTACHED IN A WAY THAT IT RUBS AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING CORROSION.. NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE AND IT IS STORED IN THE GARAGE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE GIVEN SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. IN LOOKING FURTHER IN TO THIS IT IS A COMMON COMPLAIN. CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. A RECALL IS NEEDED AS THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE WHEEL CAN FALL RIGHT OFF = AND THAT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A RED TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED WITH A MESSAGE TO STOP SAFETY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERVICE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN, THE PROGRAM INVOLVED INSTALLING A SERVICE HARNESS IN THE HIGH-VOLTAGE TRACTION BATTERY AND REPROGRAMMING THE BATTERY CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 11/06/13 UPDATED 11/29/13*LJ

I WAS EN ROUTE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO CHECK A POSSIBLE U-JOINT NOISE, AND HIT A REPAIR BUMP IN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR MADE A VERY SCARY CLUNK AT THE RIGHT/REAR WHEEL. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE A BANGING /CLUNKING NOISE. I CONTINUED ON TO THE REPAIR SHOP TRAVELING AT 25MPH WITH MY FLASHERS ON. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TEST DRIVE AND CONFIRMED THE BANGING/CLUNKING NOISE. THEY THEN PUT THE VEHICLE ON A HOIST FOR A VISUAL INSPECTION AND FOUND THE UNDER-BODY FRAME AROUND THE RIGHT/REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD RUSTED AWAY, AND THE REMAINING PORTION THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE SHOCK WAS SNAPPING AND BANGING WITH ANY MOVEMENT OF THE RIGHT/REAR WHEEL. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 5 MORE ESCAPES SINCE THEN ,AND ONLY ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS ALSO AN ESCAPE HYBRID. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT YOUR WEBSITE AND MAKE A COMPLAINT. *TR

I PRESENTED MY VEHICLE FOR PA SAFETY INSPECTION. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER HAD RUSTED OUT AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS IS A COMPELLING SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE. IT WAS VERY LOOSE AND DEPRESSED EASILY ABOUT 1 INCH, THEN STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND HELD FIRM WITHOUT SLOWING THE CAR AT ALL. AFTER PRESSING DOWN HARDER WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO BUDGE THE BRAKES, I LIFTED AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKES. THIS TIME THEY WORKED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN A COUPE DAYS LATER. I TOOK IT IN TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE ABS MODULE AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FROM MY RESEARCH, FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS MODULE ARE COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL SOUND FROM THE RIGHT REAR END OF MY 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO LOOK AT IT TODAY. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND THE WHEEL WELL HAD RUSTED OUT AT THE ATTACHMENT POINT OF THE SHOCK AND THE UPPER PART OF THE SHOCK IS HANGING FREE. THEN I LOOKED AT THE OTHER SIDE AND IT IS STARTING TO GO. CLEARLY THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. I WAS HOPING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE A FEW MORE YEARS BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WITHOUT MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION IT IS JUNK AT THIS POINT IN TIME. CLEARLY THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM TO ME THAT THE DEGREE OF FAILURE SEEN HERE IS UNEXPECTED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY IN THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IN A BRIEF SEARCH OF THE WEB I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS. I AM CONCERNED THAT WITH A POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE FORD DID NOT NOTIFY THE OWNERS TO CHECK FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND SLOWED DOWN TO GO OVER SOME RAILWAY TRACKS. AS I WENT OVER THE TRACKS I HEARD A "THUD" COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND CONTINUED AS I WENT OVER BUMPS, AND I DISCOVERED ONCE I ARRIVED HOME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE SHOCK WAS UNATTACHED AT THE TOP. SINCE THEN THE TOP OF THE SHOCK HAS PIERCED THROUGH THE INTERIOR CABIN WALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,000. *TR

