Model year record

2006 Ford Escape

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 633 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V606000

Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)

Component: Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 57
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-09-29
Owners notified: 2015-10-23

Defect description

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. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Safety risk

If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V526000

Hybrid propulsion system

Component: Hybrid propulsion system
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 70,209
Reported to NHTSA: 2014-09-03
Owners notified: 2014-10-30

Defect description

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 manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Safety risk

If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V520000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor

Component: Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 199,942
Reported to NHTSA: 2005-11-09
Owners notified: 2005-11-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Vehicle speed control	92	75,000 mi
Suspension	60	114,000 mi
Power train	55	89,000 mi
Engine	48	93,000 mi
Structure: body	46	134,000 mi
Service brakes	41	101,000 mi
Electrical system	30	105,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	21	67,000 mi
Steering	20	85,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	18	97,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	17	50,078 mi
Wheels	15	100,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	14	46,200 mi
Air bags	13	85,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling	13	59,000 mi
Unknown or other	13	127,000 mi
Visibility	9	54,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	8	25,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	7	16,578 mi
Service brakes, electric	6	46,708 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	6	74,569 mi
Structure	5	80,222 mi
Structure: frame and members	5	138,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	4	28,500 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	3	45,000 mi
Seats	3	10 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	31,723 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	3	72,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	3	106,753 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer	3	86,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	2	16,900 mi
Electrical system: wiring	2	16,900 mi
Hybrid propulsion system	2	134,000 mi
Parking brake	2	50,365 mi
Seat belts	2	62,816 mi
Suspension: front	2	5,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	2	18,189 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	2	—
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	1	501 mi
Air bags: side/window	1	60,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	20,050 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ECU/ECM): software	1	—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	82,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	1	20,050 mi
Exterior lighting	1	120,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	44,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap	1	2 mi
Interior lighting	1	35,860 mi
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable	1	8,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	1	116,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	10,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	59,550 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	1	53,900 mi
Seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly	1	55,000 mi
Seat belts: front	1	9,900 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler	1	11,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	95,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp	1	160 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	1	5,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion	1	40,000 mi
Structure: body: door	1	181,864 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate	1	88,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut	1	7,132 mi
Structure: body: hood	1	180,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid	1	—
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	55,000 mi
Suspension: rear	1	85,000 mi
Suspension: rear: shock absorber	1	—
Tires	1	25,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	1	50,365 mi
Traction control system	1	134,000 mi

The 2005 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2007 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.