ford escape Problems

ford escape 2008 Complaints

OTHER

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 in the right angle to the sun. on a recent trip out of town, i had to actually hold up one of my hand's close to the instrument cluster, to block the sun's reflection. that meant driving with only one arm. the only safe time to drive this vehicle is during cloudy days. unfrotunately that was the type of day it was when i test drove, before signing 3 year lease. this is the sister vehicle to the ford escape and mercury mariner. all 3 are built in the same ford plant in kansas city, missouri. they must all have the same design flaw. the same vehicles dash was just fine from 2001-2007. i know, because i owned several of them. only the new dash on the new 2008 models have this problem.

Reported in: LINCOLN NE || Crash: N || VIN #: 4F2CZ96158K

STEERING:COLUMN

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, which is ridiculous. her car payment is due before then, and she has only driven 240+ miles. i believe there was a known problem with this vehicle, or it was not inspected properly before being sold. they say the parts are on backorder, which makes me think there have been more problems with this vehicle than they will admit. i would like to have ford cancel our purchase, and take this defective vehicle back. i do not want to worry about my daughter driving down the road and it locking up, causing a rollover,etc. i think this vehicle was defective and we should not have to keep it . we don't know how to get help, i will probably call the attorney general of virginia tomorrow. i am very upset over this happening, and feel that we got conned into buying a defective vehicle, so we should be compensated for our trouble, and released from this purchase. let me know if you can help me. thank you.

Reported in: COVINGTON VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

EQUIPMENT

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.

Reported in: GRAND JUNCTION CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H98K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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, and our customer care representative advised you that diagnosis accelerator cable popped off is having service manager james j________ double check to make sure everything is working properly. after that the vehicle will be ready. at this time we are unable to provide you with an alternate response. if any additional information regarding this matter should become available in the future, please let us know. if you have any other inquiries, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to address them for you. sincerely, john customer relationship center ford motor company

Reported in: ATLANTA GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

SUSPENSION:FRONT

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.

Reported in: COTTAGE GROVE WI || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU59H88K

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

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

Reported in: ROBESONIA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

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.

Reported in: UNIONVILLE CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMEU74E98U

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

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. *kb updated *jb

Reported in: DELAFIELD WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94178K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

Reported in: DELAFIELD WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94178K

AIR BAGS

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving 15mph, the contact crashed into a parked mobile home and the air bags didn't deploy. there was damage to his vehicle; however, there wasn't any damage to the motor home. the front passenger seat was damaged and destroyed. there were no passengers in the vehicle or injuries. there were no warning lights present before or after the crash occurred. a police report will be available in 10 days. photos are available. the vehicle is at the repair facility. the vin and the engine size are not available. the failure and current mileage was 2,100. california traffic collision report. updated 10/15/07

Reported in: CORONADO CA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

brake abs failures on two 2008 ford escapes in 6 months.

Reported in: EDEN PRAIRIE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H78K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

about 2 months after i purchased my escape, the tire pressure monitor light came on and the message center said "tire pressure monitor fault". at the same time the door ajar light and brake lights came on. i took it to the dealer and they couldn't find a thing wrong with it. it happened again, this time the volume on the stereo automatically goes down when i get the tire pressure message along with the air conditioner blowing hot air. it just got worse. i took it to the dealer this time and they kept my car for 3 weeks. they consulted fords engineers and were in constant contact with ford (who had no idea what was wrong with it). they finally decided to replace the whole computer. it didn't fail it happened again. but this time the car would just constantly beep, the most annoying thing in the world, and the doors don't automatically lock. as it got worse the dash has a mind of its own, somedays it doesn't light up other days it stays on all night. thankfully it hasn't drained my battery. it has been to the dealer 4 times already and i have contacted an attorney to help me with a lemon law case. the dealer has no clue what is going on. the advisor said that i was the only escape in the nation with this problem, but looking on the website mine is not the only one, there is at least one other one. my car is still doing this even more frequently. i have another two weeks before we hear from ford about a repurchase. it's unfortunate, because i really love my escape if it wasn't for this one major problem.

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

total hybrid / gasoline system failure while vehicle is being driven.

Reported in: BETHPAGE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H98K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

total hybrid / gasoline system failure while vehicle is being driven.

Reported in: BETHPAGE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H98K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

after coming for a drive out to parker lake, a 50 mile drive from my home, my new ford escape xlt awd stalled. loosing power and control. i was able to steer it over to the side of the road, luckily i was on a country road. i tried to start it but it wouldn't. i let it sit for about 2-5 min. and it started. i got it home and the next day it started right up. i was leaving from work yesterday feb. 11, 2008, and it again stalled on me in the middle of rush-work-hour traffic. it again wouldn't start, but after about 2-5 min. it did. i have had it towed to a dealer here in town, not to the dealer i bought it from. if i had been on the interstate and this happened i'm not so sure it would have been safe. you have done test and inspections in the pass on tributes and other cars with this issue. this is something that needs to be addressed again. before someone get hurt.

Reported in: SIERRA VISTA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

the brakes failed on my 2008 ford escape hybrid while traveling at 50mph on rt. 3 in clifton nj. vehicle was able to be stopped on the shoulder by shifting in to neutral and putting the brake all the way to the floor, which provided very little stopping power. both the abs light and brake warning lights came on the dash, in addition to a message that said something along the lines of brakes require service. the car has roughly 7000 miles on it and was purchased in sept. 2007.

Reported in: MONTCLAIR NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H78K

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

problems with excessive tire wear. 1.) (21,088 miles) purchase a pre owned certified vehicle 02/14/08 front tires look fairly new and rear tires looked like some wear on inside but not bad enough to bring to dealers attention. 2.) (21474 miles) brought back to dealer 02/25/08 for excessive wear on driver and passenger rear tires. driver side rear was almost completely bald in inside of tire. passenger side was not as bad but was worn to a point where you can notice. dealer gave me a hard time and said that there was no way those tires wore that quickly. they said i bought the car that way. put two new tires on the front (i paid for one $110.00) and took the fairly new front tires and put them on the back and had a 4 wheel alignment done. 3.) (21505 miles) 02/27/08 brought vehicle to my local ford dealer and had the 4 wheel alignment check because i had no trust in purchasing dealer service department because of the hard time they gave me over the problem. alignment checked out to be within specifications. 4.) (21,972 miles) 03/26/08 notice excessive wear on rear tires again and brought it back to local dealer. they agreed that the tires front and rear where wearing excessively and performed another alignment check. again the alignment was within ford specification. they also check underneath the vehicle for any part being bent and also check the frame to see if that may be bent. everything checked out ok. dealer brought the vehicle to a private tire / alignment shop and had the alignment checked out by an expert and he made some adjustments to bring it in a tighter to the specifications. dealer advised me to bring back the vehicle back after 1,000 miles to rotate the tires and check them as well.

Reported in: NETCONG NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

sloshing sound of fuel from rear end while making turns, braking or accelerating. in most cases makes sound more than a half full. car has a harder time making turns. went to the dealership three times to complain and have vehicle inspected, on the third visit inspected and road tested. no work done to fix problem, dealership contact ford hotline.

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

AIR BAGS

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while exiting the driveway in reverse at 10 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. there were no warning lights illuminated prior to the failure. several months later, the failure recurred while approaching a stop sign. the contact's vehicle struck another vehicle and the damages exceeded $2,400. the dealer stated that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. several weeks later, the failure recurred and the contact was involved in another crash. the air bags failed to deploy. the damages exceeded $8,000. during each failure, the contact depressed the brake pedal all the way down to the floor. he still has possession of the vehicle. the failure mileage was 6,000 and current mileage was 13,000 updated 06/16/08 *bf

Reported in: BASSETT VA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Reported in: BASSETT VA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that there is a large glare on the windshield, especially in the sun light, which temporarily impairs his visibility. the dealer acknowledged the failure, but was unable to provide a remedy. the contact called the manufacturer and they referred him back to the dealer. the failure still persists. the failure mileage was 13 and current mileage was 3,658. updated 6/2/08 *cn the drivers side mirror would grind when the consumer rolled it or down. updated 06/02/08

Reported in: BELLINGHAM WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

STRUCTURE

Reported in: BELLINGHAM WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

Reported in: BELLINGHAM WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

STEERING

when backing up in reverse, when you turn the steering wheel left or right, there is a loud clunking noise in the steering.

Reported in: BALTIMORE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

SUSPENSION

first of all, i cannot say with any certainty weather the issue is with the automobile or the factory original tires. i can only suspect it is with the automobile based on 30 years of experience of owning and operating automobiles. 1. excessively loud noise from the factory original tires. 2. after 19,000 miles all 4 factory original tires are wearing down on the inside of the tread only. 3. i was offered a new set of tires from the dealer service center at a reduced cost.

Reported in: CASTALIA NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

TIRES

Reported in: CASTALIA NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving 50 mph, the engine suddenly shut off. the gauges on the instrument panel continued to work and the contact pulled off the road. the vehicle was able to be restarted, but five minutes later, the failure recurred. the vehicle had only moved two meters. this failure occurred six times before he was able to find a mechanic a mile away. the mechanic stated that the water pump failed. the contact stated that he knows at least 20 people with the same vehicle, and are experiencing identical failures. the failure mileage was 39,148.

Reported in: FRANKLIN SQUARE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H88K

POWER TRAIN

on leaving the lot a high vibration came thru the gas pedal at 1500 rpm's. i returned back to the dealer and was told to let it break in. after 1 month it did not go away and brought it in to service. 1st attempt they did nothing and was told to give them 2 weeks. 2nd attempt was then done and they re tied the gas cable and the problem didn't go away. the gave up and told me to call ford. with ford on the 3rd attempt replaced the shaft and made it worse. now it vibrate and has a lingering buzzing sensation till 2000 rpms. they acknowledge the issue and are claiming it is normal, which no other vehicle except the ford escape has with the v6 engine, the v4 doesn't have this issue. this issue has been document on forums with the 2006 escape having the same issues. ford is also refusing to follow the lemon law by refunding my money since they cannot fix the problem and are not even offering an exchange as per law.

Reported in: HOWELL NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

TIRES

replaced all valve stems on tires.

Reported in: LAWTON OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H68K

VISIBILITY

the silver radio faceplate - standard equipment on my new 2008 ford escape creates such a glaring reflection in my windshield that it obscures my view of objects in front of the car. i have one eye - monocular vision, which makes this even more of a problem. i contacted the ford dealership and they referred me to ford motor company who will not support that this is a problem.

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

SUSPENSION

recently bought a dealer certified used 2008 ford escape with 21,800 miles. immediately noticed extremely annoying noise coming from rear tires at higher speeds. took into dealer and was advised that it is from excessive wear on the inside of rear tire(s), though at first glance the tires appear to be in good shape with quite a bit of "good tread" left on them. they said that there could be a few factors that contributed to this. there was not much they could do because they do not warranty the tires. after doing some research online i note that there are quite a few complaints about excessive wear on the continental tires on the 2008 ford escape. it is quite obvious why ford has switched to another tire (michelin i believe) for their 2009 tires. they advise the switch was for better "fuel economy" but i suspect they are getting many complaints about excessive inside wear on the continental tires. it is a shame that ford does not come out and address this problem with consumers. in any event, i convinced my dealer to pay for two new tires and i will pay for two new tires. i simply could not live with the noise coming from the tires.

