2008 Ford Escape Hybrid complaints

THE TONE RING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPLIT CREATING A PULSATING SENSATION SIMILAR TO THE ABS PULSATING-HOWEVER THE ABS WARNING LIGHT DOESN'T ENGAGE THE STABILITY SENSOR FLASHES FOR AS LONG AS THE PULSATING OCCURS. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHILE DECELERATING NO MATTER WHAT SPEED. I HAD THE ISSUE FIXED. THEN THE ISSUE APPEARED AGAIN IN MARCH 2013. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO BE FIXED AND AFTER THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CV AXLE AND RING THE ISSUE STILL WASN'T CORRECTED AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FURTHER. THIS ISSUE IS AN ANNOYANCE AND UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ANY PASSENGERS RIDING IN THE VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCES THIS ISSUE. THE OUT OF POCKET COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM ARE NOT 'CHEAP.' FORD SHOULD ADDRESS AND PROVIDE A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T CAUSE UNDUE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO THE OWNER. *TR

RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING, MY DASHBOARD SUDDENLY DISPLAYS A RED TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT IN IT AND ADVISES ME TO "STOP SAFELY NOW." REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I CAN STOP SAFELY OR NOT, I LOSE POWER SUDDENLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, AND I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A GENERIC WARNING THAT COVERS NUMEROUS CAR PROBLEMS. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO MANY MILES ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IGNORING THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND I MADE COMPLAINTS TO THIS SITE THEN, THE MOST CURRENT BOUTS HAVE OCCURRED WHEN I WAS IN VERY HEAVY COMMUTER VOLUME ON THE SAME HIGHWAY THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH NO SHOULDERS. I LOSE POWER, WITHOUT EVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE LANE. THIS SEVERELY DISRUPTS TRAFFIC, AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES. WHAT'S WORSE IS, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS THINGS FIXED, BUT I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SAFE, AND MOST LIKELY, ONE DAY I WILL BE INJURED BECAUSE OF IT. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE OPTION OF RUINING MY VEHICLE BY DRIVING IT WHEN I SHOULDN'T THEN TO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF GETTING OUT OF HARMS WAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER YEARS OF ESCAPES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, SO WHY NOT MINE? THANK YOU. *TR

AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, I PUT MY VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL TO POINT IT TO DRIVE DOWN THE ALLEYWAY AND SUDDENLY REALIZED I COULD NOT TURN THE FRONT WHEELS. I ALMOST HIT THE TREE BESIDE THE GARAGE AND HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND HIT THE BRAKES HARD. I TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO TURN THE WHEELS AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AS IT WAS FINE WHEN I DROVE IT AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE THE DAY BEFORE. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED AND FOUND I COULD BARELY STEER SO HAD TO BACKUP AND THEN GO FORWARD A COUPLE INCHES AT A TIME UNTIL AFTER ABOUT 30 TIMES BACK AND FORTH COULD LINE UP ENOUGH TO PULL STRAIGHT INTO THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL WAITING TO BE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. I HAD BEEN STARTING ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW AND THREE YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER SO THANK HEAVENS THE POWER STEERING DID NOT GO OUT WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING TO OR FROM THE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND BEEN KILLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A SUMMER NIGHT AT AROUND 9:00 PM, THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED, A RED WARNING TRIANGLE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DASH MESSAGE SCREEN SAID, "STOP SAFELY NOW." I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED IT OFF, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON 5 SEPARATE TRIPS SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER HAS HAPPENED, OFTEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. THE FAILURE OFTEN HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME TRIP. EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED HAS BEEN IN THE SUMMER AND IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EVENING. EACH TIME THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED ONCE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF. *TR

SAME THING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. I HAVE PHOTOS FOR EACH INCIDENT. ABS LIGHTS, CHECK BRAKES LIGHT. AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS LIGHT UP. REGEN BRAKES DISENGAGED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH [XXX] AT FUTURE FORD HE ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN THE NEXT TIME IT DOES IT, DURING BUSINESS HOURS SINCE THERE ARE NO OPTIONS FOR AFTER HOURS. I GET OFF WORK AT 5PM AND PICK UP MY KIDS AND BY THE TIME THAT IS DONE THERE IS NOT TIME TO MAKE IT BACK TO DEALER. I AM MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PICK UP KIDS SO WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN TOMORROW I CAN GO STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP AFTER WORK OR ON MY LUNCH. I ALSO PLAN ON HAVING THEM CHECK THE TONE RINGS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP, BUT HAVE STILL NOT ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OTHERS HAVE HAD REGARDING SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. THEY HAVE NOT COME ON FOR 2 DAYS, AND THEY ARE BACK ON. HAD CAR SERVICED A WEEK EARLIER. FORD SAID THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES, BUT THEY "SUSPECT" MASTER CYLINDER POSSIBLY. INTERNET SEARCH YIELDS DISTURBING INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER FORD ESCAPE HYBRID OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. LIGHTS SEEM TO OCCUR MORE ON DAYS WHERE TEMPERATURE IS HIGHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF A RED TRIANGLE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING THE CONTACT TO PULL OVER. THE CONTACT LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR ELECTRONIC COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TR

