Engine
2.3L 4-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 464 of 464 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 394 of 464 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Speed control
100 complaint records3 fire reports2 crash reports
"GAS PEDAL STICKS, I PURCHASED THIS CAR ONE YEAR AGO. IT HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH STICKING SINCE I PURCHASED IT. *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse speed control parts in the directory →
Power train
80 complaint records
"PUSHED ON ACCELERATOR AND RPM CAME UP BUT SPEED DIDN'T...WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FORD ESCAPE TRANSMISSIONS.. *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
68 complaint records4 fire reports1 crash report
"LOUD NOISE WHILE STARTING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. IDLER PULLEY WAS SHREDDING THE SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY WAS OVERHEATING. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP12006 opened Oct 2012 | closed Feb 2013 | Engine | Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or... |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V606000 | Power Train | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. | Normally free |
| 14V526000 | Hybrid Propulsion System | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles... | Normally free |
| 05V520000 | Visibility | ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015438 2015-09-29 | Powertrain | 11 | A safety defect may exist in vehicles in which remanufactured automatic transmissions were installed as service replacement parts. The shift lever bolt may not have been torqued to the proper torque specification. |
| 2014374 2014-09-04 | Engine | 3,568 | On certain hybrid vehicles, the motor electronics coolant pump may wear out and fail, resulting in a loss of coolant flow and high temperature condition within the motor electronics system. |
| 2006274 2006-10-19 | Powertrain | 194 | On certain Escape Hybrid vehicles, the intermediate shaft used in the front wheel driveline may not have received adequate heat treat process during manufacturing. |
| 2005356 2005-11-10 | Other | 13,581 | On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease applied to the output shaft gear. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 51536 Apr 2023 | Structure | For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. | |
| SSM 46085 Sep 2016 | Engine And Engine Cooling | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. | |
| TSB-10-18-10 Sep 2010 | Engine And Engine Cooling | FORD/MERCURY: MIL ON WITH DTC P0351-P0356; MULTIPLE COIL PRIMARY CIRCUIT. BUILT ON OR BEFORE 10/03/05. SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MULFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH TWO OR MORE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) FOR COIL ON PLUG (COP) PRIMARY... | |
| 20213 Apr 2008 | Service Brakes | 2005-08 ESCAPE/ESCAPE HYBRID/MARINER - 2006-08 MARINER HYBRID - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR RING REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE UPDATE TO WORKSHOP MANUAL. *NJ | |
| 08-5-5 Mar 2008 | Fuel System | SLOW FUEL FILL AND/OR DTC P0451. *NJ |
Show 26 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08-3-1 Feb 2008 | Service Brakes | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) U2062 (HYBRID ONLY). *NJ | |
| 0748 Aug 2007 | Electrical System | SERVICE HARNESS INSTALLATION - CORROSION OF A RESISTOR IN THE BATTERY POWER UNIT. ALSO HAVE AN OWNER'S LETTER. *NJ | |
| 19536 Dec 2006 | Fuel System | SLOW FUEL FILL DUE TO CLOGGED VENT. *KB | |
| 05252 Jan 2006 | Trailer Hitches | NEUTRAL TOW CAPABILITY -- SERVICE KIT REQUIREMENTS. *TT | |
| 19026 Jan 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | MIRFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0316, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, OR P0304 - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 04208 Jan 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CAMSHAFT TICK NOISE - 3.0L 4V ENGINE ONLY. *TT | |
| 0637 Jan 2006 | Tires | LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON - TPMS SYSTEM SENSOR WAKE UP. *TT | |
| 0645 Jan 2006 | Power Train | NEUTRAL TOW CAPABILITY - SERVICE KIT REQUIREMENTS. *TT | |
| 0667 Jan 2006 | Exterior Lighting | TURN SIGNALS - RAPID FLASHING. *TT | |
| 06116 Jan 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 041601 Nov 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT | |
| 052213 Nov 2005 | Visibility | WINDSHIELD WASHER INOPERATIVE - HOSE DISCONNECTED. *TT | |
| 05184 Oct 2005 | Fuel System | SLOW FUEL FILL - REPEAT FILLING STATION PUMP SHUT-OFF. *TT | |
| 05172 Oct 2005 | Steering | STEERING CLUNK/RATTLE NOISE - VEHICLES BUILT 3/29/2005 TO 4/4/2005. *TT | |
| 18894 Oct 2005 | Electrical System | DRIVABILITY CONCERNS - HESITATION/STUMBLE. *TT | |
| 042421 Jun 2005 | Seat Belts | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT | |
| 052624 Jan 2005 | Wheels | VIBRATION DIAGNOSIS - TIRE/WHEEL RUNOUT. *TT | |
| 05261 Jan 2005 | Electrical System | LONG CRANK/HARD START -- 3.0L. *TT | |
| 19095 | Fuel System | SLOW FUEL FILL. *TT | |
| 06221 | Service Brakes | ABS LIGHT ON AND DTC C1475 IS SHOWN. *KB | |
| 19355 | Power Train | DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS AND/OR DTCP0340 - INSPECT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. *KB | |
| 06166 | Engine And Engine Cooling | POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. *KB | |
| 061614 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SPARK KNOCK, HARD START AND/OR HESITATION - VEHICLES BUILT AFTER 08-02-2004 WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. *KB | |
| 0756 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE STALLING ON ENGAGEMENT/STOPPING. *KB | |
| 07111 | Fuel System | COLD CLIMATE SLOW FUEL FILL. *NJ | |
| 19956 | Fuel System | 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRID AND 2006-2008 MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES ARE NOT E-85 COMPATIBLE. *NJ |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Test the throttle response and the cruise control on an open road.A surge, a hang in engine speed after lifting off, or cruise that will not set or cancel cleanly are the speed-control complaints on this vehicle.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 3 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Ford Escape →