2008 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

THE NEWLY REDESIGNED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER "AREA" FOR THE NEWLY ARRIVING 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE IS A SAFETY AND TRAFFIC HAZARD IN THE FOLLOWING WAY: BECAUSE OF NEW SHAPE FOR THE PLEXIGLASS FRONT AND THE LOCATION OF THE HOOD AND THE MATERIALS USED, IT ALLOWS THE SUN'S RAYS TO SPOTLIGHT ON THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER "AREA" , CAUSING THE WORST "GLARE" THAT I HAVE EVER COME ACCROSS IN ALL MY YEARS OF BUYING AND DRIVING NEW CARS. THIS CAUSES BLINDESS (EVEN WITH A GOOD PAIR OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES ON) DURING SUNNY DAYS, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING I…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10192718 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

I PURCHASED NEW 2008 ESCAPE ON 8/27/2007 AND ON 9/01/2007, THE LINE LEADING TO THE ACCELARATOR, ACCORDING TO FORD "POPPED OFF". I ASKED THEM FOR ANOTHER CAR TO NO AVAIL. I THANK GOD THAT I WAS IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND NOT DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. HERE'S FORD'S RESPONSE VIA EMAIL: DEAR AUDREY, THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING YOUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLS. OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT YOU CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER ON 9/5/2007 11:07:04 AM, …

Owner-reported narrative. 340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202069 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING MY NEW FORD 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT ASSEMBLY FELL APART. THE WHEEL BUCKLED UNDER THE CAR WHICH CAUSED ME TO VEER INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYONE NOR ANYONE INCLUDING MYSELF WAS INJURED. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED THE GUY AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THEY FORGOT TO ATTACH THE BALL JOINT PROPERLY. IM LUCKY I WASNT ON THE FREEWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202967 at NHTSA ↗

MY DAUGHTER WEIGHS ABOUT 90 LBS. WHEN SHE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF, SOME TIMES DEPENDING ON MINOR POSTURE CHANGES, SOMETIMES AT RANDOM. THE DEALER HAS SEEN THIS AND SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE SETTINGS ARE FEDERALLY MANDATED. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO NEVER KNOW IF A PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT WILL FUNCTION OR NOT. IF THE AIR BAG SHOULD BE ON, THEN IT IS UNSAFE FOR IT TO BE ON; IF THE SENSOR SAYS IT SHOULD BE OFF THEN HAVING IT ON WOULD BE UNSAFE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10203068 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS REFLECTED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD DURING THE DAYTIME. THE FAILURE OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203436 at NHTSA ↗

WHY DRIVING THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON IN THE DASH AND THE COMPUTER WILL STATE ?TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT.? I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SENSORS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME IT HAS TO DO WITH A CELL PHONE CHARGER PLUGGED INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND SETTING OFF THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ON THE DASH, AS WELL AS SENDING A FALSE SIGNAL TO THE COMPUTER. THEY STATE THERE IS A FORD BULLETIN OUT ON IT BUT I CAN FIND ANYTHING ON IT. *JB UPDATED 01-15-08.…

Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203477 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-05-29 (May 29, 2014)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

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.