I LEFT WORK. PICKED UP DAUGHTER. CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, ABS, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON @ 530PM. DROVE TO PICK UP BOYS FROM SUMMER PROGRAM. GET IN CAR. LIGHTS OFF. 553PM. PUT CAR IN REVERSE. SAME LIGHTS REAPPEAR. 555PM. REGEN BRAKES DISABLED. TAKES PEDAL TO FLOOR TO STOP AND FEEL PRESSURE OF BRAKES. CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLING BACK ON INCLINE UNLESS BRAKES ARE ALL THE WAY APPLIED. TALKED TO [XXX] AT DEALERSHIP EARLIER. SAID TO BRING IN WHEN LIGHTS WERE ON, DURING BUSINESS HOURS. SAID THAT FORD WAS UNABLE TO HELP DUE TO NO WARRANTY. SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE HCU UNIT. I ASKED WHY THIS WASN'T MENTIONED AT MY INSPECTION A WEEK AGO. HE SAID IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE WHEN THEY LOOK AT IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THE GAS MOTOR SHUTS OFF AND GOES IN TO LIMP MODE USING ONLY BATTERY HYBRID POWER. THE CAR WON'T RESTART MOTOR WHILE ROLLING. THE DASH SHOWS A MESSAGE TO PULL OVER AND STOP WITH A LITTLE RED TRIANGLE. IN ORDER TO RESTART THE MOTOR YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CAR WILL IMMEDIATELY START BACK UP AND DRIVE BETWEEN 1/2 TO 1 MILE THEN SHUTS DOWN AGAIN. REPEAT PROCESS AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY. ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY, I STOPPED WITH THE MOTOR SHUT IT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AND OPERATED NORMALLY. DROVE AN ADDITIONAL 30 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS. NO ISSUES FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS THEN SAME SCENARIO OF MULTIPLE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WORKED FINE THE FOLLOWING DAY. NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR CODES. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE RAINING. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT WHEN IT WAS DRY. *TR

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY ON-RAMP, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR FELT FUNNY. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND SAW THAT THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS. THE DISPLAY READ, "CHECK BRAKES SOON" I CALLED A FRIEND FOR ASSISTANCE. HE ADDED SOME BRAKE FLUID AND SUGGESTED I BRING IT TO BE SERVICED. I DROVE HOME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO DROP THE CAR OFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF, BUT I DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP ANYWAY. THE SERVICE PROVIDER,[XXX], SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT THEY "THOUGHT" THAT IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY SAID THE BRAKES LOOKED FINE, AND IF I HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS TO CALL BACK. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. DROVE AROUND THE CORNER TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. (5:35PM). I STOPPED AS SOON AS I COULD GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED [XXX] BACK. HE SAID TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN THE MORNING AND HE WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN THE MORNING 7:15AM. THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AGAIN. I PICKED THE CAR UP AT 5:15 PM AND [XXX] RE-ITERATED HIS PREVIOUS SUGGESTIONS. I DROVE THE CAR HOME, AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AS I WAS EXITING THE FREE-WAY. AGAIN, THE BRAKES TOOK MORE PRESSURE TO STOP. I CALLED DON AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A PAYMENT PLAN AVAILABLE. HE SAID NO. I ASKED IF I REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEMS PERSISTS, WHAT WOULD OUR NEXT STEP BE? HE SAID ESSENTIALLY THAT WE WOULD ADDRESS THAT I

WAS DRIVING ON A HWY ON A SUMMER NIGHT, GOING 60 MPH, WHEN A LIGHT CAME ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID'S DASHBOARD THAT SAID "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. I COASTED TO A SHOULDER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED, AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS GONE, SO I DROVE ON. NOTICED ENGINE WAS RUNNING LOUDER THAN NORMAL AND TRANSITION BETWEEN GAS AND ELECTRIC MODES SEEMED CLUNKY. GOOGLED THE PROBLEM WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND DOZENS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS - SAYING IT WAS A FAULTY COOLING PUMP (PART NUMBER 5M6Z-8C419-A) CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. REPAIR COST $632.00. NOT COVERED UNDER THE HYBRID WARRANTY. (WE WERE TOLD IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE HYBRID ENGINE TO FUNCTION, BUT IT'S NOT CONSIDERED A HYBRID PART.) DUG FURTHER, SAW THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NOV. 20, 2008) TO DEALERSHIPS: "TSB 08-24-5 STATES THAT SOME 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRID AND 2006-2008 MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND CODES INDICATING A TRANSAXLE OVERTEMP. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN REDUCED POWER AS THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FAIL SAFE OPERATION." FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. FORD NEEDS TO BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL. IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY EXPRESSWAY, OR IF SOMEONE IS BEING TAILGATED, ETC. WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, PEOPLE WILL GET KILLED, IF SOME

ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ALL OCCURRING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AFTER AT LEAST 40 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON A HOT DAY, THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY CUT OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED RAPIDLY. A RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS: "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW AND TURN OFF ENGINE". ALL 4 TIMES I WAS DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE. ALL 4 TIMES THE CAR STARTED AGAIN NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. AFTER THE 3RD INCIDENT, I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN SOON, AND IT STALLED AGAIN AFTER 10 MORE MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. FIRST INCIDENT LATE JULY 2012, THEN LATE AUGUST 2012, AND TWICE ON JUNE 19, 2013. THIS IS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE, AND I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT TO BE REAR ENDED. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR SEE ANY CODES IN DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, REFUSES TO PURSUE. HELP!!!! *TR

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID (FEH) "STOP VEHICLE SAFELY" RED TRIANGLE WARNING AND IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN DUE TO THE WELL-KNOWN DEFECT IN THE BOSCH OEM MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLING SYSTEM (MECS) PUMP IN THE 2005-2008 MODEL YEARS. SEE FORD TSB 08-24-5. IF THE NHTSA DID EVEN A CURSORY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THEY WOULD SEE MANY, MANY HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS AND RELATED ACCIDENTS OR NEAR-MISSES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE FAILURE IS ONLY TRIGGERED BY DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR DRIVING UP STEEP HILLS AND THE SHUTDOWN IS IMMEDIATE (NO PRIOR WARNING), CAUSING SUDDEN AND SIGNIFICANT DROP IN SPEED AND FRANTIC ACTIONS BY THE DRIVER TO ABRUPTLY STEER THE UNPOWERED CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE ARE NO EXTERNAL INDICATORS TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SUDDEN SLOWDOWN AND LANE CHANGE AND THE DRIVER DARE NOT USE THE BRAKES TO SIGNAL OTHERS BECAUSE TO HIT THE BRAKES WITH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE ALREADY QUICKLY SLOWING TO A STOP WOULD CAUSE THE FEH TO ABRUPTLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. ALTHOUGH THIS PART IS UNIQUE TO THE HYBRID VERSIONS OF ESCAPES, FORD REFUSES TO CLASSIFY IT AS A UNIQUE HYBRID COMPONENT (WHICH WOULD BE COVERED BY THE 8 YR 100,000 MI WARRANTY) AND ROUTINELY CHARGES $800 TO REPLACE IT. IN MY CASE FAILURES HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, ALWAYS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. TWO OF THE FAILURES NEARLY CAUSED MULTIPLE CAR PILEUPS BECAUSE THE INTERSTATE WAS FULL OF CARS AND SEMIS WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT. I AM FRANKLY SHOCKED THAT THE NHTSA DIDN'T REQUIRE A RE

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME APPROX 5:30 PM ON A BUSY FOUR LANE ROAD FROM AN ERRAND AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" LIGHT CAME ON. AT THAT POINT SHE COULD NOT GET OVER DUE TO TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST DOWN A HILL INTO A TURN LANE NEARLY HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR AND STOP THE CAR. WE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND BRING IT HOME. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE COOLANT MOTOR TO THE BATTERY WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE HYBRID BATTERY TO OVERHEAT THEREBY SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY. THIS IS TO PREVENT THE HYBRID BATTERY FROM OVERHEATING. I DO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE, BUT THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 50,000 MILES TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM SHUTTING OFF . WE WERE GETTING READY TO DRIVE ON A 600 MILE TRIP IN THIS CAR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WAY THE WARRANTY IS WRITTEN, IT IS NOT COVERED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY ESPECIALLY AFTER 50,000 MILES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PROVIDE A RECALL AND/OR FIX TO THIS PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. *TR

DURING A 300 MILE TRIP, THE FEH "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING CAME ON AND CAR SHUT DOWN. WE WERE ON A BUSY LA HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY, READ UP ON THAT WARNING SYMBOL AND RESTARTED CAR WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT THEN. 25 DAYS LATER, DRIVING THE CAR ON 45 MINUTE TRIP, 'STOP SAFELY NOW' LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY. HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART CAR. AGAIN THIS WAS HIGHWAY DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NO CAR SHOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. *TR

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE DECELERATED, RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH, WITH DIRECTION TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD. I DID SO, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. ENGINE THEN RESTARTED WITHOUT WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. BETWEEN THAT EVENT AND ARRIVING HOME (APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES), THIS OCCURRED 5 MORE TIMES. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, THERE APPEAR TO BE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