Reported in: GRAND ISLAND NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X7K

TIRES

special ordered a 2008 ford escape limited. kept hearing slight noise sounded like wheel bearings to me. rotated tires at 7500 miles as per my owners manual .took to dealership at 10,839 miles. they said they had not rotated my tires so no service. noise so loud now cannot hear radio. cupping on inside of all tires. took back to dealership. they said i cannot rotate my own tires and keep my warranty. so my warranty claim is denied.

Reported in: VIRGINIA BEACH VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04128K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

consumer states that his 2008 ford escape has several problems. efforts has been made to fix the vehicle, but new problems develop and ongoing problems has not been resolved. *nj

Reported in: WOODSIDE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H58K

AIR BAGS

i was traveling down a busy road at about 35 miles an hour and collided into a vehicle that pulled out in front of me. my front passenger side area (the passenger side headlight) impacted with the drivers side passenger door of a 2002 mercedes benz. the mercedes' airbags deployed on the side of the impact. none of the 6 airbags deployed in my brand new 2008 escape. fortunately none of my passengers (wife, 4 yr old daughter, 11 mo old son) were injured. if this accident had occurred on the interstate or had we been traveling faster, due to the air bags not deploying, bodily injury and or death could have occurred to the occupants of my vehicle. there were damages to my vehicle in excess of $8500 at the initial estimate. i am still waiting for my truck to be fixed. i will attempt to contact the dealership as well as ford motor company to work out a remedy if possible. this is an apparent defect and needs to be addressed asap. if you have any advice on how i should approach this with the dealership and or ford mc, please let me know.

Reported in: FORT BRAGG NC || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

STEERING

on monday, 15 sep 2008, on my way to work (about 7am) my steering wheel locked up. i was not able to turn the wheel no matter how much i tried. i was able to stop the vehicle and shut it off. after a few minutes, i restarted the car and everything seemed fine. on tuesday, the same thing happened three different times. i called the dealer first thing wednesday morning to schedule the vehicle for service. i was told to bring the vehicle in on thursday. on my way home from work on wednesday, i was going to drop it off at the dealer so they could start right away. after exiting the highway, the steering wheel locked again and this time i could not stop before driving off the road and into a rock wall. the side airbags deployed, but i still hit my head on the steering wheel and was knocked unconscious. the dealer said he has never heard of that happening. i was going about 30 miles per hour.

Reported in: MERRIMACK NH || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU94188K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while backing out of a parking space at low speeds, the parking sensors failed. the alarm did not sound loud enough to alert the driver. the backup sensor failure occurs continuously when driving in reverse. there were no warnings prior to this failure. the vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer and they stated that the speakers were located in the interior rear of the vehicle, which may cause the alarm not to sound as loudly. the technician stated that the speakers could be relocated to the interior front of the vehicle at the contact's expense. the vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction. the contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 50 and current mileage was 2,200. updated 11-19-08 *bf the consumer stated the problem has been fixed. updated 11/19/08. *jb

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

saturday night october 11th. vehicle was driven to a shopping center very close to my home and upon coming out of the store the accelerator (or pedal) fell to the floor. aaa was called and they were able to temporary repair to the pedal, we drove the vehicle back to our home and we did not use the vehicle until we took it to the ford dealership, and after analyze it, it was found that it was a "defective cable assembly" and a part had to be ordered and is at the ford dealership will be repair tomorrow. this is severe and safety situation if we were on the road at the moment that happened it could have resulted in a dead or very serious injuries to us and others.

Reported in: BAY POINT CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while backing out of a parking space at low speeds, the back-up sensor alarm did not sound. the contact was unaware of obstacles in the rear of the vehicle due to the low sound of the alarm. there were no prior warnings. the vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer and they stated that the back-up sensor speakers were installed and designed by the manufacturer, located at the rear of the vehicle. the technician stated that the speakers could be repositioned to the front of the vehicle at the contact's expense. the vehicle has not been repaired. the contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 50 and current mileage was 2,200.

Reported in: GOLDTHWAIT TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04178K

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

front drivers side tire lost pressure, from 44lbs to 23lbs, i do not know the time duration. warning light on dashboard alerted me. corrected tire pressure and it is 6 pounds low again 7 days later. ford dealer said they will not replace all stems only the one that is leaking.

Reported in: OAK HILLS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94108K

TIRES

the tire (front driver side) on my 2008 ford escape hybrid (which i purchased in june 2007) keeps losing air pressure and i get a warning light on my dash about every two to three weeks. i recently read about the valve stem recall but i never received a recall notice from ford. i am getting very concerned about this particular issue as well as the bigger issue of using sub-standard parts in american cars. i contacted my ford dealer today and they asked me to give them my vin number. after i gave them my vin they told me that my vehicle was not on the recall list. i believe i am being snubbed here and that ford should replace all four valve stems as a precautionary measure.

Reported in: WOODLAND HILLS CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

sunday noticed red fluid leaking onto driveway, monday brought vehicle to ford dealer to be inspected. upon inspection, dealership determined that there was a leak in the transmission cooler.

Reported in: BELLE PLAINE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission started to hard shift. took to dealer, dealer determined there was a leak in the transmission cooler. although this i have a lot of miles on my car, it's still only a 2008 model year. the leak is on the side of the cooler, not the front, from a rock or twig or front puncture - this is a terrible design. they put the transmission cooler, engine cooler, and the a/c condenser all in one unit, so if one goes bad, you have to replace the entire unit. dealer gave me a cost of $983 to repair == $424 for the part, and the rest in labor because they have to examine the a/c unit the cost is significantly higher. i called ford consumer hotline -- they refused to do anything. i did note today, that just recently someone else had the same issue that was reported to the nhtsa database. i am very frustrated with the lack of response from ford motor company. the representative (supervisor), just raved about the jd power quality and how good their products were. i don't see how.

Reported in: SPRINGFIELD OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

been noticing little red drips around the radiator filler tube side. cleaned area and noticed fluid dripping from where the tubes enter the cooler. noticed other complaints online about a similar problem. bringing into the dealer.

Reported in: OAK FOREST IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. after accelerating from a stop sign, the vehicle would not accelerate past 40 mph and began vibrating uncontrollably. the contact activated the cruise control once the vehicle reached 60 mph and the vibrating ceased. approximately 30 miles later, he was able to find a ford dealer and they performed a diagnostic. the contact was informed that the torque converter was defective. the mechanic could not duplicate the failure and the vehicle has not been repaired. the vehicle was driven to a dealer near the contact's residence. the mechanic stated that they would not be able to replace the torque converter because they could not duplicate the failure. the manufacturer stated that they were not liable for the repairs. the vehicle has not been repaired. the current mileage was 7,100 and failure mileage was 4,800.

Reported in: CHANHANSON MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission cooler leak, causing it to jump when below 20 miles an hour. while in boston during rush hour, could have caused a major accident.

Reported in: NASHUA NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94178K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

in december of 2007 i purchased a 2008 ford escape limited. about 2 months ago i had to bring it in because it was losing transmission fluid and shifting irregularly(it had 33,000 miles on it). they told me that the front seal of the transmission was leaking and they replaced it at the dealership. about 2 weeks ago my wife noticed that it was shifting poorly into reverse, first there was a pause and then it would shift into reverse shaking the entire vehicle, the dealership informed me that now we have an internal leak and they are in the process of fixing that problem (it now has 40,000 miles on it).

Reported in: ISANTI MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

today i noticed a small puddle of fluid under the right front side of the vehicle. the fluid is a red, oily fluid. i did a further inspection of the undercarriage and noticed a small leak of red fluid coming from the bottom of the right side of the engine compartment. i then checked the automatic transmission fluid level, and it was very low. i have not received any indication lights on the dash board. the service center at the dealership is closed today, so i will take the vehicle into the service center tomorrow morning.

Reported in: CHULA VISTA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

VISIBILITY

2008 ford escape - windshield wipers. the 2008 model escape utilizes a new "springless" wiper design. the ford edge and taurus also use the same wiper design for 2008. the design does not place enough downward pressure on the windshield to allow for consistent contact leaving large areas completely missed by the blade. i've noticed this to be more problematic in cold weather, which may be a result of the blade material stiffening allowing for curved blade to not flex and lie flat against the windshield surface. i've contacted ford and the dealer, and ford does not make a winter blade for this vehicle. after market blades are also not an option because the connection between the blade arm and blade only supports the ford stock wipers. ford also does not currently offer an optional blade arm for this vehicle that would utilize a different connector. with the wipers consistently missing sections of the windshield, the driver's field of view becomes limited presenting an unsafe driving condition. replacing the blades with the same exact design of blade will not correct the design problem.

Reported in: ALGONQUIN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission issues. doesn't catch into reverse gear and cannot go in reverse. shifts into what feels like second gear at highway speeds.

Reported in: NEW YORK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94138K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the vehicle feels like it does not want to shift into gear when it is put into reverse. the whole vehicle is "chugs" or shakes when it is reversing at slow speeds. has become worse with time. vehicle purchased may 2008 and has 14,000km. currently in the dealership and they are replacing the entire transmission.

Reported in: CALGARY 00 || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have a 2008 ford escape that i have had transmission problems and when put into rev. it would slip and or chatter. when i brought it into the dealership they stated to me that they can not get it to do what it did for me. this happen for a few days. it started to do it when it gets cold outside and after driving it. i have 333000 miles on it and do a lot of out of town driving. i would like it fixed before it leaves me stranded out of town. the dealership has had it for a week now and still can not find a problem with it. it is hard to believe that there is no code set for this problem.

Reported in: BURNSVILLE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z08K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact noticed smoke coming from the garage door. upon further inspection, she noticed huge flames underneath the vehicle. the vehicle exploded and the back of the house and the garage door were blown away as a result. prior to the failure, the vehicle had not been driven for two days and displayed no signs of failure. the fire department was called and extinguished the flames. the home and the vehicle were destroyed. there were no injuries. the insurance company inspected the vehicle and stated that the cause of the failure was unknown. the manufacturer stated that they would forward the complaint to their attorney and call the contact back with an update. the failure mileage was 12,000.

Reported in: RESTON VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

total transmission cooler failure at 48,000 miles.