FOR ABOUT A MONTH, MY CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD COME ON ALONG WITH THE ABS AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN I WOULD START MY CAR. MOST OF THE TIME, I COULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT FOR THE ELECTRONICS TO TURN OFF THEN START THE CAR AGAIN AND THEY WOULDN'T COME ON AGAIN. THE LIGHTS CAME ON A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKES SEEM TO HAVE GIVEN OUT. I HAD TO REALLY PUSH DOWN ALL THE WAY TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. I TOOK IT IN BUT SINCE IT WAS RANDOM, THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE IT OR FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LAST WEEK, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN A FEW DAYS LATER. THE LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO SAY I NEEDED A NEW HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU). THE PRICE WAS $4500. THIS WAS ON TOP OF THE TWO DIAGNOSTIC FEES OF $125 EACH I HAD ALREADY PAID. ALTOGETHER I HAD TO PAY $4750 AND MY FEH HAS 150,700 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS ABOUT 45 MPH AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A RED LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE ABS WARNING MESSAGE ON IT AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. I TRIED TO HIT THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND AND I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, A CAR WAS NOT IN FRONT OF ME AND I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PUT MY HAZARD BLINKERS ON. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT STARTED AS NORMAL AND THE BRAKES WORKED AS NORMAL. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP TO GET THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THANKFULLY, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT A CAR WAS NOT IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE SURELY HIT IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,500. UPDATED 02/26/13*LJ UPDATED 03/1/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, HE NOTICED A TICKING AND BANGING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE PISTON WAS HITTING THE VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,939.

DRIVING AT NIGHT ON FOUR-LANE US HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. WARNING LAMP CAME ON WITH STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE. SCARY IN TRAFFIC BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AAA TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH DIAGNOSED STUCK OPEN CIRCUIT IN THROTTLE BODY. REPLACED PART 5M6Z*9E926*CA THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASY. PART $376.70 LABOR $262.50 SHOP FEE $2.50 SALES TAX $48.13 TOTAL $ 689.83 VERY EXPENSIVE BUT LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HURT. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT BROKE FREE FROM THE BODY OF THE SUV DUE TO ERROSION/RUST. FROM WHAT I CAN SEE FROM RESEARCH THIS IS A PREVELANT ISSUE WITH 2004, 2005, 2006 FORD ESCAPES. HOWEVER FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO DEAL WITH AN ONGOING ISSUE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY WITH THE ISSUE, THEY CORRECTED THE SUSPENSION DESIGN IN 2007 ESCAPES. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I WAS GETTING READY TO STOP AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PAD "STUCK." THE PAD WOULDN'T DEPRESS AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. AFTER ADDITIONAL EFFORT, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP, BUT I WAS ALREADY AT A REDUCED SPEED SINCE I WAS COMING TO A STOP. I THOUGHT MY CAR MAT HAD JAMMED MY BRAKES, SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I MADE THE PURCHASE. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR A WEEK TO "REPRODUCE" THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY DID. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE PARTS ALONE WOULD COST $3,000, BUT THAT THE ENGINEERS AT FORD CORPORATE SUGGESTED THAT THE MECHANICS PERFORM AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL BRAKE BLEED, WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I ACTUALLY CALLED FORD HQ ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE PERSON WITH WHOM I SPOKE OFFERED NO REAL RESOLUTION, AND SHE SEEMED UNAWARE OF THINGS. FORD IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS A DESIGN FLAW--NOT A MECHANICAL FAILURE COVERED BY A WARRANTY. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, AND FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. HYBRIDS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, AND THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE FORCED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DESIGN FLAWS THAT ARE AS DANGEROUS AS

THIS VEHICLE WILL GO INTO "FAIL-SAFE" MODE, WHICH SHUTS THE IC ENGINE OFF WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAPPENS VERY INTERMITTENTLY AND NOT IN ANY CONSISTENT PATTERN. ONCE IT HAPPENS, IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR UNLESS THE CAR COOLS OFF COMPLETELY. HAPPENS ONLY WHEN CAR IS USED FOR LONG TRIPS. MULTIPLE FAULT CODES SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER, AND BASED ON THOSE FAULT CODES, I'VE HAD THE HYBRID COOLANT PUMP REPLACED, THE AIR FILTER FOR THE BATTERIES REPLACED, AND THE FANS THAT COOL THE BATTERY REPLACED. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE TRIPS TO BOTH FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE AND EXCELLENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS (WHO WERE BLOCKED ON THE FORD TECHNICAL WEBSITE, EVEN THOUGH THESE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SUBSCRIBE, FROM FINISHING THEIR RESEARCH INTO REPAIR OPTIONS) WITH THE FINAL RESULTS THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR IT. OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM, IT'S A VERY NICE VEHICLE....... BUT, I'M VERY NERVOUS THAT THIS SHUT-DOWN WILL OCCUR IN FAST, HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE I CANNOT GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND CAUSE A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE...... INCLUDING MY OWN OR MY FAMILY. I CANNOT KEEP THIS VEHICLE LONGER...... BUT, IF I TRADE IT OFF.... IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUE FOR FORD. GO ONLINE, AND YOU CAN FIND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAVE HAD TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY, MOST OF MY DRIVING WITH THIS VEHICLE IS ON 2-LANE STATE HIGHWAYS WHERE I CAN PULL OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IN TH

