2006 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

ON 12/7/05, THE MAIN AIR BAG LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASH. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH ONLY 542 MILES DRIVEN ON THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A REPLACEMENT TO A 2005 FORD ESCAPE THAT HAD THIS SAME CHRONIC PROBLEM, WHICH COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY FORD AFTER SIX REPAIR ATTEMPTS. THE 2005 VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BACK BY THE MANUFACTURER AND AT NO TIME WAS A PATTERN OF REPAIRS TO THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE DISCLOSED TO ME PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144858 at NHTSA ↗

2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD - VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND CAN BE FELT IN BODY AT ABOUT 55-65 MPH. INTO DEALER 4X FOR ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. CONSULTED WITH FACTORY. NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING IT. DEALER STATED SOME OF THE MODELS ON THE LOT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE AN ENGINEERING FAULT OR AN ASSEMBLY FAULT - BUT FORD IS SELLING FAULTY VEHICLES- AND NOT TAKING ANY SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY. COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147721 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE GRINDS DURING START UP IF IT SITS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. ON 04-18-06 THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER ALONG WITH A DELAY IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLE'S WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER ARRANGED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED THIS WEEK. UPDATED 5/16/2006 - THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER LUBED THE DOOR AND APPLIED WEATHERSTRIPPING. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155665 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2006 ESCAPE HYBRID ON APRIL 9TH & IMMEDIATELY IT HAD BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEMS - ESSENTIALLY NO BRAKES. IT HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP SINCE APRIL 10TH. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS FIXED ON APRIL 22 & WHEN I WENT TO GET IT, SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED IN TEST DRIVE. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ELSE IS WRONG. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE SENSOR, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE THE ABILITY TO PROPERLY BRAKE IS HIGHLY ESSENTIAL. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155907 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES AT ANY SPEED ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE DRIVER SEAT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS CREATE A SEVERE PAIN AT LUMBAR BACK REGION. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE TWO FRONT SEATS WERE NOT ERGONOMIC, AS THEY WERE IN ALL VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY OWNED. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160925 at NHTSA ↗

SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION FELT AT STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENOUGH VIBRATION FELT TO CAUSE FATIGUE TO THE OPERATOR'S FOREARMS/HANDS - MOST UNPLEASANT WHEN DRIVING 100+ MILES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161329 at NHTSA ↗

8/11/2006 I WAS KNOCKED OUT AND PINNED BY THE REAR HATCH DOOR OF OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE. I OPENED THE REAR HATCH AND LEANED IN TO REMOVE SOME ITEMS FROM REAR OF THE FORD ESCAPE AND THE HATCH CAME SLAMMING DOWN HITTING ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND RENDERING ME UNCONSCIOUS (I AM NOT SURE AS TOO HOW LONG) I CAME TO FACE FIRST INSIDE THE FORD ESCAPE WITH THE DOOR PINNING ME DOWN AND MY FEET HANGING OUT THE REAR. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FREE OF THE REAR HATCH AND BECOME FREE. I FOUND ONE OF THE REAR STRUT SLAYING INSIDE THE REAR COMPARTMENT…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166582 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AT 8:02 PM, THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE SEATBELT WAS WORN AND BOTH FOG LIGHTS AND HEAD LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE BOTTOM PORTION AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, BUT THE TOP PORTION FAILED TO OPEN. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING TWO FRACTURES OF THE STERNUM, A HEMATOMA TO THE LEFT CHEST, AND FRACTURES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, AS WELL AS, HEAVY BRUISING TO T…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170640 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-11-09 (November 9, 2005)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)

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.

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

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.

Reported: 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.