Reported in: SALEM UT || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY

i have a 2008 ford escape. the problem concerns the wipers. each time it has snowed and we have needed to drive in it, snow and ice builds up on the middle 2/3rds of the blade lifting it enough so the blade does not make contact and clean the windshield. i called the dealership where we purchased the vehicle and asked for "winter blades", i was told that was not available, i then asked if they could put different arms on our vehicle so it could accept "regular" wipers, i was again told no. the wiper is called a contour wiper and what both the dealership and ford motor consumer line have told me, there is no other wiper arm or blade that will fit this vehicle. ok, now the danger factor arises when driving in snowy conditions, the blade looses contact with the windshield, hence the windshield builds up snow and ice and visibility is near zero. the only way to clean it is to stop, no matter where you are and clean it, and this is not easy on a very busy highway, problem is, when you lose visibility, you have no choice but to stop wherever you are. the design is so poor and i can not believe in any testing that this did not arise. and to design and put such a limited availability product on a vehicle that causes such a dangerous condition is totally unacceptable. they do not have a single option for a consumer to replace these wipers except with the exact same dangerous product. i would like to know how i may get ford to take a return on this vehicle or to replace this wiper. thanks.

Reported in: JEFFERSONVILLE VT || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

vehicle would not go in reverse after driving about ten miles. sub zero weather, vehicle was parked in heated garage. it worked ok out of garage, after driven for the ten miles reverse slipped badly. powertrain light on dealer checked for codes and code read as unknown problem. transmission now has delayed engagement into reverse. dealer checked fluid and it is burnt, again no known codes yet light is still on. vehicle is 4 cylinder with 4 wheel drive.

Reported in: BURNSVILLE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z28K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i brought my 2008 ford escape into the dealership after noticing it was leaking transmission fluid toward the front passenger-side of the car. dealer diagnosed the car with needing a replacement of the transmission cooler at a total cost of $1,142. my escape was purchased in june of 2007 and has just gone out of warranty had just over 40,000 miles when fluid started leaking. tsb 08-5-7 was issued for this exact issue. dealership offered 60 (ford)/40 (me) split of cost, but i think this should be recalled since it is admittedly a design flaw. i've also read of many others having the same experience. ford should do the right thing and issue a recall for this problem.

Reported in: SAINT LOUIS MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

SUSPENSION

when standing at the rear of the vehicle it has a noticeable lean to the drivers� side (both front and rear) of almost 1/2 inch. there have been no modifications done, tires are all the same size and properly inflated and it doesn't matter if the tank is full or empty. dealer acknowledges the problem but is unwilling to pursue it.

Reported in: FREEPORT IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape is currently at 16000 miles and i have noticed for about a week that the transmission has been slipping. then when i put it into reverse, it sounds like it is going to stall but doesn't. however, when then going into drive my car has stalled 4 times. i took it today and that was the second car today brought in for the same problem. they automatically said it would take a couple of days and got me a rental car till tuesday.

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

have a 2008 escape with 15,500 miles and it began shifting hard. took a short trip and problem worsened. husband noted transmission fluid leaking, right passenger side. took vehicle to shop and they determined the transmission cooler needed replaced. still under warranty so there was no cost to me other than a day without my vehicle and shop was excellent in cleaning my vehicle from all the transmission fluid splatters. great service but this problem on so many of these vehicles should be a recalled item.

Reported in: AVOCA AR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

this is a follow up to earlier complaint #10256871 dealer was unable to do repairs to vehicle at earlier date because they could not find problem. vehicle now quit moving in middle of traffic requiring it be towed. dealer now replaced entire transmission due to complete internal failure which appeared to be caused by lack of lubrication to internal components. dealer commented that it appears to be a cooler related design problem, which restricts fluid flow in cold climates.

Reported in: BURNSVILLE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z28K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

we bought the escape in march 2008 with 17,000 miles and now have 41,000 miles. the other day it started to not shift right so we checked the fluids and saw the transmission fluid was very low. we filled it and it still wasn't registering and took it to the dealer the next morning. dealer said there is a slow leak and we would have to replace the entire unit at our cost because we're over the 35,000 mile warranty. service manager admitted that the leak most likely would have started while still under warranty but could not go back. called ford and got nowhere with them. did research last night and saw all the other complaints along with the technical service bulletin issued by ford about the problem. heading back to the dealer this morning to see what they say about the tsb. the vehicle will sit in the driveway until ford or the dealer steps up and pays for this. ford knows it's a defect so why should we have to spend the estimated $800 to correct it. hoping they end up recalling this to save other consumers the hassle we've been dealing with.

Reported in: BROOKLYN CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 5 mph on normal road conditions, the transmission began to shift improperly. there were intermittent harsh shifts. there were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician stated that the cause of the failure was related to the automatic transmission cooling unit and lines. the manufacturer warranty was expired and the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer has been notified. the failure and current mileages were 41,000.

Reported in: BROOKLYN CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i am filing this complaint on behalf of my daughter. her 2008 ford escape started jerking as if the transmission was slipping then engaging. upon checking the fluid level i found it was showing at the bottom of the dipstick. my daughter is a registered nurse and does a lot of driving within our tri-state area so as strange as i thought it was to be that low, i added 2 qts. of fluid. two days later it was the same situation again except this time i had her make an appointment with the dealer. after dealer inspection she was told that the transmission cooler was leaking and needed replaced. i called the dealers service manager to see if was covered under warranty and was told that it wasn't covered under the 3yr. 38,000 mi. warranty because her mileage was at 43641. i asked about it being covered under the 5yr. 60,000 mi. power train warranty because it is called a transmission cooler, again i was told no. now i am sure not a rocket scientist but to me a transmission cooler sounds as if it has something to do with the transmission operation! my arguments with the service advisor proved fruitless. what really ticked me off was when the service manager told me that the mechanic who handled the repair said that the transmission cooler was leaking in the seam (faulty workmanship???). the end result is the repair cost my daughter $667.04. when i asked to see the old part the service manager told me that the mechanic held onto it because each mechanic keeps old parts to sell as scrap. i went back and got the old trans. cooler because i figured if anyone should money out of the scrap aluminum it should be my daughter. the placement of the transmission cooler right behind the grille is the stupidest design. why wasn't some type of guard installed in front of it?

Reported in: STEUBENVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

POWER TRAIN

we bougt a 2008 ford escape limited almost two years ago,it now has 70,000 miles and transmission is starting to go out., and when we took it to the dealership they said the compressor and the gearbox needed to be replaced. the trasmission fluid pours out and it shifts so hard into first and second gear that tires spin.

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

my 2008 ford escape was purchased on december 31, 2007 on may 22, 2008, while traveling on the expressway the throttle cable snapped and the gas petal would not function. i was going 65 mph and this put me in a very dangerous position. the car immediately stopped accelerating and had to be pushed into the emergency lane. i was towed to the dealership. there i was told they did not know what the problem was. on august 13, 2008, i exited from the expressway, pulled into a parking lot and the throttle cable snapped again. i was unable to operate the vehicle and had to be towed to the dealership. again, i was told we do not know why this happened. i new cable was installed. on march 3, 2009, while driving 65 mph on the expressway the throttle cable snapped again. i was unable to accelerate and had to be towed. this was the most dangerous situation, i went from 65 mph to nothing during intense rush hour traffic. i had to be towed to the dealership and again was told we do not understand why this is happening.

Reported in: MASON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape hybrid, complete engine failure with less than 1/4 mile warning. ford has technical service bulletins on this problem: # 7-25-9 (dec. 24-07) and 08-3-3 (feb. 18-08). repair is a simple calibration. since this is a serious, potentially deadly defect, why is this not a recall to notify consumers? ford would not pay for the repair because my mileage was beyond warranty. it was not beyond warranty when the first tsb was issued. if this had been a recall and ford had been required to notify me, i would have had it fixed then, before it nearly caused an accident. thank you.

Reported in: ANNAPOLIS MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H28K

STRUCTURE

my wife was stepping on the gas pedal while traveling up an on ramp, the gas pedal broke off, she coasted to the side of the rode and called the dealership.

Reported in: ISANTI MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

my wife was stepping on the gas pedal while traveling up an on ramp, the gas pedal broke off, she coasted to the side of the rode and called the dealership.

Reported in: ISANTI MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

AIR BAGS

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving between 25-30 mph on normal road conditions, the air bags deployed without an impact or crash occurring. the driver sustained minor injuries from the moderate force. the air bag warning indicator did not illuminate on the instrument panel. the entire instrument panel, windshield, and steering wheel were damaged. the police was called to the scene and a report was filed. the vehicle was able to be driven to an authorized dealer for inspection, but they were unable to determine the cause of the failure. the manufacturer was notified, but did not assist. the vehicle has not been repaired at this time. the failure and current mileages were 111,000.

Reported in: FOND DU LAC WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMYU01B02K

TIRES

2008 ford escape xlt. tire valve was cracked and caused a flat that triggered tpms air , at inspection tire shop found all tire valves were cracked the vehicle has 22k miles and was first dolt to me on may 2007.

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

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

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

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

my brake system fails often when braking. it as though the brakes stop working for a split second, similar to how it can feel when the antilock brakes come on skipping some if on ice. but this is occurring on dry pavement. when i brought this in to ford they said they could not find an issue, but said the brakes on the ford 2008 are not the greatest so i should probably get them replaced and this may solve the problem. i allowed the front brakes to be changed, the problem is still occurring. my car has less than 30,000 miles on it. i have noticed that each time when i feel the brakes slip, the abs active/traction control light comes on in my car. has there been others complaining of this same issue?

Reported in: GARDINER ME || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H38K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i purchased my 2008 ford escape in december, 2008 with 35k miles. i took the vehicle in for an oil change about a month after i purchased the vehicle, and was told that i had a leak in my transmission cooler. i took my vehicle into the dealership, and was told that this has been a very common problem with the 2008 escape. my extended warranty covered the work that needed to be done, but it still is something that should be addressed if this is a common problem on a vehicle that is less than a year old.

Reported in: PARK CITY UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was accelerating on a freeway on ramp and suddenly my gas pedal was not there - it was limp. i called for a tow and it is now at the dealer. they say the throttle body is sticking and the cable is broken. this happened right before rush hour and luckily i coasted to the side of the road out of the traffic when this happened or i could have easily been killed.

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i had come back from a business trip and had parked the car at the airport. when i started driving, the car was lurching, feeling like the transmission was slipping. this continued all the way home. the next day, it worsened. took it to the dealer and they had to rebuild the transmission and do many other things surrounding that as all the fluid had leaked out. luckily, it was under warranty.

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

VISIBILITY

spontaneous windshield crack. this is the second time the windshield has cracked within a seven month period. when i replace this windshield it will be the third windshield on this vehicle after owing it for 16 months and traveling 20,000 miles. the cracks have appeared in the same general location and the crack pattern is the same.

Reported in: PROSPECT HEIGHTS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the 2008 ford escape i own leaked transmission fluid through the a/c condenser. there was no warning lights engaged indicating a problem and the sudden starts began without warning. this is due to a factory defect and provides an unsafe driving environment given that the automobile's transmission does not engage properly due to the lack of fluid and surges forward. there is currently a tsb on this defect. there needs to be a recall before someone is injured since this is a common problem to all escape's manufactured prior to a february of 2008. the solution was to replace the condenser that has the faulty seam design.

