ford escape hybrid Problems

ford escape hybrid 2007 Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

tl* the contact owns a 2007 ford escape hybrid. the vehicle stalled several times while driving approximately 15 mph. he noticed that the vehicle would only drive with electricity and would not engage in normal. he took the vehicle to the dealer. the dealer re-grounded the wire at an expense of $450.00. he contacted the manufacturer and was referred to nhtsa. the current and failure mileages were 37,533.

Reported in: MIAMI FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H57K

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

we were stopped at a red light when we heard a loud noise like a gunshot. as we turned around in the car to see what was happening, the rear window shattered and exploded out. the front windshield developed a crack from the driver side to the passenger side in an arc pattern. all glass and one of the hinges from the rear window blew out of the car from the explosion. the car was warmed and wasn't the first time it was used that day. it was raining, there was no frost or ice on the windows. the rear defroster was not on and the rear wiper was not on. we were not moving and neither were any of the vehicles around us because of the red light. since all glass fell out, we knew that nothing hit the glass to cause it to shatter. i have been reading on various web sites that this has happened to many other ford escape owners. especially over the past month but in all different model years. i called my insurance company to put in a claim but there is a $500 deductible. if this is a safety recall issue then i should be reimbursed for my expenses by ford.

Reported in: DAYTON NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H37K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1.the events leading up to the failure - outside cold temperature. 2.the failure, how often it occurs, its consequences - the key is very difficult to disengage from the ignition without significant fiddling. it occurs every time the outside temperature drops to around 40 degrees (f) or lower. the consequences are (1) that the vehicle may slip into gear, roll anywhere and cause an accident if the key is left in the ignition. there is also the heightened possibility of vehicle theft and/or a broken key. 3.what was done to correct the failure; i.e, parts repaired or replaced (and if old part is available) - i contacted ford via e-mail and their response was to take it to the dealer. i also googled the problem and found out that ford fusions are rife with this problem - http://www.ford-forums.com/ford-fusion/4432-keys-wont-come-out-ignition.html. i assume the same kind of ignition switch is in all of the later model fords. online remedies include partially disassembling the gear shifter, which may lead to a more hazardous condition than a stuck key and i don't want to that.this is a serious safety issue and should be investigated.

Reported in: ARLINGTON VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU491177

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

i own a 07 ford escape with 30,000 mile on it. last week the abs brake system engaging when there is no need for it to. when stopping the vehicle on jan.28 2010 the vehicle began to buck badly. after stopping again at the next stop it bucked once more, as i drove off the abs light came on and the message center list both "service brake system" and service 4x4 system" i took the car to the dealership on jan 29 and was told that the abs system tone ring for the left front wheel was defective and needed to be replace (cost $325.00) i have found on the internet that this seem to be a common replacement part on ford and mercury of this model and year. i feel this is a problem that ford should be recalling. (the dealership kept the old part).

Reported in: DREXEL HILL PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H27K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

full brake failure on a brand new ford escape hybrid. brakes failed at 3,000 miles on the car on my way to work. dealer found and fixed a "computer" system defect that caused the braking system to fail completely. scattered similar reports on the internet on the ford escape. if it hadn't been six am on a quiet street i would have crashed the car. there was no braking power whatsoever. brake light warning did flash.

Reported in: DECATUR GA || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

while driving on interstate 95 in northern virginia, my family and i we're cruising at highway speeds until traffic came to a sudden halt. my wife successfully applied the brakes in our 2007 ford escape hybrid and we came to a stop. however, following that stop, the brakes no longer functioned. we had managed to successfully negotiate the vehicle off the road and called for a tow truck. the only factor that led to the stopping of the vehicle was downshifting and use of the emergency brake. thankful we were safe, but frustrated because we had been at the ford dealership that morning to have a service light and weak braking power investigated. the technician told me that the service light could be a computer malfunction (to be remedied by a "re boot" of the system) or a failure of the electronic control module. he assured me the vehicle was safe to drive. in the end, both the electronic control module and hydraulic control module failed, resulting in the incident on i-95.

