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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Ford ESCAPE HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

178 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

101,019 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 166 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 178 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior6737.6%
Steering behavior2514.0%
Electrical and battery issues2212.4%
Engine operation158.4%
Transmission and shifting21.1%

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.

Service Brakes
39
Suspension
30
Steering
20
Structure:Body
20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
18
Engine
17
Electrical System
13
Engine And Engine Cooling
11
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes39
Suspension30
Steering20
Structure:Body20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic18
Engine17
Electrical System13
Engine And Engine Cooling11

Service Brakes: 39; Suspension: 30; Steering: 20; Structure:Body: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 18; Engine: 17; Electrical System: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
14
25,000 to 49,999
16
50,000 to 74,999
23
75,000 to 99,999
26
100,000 to 149,999
60
150,000 and above
27
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00014
25,000 to 49,99916
50,000 to 74,99923
75,000 to 99,99926
100,000 to 149,99960
150,000 and above27

Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 60; 150,000 and above: 27

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 12 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.

2005
1
2006
4
2007
4
2008
4
2009
3
2010
18
2011
17
2012
14
2013
14
2014
30
2015
22
2016
16
2017
13
2018
9
2019
8
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20051
20064
20074
20084
20093
201018
201117
201214
201314
201430
201522
201616
201713
20189
20198
20201

2005: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 18; 2011: 17; 2012: 14; 2013: 14; 2014: 30; 2015: 22; 2016: 16; 2017: 13; 2018: 9; 2019: 8; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 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 10124042 · 2005-06-03 (June 3, 2005)

I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT DRIVING OUR NEW 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID AND APPROACHED THE FIRST INTERSECTION WHEN A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASH "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW." BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AFTER A FEW TRIES, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR ON THE BATTERY POWER THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (VERY SLOWLY) TO A BUSY BUS STOP. I COULDN'T START THE CAR AGAIN RIGHT AWAY. HOWEVER, ON BATTERY POWER AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO THE PARKING LOT. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FROM THERE. IT TOOK THEM TWO WEEKS TO FIGU…

Owner-reported narrative. 260 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124042 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10150637 · 2006-02-19 (February 19, 2006)

2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, 9500 MILES, DROVE 20 MILES IN 5 DEGREE WEATHER. SHUT CAR OFF FOR 15 MINUTES. WHEN RESTARTED POWER STEERING FAILED. DROVE 5 MILES WITH POWER STEERING OFF. RESTARTED CAR AFTER 2 HOURS. POWER STEERING WORKED FINE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150637 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10154170 · 2006-03-30 (March 30, 2006)

THIS REPORT IS FOR THE THIRD OCCURRENCE (THERE HAVE BEEN 2 PRIOR OCCURRENCES IN THE PAST 6-8 WEEKS). THIS VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 17,900 MILES AND KEEPS SHUTTING ITSELF DOWN WITHOUT MUCH (IF ANY) WARNING. THIS TIME, I HAD ABOUT 2-4 SECONDS WARNING (WHICH WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON A HIGHWAY OR BUSY ROAD). I WAS IN A PARKING LOT ABOUT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I COULD DO ANYTHING, THE VEHICLE SHUT ITSELF OFF. AT ABOUT 16,000 MILES, THE "HIGH MOTOR TEMPERATURE" WARNING CAME ON. …

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154170 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168806 · 2006-09-20 (September 20, 2006)

I OWN A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN I BOUGHT IT (BRAND NEW) I NOTICED AN AIR BAG ISSUE WHERE DURING DRIVING, IF THE PASSENGER MADE A SLIGHT SITTING ADJUSTMENT, THE AIRBAG WOULD DEACTIVATE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT REACTIVATE, OR TAKE A LONG TIME (5, 10 MINUTES). I TOLD FORD ABOUT IT, AND THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAGS SEAT GEL PAD SENSOR. THE SYMPTOM IMPROVED, BUT STILL HAPPENS. MY FIANCE IS 120LBS AND SHE SITS NORMALLY IN HER SEAT. IF SHE MAKES A MOVE TO READJUST (AS ONE WOULD ON A ROAD TRIP, OR LONG DRIVE) THE AIRBAG MAY STILL DEACTIVATE. INITIAL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168806 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10172574 · 2006-11-03 (November 3, 2006)

2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID : ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING FAILED, WHILE IN A TURN TWICE. AND CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING A WALL, BECAUSE IT REVERTED TO MANUAL STEERING. IF NOT FOR QUICK THINKING AND REFLEX'S. I WAS A PASSENGER AND GRABBED THE WHEEL AND WRESTLED IT IN THE TURN TO AVOID THE WALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS A NO BIG DEAL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172574 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10181021 · 2007-01-29 (January 29, 2007)

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS ON THE INTERSTATE - 65 MILES AN HOUR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A BEEP. THERE WERE THEN NO BRAKES AT ALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COAST TO A STOP. TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT HAD BRAKES. ON THIS LAST INCIDENT, THE SAME THING IN THE SAME ORDER HAPPENED. THANKFULLY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT IS INTERMITTENT THUS MA…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181021 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10191081 · 2007-05-17 (May 17, 2007)

LOUD HIGH PITCHED CYCLICAL SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM AXLE WHEN TRAVELING 1-40 MPH USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR OVER 30 MINUTES. BROUGHT VEHICLE FOR SERVICE ON 03/24/05 WITH 4201 MILEAGE AND MECHANIC DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, REMOVED TIRES AND INSPECTED ALL BRAKES. ON 10/13/05 WITH 10119 MILEAGE AGAIN MECHANIC DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. HOWEVER, REMOVED TIRES AND INSPECTED ALL BRAKES. 04/13/06 WITH 16081 MILEAGE INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. REMOVED TIRES AND INSPECTED ALL BRAKES. ON 03/23/07 WITH 28565 MIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,201 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191081 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10191082 · 2007-05-17 (May 17, 2007)

PROBLEM: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON. DATE BROUGHT VEHICLE FOR SERVICE WAS 03/07/06 WITH MILEAGE 15239 AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 15,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191082 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.