Reported in: ALGONQUIN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: ALGONQUIN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

TIRES

the stock tires provided with the 2008 ford escape models have defective valve stems. the cracked rubber can either cause a blow out or slow leak. on my escape, 3 out of 4 valve stems were defective and showing multiple cracks. this is on a "courtesy recall?". the dealership i had my vehicle serviced at recommended replacement. since the nhtsa has not proactively recalled these tires, knowing full well there were millions of defective valve stems sent from china, the only way i was informed there was a serious safety issue with my vehicle was by having another mechanical problem. please officially recall these before people start dying to blowouts.

Reported in: ALGONQUIN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i bought a ford escape 2008 about 1.5 years ago. the car stalled or died out suddenly when i was driving yesterday. i was almost hit by the car behind me. i then have a ford dealer to fix the car. i was told that transmission cooler was leaking and the level of transmission fluid was very low. they replace the transmission cooler and the car looks normal now. however, i did brief research over internet, and found transmission cooler seems to be a common problem for ford escape. i suspect it is a design defect and recall shall be required to prevent similar failure happen on other cars.

Reported in: SAN CARLOS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i bought my 2008 ford escape in 02/2008. last week my escape started sticking when i pushed the gas petal and it would lag then all of a sudden jump and jerk forward. then i noticed that i had a transmission fluid leak. i called the dealer and took it in for them to check because transmission issues were supposed to be covered under the powertrain warranty. well boy was i surprised when the ford dealer i bought it from called me and said that it was going to cost me $1600.00 to fix because it was the transmission cooler and line was leaking and that is considered to be an external problem with the transmission and hence not covered under warranty, only internal parts. i have done some research on the internet and now see that many many people have had the exact same issues with their 08 escapes yet ford is doing nothing about it but ripping off their consumers. the service center at the dealer even told me that this was a common problem they were seeing in the escapes lately and that they are fixing these daily. what can be done about this? here i thought i was doing good by buying a new car last year and i am having more problems with it than i did with my 10 year old mazda i traded in for it.

Reported in: SAVANNAH GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

PARKING BRAKE

the vehicle was parked in a flat parking lot and the parking brake failed. the first time, the parked car rolled backwards and hit a sign. no person was injured. i thought that pehaps the pedal was not fully depressed. the second time, about 3 weeks later, the vehical rolled backwards and hit another vehicle. i had to call the insurance company and file a claim. i intend on bringing the car to the dealership, however after doing a bit of research on the internet, it seems to be a common problem, and i wanted to make sure to report it, because it has the potential to be fatal.

Reported in: LILBURN GA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape limited 4wd with approx. 29,000 miles started running a little louder than normal. then it began shaking while in motion, usually between 35 to 40mph. when it was taken to the dealership they told me it has a bad transfer case. when the part never came in i was informed that there was a stop shipment on the part because of a defect they found in the manufacturing. almost a month later they have received the part. had i not still be covered under warranty this would have been a very expensive and upsetting repair.

Reported in: ROCKVILLE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94168K

AIR BAGS

in the early morning hours in heavy rain, my vehicle slid on the road and ran into the back of a mach truck. the speed was approximately 35 mph, and the entire front end of my vehicle was pushed back. the air bag did not deploy and the driver hit the steering wheel, only being somewhat protected by wearing a seat belt. the vehicle is currently in the shop for repairs, pending insurance investigation. the vehicle in question is a 2008 ford escape.

Reported in: PASADENA MD || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission coolant leak. rolls back, engine shuts off, leaks transmission fluid. accident risk. ford not going to replace bad part.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

my airbag does not work for me i weigh 126 they said it can't be fixed it's made for a child i'm not a child. i should of been told this before i bought the escape. i was lead to believe i had the safety of a passenger airbag. i wouldn't have bought this car if i knew this. i was lied too. i'm not safe.

Reported in: GREENVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. seven days after the vehicle was purchased, it failed to start. the dealer stated that the accelerator pedal cable lines failed. the repairs were made at the manufacturer's expense. on a separate occasion, while driving less than 40 mph, the contact heard a loud revving noise. the vehicle was hesitant to pick up speed. the accelerator pedal became inoperable and the contact coasted the vehicle off the highway. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they found that the accelerator pedal cable lines failed again. the manufacturer assumed liability for the second time. the current and failure mileages were less than 29,500.

Reported in: ATLANTA GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

Reported in: ATLANTA GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape. no problems up until leaking from the front. at first thought it was condensation from using my a/c. however, it turned out to be leaking transmission fluid. the transmission has started to fail and slip out of gear on highways and rural roads.

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

car in reverse backing into my drive --i remove foot from gas pedal and car immediately rolls back down into street staying in reverse but going forward. when in drive entering driveway and i remove foot it again rolls back down into street being in drive but moving in reverse . i must use the brake at all times. it is not a steep drive at all. ford says they can't duplicate it so it isn't true and refused to put it on a lift to check for defects. another mechanic says it's dangerous and so did several friends who also experienced it. i am afraid it will roll into the street or fail to stay in drive when or if i try to travel over a hill or steep grade. it is automatic but seems to act like a stick shift.

Reported in: BERLIN NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have to replace the transmission cooler on my 2008 ford escape for the second time in less than a year. it was replaced last august 31st and went again yesterday aug.6th. i am being told ford has a tsb for this part, and it is a known issue. the car simply will not move in drive. the cooler leaks the transmission fluid causing the vehicles transmission to slip and then eventually does not engage into gear. i came to a red light yesterday at a busy intersection and my car would not move!!! last august ford replaced the part under warranty. i am being told i have to pay this time even though it has the tbs.

Reported in: INDIANA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. whenever the contact attempted to accelerate at any speed, she noticed that the vehicle would jerk and jump between gears. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the air conditioning condenser hose was causing the transmission fluid to leak. prior to the failure, the contact noticed transmission fluid leaking on her driveway whenever the vehicle was parked. the current mileage was 50,000 and failure mileage was 42,000.

Reported in: BALLWIN MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z18K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

condenser/transmission cooler leaking resulting in transmission damage and/or failure. 2008 ford escape. this is 3rd time leak/transmission problem has occurred with the first 2 happening under warranty. ford motor company refusing to cover the cost of transmission repair d/t the "condenser" not being manufactured by ford. thankfully, no vehicles were behind me when i lost transmission first time while going up a steep hill.

Reported in: TACOMA WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

TIRES

on 1/1/09, 5/24/09, 5/29/09, 7/27/09, 8/15/090, inside panel lit up with "low tire pressure" message and tire was dangerously low within 15 minutes. these various events occurred on major highways with children in the vehicle and in heavy traffic, no safe place to pull over. cracked tire stem valve each time.this presents a serious hazard to drivers who are alone, on dark highways, etc.

Reported in: PHILADELPHIA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z38K

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

Reported in: PHILADELPHIA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z38K

POWER TRAIN

2008 ford escape--leaking transmission fluid---brought to dealer--crack in transmission cooler. not covered under ford's warranty or extended warranty we bought with the car. ford will not do anything about it.

Reported in: LITTLETON CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Reported in: LITTLETON CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission fluid leak. has been recalled for many other ford suv's but not the escape. started leaking just after my 36,000 warranty ran out so they gave me an estimate of $750 to repair. my car is 1 year old.

Reported in: DAHLONEGA GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that she noticed an oily substance leaking in the engine area of the vehicle. she confirmed that there was transmission fluid leaking from the vehicle. while driving the vehicle it failed to shift into first gear. the dealer inspected the vehicle and stated that the transmission cooler was leaking fluid and the cost to repair the leak was 1,000. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer stated that since the warranty expired they were unable to assume the repair cost. the contact stated that recall 07v453000, power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines is related to the failure. the failure mileage was 36,000 and the current mileage was 37,200.

Reported in: SAN FRANSICO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04168K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission fluid leak within condenser resulting in transmission damage and gear slippage. the vehicle would suddenly not accelerate or would lurch forward. there is no evidence to suggest it was caused by an outside source, rather a faulty line that cracked. this repair was not covered under warranty and occurred shortly after 36k mile warranty expired. total cost for repair was $1025, plus out of pocket tow because it turned out not to be covered under a warranty repair.

Reported in: RIVERVIEW FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape - 41,800 miles. rpm's would fluctuate - car would not accelerate - car would roll backwards on incline- car would stall out . took in for service dealer advised transmission fluid is leaking due to cracked in the transmission cooler. defect is not covered by powertrain because they say this part is not part of the transmission it is a cooling unit. approximately $750 to fix.

Reported in: DEPTFORD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape: failure mileage 21,775. engine rev-ed for no reason at < 10 mph. vehicle stalled while coming to stop. vehicle leaked large puddle of transmission fluid under right front passenger side. ford replaced transmission cooling assembly (part #8l8z-19712-j) under warranty noting tsb 09 09 04. i purchased this escape on 08-04-09 as a certifed used ford off a ford lease with mileage 20,227. i had not yet made the 1st payment. this appears to be an ongoing issue with many 2008 escape owners and over the long term causes damage to the transmission due to a dangerously flawed design. there is no recall at this time.

Reported in: FRANKFORT KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Reported in: FRANKFORT KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

trans fluid leaking on floor. dealer says it is a known issue by ford and they will not pay for it. tsb # 08-5-7 .many other complaints on this form and others . may cause trans failure at any time and cause someone to get killed in traffic.

Reported in: MANHATTAN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape - i was informed that the fluid line leading from the transmission to the condenser had sprung a leak. after asking two separate ford dealers and doing a lot of web research, i have come to find that this issue is widely prevalent with this model and is a result of a design flaw. i asked about the replacement part and if it would suffer the same fate. i was told that the replacement part, engineered and manufactured by ford has been designed differently to accommodate the original flaw. this to me represents a situation where ford knew of this issue and failed to inform customers or issue a recall. as a result i am out almost $800 for the repair. ford will not cover it under warranty and accepts no responsibility for the defect. there is a technical safety bulletins issued on this defect tsb -08-5-7 if i recall right. it took me about 30 minutes to discover that this issue is wide spread and that all others affected with this problem on their ford escape vehicle have been given the same brush off by ford. something needs to be done about this. the resulting issue created by this problem, documented several places is a transmission failure. some have resulted in the vehicle jumping into gear and others creating a lurching issue which ultimately leads to a potential accident situation.

Reported in: FAIRLAWN OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Reported in: FAIRLAWN OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the transmission coolant line running to the a/c condenser leaks and sprays transmission fluid everywhere. started at around 36,000 miles found it at 38,000 and ford has informed me that the transmission hose is not covered under the powertrain warranty because it is an ac part. bogus

Reported in: MANNING SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04148K

TIRES:VALVE

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated his valve stem has failed on his four tires. contact stated he had his vehicle serviced at the dealer and they should have checked the tires but they never did. he noticed his tire pressure was low checked the tires he noticed all four of his valved stem were cracked. contact went back to the dealer and was told there was a tsb but not a recall on the valve stem. contact does not know who is the valve stem manufacture or model number. he had to replace all four tires including valve stem to the cost of $588. contact stated he will contact the ford manufacture in regards to the problem. the failure mileage 43,000.