I BOUGHT THIS 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID FROM DRIVER'S WORLD IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, AND FOUND SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES THE MINUTE I DROVE OFF THE LOT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRST STOP SIGN LEAVING THE USED CAR DEALERSHIP, I GENTLY PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND FELT AS THOUGH THE ABS WAS LOCKING UP PREVENTING ME FROM EVEN SLOWING DOWN. WHEN I LET OFF OF THE BRAKES AND PRESSED THEM AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE JUST FINE. I FIGURED IT MAY HAVE BEEN A FLUKE, SO I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS FROM VIRGINIA BEACH TO MIDLOTHIAN. I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT IN MIDLOTHIAN WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT BOTH CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ROLLING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR 2 MILES IN THIS CONDITION OF HAVING TO PRESS THE BRAKES EXTREMELY HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM HAD GONE AWAY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DRIVER'S WORLD 36 HOURS LATER. DRIVER'S WORLD KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AND CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS UNDER THEIR 30DAY/1000MILE WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS OR GIVE A REFUND. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM DRIVER'S WORLD, AND AT THE FIRST STOP LIGHT I CAME TO THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO DRIVER'S WORLD, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND ERROR CODES C1471 AND C1472, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT T

MY BRAKES HAVE A VERY HARD PEDAL FROM TIME TO TIME. REQUIRING ME TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP. MY FORD DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WILL COST $3000.00 TO REPAIR. THEY ALSO STATE THAT THEY ARE NOT SURE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. (REMEMBER THIS IS A HYBRID AND BRAKES ARE DIFFERENT) SECOND ISSUE IS THE ELECTRIC DRIVE TRAIN DOES NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN UNDER 30 MPH LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO DUE UNDER 30 MPH. AT TIMES THIS REQUIRES EXTRA BREAKING BECAUSE THE ENGINE DOES NOT IDLE DOWN LIKE IT SHOULD. FORD SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS FORD HAS DONE VERY LITTLE TO ASSIST THE CUSTOMERS, OR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WHEEL WELL BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS MASSIVE RUST IN THE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL BODY AND FRAME HAS TOTALLY RUSTED AWAY LEAVING NO ANCHOR FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES). THIS DEFECT OCCURRED DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING GARAGE KEPT, WELL MAINTAINED AND MAINTAINED ONLY BY A LICENSED FORD DEALERSHIP. HIGHLAND PARK FORD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWINGLY AND/OR NEGLIGENTLY CONCEALED A KNOWN, MAJOR DEFECT FROM THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO AS TO AVOID HAVING TO REPAIR THE PRODUCT PER FORD'S EXPRESS WARRANTY. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 2 AM, THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AS THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE POWER WAS REDUCED TO MINIMAL POWER GIVEN BY THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. THIS CAUSED AN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED ON A VERY DANGEROUS OVERPASS CURVE OF THE FREEWAY AND NEARLY CAUSED TWO VEHICLES IN THE IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY TO COLLIDE WITH MY VEHICLE AS SPEED RAPIDLY DROPPED AND THE VEHICLE SAID TO "PULL OVER ANDS SHUT OFF VEHICLE SAFELY". THIS PART OF THE FREEWAY HAD NO PULL OVER SPOT NOR DID IT HAVE AN AREA TO REALLY SAFELY PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS DONE THIS AT HIGH SPEED WITHIN TWO WEEKS. IT HAS DONE THIS APPROXIMATELY 1-0 TIMES AT LOW SPEEDS ON CITY STREETS. THE CAR IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE POWER, LETTING IT SIT, AND THEN RESTARTING THE SYSTEM. THERE IS AN ACCOMPANYING OVERHEATING THAT OCCURTS AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE UNABLE TO BE EASILY RESTARTED AT THAT POINT. THIS EVENT GIVES NO WARNING OR INDICATION IT WILL HAPPEN AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER TO BE THRUST INTO. IF IT HAD BEEN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I AM CERTAIN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS AND VEHICLE COLLISIONS AS A RESULT. *JS