Reported in: STAFFORD VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H17K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

my ford hybrid escape (gas) engine shut down as i was accelerating onto the highway. the drive power was completely lost. the car continued coasting and i got the message stop safely now. i pulled off to the shoulder, stopped and shut off the car. i then restarted the car and it functioned normally. the failure has not happened (after about 100 miles) since the one incident. i have driven the car to a ford dealer for diagnosis. the un-commanded engine shut down without any preliminary warning seems like a hazardous condition that could be life threatening in certain circumstances.

Reported in: KIRKLAND WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H07K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

driving home, on highway 880, 110 miles from home, our car loses all power, accelerator stops working completely. we coast to the side of the highway. turn key to off position, start it up again. as we drive off - absolutely no warning - car stops working again and again. this occurred over a dozen times. losing power on highway, we hit the hazard lights and try to maneuver over to the side of the road, coasting. the worst was coming over 152, hecker pass. nowhere to pull over. we lost power many, many times with absolutely no warning. it turns out the car needed a new transmission cooling pump. there is a tsb (08-24-5) out on this car stating that "this condition may result in reduced power as the system activates fail safe operation." there is no "reduced power" - there is absolutely no power! very unsafe. we are lucky to have survived the drive home. ford is very aware of this part being defective and has designed a completely different transmission cooling pump (found "on the shelf") to replace the ones that are defective and going bad in the cars they sold. i bought this brand new 2007 ford escape and feel my safety has been compromised by ford not recalling this part that causes such an extreme "fail safe" mode as stopping my car on the highway, repeatedly. i have the "old" transmission cooling pump that was removed from my car that stopped working. i think that ford should reimburse us for the cost diagnostic work and replacement of the new part, including labor. my back has been in spasms for 3 days now because of the stress from the drive home that took almost 5 hours. i would like ford to reimburse us for the repairs of $554.

Reported in: CORRALITOS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H87K

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

in september 2009 i had to have the abs tone ring on drivers side replaced because i was having issues where breaks would "slip" when breaking- they would engage for a bit then slip and re-engage. this issue didn't prove to be dangerous for me, but could have been. the end of may i began having the same issues again and i knew what the problem was so i took it into dealer where they replaced the passenger side abs ring- problem seemed to be solved. until the next day when i was driving home from work on the highway and lost my breaks completely- less than 24 hours after they had serviced the breaks. had car towed to dealer where they informed me that the master cylinder was bad and needed replaced- for $1400. this is not something that i believe i can wear unusually so that it would go bad like this, and so suddenly. it was an extremely dangerous situation it put me into where i was unable to stop my car without the use of the emergency brakes. i do not understand how the toyota break issues were recalled but this one has not been, it seems after searching the internet that this is not an uncommon problem with the ford escape hybrids. i feel let down by whatever agency it is that should be regulating this issue and by ford who until now i thought was a respectable corporation.

Reported in: BRUNSWICK OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H17K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

the brakes suddenly did not work while pulling out of the parking lot. abs light and parking lights came on and service brake warning. diagnostic determine that hcu(hydraulic control unit) and anti-lock braking failed.

Reported in: MARKHAM 00 || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H07K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

brakes serviced on 07/12/10 certified ok. abs light on 07/21/10. sheehy ford; springfield, va service manager states, "not our fault your fault!" suv has extended service warranty and vip member. brakes certified as safe are unsafe.

Reported in: SPRINGFIELD VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H47K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

numerous intermittent brake/system issues. including grabbing during transition from regenerative to normal braking during wet/frozen conditions(causing poor control/sliding on slippery roads). first dealer, no trouble found, second dealer replaced front tone ring, did not correct, told to wait maybe a bulletin will be issued. dealer retained part. intermittent brake abs/traction control/4x4 warning messages (vehicle may fail to accelerate during failure and or unexpectedly jump side to side during normal acceleration). dealer replaced rear rotation sensor. dealer retained part clunking, lurching and loss of braking during transition from regenerative to normal braking (causes driver to depress pedal harder then when braking restores vehicle stops abruptly). not checked by dealer.