Reported in: BUCHANAN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

TIRES:VALVE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. upon examining his vehicle he noticed that the front passenger side tire was flat. upon further inspection he concluded that the valve stems on every tire were cracked; thus causing a loss of tire pressure. the vehicle has not been inspected or repaired by the dealer. the failure and current mileages were 43000.

Reported in: BUCHAMAM MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

throughout the time i have owned this vehicle the transmission has acted strangely. sometimes it shifts violently and jerks the entire vehicle forward. other times it seems that it simply won't shift into gear when first started. last march i was waiting for a train to pass so i put the vehicle in park while i waited. two or three seconds after i put it in park, the entire vehicle jumped forward a couple feet. it scared the crap out of me since the train was moving at 60+ mph and was only maybe ten feet in front of me. when the train passed i put it back in drive and it didn't engage. i put it back in park and moved the shifter through the gears. after this it worked again, but i was worried. i noticed transmission fluid leaking from the passenger side of the radiator area this morning. i needed an oil change anyway so i took it in today and was told that it is the transmission / ac cooler that is leaking transmission fluid and it needs to be replaced. i called ford about it and they said that they couldn't guarantee warranty support, but that i should make an appointment with a ford dealer for the repairs. based on what i've read, the warranty is not going to cover it since i have 51,000 miles on it. the good news is that big o tires gave me an estimate for $512 for the repair work, which is much less than what others have been paying. but in the mean time i have a potential fire hazard due to transmission fluid leaking on components below the engine. i can't help but think that these events are somehow related. especially when factoring in all of the prior complaints that i've found easily with simple internet searches. unfortunately, it appears that it will take someone being hit by a train for anything to be done about this. for now i am going to wait until i take it in for my appointment at the ford dealer. consumers should not have to pay for repairs that make a vehicle safe to transport their families in their every day lives.

Reported in: SIERRA VISTA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU031X8K

TIRES

june 2008 i purchased a used 2008 ford escape. the tires are the same continental tires that were on there when i bought it. the insides of all 4 tires are wearing faster than the rest of the tread. sounds like i have "mud" tires/aggressive tread. when the noise first started nov.2008 i thought it sounded like a wheel bearing, but those checked out fine. it wasn't until july 2009 that i figured out it was the tires making noise. i am guessing it is a problem with the tires as no mechanical problem can be found.

Reported in: PLAINFIELD WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape has transmission fluid leaking from the cooler. i found out about this issue after a regular oil change and am not sure how long it has been going on but have lost nearly 2 quarts of fluid. the ford dealership indicated this is a common problem with these vehicles and ford has issued a bulletin on how to correct the issue. which basically involves replacing the entire system.

Reported in: AURORA CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN

transmission cooler leaking on 2008 6cyl ford escape causing transmission to act erratically vibrates and lurch forward due to loss of transmission fluid. also a fire hazard as undercarriage and radiator have heavy deposits of transmission fluid. car has only 41,000 miles and majority of mileage has been on interstate. currently car is in repair shop awaiting replacement parts. from complaints on internet this is a recurring problem for ford escapes and is not being addressed by ford. some of the complaints advised of near accidents due to this manufacturing defect. ford should be forced to recall all 2008 ford escapes and reimburse all owners who have had to absorb the repair costs due to the manufacturing defect.

Reported in: SPRINGBORO OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape would slip or stall when accelerating. looked on web and found out needed new transmission cooler had to have replaced at my own expense since the transmission cooler has nothing to do with the transmission and is not covered under the powertrain warranty.

Reported in: NORMAL IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Reported in: NORMAL IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape has 38,000 miles on it. the warranty expired at 36,000. i noticed it running strangely and upon closer investigation, noticed a fluid leaking from the front. the dealer said it is transmission fluid. i need a new transmission cooler/ac condenser at a cost of around $750. i researched this problem online and found that it is extremely common with 2008 escapes. one person complaining said that his dealership has around 10 of these a week to fix. if it is so common, shouldn't there be a recall? transmission failures can be very dangerous-i'm very upset about this and hope someone will check into this problem and make ford fix them!

Reported in: VERSAILLES MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

VISIBILITY:SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY

11/09/09 7:20 a.m. i proceeded to go out to my 2008 ford escape xlt to start it when i did i heard a strange noise above me , i thought it was birds or something, i proceeded to slowly open the cover on my sunroof about 1 inch and noticed it looked shattered. i got out of the vehicle it looked like it exploded. the glass was like a volcano erupted. i have never seen anything like it before. i called rub ford in gardner il they said it possible could of got hit by a rock, i stated the road was closed on each end due to road work on the spillway and no traffic was going by at the time due to the road was blocked off. i went to the nearest ford dealer in el paso il heller and they said it could possible a rock, or frozen ice. but the temperature outside was in the 50's and i found no rock. and i do have a rather long concrete driveway from the road. i asked for copies of the paperwork the dealership had for ford but they refused to give it to me saying it was private. ironically the dealership technician told me it would cost $660.00 to replace the window when i have a 3 yr 30,000 bumper to bumper warranty if they get it from ford it would take 2 wks but they could it from another source quicker for an additional $25 and get it in 1 day. so it made me feel like they knew it was a faulty glass. they did nothing to resolve this matter they told me to contact my insurance company. we have done a internet search and ironically there are a few people who have had their sunroofs shatter but to no avail ford has done nothing to fix the matter. i was just lucky i wasn't driving at the time. like the other consumers on the forum pages.

Reported in: HUDSON IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

recently purchased a 2008 ford escape with 42000 miles. while driving on the expressway at 70mph i heard a loud snap, and the accelerator pedal fell to the floor. the vehicle was pulled to the side of the expressway and towed to a repair facility. upon inspection, it was found the accelerator cable had failed, with the cable itself snapping at a point approx. 1/8 inch from the end at the pedal.

Reported in: PORTLAND MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape - known issue tsb # 08-5-7 resulting in transmission cooler failure, leaks significant amount of transmission fluid, causes slipping and could be fire hazard if gets leaked fluid on catalytic converter. ford did not notify customers of this known issue which is prevalent according to all dealers spoken with, and refuses to cover under powertrain warranty.

Reported in: EDINBURGH IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04148K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving flames erupted from the instrument control panel. the fire department extinguished the flames. the fire inspector concluded that the failure was caused by an electrical failure. the vehicle was completely destroyed. the failure and current mileages were under 10,000.

Reported in: ATHENS AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

leaking automatic transmission fluid from a weld on the transmission fluid cooling unit, car has 41000 miles . ford tells me it is not covered under the 5 yr/60,000 mile powertrain warranty . approximate cost is 700.00 according to dealer. if this part continues to leak,transmission will over heat and seize up. ford issued a tsb # 08-16-12 on 08/18/08 to its dealerships about this defect , while my car was under full warranty. why wasn't there a recall?

Reported in: MONTGOMERY NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

the ac/condenser that also cools the automatic transmission is leaking. through research there are many other cars doing this as well.

Reported in: BAY VILLAGE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape - known issue tsb # 08-5-7 resulting in transmission cooler failure at 46,000 miles. leaks significant amount of transmission fluid resulting in a potential fire hazard. in addition if not detected in-time, transmission failure will result due to lack of fluid. ford did not notify customers of this known issue, and refuses to cover under powertrain warranty. ford should be accountable for the proper repair of this known defect and compensate those who have had to make this repair.

Reported in: LANDER WY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 escape needing major transmission repair, only 16,000 miles with light city driving.

Reported in: BEVERLY HILLS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

my 2008 ford escape, (not hybrid), is leaking transmission fluid at 40k miles. the ford dealership says they regularly see this problem. i have a lease and my warranty expired at 36k miles. ford says they will not cover under warranty. called ford corporate in dearborn mich. they too agree this is a common occurrence in this year, make and model. they said a tsb, (technical service bulletin), has been issued, but no recall yet. advised me to "save my receipt". this was my first ford purchase and definitely my last.

Reported in: IRVINE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 99999999999

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission fluid leaking from transmission cooler. have to replace the transmission / ac cooler with new one. part # 8l8z-19712-j.

Reported in: CHATHAM LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that his vehicle was leaking automatic transmission from the transmission cooler. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated this was a common problem; however, there was no related warranty. the contact is responsible for the repair cost. the failure mileage was 42,000.

Reported in: RIVERVIEW MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape had experienced major transmission slippage due to a faulty transmission oil cooler. there appear to be numerous complaints about faulty transmission oil coolers for 2008 escapes. i understand that a tsb has been issued by ford to its service technicians; however, the general public is unaware of the problem that creates a major safety concern. in my case, the cooler developed a leak shortly after 37,800 miles of use. the leak caused the transmission oil to drop below an acceptable level for the transmission to function properly. i noticed the slip when entering onto a highway (us rt 22). the slip caused a major delay in the acceleration of the vehicle and almost resulted in major accident. i had my 2 young children in the vehicle at the time. the transmission oil cooler is currently being replaced. although the part appears to be an integral part of the transmission it is not covered under the manufacturer�s 5yr/50,000 mile powertrain warranty. instead, the part is covered under the vehicles general 3yr/36,000 mile warranty. the cost of my repair was $930. ford appears to be aware of this common occurrence as evidenced by the tsb but there has yet to be a recall. although a crash and/or death were not my end result, it easily could have been. please take the time to investigate and ensure that the problem is resolved. thank you.

Reported in: MAPLEWOOD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

leaking transaxle fluid from condenser.

Reported in: TRUSSVILLE AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the transmission/ a/c cooler is bad (per the my local ford dealer) and leaking transmission fluid at a rapid rate which could cause transmission failure. my wife and kids travel in this vehicle and do not want to them to be injured or worst, killed because ford want own up and replace this part. the cooler has transmission fluid running thru it and it keeps the transmission from overheating and failing, so it is part of the transmission and ford needs to replace it free of charge. my vehicle only has 44,500 miles on it; this is way to soon to have a transmission problem, unless it has had abuse, which it hasn't. my local ford dealer wants $ 800.00 to fix the problem and i am not paying it. i am going to keep the fluid topped off until they recall it. it's is not right to have this many complaints and not do something about the problem. unfortunately it will probably take someone getting killed before anything is done!

Reported in: WENDELL NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU031X8K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have a 2008 ford escape was sitting at a stop light and when i started to go forward it just rolled back and then lunged forward barley missing the car in front of me. i finally noticed a leak coming from the from end of the car took it to ford and they said it was a common problem there are 100s of people with the same prob ford refuses to fix the issue saying it wasn't covered after 36k there should be a recall ford should own up to there poor workmanship too many people with same problem.