GOING 65 MPH ON FREEWAY AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW' ERROR COME UP ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY. 2 MIN. LATER THE ENGINE STOPS AND I COAST TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER AND SHUT EVERYTHING OFF. 5 MIN LATER I RESTART THE CAR AND EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND THE CAR DRIVES PERFECTLY FOR THE NEXT 2000 MILES (PRESENT TIME). DEALER FINDS THE ERROR CODES BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO REPLACE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID SINCE 2005, AND HAVE BEEN AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER FROM MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THE PAST YEAR (2011). MY BRAKES SCARY ON THE ROAD WILL STOP WORKING ANYTIME THE 300 VOLT BATTER IS JIGGLED TOO MUCH FROM IT'S HARNESS. ONE BILL ALONE THAT FIT ME OVER A MONTH OF REPAIRS IN THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS BEYOND TIME CONSUMING AND WAY OVER MY BUDGET. THEY TOLD ME I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED RIGHT AWAY, AND IT WAS GOING TO COST AROUND A 1000 DOLLARS WHEN I DID. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I'VE NOTICED OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROBLEM <HTTP://BLOG.YAGELSKI.COM/2010/01/MY-FORD-ESCAPE-HYBRID-BRAKE-REPAIR.HTML>. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND IF THERE ARE ANY DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURING SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE... ESPECIALLY BEFORE I GET KILLED OR KILL ANOTHER PERSON FROM DRIVING MY VEHICLE. IT REALLY HAS SCARED ME ON SEVERAL EPISODES SINCE RIGHT AROUND A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, IT IS NOT CONSISTENT. IT HAPPENS VERY IRREGULARLY BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME WORRY AND BE CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE ISSUE I HAVE TO ROLL TO A STOP TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE SYSTEM. YESTERDAY ALONE IT HAPPENED TWICE AND I HAD TO PULL THE PARKING EMERGENCY BRAKE JUST TO COME TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT ITSELF OFF. AT THE SAME TIME, A DASHBOARD READOUT DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW." IN ORDER TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD I WAS FORCED TO CUT ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT POWER. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS DISPLAYED. HAD THERE BEEN NO SHOULDER, I COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A HIGH-SPEED CRASH. THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN AS SOON I TURNED THE KEY AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, BUT STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS OR EXPLANATIONS DISPLAYED. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES DURING A 3-HOUR TRIP ACROSS MARYLAND, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ONCE ON THE RETURN TRIP TWO DAYS LATER. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD HYBRIDS, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO REMEDY THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING AND EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER TAKE OFF UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/14/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD PROVIDED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

THERE WAS A LEAK OF SOME FLUID NOTED IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE DURING THE NEXT ROUTINE SERVICE. NO LEAK WAS FOUND. *TR AT 110,000 MILES, DURING ROUTINE SERVICE, A LEAK WAS NOTICED BY THE MECHANIC, BUT NO SOURCE WAS FOUND. SOME TIME AFTER THAT, A NOISE BEGAN TO DEVELOP IN THE FRONT END. AT 120,000 MILES, THE NOISE WAS SEVERE, AND AN INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE PTU WAS FAILING. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED. THE NOISE GOT WORSE WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED MILES, CHANGED TO A VIBRATION, AND THEN AN OCCASIONAL CLUNKING NOISE. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AWAITING THE REPLACEMENT PART. I HAVE SINCE BECOME AWARE OF TSB 09-4-4 MAR 09 DRIVETRAIN - FLUID LEAK FROM PTU VENT. I FEEL THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF THE REPORTED LEAK, AND THAT LOSS OF FLUID IN THE PTU LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE PTU, WHICH ONLY HOLDS 12 OUNCES OF FLUID. THIS LEAKAGE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED BY THE DEALER, AND THE LOSS OF MY PTU MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. THESE PTUS FAIL PREMATURELY, AND ARE CONSISTENTLY ON BACK ORDER. MY DEALER HAD ANOTHER UNIT IN FOR THE SAME PTU REPLACEMENT WHEN I PICKED MINE UP AFTER THE REPAIR, AND ACKNOWLEDGES REPLACING MANY. FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT PTU, A SIMPLE MECHANICAL DEVICE THAT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THE CAR, CERTAINLY AS LONG AS OTHER DRIVELINE COMPONENTS LIKE THE REAR END, SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES.

WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR CONCERN, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. UPON EXAMINATION BY A FORD DEALER IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY AND POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED CAUSING THE ISSUE. DURING ROUTINE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF ADEQUATE STEERING ASSISTANCE. *KB

I HAVE @75000 MILES ON MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 4WD. I STARTED HEARING A NOISE AND STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT 50 MPH AND A NOISE AS I SLOW DOWN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO AND THEY EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED IT AS BEING THE TRANSFER CASE. ON SEPT 15, 2011, THE DEALERSHIP SAID AT THAT TIME TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE WOULD BE @$1500-1600. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID IT WAS BACK ORDERED UNTIL OCT 10, 2011. THEY SAID IT OBVIOUSLY WAS A PROBLEM WITH MANY ESCAPES SINCE IT WAS BACK ORDERED AT FORD. I HAVE ASKED FORD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED. I WENT ON LINE AND THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE ESCAPE, NOT JUST 2005. ONE OWNER SAID IT HAPPENED AT 60,000 MI. I FEEL IT IS A FLAW AND THAT THEY SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE IT. *KB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START. I RECEIVED WARNINGS ON THE DASH AND THE INFORMATION PANEL STATING TO SLOW TO A STOP AND SERVICE THE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING OPERATED NORMALLY. AFTER GETTING HOME AND RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS EVERYTHING CAME BACK NORMAL. LATER THAT DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN WITH THE SAME WARNINGS AND IT WAS MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE WORKING AGAIN. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE 12V BATTERY SEEMED TO BE LEAKING SO I INSPECTED AND CLEANED IT. THE NEXT DAY (MONDAY) I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE LEAKING BATTERY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE 12 V BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID MY PROBLEMS SHOULD BE FIXED BUT THEY WOULD CHECK FOR FAULT CODES. THE DEALER FOUND ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BUT COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. THE CAR WAS LEFT FOR ANOTHER DAY AND EVENTUALLY I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) WITH WAS APPROXIMATELY A $4500 PART. I HAVE READ STORIES ONLINE THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR ESCAPE HYBRID AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING TO CORRECT IT OTHER THAN MAKING THE OWNERS BUY $4500 REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TT

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON HEARD A BEEP AND HAD NO BRAKES WHAT SO EVER . I EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY ENTERING THE CAR IN TO NEUTRAL AND HITTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TURNED ON AGAIN IT WENT AWAY, MY MECHANIC SAYS ITS GOING TO COST $1000 MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THANKS FORD FOR YOUR ASUPPORT WITH THIS OBVIOUS ISSUE YOU NEED TO ADDRESS. *TR

I TOOK MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID TO THE DEALER ON AUG. 4TH/2011 FOR 30K MAINTENANCE AT A COST OF $715 + $100 COUPON. IMMEDIATELY UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL SLUGGISHNESS ABOUT IT. I DRIVE VERY LITTLE, SO IT TOOK A FEW MORE DAYS (8/4) FOR THE CAR TO BREAK DOWN. IT WAS RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC, AND CARS WHIZZED BY ME WITH KAMIKAZE MANEUVERS IN A PSYCHOTIC URGE TO PASS ME, AS MY VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING A FEW MPH. AS THE FREEWAY BEGAN TO RISE, MY CAR SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO ROLL BACKWARD. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE AND KILL OTHERS. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. I HAD TO FEVERISHLY PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TODAY (8/4/11) THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE BAD. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE, AND IT'S NOT A PART THAT 'GOES BAD'...BUT IT DOES REQUIRE CLEANING. UNFORTUNATELY MAINTENANCE OF THE THROTTLE BODY IS NOT A PART OF FORD'S MAINTENANCE PROTOCOL. I READ MANY OTHER HARROWING STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. AT LEAST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE EVEN HAD WRECKS. EVENTUALLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS SUCH A PART IN A CAR...I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT IF I PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I DO EXPECT A MECHANIC TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM! IT WAS HORRIBLE AND VERY FRIGHTENING. I'M JUST GLAD THAT I DIDN'T HURT ANYONE. FORD NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A FATALITY. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE FORD MOTOR CO. COMPL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI BRAKING SYSTEM COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,137. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/23/11

