2006 Ford Escape Hybrid

Above average

Owners filed 219 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
100,000 milesMedian miles at failure

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

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes56
201
Engine29
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic25
100
Electrical System22
000
Steering20
000
Hybrid Propulsion System9
000
Vehicle Speed Control7
000
Engine and Engine Cooling7
010
Structure › Body6
000
Suspension5
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Hybrid Propulsion System
Filed Jun 2, 2023150,000 milesLA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the brushless Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V526000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Hybrid Propulsion System
Filed Feb 13, 2023157,000 milesVT

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine turned over for two seconds and stalled. The contact stated that an unknown service warning light was illuminated, indicating to pull the vehicle over. The contact notified an independent mechanic and he was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to confirm any recalls; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000. The VIN was invalid.

Hybrid Propulsion System
Filed Aug 6, 2021AZ

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign number: 14V526000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The part was available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 25, 2019110,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN FENTON, MICHIGAN FOR MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK TOWER FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 15, 2019100,000 milesIA

THE HYBRID ELECTRONICS SYSTEM OVERHEATED, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE ALERT SYSTEM SAID TO "STOP CAR SLOWLY" AND THEN "CHECK EMISSIONS SYSTEM". THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND LOST ALMOST ALL POWER. AFTER TURNING IT ON AGAIN, THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS LIKE THIS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES (THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE BUT THE CAR SEEMED NORMAL AFTER THE INITIAL STALL). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY MECHANIC'S GARAGE AND THEY TOLD US THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE MECS PUMP WHICH WAS CAUSING THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT. THIS SEEMS REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO RECALL #14S19 AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER IT. I ALSO CHATTED WITH A REP FROM FORD WHO COULDN'T TELL ME WHY MY CAR WASN'T COVERED. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ERROR ON FORD'S END. THE REP TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON JULY 29, 2005 AND THE RECALL INCLUDES VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 2005 TO JUNE 20, 2008. SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T FIND AN EXACT DATE FOR THE START OF THE "BUILD DATE" RANGE, BUT SHE THOUGHT IT INCLUDED ALL OF 2005. SO I SAID "SHOULDN'T MINE BE COVERED?" SIMILARLY, THE 14S19 RECALL NOTICE STATES: "MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED OCTOBER 13, 2003, TO JUNE 20, 2008". I BOUGHT THE CAR IN LATE 2015, AFTER THE INITIAL RECALL DATE WAS ISSUED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING RECALL MATTERS WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE CAR ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS LIGHTLY USED SO I WONDER IF

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 18, 201980,000 milesCA

AS I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND RED LIGHT, MY BRAKES SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I LITERALLY HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE AND IT FINALLY STOPPED MOVING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AT LESS THAN 10 MPH AND HAD TO LET OFF THE GAS IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO ATTEMPT TO USE THE BRAKES AND CAR WOULD SHAKE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE CODE AND IT WAS THE TRAVEL SENSOR.

Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2019140,000 milesNY

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WITH APPROX. 140,000 MILES. INITIALLY, HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S GAS ENGINE STALLING OUT WHILE IN MOTION AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FROM 35 TO 55 MPH. MESSAGE IN DASH SAID TO PULL OVER SAFELY. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN ONE DAY AND EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND RUN FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES. NEXT DAY IT RAN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE OCCURRING ONCE AGAIN. EVENTUALLY THE HYBRID BATTERY HAD NO MORE JUICE AND I HAVE TO BE TOWED. GARAGE, NOT DEALER DX STICKING THROTTLE LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THEY CLEANED IT, RECHARGED THE HYBRID BATTERY AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. VEHICLE WORKED WELL FOR 6 WEEKS AND THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT AFTER INITIALLY STALLING OUT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM, ON 2 OCCASIONS OCCURRED WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD. RETURNED IT TO GARAGE WHERE IT STALLED WHEN COLD ONE OF THOSE TIMES. AFTER THAT IS DIDN'T STALL FOR THEM AGAIN. GARAGE LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT NO CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS OR FIX. THEY SUGGESTED THAT CHANGING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE ASSEMBLY MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT CONFIDENT OF THIS. VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 2019185,000 milesKS

ABS BREAK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD IN A SMALL TOWN AND WAS STOPPING TO TURN ON TO A ROAD. THE PROBLEM HAD ALSO HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE HAS STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME AND I NEEDED TO BREAK SUDDENLY. HAD BREAK FLUID CHANGED AT FORD DEALERSHIP AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN YOU NEED TO STOP SUDDENLY AND HIT THE BREAKS HARD, THE PEDAL HARD IT STIFFENS UP AND WILL NOT STOP THE CAR. IF YOU TURN OFF THE CAR AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON, IT SEEMS TO RESET IT UNTIL YOU HIT THE BREAKS HARD AGAIN.

Engine
Filed May 2, 2019187,621 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED DAY FORD (LOCATED AT 2124, 3696 WILLIAM PENN HWY, MONROEVILLE, PA 15146, (412) 856-0600) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,621.