Reported in: CARY NC || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

developed leak in automatic transmission cooler on 2008 ford escape. led to no shift in traffic condition.*cw

Reported in: BELLEVILLE IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

letter from congressman kanjorski on behalf of constituent jeremy roth re a leak in the transmission cooler of his 2008 ford escape. *nj

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

my gas pedal on my 2008 escape was sticking in cold weather. it kept getting worse. i had too really push hard on it to free it up. if in gear it accelerated very fast or in neutral it revved engine very fast. i considered it unsafe so i took it in for repair. i had to replace the throttle assembly at my cost . are their any other complaints of this nature. ford dealer kept part. i under stand ford is replacing a lot of these. this is a very unsafe condition.

Reported in: GRAND ISLAND NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

gas pedal failed, leaving the car with no throttle control.

Reported in: MOUNTVILLE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z38K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

purchased new in 06/2007, 2008 ford escape. transmission cooling system leaking due to rust. discovered at 40,000. this was due to defect in cooling system, not wear and tear as explained by ford service manager. warranty expired at 36,000. cost for repair $800. problem may have occurred during warranty period, but not discovered until 40,000. feel this should be covered, initial service bulletin issued 03/01/08.

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

STEERING

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. she stated that the power steering would lock intermittently while driving at various speeds. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the torque sensor failed and needed to be reprogrammed. there were no recalls for the failure and no repairs were made to date. the failure and current mileages were under 78,000. updated 3/16/10 *cn updated 06/17/10*jb

Reported in: LITTLE CANADA MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission fluid leak, making transmission fluid leak. causing little to no fluid. i was told this was the 4th or 5th vehicle, in the past month. that the dealership has seen with the same problem.

Reported in: OXNARD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04108K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

we own a 2008 ford escape xlt. the transmission cooler suddenly began to leak and leaked out all of the fluid. the vehicle is still under the 100k power train warranty. we researched on-line and discovered that this is a common problem with this vehicle and has been going on for over 3 years. ford would not honor repairs under the power train warranty saying it is "not an internal part." this defect is very dangerous since it can cause a total failure of the transmission which could cause a crash. we ended up having to pay ford $675.34 to make the needed repair.

Reported in: WIMBERLEY TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

defect in vehicle wiring harness - my car has been at the dealership for repairs since 01/30/2010. the dealership stated my vehicle was not safe to drive due to the wires corroding and causing mechanical failures on this vehicle. the dealership had ordered the new wiring system as an emergency "order" on 01/30/2010 but due to this being such an overwhelming issue ford cant keep up with the demand for the replacement parts ! this is a 2008 ford escape 4x4, i should not being experiencing any problems with a new vehicle that only has 46 thousand miles on it. of course nothing is covered under warranty when your wires corrode and catch fire. the damages so far are around $800.00. my son and i both smelled something burning from the truck but couldn't locate the source of the smell. once in the ford dealership i was told it was the wiring that had corroded due to road salt and that this is a very common occurrence and that they are hoping for a recall due to the volume. unfortunately for me this will be all out of pocket expenses. being told that this is a "notorious" issue does not ease my mind when the safety of myself and my children were at risk !!

Reported in: AMSTERDAM NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

AIR BAGS

air bag amber warning light comes on after starting engine (solid light). most times it will go out when you turn the ignition off and restart. stays out for several weeks and the problem returns. this is happening for over a year. several different dealers have confirmed problem but don't have a fix. is the air bag system functional?

Reported in: RABUN GAP GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

POWER TRAIN

my 2008 ford escape has 'sprung' a transmission fluid leak causing my accelerator to 'rev' instead of driving properly and changing gears efficiently. if fluid gets too low, the rear end makes a loud thud noise when it kicks into gear. my suv only has 39,555 miles on it, but since it is over the 36,000 miles, i no longer have any bumper to bumper warranty. this leaking seal is not covered by the 60,000 power train warranty as this is an external transmission part, and not an internal transmission part. as transmission fluid is designed to flow through the air conditioning coolant system, i now have to pay $800.00 to have this replaced. i have been told this is not a good design. also, after researching this vehicle, i see there are other escape owners experiencing the same problem. my transmission first acted up last week. i will be having it fixed at mike reichenbach ford in florence, sc this monday, february 8, 2010. this is not good...needless to say, i am a very dissatisfied ford customer. we have owned several in the past. my husband was planning on purchasing a 2010 f150 truck, but has now said he will not. we feel very let down by ford. this suv should not have sprung a leak this soon. *cn

Reported in: FREEPORT OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape - : drove vehicle without any problems for 10 months. all of a sudden vehicle would not go into any gear with the exception of park. had experienced no problems with this whatsoever prior to this incident. had vehicle towed to dealership that it was purchased. transmission repaired under drivetrain warranty, service department said the inside had blown apart. warranty did not replace but did repair. trans. condenser and cooler assembly replaced, not under warranty, (missed bumper to bumper warranty by 2,000mls). this part 8l8z19712j is the new part replacing the cooler. ford service bulletin on this problem #tsb 09-9-4. fluid leaked under hood, could have been a real problem if i had not chosen to have it towed.

Reported in: SALEM AR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have a 2008 ford escape just past warranty at approx. 38,500 miles. first i noticed a jerk upon take off at a stop sign. then it did it again another time. then we noticed a puddle of transmission fluid in my garage. my husband (a mechanic) has diagnosed that the transmission fluid cooler is leaking. currently making arrangements to get it fixed. this vehicle is way too new to have a big repair bill like this. i see that many other owners are having the same problem. *cn

Reported in: BROWNS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

leased 2008 ford escape in march 2008. mileage is 27,412. noticed atf fluid leak on driveway right side of car near front. opened the hood to find the entire right front side of the engine compartment was covered in atf fluid. trans fluid level at very bottom of dip-stick. washed out the area to check for leak and found at trans cooler. took vehicle to dealer for repair. they said they couldn't find source of leak and kept for 3 days eventually replacing the trans cooler per tsb 09-09-04 and overhauling the trans. forward clutches burnt from low fluid level. fortunately this happened while still under 36mo/36k mile warranty. did some quick internet searches to find this is a very common problem with this vehicle with most happening around 40k miles and out of warranty. this is absurd that ford knows about the problem with two or three tsb's yet chooses not to recall/repair.

Reported in: GROSSE POINTE WOODS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while at a stop light before entering the freeway. when he tried to move forward after the light, the vehicle completely shut down. the contact shifted to neutral and re-started the vehicle and the problem seemed to correct itself. he noticed the problem again and was able to re-start the vehicle almost immediately. there were no warning lights on the dashboard indicating a possible reason for failure. he took the vehicle to the dealership and the dealer told him that there was a flaw in the design of the vehicle and a leak in the transmission fluid compartment and the radiator was also destroyed. he was also told that the radiator, air conditioning condenser, the transmission fluid compartment and other components (not known to the contact) needed to be replaced. he called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. the manufacturer offered to cover half of the repairs if he signed a contract stating that he would no longer complain about the problem. the vehicle was being repaired at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 49,000.

Reported in: SAN JOSE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Reported in: SAN JOSE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

over the last several weeks i noticed my car running sluggish and jerky with no pep at all going up hills either. on 2 occasions my car almost stalled as i was pulling from a stop sign which almost caused 2 accidents. i also began noticing oil spots on my driveway. i thought i might have an oil leak since i just had an oil change about a month ago. when i called the dealer to explain my situation the ford tech. advised it had nothing to do with my oil change but rather a problem with my transmission fluid and a/c condenser. i questioned the tech on how he can diagnosis the problem so quickly with out even looking at the vehicle and he advised ford has tsb for this. i brought the car in for service and asked if this is a recall or covered under my warranty. i was advised it was neither and that i needed to pay for the repairs directly. the dealer replaced part # 818z19712j. i did some research on line and found numerous complaints with the same vehicle year and make dealing with the same problem i'm dealing with ie: transmission & ac condenser.

Reported in: SUSSEX NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Reported in: SUSSEX NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the battery drains while the vehicle is off. it takes about 2 days for the battery to be completely dead. i brought the car to the ford dealership. the mechanics couldn't figure out where the drain was coming from so they flew in an engineer from the ford factory. he had them remove each fuse & put them back in 3 at a time. then wait 2 days to see if there was a drain on that electrical line. after over 3 months of my car in the shop, they replaced the smart junction box thinking that would solve it. it didn't. the ford customer service rep i was dealing with basically told me that there's nothing else they can do. i told her that i bought the car brand new 2 yrs ago but she didn't care at all. i posted my problem on the internet & had 2 other people from across the country email me with the same exact problem. ford is not taking responsibility for their faulty product. i've been a loyal ford customer for the last 15 years. i'm also in the military & need my car for my duties. i've taken excellent care of the vehicle from the day i bought it. ford has completely abandoned me with this problem.

Reported in: BROOKLYN NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

automatic transmission fluid cooler faulty. causes vehicle to jerk forward suddenly while accelerating. vehicle has 37,000 miles and has followed all regular service. ford dealer states the part is not covered under warranty.

Reported in: MINNETONKA MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford. escape transmission cooler. it is leaking fluid and is very dangerous. it causes the transmission to fail. i am surprised ford has not done anything about this matter. i have read hundreds of complaints and failures.

Reported in: CORNELIUS NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: CORNELIUS NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape - transmission line / condenser leak causes car to stall. this is all over the web and is a common problem. ford has tsb's on this (#08-5-7, #08-16-12, #09-9-4). this a serious safety issue and should be the subject of a recall before people get killed when this occurs on the highway! see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6xq2zyqmoi&nr=1.

Reported in: FALLBROOK CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04108K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the transmission fluid was leaking and caused the transmission to fail. the contact was driving 3 mph when the vehicle stalled in middle of the road while she continued to depress the accelerator pedal. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. the contact was concerned that she was responsible for paying the repair cost since she has a power train warranty up to 60,000 miles on the vehicle. the vehicle surged forward while engaging the brakes at a traffic light. the vehicle has also rolled backward when she was driving uphill. the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 42000 and the current mileage was 42000.

Reported in: WAYNE WV || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tccf transmission cooler condenser failure- july 16,2008 repaired; -leaking -slipping on shifting-had very little transmission oil on dip stick when repaired at dealership under the 36,000 limited warranty--after 4 days july 20, 2008 wife was rear ended by a dwi traveling at estimated more than 75 to 80 mph(my wife traveling on a state highway at normal regulated speed of 50 mph) -damages of over $13,500 to our car-all shop and repairs done by ford dealership , our only shop and service place for this escape 2008. on february 9, 2010(at 21,000 miles later the 2nd tccf-leaking fluid seen in snow-dealership after contact with ford.com replaced and repaired under good will customer plan of the dealership. they also replaced on our complaint of a "clacking" type noise , a steering right front assembly at no cost to us) there evidently a tsb on it. in addition we have a heating-cooling flow of air from our heat and air vents problem-temperatures not as we regulate them.. the dealership had replaced a actuator in behind dash(have record of that along with all service dates on ford ownership home page-believe it about on previous service for oil change) on completion of recent repairs and our vehicle returned to us on february 18, 2010 we advised the service manager of the continuing air-heat regulator problem-advised they would reexamine it on next service or at our convenience. the dealership has stood behind the ford, we must admit that-but our inconvenience and the so many that have seen by others on the internet seem to warrant a recall as to all three related problems--some of which seem to be related to the same tcc problems.