Reported in: TRAVERSE CITY MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H77K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the coolant pump for my ford escape 2007 hybrid has given me a failure code several times. i had it diagnosed then wanted to order the part and was told that i was number 800 on the backorder list for this part. i contacted ford and they referred everything back to the dealer(of course whom i had already spoken with) it is a ford problem for the backorder not a dealer problem. if i am number 800 on the backorder list what type of a problem do they have. the part number is 5m6z 8c419 a.

Reported in: MINOT ND || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H87K

SEAT BELTS

on friday, august 27, 2010 my daughter became tangled in her seatbelt, and was so constricted by the belt that we had to cut the belt. the sequence of events is as follows: 1. she belted in, as always. 2. she asked if she could lie down on the seat because she didn't feel well; i said okay, but keep the belt on 3. we pulled off the highway b/c she needed the bathroom - when she sat up, she said "i'm stuck in my seatbelt." once parked, she released the clip, but remained tangled in the shoulder strap. 4. as we tried to get her out of the belt (she is 5'3", so i could not simply lift her up), which was around her waist in a full twist, she pulled the belt to full extension, accidentally starting the ratchet function. 5. the belt began to ratchet tighter and tighter, and became so constricted that she had to face over the back seat. 6. i held the belt to stop the ratcheting, while a friend ran in to get a pair of scissors. the belt was incredibly tight on her - we could not even move it up or down on her waist and she was crying because it was cutting in to her sides. 7. unable to release the belt, i cut it off my daughter. the car is a ford escape, hybrid, 2007 - but the seatbelts are similar in most car brands. the belt is under warranty and will be replaced at no charge. i do not know how this could be prevented, as the ratcheting function of the seatbelt is necessary for child seat restraints (car seats). however, it was the ratcheting of the belt that put my daughter in so much danger, as once the seatbelt begins ratcheting, it will not release until it is fully retracted. thankfully, i noticed it was ratcheting before she was completely constricted. i am also reporting this to ford. it could happen in any car with ratcheting seatbelts, regardless of the brand. hopefully, it will not happen to anyone else.

Reported in: ANN ARBOR MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H07K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

at 41,000 miles, the service brake system light came on and required an abs tone ring to be replaced. this is now looking to be quite the common part to break after the warranty expires. the service brake system light would come on in frequently, but would never generate a diagnostic code. at ~55000 miles, the service brake system light turned on and when i depressed my brake pedal, it went to the floor and was only able to stop the car by downshifting and using the emergency brake. luckily i was only driving ~25 mph on an empty road, but my young children were in the car. i turned the car off, and back on and tested the brakes on a short flat section of the road and they worked. i proceeded the 1/4 mile to my house and after stopping at a red light and 2 stop signs, the brakes failed pulling into my driveway being stopped by my other car!!! the ford dealer had the car and pulled a diagnostic code which had them replace an actuator in the d-pillar. they assured me that this solved the issue. my wife left to take the kids to school and the service brake system light turned on and the brakes failed as she pulled into the driveway. we had the vehicle towed to ford and they have been unable to find anything wrong or get the brakes to fail. no codes were generated. the general manager of the dealership claimed he had never heard of brakes failing on ford hybrids.

