Known Recalls

Model year record

2008 Ford Escape

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 2,465 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 14V284000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component
Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
740,878
Reported to NHTSA
2014-05-29
Owners notified
2014-07-18

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.

Safety risk

If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Steering1,142116,000 mi
Power train22887,500 mi
Vehicle speed control16877,000 mi
Electrical system136102,060 mi
Service brakes121115,412 mi
Power train: automatic transmission10740,000 mi
Engine8482,000 mi
Unknown or other56115,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system3995,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)3699,777 mi
Suspension32136,000 mi
Air bags2967,000 mi
Structure: body2881,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling2449,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline2067,410 mi
Tires1829,598 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1750,000 mi
Wheels1485,427 mi
Visibility1333,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1240,000 mi
Steering: column12104,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems816,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal874,500 mi
Steering: electric power assist system793,000 mi
Exterior lighting661,250 mi
Traction control system656,121 mi
Visibility/wiper685,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines535,400 mi
Seat belts559,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition479,000 mi
Seats468,000 mi
Structure446,469 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls482,244 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly460,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch372,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner342,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages3148,000 mi
Structure: frame and members386,000 mi
Air bags: frontal2100 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine21,771 mi
Equipment221,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility21,575 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking2—
Fuel system, other242,000 mi
Hybrid propulsion system279,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system282,409 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate232,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments267,000 mi
Structure: body: hood260,000 mi
Tires: valve243,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear213 mi
Visibility: windshield213 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module1—
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel123 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1—
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1340 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage12,800 mi
Parking brake124,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module124,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: wheel speed sensor/tone ring1155,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1104,550 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid1130,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion1119,500 mi
Steering: steering control module1207,000 mi
Structure: body: door140,000 mi
Suspension: front1800 mi
Tires: tread/belt121,474 mi
Vehicle speed control: cables129,500 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system159,000 mi

The 2007 model has 7 times as many complaints as this one. The 2009 model has roughly the same number of 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.