Reported in: MAYSLANDING NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Reported in: MAYSLANDING NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: MAYSLANDING NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the transmission cooler is leaking. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated this was not covered under the power train warranty because it is a part of the air condition . they would not repair it unless it was paid for. there was no warning light indicating a leakage. the failure mileage was 35,400.

Reported in: DUNCAN OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04138K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

for no apparent reason the transmission cooler on my 2008 ford escape started to leak. the leak go t worse and i took it to ford who told me it would be about $950 to fix it. the car had 41,000 miles on it when the problem started. ford will not fix this even though the drive train is still under warranty. ford customer service told me that if it didn't break during the original warranty period it was my problem. i found out the leak was due to the fact that they riveted the air conditioning pipes to the return tube of the transmission cooler and the rivet fails on almost all the units causing the leak.

Reported in: KAILUA HI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

girlfriend bought 2008 ford escape new from dealer. at approx. 39,000 miles noticed fluid leak from front of engine. soon car began stalling and or jumping as stop and go driving. she called dealer for appointment to have condition of transmission checked. and was advised to check fluid level. level was low but kept appointment. upon arrival was quoted $850 to replace leaking transmission cooler. i got angry that ford isn't standing behind their product and used some profanity to express my dissatisfaction. at this point service manager at hansel ford says that they don't need our business, retrieved her car and we were told to leave. had car repaired by private shop for $650. no recall yet? 2008 explorer has recall for loose mounting bolt for lines from tranny to cooler for possible fire danger,(see nhtsa id 07v453000, ford recall number 07s56). will all of the people who have had this problem corrected have to replace these units every 38,000 miles?

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

gas pedal gets stuck and will not go. happens every morning, the gas pedal gets locked and has to be pushed with extreme force in order for the car to go. this started in december and happens every day.

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape developed fluid leak in transmission cooler after less than 40,000 miles. ford recognized problem with cd4e transmission manufactured before 2/18/2008 with tech service bulletin #08-5-7. loss of transmission fluid could result in dangerous vehicle operation or fire. part was replaced with upgraded cooler by ford service at owners expense.

Reported in: WINFIELD WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94168K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

have a 2008 ford escape, the transmission started acting up a couple of days ago. i would put my foot on the gas and the vehicle wouldn't move then it would jerk and move. it stalled twice on the road. this is a big issue since this can cause a huge car accident that could hurt people. took to the dealership and was told it a transmission condenser, which cost to repair over 800.00 plus this is not covered by the powertrain warranty. this is a issue that needs to be looked at since will cause mayor accident and effect people life.

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

i bought a 2008 ford escape (used) and approximately 6 months after i bought it and 38,000 miles, i noticed the vehicle would lurch forward when i pressed on the accelerator. i started doing research and found that it may be a problem with the transmission and sure enough, found a large puddle of transmission fluid on the floor of my garage. i have to refill the transmission fluid weekly due to the massive amounts its leaking and am looking into getting this fixed now.

Reported in: ISLAND LAKE IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the vehicle was being repaired when the contact noticed that there was a puddle of transmission fluid under vehicle. the dealer informed the contact that the transmission and the sensor caused the leak. the vehicle was repaired at the owners expense. the manufacturer was notified and a complaint was filed. the manufacturer stated that the complaint would be forwarded to the engineering group. the failure mileage was 47990 and the current mileage is 55000. updated 4/5/10 *cn updated 05/17/10.*jb

Reported in: TOWSON MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z38K

STEERING:COLUMN

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving 35 mph when the steering wheel vibrated. when the vehicle was started it would lose power steering. the contact had to turn the vehicle off and back on so that the power steering would reset. the failure occurred every time he drove the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced . the dealer ordered the part and the vehicle will be repaired at the owners expense. the failure mileage was 59725 and the current mileage was 60212.

Reported in: ELIZABETH CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape is leaking transmission fluid from the condensing unit located by the radiator. the transmission fluid leaking from the air condensing unit/transmission cooler is causing damage to the transmission and could cause a fire hazard for unsuspecting drivers.

Reported in: HUMBLE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04198K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

the ac/condenser that also cools the automatic transmission is leaking. through research there are many other cars doing this as well. also have notice my vehicle surging at stops. vehicle repaired under warranty at dealership. advised several other vehicles in for the same problem.

Reported in: SOUTH PITTSBURG TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

1) limited use of vehicle, 28,000 miles on a 2008 escape (used moderately in cold weather situations) 2) transmission cooler failure, leaks cooler fluid and transmission fluid all over engine compartment. vehicle "springs" forward or stalls after coming to a stop (daily). vehicle loses a quart or more of fluid monthly. vehicle shifts very loudly and roughly (daily - is an automatic) 3) repair is quoted at $1000 dollars for replacement cooler piece. even though vehicle is still under power train warranty and under bumper to bumper warranty (for miles, not time which ended a week ago). dealer and ford motor company is uncooperative.

Reported in: SAMMAMISH WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Reported in: SAMMAMISH WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

car started jerking (or stopping) when stopped at stop signs/stop lights. i took to the dealer and they had to replace transmission cooler / a/c combo.

Reported in: HOBOKEN NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

car started jerking (or stopping) when stopped at stop signs/stop lights. i took to the dealer and they had to replace transmission cooler / a/c combo.

Reported in: HOBOKEN NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

my 2008 escape has been to dealer for repair for major issues. 1) i had a problem with the steering wheel 2) i had a problem with the gas pedal getting stuck, 3) i had a problem with the leak of transmission fluid i thank god that the this happen to the car while its under warranty, so the dealer replace the parts for free. i just cant understand with so many complaints with all the same problems the government has not done anything about it. so many unhappy customers has to spend extra money in hard times to get there car repair. i called ford and they just told me that they will noted in my account. what will that do for me nothing!

Reported in: BUSHKILL PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Reported in: BUSHKILL PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

Reported in: BUSHKILL PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the car started to drive sluggish and hesitated in the middle of the street. after checking the transmission fluid i found that i was nearly empty. i refilled the tranny with about 3 quarts of fluid. the next day i checked it again and there was no fluid on the stick. i looked at the right passenger front side of the vehicle and saw were fluid was leaking from under the radiator. after having this checked out i am told that this is the transmission cooler and lines and there is no fix for the problem. it can be replaced but it will happen again according to the dealer. now, i have to put a quart or more in every day. there is no recall and the warranty does not cover this repair. this fluid leak could possible cause a fire under the hood and by dripping out so fast it could cause the vehicle to stop in traffic without warning.

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

car start stalling, took it to the dealer and they said the transmission cooler was leaking and when the transmission get hot it will not work due to the lack of fluid.

Reported in: SATELLITE BEACH FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

leak in the transmission, cooler thru the ac condenser. kept leaking transmission fluid.

Reported in: BERLIN NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

vehicle is leaking severe amount of transmission fluid just at warranty mark. dealer will not cover repair. there are a lot of complaints on internet in regard to this, it could cause a potential fire in vehicle or accident due to low levels of fluid, the control panel does not alert driver if transmission fluid level is low.

Reported in: FENTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: FENTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape started jerking during acceleration and shuttering at stop lights. no lights check engine light ever came on, and didn't happen all the time. finally the car stalled at a red light and i decided to bring it in. my ford dealership said its the transmission fluid leaking via the ac condenser. they are fixing it, $800 cost.

Reported in: TALLAHASSEE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04158K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Reported in: TALLAHASSEE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04158K

STEERING

i have a 2008 ford escape. this car is having issues where the power steering will go out in the middle of driving and turning. this has been going on for a couple of months. i took it to a ford dealer and they said they have never heard of this problem before. although you can go on ford escape customer forums and see countless instances where this has happened to other people some resulting in accidents. i have asked ford several times to help me with this issue and they say that we need to replace the whole steering column $1700 charge. this is happening with most of the postings i saw and with my own vehicle at relatively low mileage. it seems that this would not be a normal wear and tear on the vehicle with low mileage. continuously people i have seen and also for myself have gotten the answer from ford that they haven't heard of this issue before. i am not happy because i have to expend the money to fix this but more so i want to have this issue corrected before someone really gets hurt. if an elderly person were driving this vehicle with that problem they would wreck because of not having the strength to keep the wheel in motion correctly. same may be with a younger driver. please please take a look at this problem for me. *dt

Reported in: ELIZABETH CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

SEATS

2008 ford escape limited, leather seats peeling. *cn

Reported in: OROFINO ID || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94128K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that when stopped at a stop light, the accelerator pedal became stuck and would not move unless the consumers wife pressed on the bottom of the pedal firmly. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where he was informed that there was a clogged intake valve which would not allow the pressure in the pedal release. the vehicle had been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 35,000. updated 06/02/10.*lj updated 05/11/10. *lj updated 08/18/10

Reported in: ATCO NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: ATCO NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

POWER TRAIN

ford escape limited 4wd 2008 the pto seal on right side is leaking and was replaced at 17333km and a 20800km and is until leaking the pto will block and the wheel will block very dangerous.

Reported in: LONGUEUIL 00 || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94158K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ford escape limited 4wd 2008 the pto seal on right side is leaking and was replaced at 17333km and a 20800km and is until leaking the pto will block and the wheel will block very dangerous.

Reported in: LONGUEUIL 00 || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94158K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

recently my 2008 ford escape started hesitating when taking off. almost caused an accident since i was pulling out into traffic. today as i stopped at a stop light the transmission did not shift down, it lurched forward and died. it appears many 08 escape owners are also having this problem. why has this not been investigated. someone may be killed if something is not done.

Reported in: ZIMMERMAN MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*-the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving approximately 35 mph approaching a stop sign. while at a complete stop the transmission slipped out of gear without assistance. when pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lurched forward and into the prior selected gear. suddenly, the tires screeched. the failure occurred on three different occasions. additionally, the gears would lock and not shift into another gear. also, there was transmission fluid leakage. the vehicle had not been repaired for the malfunctions. failure mileage was 29,300. the current mileage was 29,592.

Reported in: SAINT MICHAEL MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

my wife was driving our 2008 ford escape xlt when the accelerator became hard to press. she attempted to vary the amount of pressure on the accelerator but it was still hard to press. she then pressed harder on the accelerator and it dropped to the fire wall and did not return to its normal position. she was able to safely pull off of the highway without incident. i came out to the location where she was, i got into the car and i had to use the tip of my shoe several times to pull the accelerator up before it would stay in its normal position. i was able to get the accelerator to work normally after this. this particular problem has occurred one other time while driving. however, a similar problem to this occurs several times while driving. when the accelerator becomes hard to press i tap on the accelerator (before applying normal press) and i am able to accelerate normally.

Reported in: HARRISON TOWNSHIP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Reported in: HARRISON TOWNSHIP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

no prior warning transmission failed while traveling 40 mph, moved to side of road, towed to dealer, transmission was filled with metal chips and was burnt, replacement transmission installed 1/4/2010, lasted a month, would lurch when starting out, when entering intersection it lurched into it, returned vehicle to dealer 2/10/2010, internal crack was found, now on 3rd transmission with no confidence in this vehicle.