Reported in: PITTSBURGH PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU59H17K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: PITTSBURGH PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU59H17K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl. the contact 2007 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving 5 mph the contact notice the abs and service brake was on. the contact drove the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer notice the hydraulic control unit had broken. the dealer nor the contact could not determine what caused the hydraulic control unit to brake. the contact has not called the manufacturer regarding the brake unit. the contact notice numerous complaints regarding the hydraulic control unit for this year make and model and stated this malfunction could cause a crash. the failure mileage was 34,000. jo

Reported in: BULDER CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H07K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

while driving the "service brake system" light came on. abs light also came on and the brake pedal did not respond normally and car pulled hard to the left when braking. when can was turned off and back on the abs light was off but the problem has recurred 2 more times. car was taken to the dealership and was diagnosed with faulty master brake cylinder sensor. *ln

Reported in: SALT LAKE CITY UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H37K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2007 ford escape hybrid. the car skid as i apply brakes. it is very dangerous.

Reported in: WOODBURY NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2007 ford escape hybrid. driving about 35 miles outside the city going 65 mph. car suddenly shuts off and says "stop safely now". i lose acceleration and all i can do is break and pull off the side of the road. i turn off my car, restart it and it works again. it happened 3 other times that day. i did change the air-filter a day earlier but could have been a coincidence. one of the times it stopped, i was stopped at a red light, the light turns green, i am accelerating to get on the highway and it cuts off again at about 30-40 mph. cars are behind me and honk and i have nowhere to go but to the side of the road slightly, wait a few seconds and turn it back on. very scary.

Reported in: SAN ANGELO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H57K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

total brake failure. abs and brake warning lights came on, followed by total brake failure. occurred following service at ford dealership. the problem first occurred to mechanics servicing the vehicle. i was not told that a brake failure had occurred to the vehicle.

Reported in: DIAMOND SPRINGS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H87K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i have this 2007 ford escape hybrid with 50,000 miles on it. it worked fine until this year when the car would turn off at the light stop after a message of "stop safely now" displayed on board. i had to put it in parking and turn on the engine before i would be able to drive it again. took the vehicle for a check up and it turned out that a small stone mad a small hole in the radiator. we fixed the problem and it seemed to work well until 3 months later when it began to have the same problem, only this time the display showed while driving on the freeway. i only have a few seconds to find a way to stop safely before the car completely shuts off after the "stop safely now" message. it is scary since it happens every few miles now. we switched to different gas brands, maintained the vehicle, changed the oil and filter on time. the owner's manual mentions that the stop safely now message could be an indication of hybrid components failure. i did some research online and read forum discussions and i found out that many escape hybrid owners report the same problem. it looks like a manufacturer's defect to me. it is too common to be just an isolated problem. this is a safety issue. yesterday when it happened again, our 10 year old daughter was in the back passenger seat and she reported feeling unsafe and scared. we were driving from windsor to chatham and during the 70 miles drive alone, my daughter counted 7 occurrences. i am afraid to drive this car anymore. is it a death or more that will prompt inspectors to issue a safety recall for these vehicles? i hope it is not us.

Reported in: CHATHAM 00 || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H37K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

on the night of october 21, 2011 i was driving on rt.66w near gainesville, va in my 2007 ford escape hybrid with approximately 71,500 miles.. an alarm sounded and i got a dash message reading "stop the car safely now". concurrently, i lost power and was forced to immediately pull over to the shoulder. when i consulted the owner's manual, i was informed it was a problem with the hybrid system. the manual suggested turning off the car & restarting. when i did this, the warning light went off and the power returned. i was extremely concerned about pulling into 70 mph traffic and crawled down the shoulder until i could exit. for the next 35 miles (until i got to my destination) this same thing occurred 3 more times on dark, rural roads. luckily, my husband was traveling the same route in another car, traffic was light, and there were available shoulders on the road for an immediate pull-over. this was a dangerous and frightening situation. i consider the sudden loss of power on a high-speed highway to be an extremely dangerous safety problem. this warrants a recall of the failing parts to prevent any other occurrences which could lead to serious accidents and possibly fatalities. the dealer replaced the cooling fan and water pump

Reported in: WASHINGTON DC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H77K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: WASHINGTON DC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H77K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

i was leaving the parking lot at my office and "service brake system" "service 4x4" and abs light all come on. it appears to be split tone ring - a well known issue with ford escape hybrid if you search with google.

