2006 Ford ESCAPE HEV: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,646 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 37 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 54.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 16.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
Electrical System: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Service Brakes: 7; Steering: 4; Engine: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Suspension: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 1 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2006: 3; 2007: 6; 2008: 3; 2009: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 7; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10162414 · 2006-07-14 (July 14, 2006)
NORMAL CITY DRIVING INITIATED FAILURE OF BRAKES TO HAVE PRESSURE. IMMEDIATELY BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. BRAKES MAY BE APPLIED, BUT RELEASE AFTER APPLICATION. INITIALLY, WHEN BROUGHT INTO FORD DEALERSHIP 11 DAYS AGO, PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE ELECTRONIC, BUT AFTER REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BRAKES, THE PRESSURE FAILS TO RESUME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172371 · 2006-11-01 (November 1, 2006)
REAR WHEELS CAN BOUNCE AND RUB THE FENDER WELL CAUSING BLOW OUT OF TIRES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 22,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174426 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
BRAKES FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE BRAKE REPAIR AFTER THE FIRST TIME ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO BUT WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THEY NOW HAVE TO ORDER PARTS WHICH ARE ON BACK ORDER IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182012 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE 2006 FORD ESCAPE WITH 100 FAILURE MILEAGE SHE TURNED ON THE HEAT ONE RAINY DAY AND BEGAN TO SMELL A PERFUME/GRAPE CANDY ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATER VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER , AND THE ENGINEER LOOKED IT OVER, BUT WILL NOT SPECIFY WHAT TESTS THAT THEY DID, IF ANY. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THIS ODOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6000.*AK UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188791 · 2007-04-25 (April 25, 2007)
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE FREQUENTLY DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL (MORE THAN A DOZEN OCCURRENCES OVER 12 MONTHS). OWNERS MANUAL DESCRIBES THIS AS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. FOUR ATTEMPTS BY FORD SERVICE TO CORRECT AND ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE BECAUSE CODES ARE ERASED WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF(?). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189733 · 2007-05-04 (May 4, 2007)
AS FLEET MANAGER , I HAVE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE ON ALL 3 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID VEHICLES. DURING EACH FAILURE, THE MAIN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND THE VEHICLE GOES TO STRAIGHT ELECTRICAL POWER WHICH COULD CAUSE A WRECK IN SITUATIONS WHERE A RAPID DROP IN SPEED COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED ON ALL THREE HYBRIDS AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 36,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACES THE WATER PUMP THAT SUPPLIES COOLANT TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AFTER EACH FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REPORTED DUE TO THE FACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191150 · 2007-05-18 (May 18, 2007)
MY HUSBAND AND I WHEN RETURNING HOME FROM A VISIT TO RELATIVES IN TAYLORSVILLE, UTAH. IT HAD BEEN SNOWING BUT HAD STOPPED OR SLOWED DOWN IN TAYLORSVILLE. SINCE WE WERE DRIVING AN ESCAPE HYBRID 4-WD, WE BELIEVED WE WOULD BE FINE TO BEGIN OUR TRIP. WE WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 15 WHEN IT STARTED SNOWING REALLY HARD. WE WERE JUST PAST THE PROVO AREA. THERE WERE MANY CARS AND BIG TRUCKS ON THE FREEWAY AND EVERYONE WAS DRIVING AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE. WE WERE DRIVING IN THE SLOW LANE WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO SLIDE INTO THE INSIDE LANE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191643 · 2007-05-24 (May 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY. THE FAILURE FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. WHEN THE CONTACT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191643 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V382000 · Power Train:Driveline
Reported: 2006-10-05 (October 5, 2006)
ON CERTAIN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HYBRID VEHICLES, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND MAY FRACTURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Consequence: IF A FRACTURE OCCURS, THE POWERTRAIN WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO TRANSMIT TORQUE TO THE DRIVE WHEELS AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE STATIONARY WHEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVETRAIN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