DRIVING ALONG, MY WIFE SUDDENLY NOTICED THAT BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. DASHBOARD STATES ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, AND REGEN SYSTEM FAILURE. SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED CAR OFF. RESTARTING, FAILURE LIGHTS STILL COME UP, BRAKING STILL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE BRAKE FLUID IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE! IT'D BEEN FILLED AT LAST OIL CHANGE (LESS THAN 1500 MILES AGO) TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER 2 DAYS, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HCU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THAT THEY WOULD BE SPECIAL ORDER PARTS AND THAT IT'D COST EXTRA $ FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE REPAIR. (I'D TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I'D RESEARCHED AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, FORD HAS MANY TSBS OUT FOR THIS, CALLS INTO QUESTION THE TRAINING OR THE ABILITY OF THIS DEALERSHIP TO PROPERLY DO THE REPAIR) FORD IS THE ONLY SUPPLIER FOR PARTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR REPAIR, AND THEY CHARGE A PREMIUM PRICE FOR THEM! $7000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD BE VOLUNTARILY RECALLING. IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST MAKE THE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR A LOT LESS MONEY! *TR CONSUMER TRADED THE VEHICLE IN JULY 2014 TO MARK MILLER TOYOTA IN SALT LAKE CITY, UT. UPDATED 6/8/18*JB

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED UP WHERE IT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. FORTUNATELY, IT WASN'T A BUSY DAY AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I'M CONFUSED WHY FORD HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I UNDERSTAND MY VEHICLE HAS A LOT OF MILES, BUT 85 PERCENT OF MY MILES ARE FREEWAY MILES. MY RESOLUTION WAS TO SPEND $2,000.00 OUT OF POCKET AND HAVE THE ISSUE REPAIRED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" LIT UP AFTER I FELT A JOLT TO THE CAR, WHICH THEN SLOWED DOWN. I REACHED THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR THE RED SSN LIGHT WAS OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO REACH A QUALIFIED AUTO REPAIR. THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS BUT WERE UNABLE TO SEE A PROBLEM AFTER GOING THROUGH THEIR CODE PROCESS, NOR RECREATE THE SSN ALERT. THIS FIRST HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 27TH 2013. AGAIN, HAVING THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME AND TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY WAS (ON THE WAY TO DISNEYLAND) QUITE FRIGHTENING AND HAZARDOUS! I HAVE READ MANY MANY STORIES OF FEH OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE! THIS IS A DEFECT TO THE CAR, AND NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND WHILE I WAS NOT INJURED, THE FACT THAT I HAD TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN OTHER CAR OWNERS ON THE FREEWAY BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. SERIOUSLY. *TR

FOR THE PAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS I HAVE NOTICED A PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SHAKING AND VIBRATING IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP OR RESTING. ON THE 27TH OF MARCH, 2013 I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WAS REALLY DIFFICULT, AS IN THE POWER ASSIST WASN'T HELPING. THE BRAKES WERE STILL WORKING FINE. WHEN I SHUT THE VEHILCE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE STEERING WAS BEING ASSISTED BY THE EPS AGAIN. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, BUT RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED, THE ELECTRICAL PANEL HAS STARTED DISPLAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. THIS WAS HAPPENING SPORADICALLY BUT HAS SINCE STARTED HAPPENING MORE CONSISTENTLY. IT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 3/22/2013, WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN A VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. ONCE I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR, EVERYTHING APPEARS NORMAL UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. ON 3/23/2013 IT HAPPENED TWICE IN LESS THAN 5 MILES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING FROM LA TO PASADENA AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY SUV SLOWS DOWN AND THERE'S A TRIANGLE WARNING SIGN. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE FREEWAY WAS NOT CROWDED AND EASILY PULLED OVER. MY FRIEND IS HEARING AND WAS ABLE TO CALL A TOW FOR ME. WE HAD TO TOW THE SUV BACK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SANTA MONICA. THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND SAID IT WAS THE COOLANT OR WATER PUMP THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED IT. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY ON ROAD TRIPS. I HAD AN ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING FROM BAY AREA TO LA. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I MADE IT TO THE SAME SM DEALERSHIP/REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I KNOW IT AFFECTED THE GAS BECAUSE I HAD TO REFUEL THREE OR FOUR TIME WHEN I NORMALLY HAVE TO DO ONE AND HALF TIME! AS A DEAF PERSON, IT IS SCARY TO BE HAVING THESE ISSUES ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAYS. *TR

WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INDICATED A RED TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION MARK ENCLOSED, A MESSAGE IN THE DRIVER MESSAGE CENTER READING 'STOP VEHICLE SAFELY', AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER ON BOTH FOSSIL FUEL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL MOTOR DRIVE COMPONENTS. COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE WAS STRESSFUL AND EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. WITHOUT EXTENSIVE DRIVER EXPERIENCE, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BECOME A FATALITY. THIS POWERLESS ACTION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED DUE TO ITS VERY POTENTIAL OF FATALITY. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL GET TIGHT AND I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LOST IT'S POWER STEERING. I THEN NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN GOING AROUND A CURVE OR MAKING A TURN IF COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND LOSS ALL POWER STEERING IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN AROUND A CORNER AND IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NOT MADE IT. I HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE THAT THIS IS NOT A RANDOM OCCURRENCE SEVERAL ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE HAD LOSS OF STEERING. *TR

2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABS MODULE FAILURE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS, BEFORE IT WAS DETERMINED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.

DRIVING VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY @ HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, EXPERIENCED ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER. AMBER WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MOVED TO SHOULDER OF ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED OFF IGNITION & AFTER ABOUT 30 - 40 SECONDS RESTARTED VEHICLE, POWER RESTORED & VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY (WRENCH LIGHT OFF). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED, NOT UNDER WARRANTY (DESPITE TSB 09-19-12). ON FEB. 3, 2012, EXPERIENCED SIMILAR LOSS OF POWER PROBLEM, AND THE AMBER WRENCH LIGHT AND MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN (MILEAGE AT THIS POINT: 45,500 MILES). AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION & RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN NORMALLY FOR 45-60 SECONDS, THEN WOULD FAULT & SHUT DOWN. I WAS CLOSE TO MY WORKPLACE, SO I LIMPED IT BACK TO WORK. CALLED DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED CALLING FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HYBRID CERTIFIED DEALER, WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY THIS TIME) AND THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. WHEN I CAME TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF POWER & WARNING LIGHTS (OPEN WRENCH LIGHT). DEALER NOW CLAIMS A SENSOR IN THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY IS BAD & IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM (CLAIMING THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY). VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALER AT THE TIME OF THIS POST. *TR

STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN SHAKING WHEN CAR IS STOPPED AND AT LOW SPEEDS. POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES WHEN CAR IS STARTED, I TURN IT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR AND IT WORKS. WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT AROUND 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON AND IT STILL DID NOT WORK. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES LEFT AND RIGHT AND MAKES A BAD NOISE WHILE IN PARK AND AT LOW SPEEDS. HAVE NOT TAKEN CAR TO BE SERVICED YET. *TR

POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. CAN HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS OR NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. MALFUNCTION WAS INTERMITTENT. POWER STEERING WOULD START WORKING PROPERLY AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING ENGINE. PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND GETTING POWER STEERING TO COME BACK IN OPERATION AFTER RESTARTING HAS BECOME LESS FREQUENT. STEERING THIS VEHICLE IS VERY HARD WITHOUT POWER STEERING, MAKING IT VERY UN-SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO WHEN DRIVING I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HAD VERY LITTLE EFFECTIVENESS DURING A STOP IN SLOW SPEED TRAFFIC. INSTINCTIVELY I KEPT PRESSING THE PEDAL DOWN HARDER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. DID NOT HIT ANYTHING BUT WAS SHAKEN UP. I BLEW IT OFF THINKING I BRAKED TOO LATE. ON 1/26/2013 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING LOW SPEED TRAFFIC AGAIN SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND WE WERE ROLLING ABOUT 15 MPH. BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY, CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AND PUSHED VERY HARD. PLENTY OF ROOM IN FRONT THOUGH TO SOMEWHAT COAST-BRAKE TO A STOP. LESS THEN 30 SECONDS LATER, TRAFFIC STILL STOP AND GO, WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO BRAKE I PUSHED ON BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO BRAKING. PUSHED THE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE- NOTHING- AND COASTED INTO THE REAR END OF CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LOW SPEED IMPACT WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO CAR IN FRONT. FRONT BUMPER, GRILL AND RADIATOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THANKFUL IT WAS NOT DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING. DID SOME RESEARCH ON INTERNET TO FIND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE HYBRID VEHICLES WITH THE "HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT" SOMETIMES NOT FUNCTIONING. TAKING CAR TO DEALERS TO DROP IT OFF FOR COLLISION ESTIMATE AND HAVE THEM LOOK INTO BRAKING SYSTEM. APPROXIMATE COST REPAIR ACCORDING TO OTHER REPORTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IS $4,000.I FEEL VERY UNSURE ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AGAIN ONCE IT IS FIXED AND IF PROBLEM CAN BE IDENTIFIED. AND IF FORD CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM WHERE DO I GO WITH IT? NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS IN REPORTS I READ LAST NIG