Reported in: ROBBINSVILLE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H27K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2007 ford escape hybrid. consumer states vehicle caught fire while driving *tgw the consumer stated smoke began to enter the vehicle from under the dash on the passenger side. minutes the later, the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. the insurance adjuster could not determine the cause of the fire, due to the extent of the damage. *jb

Reported in: MIDLAND MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: MIDLAND MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

my vehicle was running perfectly and had just been serviced. i was driving with my wife and children in mild conditions when the "stop safely now" message appeared at the same time the vehicle lost all power and was in a glide. we luckily made it to the side of the road as we were traveling in the number 1 lane furthest from any place to stop. we were nearly killed by a truck trying to get over to the side of the road. this has happened on 3 other occasions in the following months. all instances but one were on the highway. all put me in a very dangerous situation.

Reported in: TUSTIN CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: TUSTIN CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: TUSTIN CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl* the contact owns a 2007 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced by a dealer, the dealer stated that the master cylinder needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not notified. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 79,000. the vin was unknown.

Reported in: VAN WERT OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

was driving on freeway at 75 mph with cruise control on for approximately 5 to 10 minutes and engine quit. a red triangle with exclamation mark symbol illuminated on dash and the message center displayed "stop vehicle safely now". the vehicle decelerated without engine power and only the electric motor was working to drive the car to the shoulder of the freeway. i did a system check and all results were normal. i shut the vehical of and restarted it and did another system check which gave all normal results again. i continued my trip and the problem has not happened again. *tt

Reported in: HIRAM GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H37K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

i was driving on the freeway when the engine shut off and 'master vehicle electrical hazrard warning lamp' came on. fortunately i only had to cross one lane in modest traffic. the owner's manual instructions state 'stop the vehicle, shift to park, turn the key to off position and attempt to restart the vehicle. if the fault remains, the vehicle may require resetting the shut-off switches.' following the instructions, i was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving without resetting any switches. the warning light remained off and has not come back on again. i have sheduled an appointment to take the vehicle to a dealer. in the mean time i have searched the web for drivers with similiar experiences and have come across quite a few. i personally do not feel safe driving a vehicle that can shut off without warning, especially on a busy highway. the fact that ford has instructions in the owners manual for 'resetting the fuel pump/high voltage shut off switches' is alarming in itself essentially i can be traveling in urban rush hour traffic and a computer can decide to shut off the engine. i urge you to require ford to address this defect. *tt

Reported in: BOULDER CREEK CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU59HX7K

ENGINE

Reported in: BOULDER CREEK CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU59HX7K

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2007 ford escape hybrid. the contact was traveling 40-45 mph when the engine stalled. the pull over safely warning message displayed after the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer confirmed that the motor electronic cooling system and water pump both failed and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 100,400.

Reported in: GREENWOOD IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59HX7K

SERVICE BRAKES

my whole family was in the vehicle leaving a parking lot when the brake light and abs light both came on and the brakes failed to work at all. i kept trying to use the brake and then had to throw the ebrake on to come to a complete stop. i could not imagine if we were going any faster or if someone else in my family was driving the car. the cost to get it fixed was $3,820 which was outrageous. *js

Reported in: MODESTO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H87K

SERVICE BRAKES

this is the 4th instance for this same problem. i can not recall the date and mileage that this has happened the first two times so i used the latest instance for date and mileage. this vehicle is currently 5 and 1/2 years old and has 81,100 miles on it. four (4) times now the abs tone ring has cracked causing the vehicle to occasionally brake as if the abs is working and increasing the stopping distance required to safely stop the vehicle. there are multiple internet reports regarding this issue with this vehicle. last year (aug 2011) i had to have one of the abs tone rings replaced at approx 72,000 miles. that was the 3rd time i have had this problem. considering this is my 4th occurrence with this problem and there are numerous reports on the internet i respectfully request that an investigation be opened to look into a recall of this part. some internet reports suggest that ford has modified the abs tone ring but i do know if that is correct. i am a retired air force safety specialist with 15 years experience and it is my belief that this defect poses a serious safety hazard to both the driver and others should the vehicle fail to stop properly. i have contacted ford customer service to try to have this latest instance repaired at no cost to me. it is currently under review.