AS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TOWARDS THE SHOULDER. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. TEN MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, STILL DRIVING THE HIGHWAY @60 MPH. LUCKILY, NO CARS WERE BEHIND, AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THREE TIMES . CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE HAD ANOTHER CAR THE SAME MORNING, WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. DIAGNOSTICS: NEED TO REPLACE BOTH HIGH VOLTAGE TRACTION BATTERY COOLING FANS AND TO REPLACE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLING PUMP. WHEN DEALER SEARCHED FOR PARTS, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY IN MN, BECAUSE APPARENTLY ALL DEALERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL THEY WOULD GET THE PART FROM CA. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. FORD EVEN ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSB 08-24-5 AND TSB 09-17-7) ADDRESSING BOTH ISSUES. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, GIVEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE CAR NEEDS TO BE MOVED RIGHT AWAY TOWARDS THE SHOULDER. CAR COULD BE HIT FROM BEHIND FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC, GIVEN THE SUDDEN SPEED CHANGE, AND COULD CAUSE FATALITIES. DON'T WANT TO HAVE FOR ANOTHER FIRESTONE - FORD EXPLORER FIASCO.

HIGHWAY DRIVEING 55 MPH JUST SHUT DOWN IN CENTER LANE PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER WARNING LIGHTS ON NO POWER RE STARTED IT WAS OK THIS WAS THE 2 TIME THIS HAS HAPENED IN 3 MO..

WE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL GOOD FORD VEHICLES IN THE PAST, UP UNTIL NOW. THE SUBJECT: 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID AND PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS. WE NOW UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS DEFECTIVE IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH ALL OF THE FORD'S HYBRID ESCORT LINE...DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE. THE COST OF REPAIRS CAN RANGE FROM $1500-4000 AND AS A CONSUMER'S RIGHTS ADVOCATE I WON'T HESITATE TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON THIS ONE...MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR, AND SHE ALMOST HAD WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS IF NOT A FATAL ACCIDENT...;NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP.. AND WE CAN'T AFFORD FOR HER NOT TO CONTINUE TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY HER A NEW CAR. WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE...THE ONLY RESPONSE EVER FROM THEM TO ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, HAS BEEN A WEAK APOLOGY. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO INITIATE A RECALL OR AT LEAST A RESPONSIBLE REPLY FROM FORD. I CAN'T EVEN FEEL GOOD ABOUT SELLING THIS CAR TO ANYONE ELSE UNTIL THIS DEFECT IS RESOLVED. AT LEAST TOYOTA DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO WHEN THEY HAD THE "STUCK" ACCELERATION ISSUE...BUT FORD - AN AMERICAN (?) COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME...WITH SHABBINESS LIKE THIS IT'S NO WONDER OUR TECHNOLOGIES BEING CONSTANTLY "SOLD (OUT)" ) AND EXPORTED OVERSEAS. ON BEHALF OF ALL AMERICANS WHO PREFER TO PURCHASE USA MADE PRODUCTS AND EXPECT TH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AFTER AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING ON THE BATTERY POWER AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE EXACT FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

STARTED CAR AND RED BRAKE LIGHT AND YELLOW ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. MESSAGE TO SEEK BRAKE SERVICE ASAP. *TR

2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 127,000 "I-95" MILES (IT STILL AVERAGES 34.3 MPG) GREAT, RELIABLE, LOW REPAIR COST VEHICLE, UNTIL RECENTLY: BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING APPEARS ON DASH INTERMITTENTLY. CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE, VA QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF $3900.00 TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE AND HCU MODULE ($3200.00 PARTS, $700.00 LABOR). AFTER CALLING AROUND THE NORFOLK, VA AREA, APPARENTLY THE HCU MODULE IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH FORD (WHAT A SURPRISE), AND NO OTHER REPAIR SHOP WILL "TOUCH" OUR 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE. WOW, THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR...THAT MEANS THAT I'M BASICALLY A PRISONER TO FORD???? *TR

SERVICE BRAKE SYS MESSAGE ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID ALONG WITH BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPED AND OVER A BUMP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED; THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR FEW MOMENTS AND THE FAILURE WOULD SUBSIDE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HARNESS AND COMPUTER MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,567 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

MASTER CYLINDER ON 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID FAILED - 73940 MILES ON CAR. MOSTLY CITY & HIGHWAY DRIVING - NO RACING OR OTHER KIND OF DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRONIC BRAKES FAILED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO RECALIBRATED THE HYBRID ELECTRONIC BRAKES BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,500.