THE AUTO HAD JUST HAD THE PUMP THAT COOLS THE HYBRID ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $590 WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A JERKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN STOPPED. THE WHEEL WOULD JERK TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT AND MAKE A "CLUCKING" NOISE. ONCE THE CAR WAS MOVING THE JERKING SEEMED TO STOP. BUT THEN WE FOUND THAT WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR THERE MIGHT BE NO POWER STEERING OR POWER FORWARD. THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE FORCIBLY STEERED TO THE SIDE AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN, THE CAR HAD POWER STEERING AND ENGINE POWER. THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN NEARLY EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS STARTED, AND THE JERKING OF THE WHEEL EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR STOP. WHILE THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION THE POTENTIAL IS CERTAINLY THERE SHOULD THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. HAVING REVIEWED THE WEB SITES FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE 2008 ESCAPE THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. ONE SITE LISTS NEARLY ONE HUNDRED COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE AND IN SOME THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS AND POTENTIAL INJURY. FORD IS STONEWALLING EVERYONE ON THIS EVEN WHEN THE MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 50, 000 MILES. OFTEN THEY SAY THEY KNOW NOTHING OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE IN MEETING CHARGES THAT RANGE UPWARD TO $1700. GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT I NOW HAVE I CONSIDER THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AND AM HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE LACK OF CONCERN BY FORD SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SERIOUS MATTER AND ONE THAT SHOULD CONCERN NHTSA. *TR

CAR STARTED AND AFTER BACKING OUT AND MOVING FORWARD, STOP ENGINE NOW MESSAGE CAME ON WITH A RED TRIANGLE ON DASH. SLOWLY MOVED TO A PARKING SPACE. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND WAITED FOR ONE MINUTE AND RESTARTED. MESSAGE WAS GONE AND CAR DRIVEN HOME. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOLLOWING WEEK WITH DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM. THEY DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND ASSEMBLY AT COST OF $629. READ IN OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT PROBLEM RESURFACES LATER. HAPPY THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING ON FREEWAY WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. CONSIDERING FREQUENCY OF THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO SHUTDOWN AND HYBRID, SHOULD A RECALL BE ISSUED? *TR

STOP SAFELY NOW-LIGHTS UP AND ENGINE KILLS/QUITS. WILL RESTART AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING VEHICLE ENGINE KILLS CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND AFTER A SEVERAL MINUTES, WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND REGAIN POWER STEERING ASSIST CAPABILITIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY TO SEE MT. RUSHMORE AT NIGHT WHEN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING A RED TRIANGULAR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I PULLED OVER, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TRIP AFTER THIS. HOWEVER, WHEN VACATIONING A YEAR LATER IN MICHIGAN, THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED 3 TIMES WHEN MAKING AN 8-HOUR TRIP. EACH TIME I'VE BEEN GOING CLOSE TO 70 MPH AND I'VE HAD TO CAREFULLY NAVIGATE MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY... VERY DANGEROUS! IT WOULD SEEM THAT A RECALL WOULD BE IN ORDER FOR SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

A PROBLEM THAT SURFACED AGAIN AFTER EXPERIENCES MANY TIMES SINCE THE ABOVE MENTIONED INCIDENT DATE: A WRENCH SIGN WAS COMING ON THE DASHBOARD FREQUENTLY, AND SOMETIMES DISAPPEARED ITSELF WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING.SIMILAR SIGN OR INDICATION FOR OIL CHANGE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED EVEN AFTER A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE WAS DONE WITH THE DEALER. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED IN EARLY PERIOD, I (THE CUSTOMER) WAS ADVISED TO DISREGARD, BECAUSE THE MECHANIC FORGOT TO RESET AFTER THE OIL SERVICE, WHEN FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOTIFIED TODAY (11/7/12), IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AS A SERVICE ISSUE, WHICH I DO NOT AGREE. SINCE THE PROBLEM EXISTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IN EARLY STAGES AFTER THE PURCHASE, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH BATTERY DOOR WHICH MALFUNCTIONS, AND DOES NOT ALLOW VENTILATION ON & OFF. THE BATTERY WAS DOWN, ALL CONTROLS DISAPPEARED AND THE CAR WAS LOCKED IN POSITION ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO (APPROXIMATE JUNE 2010). THAT TIME A MAJOR SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, WHICH REQUIRED A MONTH LONG PERIOD TO FIX IT. (SAFECAR REFERENCE 365127). UNFORTUNATELY, I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM YOUR OFFICE ON THIS PAST ISSUE AND COMPLAINT. SINCE BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE TO DO WITH BATTERY AND MONITORING DEVICES, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM FOR SAFETY OF ALL USING THIS MODEL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR FINDINGS ON BATTERY VENT DOOR FUNCTIONING. THANKS *TR