Hybrid Propulsion System
Filed Apr 26, 2019113,533 milesUT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING ICON DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING INDICATOR NO LONGER APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILSON FORD LINCOLN (328 MAIN ST, LOGAN, UT 84321, (435) 752-7355) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,533.

Steering
Filed Apr 9, 201997,731 milesVA

POWER STEERING FAIL NO DASH CODES E S P FAILED NO POWER ASSIST TO TURN THE STEERING

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Feb 8, 2019144,000 milesCA

STOP SAFELY NOW & SERVICE SOON - WRENCH. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 6, 2019110,000 milesMN

POWER STEERING FAILED DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURE. COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL

Electrical System
Filed Jan 30, 2019200,000 milesOR

AS MY SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY FOR SCHOOL SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN. SHE TOOK MY CAR TO SCHOOL. I WENT TO TRY AND MOVE THE CAR BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY AND COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL MYSELF. LUCKILY SHE WAS AT HOME AND NOT ON THE ROAD. THERE IS NO ASSISTED STEERING ANYMORE, IT JUST WENT OUT.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 27, 2018130,000 milesVA

CAR SHUTS OFF WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING, 3 TIMES NOW, ONCE ON INTERSTATE 64. DEALER FIRST SAID HYBRID BATTERY BAD, 2ND OPINION FROM HYBRID BATTERY COMPANY SAID BATTERY GOOD. DEALER SAID, 2ND TIME WITH CAR, NEED A $600 REPAIR THAT WILL RESOLVE. NOW, DEALER SAYS NO, THE BATTERY IS STILL THE ISSUE. THEY STILL CANNOT STATE WHY THE CAR DOES IT, WHAT WILL MAKE THIS CAR SAFE TO DRIVE AND IF THEY TRULY KNOW IT IS THE BATTERY, WHY DID THEY DO THE $600 REPAIR AND TELL US THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED WYNNE FORD IN HAMPTON VA, THE DEALER, FOR A POC AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO BE ABLE TO GET ANSWERS ON HOW TO MAKE/KNOW OUR12 YR OLD CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE, BEEN OVER A MONTH, BUT HAVE RECIEVED NO INFORMATION FROM WYNNE FORD. I GUESS I NEED TO DRIVE TO MICHIGAN TO SEE MR. WILLIAM CLAY FORD JR FOR ANSWERS. I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO, THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BUT THE LATEST WAS AROUND OCT 2018. EACH INCIDENT, WE HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED.

Steering
Filed Aug 27, 2018107,000 milesCA

POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT. NO WARNING UNTIL IT WAS OUT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT COMPLETELY. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT WENT OUT DO TO HOW HARD IT IS TO STEER! IT'S NOT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. IT'S ALL ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. SOME MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE. INCLUDING PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SPENT OVER $1,000 AND THE ISSUE HAS CAME BACK WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. ALSO THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED SOME ACCIDENTS. FORD NEEDS TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT ON ALL CARS!

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2018146,000 milesCT

I WAS DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ON A CITY STREET. AS TRAFFIC SLOWED I BEGAN TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY I GOT SEVERAL ALERTS ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (BRAKE, ABS, AND REGEN DISCONNECT). AT THE SAME TIME I LOST ALL OR MOST OF MY BRAKING POWER. I WAS FORCED TO USE THE PARK BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND BARELY AVOIDED A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR A SHORT TIME, WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE SYSTEM APPARENTLY RESET ITSELF AND WHEN I RE-STARTED THE ENGINE ALL FUNCTIONS WERE OPERATIONAL ONCE AGAIN, AND ALL THE ALERTS WERE GONE. HOWEVER, THIS PERIOD WAS BRIEF. THINKING THIS MIGHT BE A SYSTEM GLITCH, I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY THIS FAILURE RETURNED AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES OF DRIVING. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS FLAW IN THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM OF THIS MODEL YEAR FORD ESCAPE, AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODEL YEARS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THEY INFORMED ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE. AS A MECHANIC I FIND THIS RIDICULOUS. AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH ONLINE I FOUND MANY HYBRID FORD ESCAPE OWNER'S THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. AT THIS POINT I DEEMED MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND DECIDED THE BEST THING TO DO WAS TO REPORT THIS FAILURE TO THE NHTSA WITH THE HOPES THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FAILURE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. MY OPINION I

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 5, 201840,100 milesAZ

INTERMITTENT ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WITH ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jul 3, 2018173,300 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "STOP FOR SAFETY/HIGH MOTOR - COOLING" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP WAS FAULTY. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,300.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 30, 2018TX

VEHICLE WAS FAILING TO STOP WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. CODES CAME BACK FROM DEALER THAT HCU AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED $7100 WHICH IS MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. OTHER YEAR MODES HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL

20 of 219 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
2006 — this page219010Above average
2005178000Routine

Compare every Escape Hybrid year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

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.