THE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT #10318942. INTERMITTENTLY ON DRY PAVEMENT DURING NORMAL BRAKING, THE ABS WILL ENGAGE (WITH INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHING ON) AND YOU CAN FEEL THE TYPICAL ABS ON/OFF PULSING OF THE BRAKES IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT APPEARS THE CAR IS ALSO TAKING LONGER TO COME TO A FULL STOP WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HAVE REPORTED IT MULTIPLE TIMES AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME REGULARLY (A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK).

ON 3/17/2009, AFTER WASHING THE VEHICLE AT A CAR WASH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE LATER STOPPED RUNNING AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE WERE CHARGED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION. ON 9/01/2010, THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP. ON THE WAY HOME, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. IT STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ON 9/07/2010 TO BE LOOKED AT AT THE ADVICE OF FORD. THEY FOUND A FAULTY WATER PUMP, REPLACED IT AND A FILTER, AND WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ON 9/09/2010, THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN OVERHEATED, STRANDING US AGAIN. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND AGAIN TOLD US IT WAS FIXED. ON 11/23/2010, IT WAS RAINING AND AGAIN THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO RETURN HOME. ON 12/17/2010, THE REPAIR ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE.

TSB 05-8-5 STATES: ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LAMP ON WITH DTC C1526 - DTC C1524 MAY ALSO BE PRESENT VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 2/11/2005. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED. I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AND WHEN I BEGAN MAKING A LEFT TURN, AN ALARM SOUNDED, A RED WRENCH SYMBOL, AND RED EXCLAMATION MARK LIT UP ON THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE CURB AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CAR RESTARTED AND I TOOK IT TO FORD. THE SERVICE REP SAID THE CAR WENT INTO A "FAIL SAFE MODE" WHICH IT DOES TO PROTECT THE HYBRID BATTERY FROM OVERHEATING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ALARM AND SYMBOLS OCCUR TO GIVE YOU ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. THE CAR JUST LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT A COOLANT PUMP FOR THE HYBRID BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE. FIVE WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND WHEN I BEGAN TURNING RIGHT, THE ALARM SOUNDED, THE RED WRENCH AND EXCLAMATION LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER IMMEDIATELY. AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE SO I TOOK IT BACK TO FORD TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY REPLACED A "SUSPECT" COOLING PUMP RELAY AND ROAD TESTED THE CAR. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS VEHICLE'S "FAIL SAFE MODE" MAKES THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO AN EMERGENCY LANE, BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON A FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED? I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED MY GRA

POWER STEERING GOES OUT ON MY '05 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. HAPPENED ONCE WHEN I HAD CAR ABOUT 3 YEARS AND FORD SAID A FLUKE. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL '09 BUT NEVER WAS HAPPENING WHEN I DROVE IT IN AND FORD COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO GET THERE WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING BUT THEY STILL COULDN'T SAY FOR SURE BUT SUGGESTED I PAY TO REPLACE STEERING WIRING HARNESS AND SENSOR. I HESITATED TO DO THIS AS SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING ANOTHER FORD MGR SAID DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AND ANOTHER FORD MGR SAID DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT IS FINE FOR MONTHS, OTHER TIMES HAPPENS EVEN WHEN I FIRST TURN THE CAR ON. SOMETIMES THE STEERING JUST FEELS "LOOSE"....NOT NORMAL. USUALLY THOUGH, I'M DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A PULL LEFT AND THE STEERING GOES OUT. FORD MGR TOLD ME IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE BUT IT'S GETTING MORE NERVE WRACKING - SUDDEN HARD PULLS LEFT BUT POWER STEERING STAYS ON - FOR AWHILE. ONCE HAPPENED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. DRIVING A STRAIGHT LINE ISN'T BAD BUT TIGHT TURNS ARE DIFFICULT AND U TURNS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE TO THE MOUNTAINS. *TR