THE HCU UNIT WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO HYBRID ESCAPES WENT OUT ON ME CAUSING ABS TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY (BRAKES TURNED TO SPONGE). I WAS INSIDE OF WARRANTY 8YEARS/ 100000 MILES UNIQUE HYBRID COMPONENT. I HAD LESS THAN 48,000 AND WAS INSIDE OF FOUR YEARS OF HAVING BOUGHT THE HYBRID SUV BRAND NEW. CONTACTED FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH THEN DIRECTED ME TO FORD CORPORATE OFFICE. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE UNIQUE HYBRID COMPONENT!! I HAD ROOM TO STOP SO I WAS LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THE HCU UNIT WENT OUT. *TR CONSUMER SOLD THE TRUCK IN 2012. CONSUMER TOOK FORD TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT IN ALEXANDRIA, VA AND WON 4K. UPDATED 6/8/18*JB

WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND SCARE THE HECK OUT OF ME. JUST TODAY, WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, I WAS TURNING LEFT IN THE HOME DEPOT AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, I KNEW TO GRAB THE WHEEL TIGHTLY AND CONTINUE MY TURN. MY REAL PROBLEM IS THAT I AM NOW GIVING THIS CAR TO MY (DAUGHTER) NEW DRIVER AS HER DAILY CAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED. I JUST READ SEVERAL BLOGS ON SEVERAL SITES AND ALL OF THEM STATE THAT THE DEALERS DON'T KNOW AND CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE AROUND 70,000 MILES NOW ON IT, AND NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY. BESIDES A VERY TIGHT BUDGET, I AM CONCERNED FOR MY DAUGHTER. PLEASE ADVISE. ALSO, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM EITHER... *TR

DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE FORD RECALLS THESE CARS TO FIX THE HYBRID COOLING SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM ONCE MYSELF (TWO YEARS AGO) AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. THESE CARS SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUT WARNING BECAUSE OF SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THIS TIME MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSING LANE WHEN IT HAPPENED. ONE DAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE FROM THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (ON A HIGHWAY) THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT COMES ON AND AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS DOWN THE CAR. SOME FAMILY WILL BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS AND FORD WILL BE CAUGHT KNOWING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DOING NOTHING TO FIX IT. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WITH APPROX. 50K MILES. AS WITH MANY COMPLAINTS RELATED TO ESCAPE HYBRID, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS AT APPROX. 70MPH WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LAMP LIT UP. STEERING AND BRAKING WERE NORMAL BUT I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF BUSY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC TO STOP. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I GATHERED MYSELF AND MY THREE TERRIFIED CHILDREN AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION, BUT I WAS ANTICIPATING THE ISSUE AND STAYED IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THIS ISSUE IS BEING REPORTED TIME AND AGAIN YET NO ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. WHAT IS FORD AND NHTSA WAITING FOR? THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE! PLEASE, BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR DIES. *TR

MY WIFE LEFT WORK YESTERDAY AND WHEN SHE STARTED OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID FWD THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. DURING HER SHORT DRIVE HOME THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM DISABLED WARNING CAME ACROSS THE INFO DISPLAY. BRAKING FELT FUNNY SO WE TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AND WERE SLAPPED WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $4700 TO REPLACE THEY HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT AND WE FIND IT ABSURD THAT WE SHOULD BE MAKING A $4700 REPAIR IN THAT TIME FRAME WITH THAT MANY MILES. AFTER DOING A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED IN MULTIPLE FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS SINCE 2005 AND IN MOST 2008 MODELS WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MILES. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE REPAIR, BUT WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD IN OUR LIVES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM THAT IS APPARENT FOR 2005 AND NEWER FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. DO SOMETHING FORD. AND IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT BUYING THIS VEHICLE, DON'T. *TR

