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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Ford ESCAPE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,974 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

100,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,710 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,109 of 1,974 complaints (56.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1,12256.8%
Transmission and shifting27914.1%
Braking behavior19710.0%
Engine operation1276.4%
Electrical and battery issues703.5%
Fuel system concerns50.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering
1,109
Power Train
223
Vehicle Speed Control
168
Electrical System
128
Service Brakes
120
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
107
Engine
83
Unknown Or Other
55
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering1109
Power Train223
Vehicle Speed Control168
Electrical System128
Service Brakes120
Power Train:Automatic Transmission107
Engine83
Unknown Or Other55

Steering: 1,109; Power Train: 223; Vehicle Speed Control: 168; Electrical System: 128; Service Brakes: 120; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 107; Engine: 83; Unknown Or Other: 55

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
114
25,000 to 49,999
187
50,000 to 74,999
219
75,000 to 99,999
326
100,000 to 149,999
577
150,000 and above
287
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000114
25,000 to 49,999187
50,000 to 74,999219
75,000 to 99,999326
100,000 to 149,999577
150,000 and above287

Under 25,000: 114; 25,000 to 49,999: 187; 50,000 to 74,999: 219; 75,000 to 99,999: 326; 100,000 to 149,999: 577; 150,000 and above: 287

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (577). 264 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2007
11
2008
30
2009
70
2010
89
2011
90
2012
98
2013
185
2014
309
2015
160
2016
184
2017
156
2018
190
2019
125
2020
92
2021
41
2022
51
2023
30
2024
21
2025
29
2026
13
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200711
200830
200970
201089
201190
201298
2013185
2014309
2015160
2016184
2017156
2018190
2019125
202092
202141
202251
202330
202421
202529
202613

2007: 11; 2008: 30; 2009: 70; 2010: 89; 2011: 90; 2012: 98; 2013: 185; 2014: 309; 2015: 160; 2016: 184; 2017: 156; 2018: 190; 2019: 125; 2020: 92; 2021: 41; 2022: 51; 2023: 30; 2024: 21; 2025: 29; 2026: 13

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1,122 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 279 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 197 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10192861 · 2007-06-10 (June 10, 2007)

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 FORD ESCAPE ON JUNE 2,2007. MY DAUGHTER IS ACTUALLY COOWNER/DRIVER. SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE ON WED, JUNE 6 AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START IT, IT WAS LOCKED UP. NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE STEERING, ETC. TO WORK. SHE SAID IT WAS LOCKED IN ADVANTRAC MODE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, WHERE SHE WORKS. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE, AND IT TOOK THEM 2 1/2 DAYS TO GET A DIAGNOSIS TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THEY SAY PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILAABLE UNTIL JULY 5, 2007,…

Owner-reported narrative. 246 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192861 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10229133 · 2008-05-28 (May 28, 2008)

WHEN BACKING UP IN REVERSE, WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229133 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10218628 · 2008-02-20 (February 20, 2008)

THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WHILE TRAVELING AT 50MPH ON RT. 3 IN CLIFTON NJ. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER BY SHIFTING IN TO NEUTRAL AND PUTTING THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WHICH PROVIDED VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER. BOTH THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH, IN ADDITION TO A MESSAGE THAT SAID SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF BRAKES REQUIRE SERVICE. THE CAR HAS ROUGHLY 7000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED IN SEPT. 2007. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218628 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10249091 · 2008-11-18 (November 18, 2008)

SUNDAY NOTICED RED FLUID LEAKING ONTO DRIVEWAY, MONDAY BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. UPON INSPECTION, DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION COOLER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 43,245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249091 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10199433 · 2007-08-13 (August 13, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE CLAMPS WHEN HE INSPECTED THE BRAKE RESERVOIR. HE BELIEVES THAT THE CLAMPS WERE DESIGNED TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10199433 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204525 · 2007-10-01 (October 1, 2007)

BRAKE ABS FAILURES ON TWO 2008 FORD ESCAPES IN 6 MONTHS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10217789 · 2008-02-12 (February 12, 2008)

AFTER COMING FOR A DRIVE OUT TO PARKER LAKE, A 50 MILE DRIVE FROM MY HOME, MY NEW FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD STALLED. LOOSING POWER AND CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LUCKILY I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD. I TRIED TO START IT BUT IT WOULDN'T. I LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 2-5 MIN. AND IT STARTED. I GOT IT HOME AND THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I WAS LEAVING FROM WORK YESTERDAY FEB. 11, 2008, AND IT AGAIN STALLED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH-WORK-HOUR TRAFFIC. IT AGAIN WOULDN'T START, BUT AFTER ABOUT 2-5 MIN. IT DID. I HAVE HAD IT …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217789 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10258569 · 2009-02-13 (February 13, 2009)

MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE IS CURRENTLY AT 16000 MILES AND I HAVE NOTICED FOR ABOUT A WEEK THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING. THEN WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL BUT DOESN'T. HOWEVER, WHEN THEN GOING INTO DRIVE MY CAR HAS STALLED 4 TIMES. I TOOK IT TODAY AND THAT WAS THE SECOND CAR TODAY BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY AUTOMATICALLY SAID IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS AND GOT ME A RENTAL CAR TILL TUESDAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258569 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10209011 · 2007-11-15 (November 15, 2007)

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY ESCAPE, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID "TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT". AT THE SAME TIME THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A THING WRONG WITH IT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME THE VOLUME ON THE STEREO AUTOMATICALLY GOES DOWN WHEN I GET THE TIRE PRESSURE MESSAGE ALONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWING HOT AIR. IT JUST GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THIS TIME AND THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS. THEY CONSULTED FOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10293042 · 2009-11-20 (November 20, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 10,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293042 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10487471 · 2012-12-05 (December 5, 2012)

MY THIRD FORD AND FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING ROTTED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 58,785 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487471 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10573622 · 2014-03-19 (March 19, 2014)

AT OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES F THE FUEL TANK IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FILL. AT 0 DEGREES F IT WILL TAKE OVER 30 MINUTES TO FILL. I AM CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT IT WILL NOT TAKE ANY FUEL AT ALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 85,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573622 at NHTSA ↗