Reported in: PGH PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H37K

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2007 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the pull over and stop warning light displayed on the instrument panel. the contact allowed the vehicle to cool for a few minutes before restarting the vehicle. the failure recurred several times. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the water pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. the failure mileage was 103,000.

Reported in: VALLEJO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H17K

SERVICE BRAKES

for the past year my feh '07 has had the triangle light with the explanation point come on. including the awful "pull over safely now" message. i have children in the back seat, it's texas summer heat & we're on the side of the road with no power except electric! while driving on cruise control of 65mph the engine stops, i have to coast (no acceleration) over 3 lanes of traffic. 18 wheelers, cattle haulers, etc. my children are scared witless, as am i. this has occurred numerous times. vehicle sent to the dealership (where it was purchased) they did an electrical reset. while driving from texas to tennessee it occurs soooo many times i've given up. matters worse, the children are with me. i am not safe while driving this new vehicle. i thought this was a matter of safety with ford!! after looking at others on this site, i agree. i will not buy another ford. though that is all we've purchased in the past 20yrs!! my husband even sold his hybrid and purchased a hyundai!!! why is ford not coming out with a recall?? all i seem to find is the cloth cover that may prevent the air bag deployment. are they ignoring the other complaints about the warning light of "pull over safely now" and your coasting to the side of a busy freeway of 18 wheelers????

Reported in: NEWARK TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

Reported in: NEWARK TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

EQUIPMENT

2007 ford escape hybrid. attorney writes on behalf of consumers regarding blue ox bx2609 base plate installation. *tgw the lawyer stated his clients experienced two dangerous failures of the base plate. what made the situation extremely dangerous is that it was almost impossible for a user of the product to inspect to inspect the product for any signs of damage prior to using the base plate to tow a vehicle. once the base plate as installed, it was usually hidden by the bumper and front facade of the vehicle. on july 25, 2088 while driving, the base plate failed which caused the tow vehicle to swing violently back and forth across lanes of traffic. the metal bracket on the bas plate attaching it to the to vehicle (ford escape) was ripped from the metal beam part of the base plate spanning the front of the vehicle. the failure occurred at the joint between the bracket and base plate beam. in total there was about $10,000 worth of damage to both the motor home and the tow vehicle. another base plate was sent to the consumer and installed on the vehicle. on july 25, 2012, while driving and using the allegedly redesigned blue ox base plate, the consumer discovered the tow vehicle has become disconnected and found that once again the base plate failed. the base plate beam was ripped from the metal bracket attachment points in exactly the same way in which the previous base plate had failed.

Reported in: PASADENA CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

without warning, the engine and motor stopped upon accelerating after right turn, with warning message and many lights displayed. after rolling to a stop at the side of the road, and waiting 5 to 10 minutes, the car started and drove normally. this has occurred a number of times since then, on surface streets and expressways. the loss of power is accompanied by loss of power steering, of course, and creates a dangerous situation.

Reported in: PLYMOUTH MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H17K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: PLYMOUTH MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H17K

SERVICE BRAKES

warning light (abs) and messages appeared (service 4 x 4, service brakes soon) unexpectedly. after letting the car sit for a day, the light and messages went away. however, the next time the car was driven, it bucked when the brakes were applied, and the traction control warning light came on - on a dry road. after researching the problem online, it seems that many escape hybrid owners have had the same issue. owner is afraid to drive the car for fear of complete brake failure and afraid to take it to the dealer for fear of costly repairs for this issue after having spent $5000 to repair complete failure of power train system.