DRIVING AT 55 MPH, ENGINE STOPPED, KICKED OUT OF GEAR, LOUD BEEP SOUNDED, AND DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TRIANGLE WITH BOLT INSIDE. MESSAGE SAID "SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER." THIS HAD HAPPENED 3 TIMES BEFORE WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL, BUT I WAS NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL THIS TIME. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I CONSULTED THE MANUAL. IT SAID TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART. I DID, AND WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF. SAME NEXT 2 INSTANCES. I ATTEMPTED THIS FIX FOUR TIMES ON THIS LAST OCCASION. CAR WOULD RESTART, THEN ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN IN A FEW HUNDRED FEET. FINALLY CALLED TOW TRUCK. FORD DEALER FOUND BAD AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CONNECTED TO HYBRID SYSTEM. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE REPAIR, WHICH COST $700. FELT VERY UNSAFE WITH THE WAY THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN. LUCKILY, I WAS ON A ROAD WITH A SHOULDER. IF I HAD BEEN ON A BRIDGE, TUNNEL, OR IN TRAFFIC, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SO QUICKLY. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE WATER PUMPS, AS THEIR FAILURE CAUSES A DANGEROUS ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE RECEIVED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE FROM MY HEV ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. BOTH TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEEDS OF 65 - 75 MPH. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE MESSAGE OCCURRED AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS OF TRAVEL. LUCKILY, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE ON A ONE LANE HIGHWAY, BUT THE SECOND TIME WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE AND HAD TO TRY TO CROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER. WHEN THE MESSAGE OCCURS THE SUV LOSES ACCELERATION. IT IMMEDIATELY DROPS YOUR SPEED TO 60 MPH AND CONTINUES TO DECELERATE AND YOU CAN'T SPEED UP IF YOU TRY. TRY CROSSING A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN DO 60 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY AND REPLACE WHATEVER SUSPECTED PART IS CAUING THE PROBLEM. THE MESSAGE BOARDS ARE FULL OF THE SAME STORIES. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME AND SOMEONE WILL GET REAR ENDED TRYING TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY TO STOP SAFELY NOW AND WHEN THEY SAY NOW, THEY MEAN IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONTACT FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE WHEN VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER HOWEVER THE EXACT FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE BUT THE SPECIFIC DETAILS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE PERMANENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DECLARE THE VEHICLE AS A LEMON THE FIFTH TIME THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE CEASED FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECURRING FAILURE HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A LONG TRIP (9 HOURS) A TRIANGULAR WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON: STOP SAFELY NOW, AND THE CAR DECELERATED QUICKLY AS THOUGH THE ENGINE HAD ABRUPTLY STOPPED, BARELY ALLOWING TIME TO PULL OFF ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A SHOULDER AT THAT SPOT ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY STOP A CAR THIS SUDDENLY THAT IS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY! AFTER READING THE MANUAL WHICH DIRECTED DRIVER TO WAIT A BIT AND THEN RESTART CAR, THE DRIVER DID SO AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN, TWICE, ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR ONLY 2 HOURS. PLEASE; JUST BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A CRASH, INJURY, FIRE, OR DEATH DOES NOT MEAN THIS IS "SAFE ENOUGH." *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO INCIDENTS WHERE POWER WAS LOST AND THE CAR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. FIRST, WAS ONE WEEK PRIOR DRIVING FROM LA TO SAN DIEGO AT 5PM. WE GOT A FLAT ON THE HIGHWAY IN IRVINE CA. WE PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE BUT WHEN WE STARTED THE ENGINE IT WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS CAME ON BUT WITH A WARNING LIGHT TO "STOP SAFELY NOW". I THOUGHT THIS WAS FROM THE TIRE AND PRESSED THE RESET BUTTON BUT THE WARNING WOULD NOT CLEAR. WE JUMPED THE CAR ONCE AND WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, WE JUMPED IT AGAIN AND AGAIN NOTHING, WE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE TOW TRUCK TRIED TO JUMP IT AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. WE JUMPED WHILE HOLDING THE BUTTON FOR THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WHICH WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IN THE MANUAL BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE PAID THE TOW AND CALLED FOR A RIDE HOME. I MISSED WORK AND MY MOTHER TOOK ME BACK TO LA TO WAIT FOR THE CAR. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY. I WAITED 8 HOURS FOR THE MECHANIC TO SAY THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF A SAFETY MODE AND THAT THIS CAN'T BE DONE MANUALLY IN THE EVENT IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE NEXT WEEK, AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TO GO HOME SUNDAY NIGHT THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT CAME ON AND WARNED ME TO "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THEN I COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20MPH AND THEN 10MPH AS I SLOWED TO PULL OVER. I KILLED THE ENGINE, WAITED TEN MIN. AND RESTARTED BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAITED UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, GOT A RIDE, AND I AM NO

I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP WITH A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. WE STOPPED IN BARSTOW, CA FOR LUNCH. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED JUMPING THE PARKING BLOCK AND THE CURB. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM GOING INTO THE BUILDING BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING SOME NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINES. THE FRONT BUMPER SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. BOTH MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF WERE PRETTY SHOOK UP AFTERWARDS. THE PERSON SITTING IN THE CAR NEXT TO US WHO WITNESSED THIS EVENT SAID THAT THERE WAS AN OLDER MAN STANDING RIGHT WHERE WE JUMPED THE CURB A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER. FORTUNATELY, HE HAD LEFT OR THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR

THIS IS MY SECOND SUBMISSION. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE AND "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED". IN THE PAST WHEN THIS HAPPENED I STILL HAD BRAKES BUT HAD TO MASH THEM DOWN TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS MORNING I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BY LYNCHED OUT AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30MPH AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH RATHER THAN A BUSY INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I DON'T EVER WANT TO DRIVE THAT VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN WHO I AM THANKFUL WERE NOT WITH ME. *TR