2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

443 federal complaints (584 component records) · 0 recall campaigns on file · 3 federal investigations · 6 service bulletins · 3 Canadian recalls
See all 15 model years of the Ford Escape Hybrid →
Engine
2.3L 4-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
4WD/AWD
EPA economy
29 city / 27 hwy
Federal complaints
443
Recall campaigns
0
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
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.

Brakes
153
Engine & cooling
114
Steering
111
Electrical system
64
Power train
43
Fuel system
26
Speed control
25
Other
13
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

0 years old: 5 complaints01 years old: 6 complaints2 years old: 24 complaints3 years old: 41 complaints4 years old: 51 complaints5 years old: 45 complaints56 years old: 59 complaints7 years old: 40 complaints8 years old: 41 complaints9 years old: 48 complaints10 years old: 52 complaints1011 years old: 15 complaints12 years old: 3 complaints13 years old: 4 complaints14 years old: 4 complaints15 years old: 0 complaints1516 years old: 2 complaints17 years old: 1 complaints18 years old: 1 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 0 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 442 of 443 complaints with a usable failure date.

Odometer when the failure occurred

0,000 - 20,000 miles: 5 complaints020,000 - 40,000 miles: 30 complaints40,000 - 60,000 miles: 46 complaints40k60,000 - 80,000 miles: 71 complaints80,000 - 100,000 miles: 61 complaints80k100,000 - 120,000 miles: 62 complaints120,000 - 140,000 miles: 47 complaints120k140,000 - 160,000 miles: 41 complaints160,000 - 180,000 miles: 17 complaints160k180,000 - 200,000 miles: 13 complaints200,000+ miles: 17 complaints200k+
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 410 of 443 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.

Brakes

153 complaint records7 crash reports
"VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKES WAS TOLD IT IS A ISSUE WITH A VALVE IN THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH COST OVER 5 GRAND TO FIX THROUGH FORD...."- 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 brakes parts in the directory →

Engine & cooling

114 complaint records2 crash reports
"STOP SAFELY NOW-LIGHTS UP AND ENGINE KILLS/QUITS. WILL RESTART AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING VEHICLE ENGINE KILLS CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *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 engine & cooling parts in the directory →

Steering

111 complaint records2 crash reports
"STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AT 12,000 MILES AND A THIRD TIME AT 35,000 (ONCE IN BETWEEN) FOR A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. TIRE WEAR VERY ODD, TOUCHY BRAKING. *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 steering 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.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
DP22005
opened Jan 2023
closed Aug 2023Electrical SystemPedestrian alert sounds - led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
DP15001
opened Apr 2015
closed Jun 2018SteeringLoss of power steering while driving
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY)...
DP12006
opened Oct 2012
closed Feb 2013EngineElectronic 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...

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.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2015438
2015-09-29
Powertrain11A 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
Engine3,568On 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.
2014193
2014-05-28
Steering134,568On certain vehicles, a fault in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system could result in an immediate loss of power steering assist without warning to the driver.

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.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
TSB 16-0118
Sep 2016
Electrical SystemSome 2005-2012 Escape Hybrid and 2006-2011 Mariner Hybrid vehicles may set DTCs P0A81 (battery pack cooling fan 1 control circuit) and/or P0A96 (battery pack cooling fan 2 control circuit) in the traction battery control module (TBCM).
SSM-45870
Jun 2016
Service Brakes2005-2008 ESCAPE/MARINER HYBRID - ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH DTC(S) C1478, C1479, C1480 AND/OR C1481
ASI-22242
Mar 2012
Service BrakesFORD/MERCURY: SOME HYBRID VEHICLES MAY REQUIRE A UNIQUE BLEED PROCEDURE AFTER A REPLACEMENT FOR ONE OR MORE OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. *PE
AS-21769
Mar 2011
Electrical SystemFORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION. *RM
TSB-09-15-3
Dec 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFORD/MERCURY: SOME VEHICLES MAY SET DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0A81 (BATTERY PACK COOLING FAN 1 CONTROL CIRCUIT) AND/OR P0A96 (BATTERY PACK COOLING FAN 2 CONTROL CIRCUIT) IN THE TRACTION BATTERY CONTROL MODULE (TBCM).
Show 1 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
TSB-08-24-5
Jun 2009
EquipmentFORD/MERCURY: VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND CODES INDICATING A TRANSAXLE OVERTEMP. CONDITION MAY RESULT IN REDUCED POWER AS SYSTEM ACTIVATES FAIL SAFE OPERATION. *PE

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  2. 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.
  3. Drive one straight highway stretch and one slow parking lot.Wander or a shimmy over bumps at speed, and heavy or dropped assist at low speed, are the two faces of this vehicle's steering cluster. A clunk on turn-in points at the linkage.
  4. 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 Hybrid →