Reported in: BADEN PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

i was traveling northbound on i-95 in maryland, about 10 miles south of elkton. while driving in the second from the right lane, in heavy traffic just after dark, the engine completely shut down, with no warning. my information screen said "hybrid system failure, pull over immediately." i had no power of any kind, had to navigate heavy traffic at high speeds, and pull over to the shoulder. it was very difficult and very dangerous to navigate. after sitting on the shoulder for several minutes, the car finally started, and i was able to continue on for a few miles before it happened again. at least i was in the right lane this time. i again waited, and once again the engine started. i pulled off at the elkton exit, and spent the night at a local hotel. the next morning, i called the local ford dealer, and was told that, since i was not a regular customer, they could not help me for two days. after towing the car to my home dealer, about 75 miles, i was informed that it was a water pump failure, not a hybrid system failure, and therefore not covered by the warranty. this seemed curious to me as there was no indication that the engine was overheating, and the car itself indicated that there was a hybrid system failure. why would they design a vehicle to completely shut down, with no warning. i can not imagine the panic this may have caused with a less experienced driver. this had disaster written all over it. further, i do not understand why this was not a warranty issue. the hybrid system is supposedly warranted for 100,000 miles. the system should be designed to warn the driver that a problem is imminent, and the engine will shut off in a short period of time. as designed, this is a terrible and dangerous warning system, and the warranty service from ford is vague and awful.

Reported in: MEDFORD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H27K

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2007 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the throttle body would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 39,000.

Reported in: BOISE ID || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: BOISE ID || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

when there is a fault with the electrical hybrid battery system, the vehicle cuts power completely to the engine. it simply flashes a "stop safely now" message. having to potentially cut across 4 lanes of freeway traffic without power is very dangerous. i nearly had an accident several times due to this. if the hybrid system has a fault, it should still keep the gas engine operational. additionally, the fault is very intermittent, and my ford factory mechanic could not track down any definite cause.

Reported in: PACIFICA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H27K

POWER TRAIN

i was driving at freeway speed and the car suddenly showed the signal: "stop safely now," and i immediately began to lose power. i barely had time to pull to the shoulder to get out of the way of 70-mph traffic. no previous signal showed on the dash (e.g., the wrench signal) to give me any advance warning.

Reported in: SEBASTOPOL CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i was driving at freeway speed and the car suddenly gave the signal "stop car safely now." i immediately began to lose power and barely had time to pull over to the left-hand shoulder to get out of the way of traffic. no previous signal (e.g. wrench light or warning triangle) had appeared to give me advance warning. this had happened before (see 2/1/13 complaint), but when we took the car to the shop after that first occurrence, they were unable to identify any problems, so i had driven it again. both times the problem occurred after sustained (2 hrs) freeway speed (70 mph) driving. this time i was towed to a ford dealership where they identified that the hybrid battery system had overheated and numerous parts needed replacement.

Reported in: SEBASTOPOL CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: SEBASTOPOL CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

after driving approx 20 min on the freeway, my 2007 ford escape hybrid shut off. warning light came on displaying: motor temp high. then, stop safely. considering i was in the middle of the freeway in phoenix az, the 2nd warning statement was quite un-nerving. when i finally made it to the shoulder of the freeway, i opened the hood, nothing was overheating, no steam, coolant levels normal. the vehicle started again without issue. i proceeded approx 5 minutes down the freeway and exited. when attempting to cross the street at the end of the exit ramp, the vehicle shut down again, displaying the same messages. this incident left me in the middle of a busy road. when i finally arrived home, i contacted a friend who is more knowledgeable than i regarding mechanical issues. he said he had heard of this and suggested i look on the internet. i am appalled at the # of occurrences of the same issue that have been reported. yet no one, not the manufacturer or the dealerships have notified the consumer of this very dangerous situation. my father has purchased fords for years. this irresponsible action, of failure to notify the consumer of potentially dangerous malfunctions, does not fit the responsible company that he has always described.

Reported in: PHOENIX AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H97K

ENGINE

Reported in: PHOENIX AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU49H97K

SERVICE BRAKES

as i was driving down the road, the abs and 4x4 lights started going off, with the abs engaging erratically with no apparent reason due to climate or terrain. i called ford dealer and they said either the axle or the brake hub would have to be replaced, at the expenses of hundreds of dollars just for the part, and likely hundreds more for labor! i then go online, however, a see a litany of complaints for the ford escape hybrid and mercury mariner spanning over the course of a decade - all with the exact same description of what i experienced. all the testimonials pointed towards a the faulty design of the tone ring that is used by the abs to gage driving conditions. apparently, after a few years of driving, it tends to snap! this 5$ - $15 dollar part is then used for and an excuses for a repair that may spill over into thousands of dollars, while not to mention, endangering the driver and passengers of said vehicles. when i asked the dealer if they'd replace only the tone ring, they said they do not stock the tone ring only, but they do stock the brake hub and axle. this is obviously a dangerous manufacturing flaw, one that could put the safety of the driver at risk. i would hope the dot would strongly encourage ford to correct this calamity by replacing the poorly designed tone ring with something durable, to better reflect the quality of product we'd like to expect from ford, not to mention a general sense of concern for our wellbeing.

Reported in: ROCKVILLE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59HX7K

ENGINE

on june 24,2013 i was coming back from arizona traveling on the two lane freeway at 70 miles an hour with the air conditioning running. with no warning what so ever the engine just quit and fortunately, i was able to coast to the shoulder of the road. had i been on a four lane freeway in the fast lane at traffic time it would have been a different story. i am very concerned this could have resulted in a rear end collision. after sitting on the shoulder for 10 minutes the engine started and i continued my trip without any additional problems. i didn't drive the car again after i got home until i took it to huntington beach ford for inspection. the dealer found the electric water pump was faulty and failed their test. the water pump was repaired, the system flushed and it tested ok. a test drive was also performed by the dealer with passing results. the cost of this work was $829.99 dollars. i am writing to you out of concern for our family and others that own this vehicle since we no longer can trust we won't have another no warning engine shut down some place we won't be able to get to the shoulder of the road. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: HUNTINGTON BEACH CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H77K

ENGINE

while traveling on the interstate, a "stop safely now" message appeared on the instrument panel. the message was immediately preceded by a chime, and the vehicle lost engine power as soon as the message appeared. there was no warning that would have allowed a safe movement from the roadway, and this problem has repeatedly put me and my family in the most dangerous situations we have ever experienced in a car. the car is in the dealership for the second time for the same problem, and we had it in a year before the first incident for a replaced coil and plug (at 29,000 miles). i just got a call from the service manager telling me that there is nothing he can do on prices for the repair. i will be calling ford customer service, directly, after filing this complaint, since this is obviously a recall situation. we purchased an extended warranty for $1300. it was for 5 years or 60,000 miles. this was a waste of money. the only thing we got covered under that warranty was a window motor that broke. including the warranty for which we paid, we have paid over $2500 in service fees to our dealership. the current mileage is just over 42,000. we purchased the car, new, for $28,000.

Reported in: CHARLESTON SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H37K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

while backing out of a parking space, the right front wheel separated from the vehicle. upon closer inspection, it appeared that the bolt sheared, dislocating the wheel from the drivetrain. this was later confirmed at the repair center--the bolt had sheared and had to be drilled out. the front lower control arm bolts (forward bolt) removed and threads had to be repaired. the right front axle also had to be replaced. this vehicle is only 6.5 years old, and is not driven off road. ford does not acknowledge this as an issue. as noted elsewhere on this site, we also have had issues with brake squealing, as well as the water pump issue.