Reported in: MILFORD NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94158K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

i purchased a 2008 ford escape 2wd in february 2008. in january 2010, my husband noticed steam coming from my hood and something dripping on a our driveway. it has since been determined that my radiator is leaking where the plastic and metal parts are "sealed" together. unfortunately i was out of my 36k bumper to bumper warranty & this part is not covered under ford's powertrain warranty. i continue to drive my vehicle but check the radiator coolant level weekly. there is no guarantee that an identical radiator will not have the same problem. therefore, we are hesitant to pay the $800 the dealership asked for to fix. also, the back driver's side door sometimes will not open. it appears to lock & unlock but the door doesn't catch the hook to release & open.

Reported in: MILLSTADT IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Reported in: MILLSTADT IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

vin [xxx] 2008 ford escape right rear valve stem came out without air pressure monitor warning mileage 53,247 has never needed air and we 34 psi in front and rear out of warranty on miles dealer said wont repair without charging information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: FAYETTVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

gas pedal intermittently would not go down, sometimes in heavy traffic. finally the pedal stuck so much that i took it in for repair and they replaced the throttle. this is very dangerous to not be able to accelerate when in heavy highway traffic. i noticed that other escape owners have documented the same problem.

Reported in: SOUTH ROCKWOOD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

Reported in: SOUTH ROCKWOOD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

whatever causes the back hatch to stay in the open position while loading or unloading stuff in the back of the 2008 escape failed in my car. i was putting groceries in the back of my escape when the hydraulic or whatever died and the whole [xxx] back hood fell to the closed position with me standing under it. i barely had the strength to lift it enough to get out of the way. then the weight of it slammed shut again. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: MIA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

just lucky we pulled over for gas. our vehicle keep running even when it was turned off. 2008 ford escape 4dr 2wd xls with 48,0087 miles would not turn off. we stopped, purchased new battery $90 and continued 15 miles to charlotte parking lot. we were advise to pull out gas module, disconnect the cable to battery and we would get home. wrong, after aaa tow 109 miles back to sc budd's delivered it to benson's ford for review. after 5 hours no clue by co. next day after 12 pm. co said ford engineering told them how to fix my anti-lock brake system with $589 module, f80 fuse and $39 rubber hose leaking.hose had hole in it. this car never in collision yet. we were saved by tow from aaa in charlotte nc to easley area. they say charges $1300 for sure. i know this must be the first report. but i wanted to let our national agency know about the defect. please call if needed. email is [xxx]. we got lucky, we stopped before we lost brakes. there was however reported leaking rubber hose to replace. we were lucky, other may not be. i have always been cautious with cars..also reported 091b10 recall not advertised by ford. that's leaky coolant. not fixed yet. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: PIEDMONT SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Reported in: PIEDMONT SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly stopped moving forward although the engine was still running. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that there was a problem with the coolant in the transmission. the vin was unavailable at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 20,000.

Reported in: HAMPTON VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

SUSPENSION

i have been having an ongoing problem with my 2008 ford escape. i have read online of many complaints as well with the same problem. i have a really loud sound like i am driving an airplane and it is coming from the tires. i have rotated, aligned, and balanced my tires and the noise is still there. the tires have also started to cup. i was told by brake check that i had bad shocks, but i did a few tests to be sure of that. it is not the shocks. there is something with the vehicle. it worries me that it may be the vehicle itself and my family and i may be in danger. i am changing out the tires with new ones. but i remember the explorer case and how it was blamed on the tires, but why is it that there is a problem with ford vehicles and tires. there are many ford vehicles with this problem and changing out the tires with a different brand does not help. somebody needs to do something about this before more are killed because of ford's neglect and poorly design of their vehicles. i had an old chevrolet cavalier and never had any problems. i never did anything with my tires and it ran beautiful. i bought this escape brand new and it has occurred early on about 15,000 miles and ford will ignore it even when you take it to the dealership. they will tell you it is not covered under your warranty. why is it that i have had so many problems with a brand new vehicle (my first) and all the old and used cars i had before never gave me this much grief. i am paying ford to give me a car with problems. it is all the tires and mainly in the rear that i hear the most noise come from. please help!!!!!

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

WHEELS

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

abs failure while driving due to 2 broken tone rings . this seems to be a common problem on all year escapes . sudden lose of anti lock causes longer stopping distances and can cause lock up which can cause loss of control.

Reported in: MANHATTAN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

Reported in: MANHATTAN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

STEERING

my 2008 ford escape loses it's power steering while driving. it happens at random times. the last time it happened i almost crashed into a brick wall. the dealership service dept. has tried to fix it twice and it continues to fail. i am afraid of loosing control of the vehicle. when i searched the problem on line i found it has happened to several people throughout the country. one woman said she crashed while exiting the highway and was seriously injured. in her instance the airbags did not deploy which did not surprise me. my airbag and traction control problem lights appear everytime the steering fails.

Reported in: HANSON MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

tire stem failure on continental contitrac p235/70r16 104t caused tire to loose pressure and made a roadside assistance call necessary and side trip to repair tire. second tire to have this failure this month.

Reported in: BLOOMSBURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving at approximately 55 mph the anti lock brake light and traction control light illuminated on the dashboard. the vehicle was not taken to be examined for the cause of failure but he replaced the brakes himself. the lights continued to illuminate so he continued to examine the vehicle. he noticed the sensing ring on the front passenger side of the axle was broken. he repaired the vehicle. while driving at approximately 70 mph the anti lock brake light and traction control light began to illuminate on the dashboard. upon examination he noticed the sensing ring on the front drivers side of the axle was broken. he again repaired the vehicle himself. the failure has not recurred. the failure mileage was 39,000 and the current mileage was 41,600.

Reported in: CUYAHOGA FALLS OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

VISIBILITY

the passage side rear view mirror fell of the 2008 ford escape. ford dealer said the motor that the mirror snaps into is broken and not covered under warranty. the motor is not broken and in fact the motor and mirror were redesigned to correct the safety defect. ford contends that the mirror and motor that holds the mirror are not defective.

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

after stopping or slowing down and when you push on the gas to drive or speed up the car would hesitate as if it were in neutral and then kick into gear and the car would jerk and the tires would skid. this happened for about 2 weeks and then my car stopped driving. it was out of warranty by 10,000 miles and the band broke inside the transmission so now it needs a transmission overhaul.

Reported in: CELEBRATION FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

TIRES

i own a 2008 ford escape xlt with 29,950 miles on the original continental contitrac suv tires. in the past 6 weeks, i have had 2 of the tires blow out while i was driving on the interstate. the tires appear to be in excellent condition. the 1st incident occurred on 7/26/10, when the right front tire blew. the tire technician who examined and replaced the tire (with a comparable continental tire) said that the tire failed due to belt/tread separation. the 2nd incident occurred on 9/6/10, when the left front tire blew out. we haven't replaced it yet, but the tire tech said it looked identical to the 1st tire, and had failed due to belt/ tread separation. i've contacted both ford motor comp. and continental tires. i want them to replace all 4 tires with a different brand. considering that i was driving at 75mph when both tires blew, it's a miracle that i didn't wreck.

Reported in: MONTGOMERY AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while the vehicle was parked, as she turn the ignition off she heard a clicking noise. she believes the clicking noise was coming from the air conditioner. she also stated that white partials were all over her seats and interior. the vehicle was taken to two authorized dealers and she was told that the noise was normal. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 100 and the current mileage was 1,400.

Reported in: CANBY OR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

TIRES

2008 ford escape xlt v6 33,000 miles continental conitrac tires wearing very uneven causing excessive road noise. company will not stand behind their product even though there is still tread left on tire and they have been rotated 4 times. have contacted twice, and they have offered no assistance.

Reported in: SAINT JOSEPH MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i own a 2008 ford escape. for the past few months my gas pedal has been sticking and it makes it hard to accelerate. when pulling out into intersections the pedal will get stuck and i can't accelerate. after reading up on this apparently this is becoming a common problem among other escapes and they need to be recalled.

Reported in: HAMPSTEAD NC || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

my gas pedal just stopped working while i was driving 65 mph on a highway. it was flat on the floor - i could not even feel it with my foot. thankfully i was able to get it off the road safely since it was early in the morning with no other cars around - it could have caused a major accident. we had the car towed to the dealership, and they told us that the throttle cable had broken. they refused to cover any expense of fixing it or towing it because our warranty of 36,000 miles has expired. this is a 2008 vehicle with 67,000 miles on it - the gas pedal should not just stop working! i have reviewed other complaints and it appears that at least 4 others have filed complaints for the same problem for 2008 ford escapes. i am very disappointed in how ford is handling these issues.

Reported in: LYNCHBURG VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

i pressed the unlock button on my key to open the rear window hatch, then put my groceries in the back of my vehicle. my son then put his hand up to close the window down and the entire glass just exploded, cutting us both. we both immediately freaked out thinking someone must have shot at us. i called the police and went back into the grocery store to get the store manager. glass spread over 4 parking spaces and luckily no one was hurt seriously. the right rear liftgate strut had blew off denting my vehicle and shattering the glass into more than a thousand pieces, then landing on the ground several feet away from the vehicle.

Reported in: BLUE SPRINGS MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

Reported in: BLUE SPRINGS MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

VISIBILITY

Reported in: BLUE SPRINGS MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

STEERING

steering columns has a clicking and popping sound as i'm parking my car.

Reported in: BURLINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

when driving our 2008 ford escape w/ 38,000 miles down the interstate at 65 mph, the gas pedal suddenly dropped to the floor and was lifeless. my 15 1/2 year old daughter was driving in the left lane and luckily she was able to avoid traffic and get to the only available shoulder on the right. it was a terrible situation that could have ended in disaster. the car is in the shop now and i can only anticipate that the ford dealership will not stand by this product and i will pay for the repair and towing expense.

Reported in: SHEBOYGAN FALLS WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

on my 2008 escape, my gas pedal will stick and when i try to depress it, it will not, it requires a large amount of force to break the pedal free, when this happens, it causes my suv to accelerate at an uncontrolled rate. this is a continuing issue and has only gotten worse.

Reported in: EASTAMPTON NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

brakes has been squealing and soft, pedal going all the way to the floor off and on since vehicle purchase a year ago. took in for service to dealership did not find anything wrong. on 10/30/2010, was driving on highway, traffic was heavy therefore going only about 40mph. the car in front, braked hard and as i applied my brakes they went all the way to the floor and the only way i stopped was because i rear-ended the car in front of me, airbag was deployed. i'm afraid if i would have been traveling any faster, the accident would have been tragic, considering my twin 4 yr old nephews were in the back seat. as soon as vehicle is repaired, i will follow-up with the dealership.

Reported in: MANSFIELD TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

08 ford escape, gas pedal will stick and when i try to depress it, it will not, it requires a large amount of force to break the pedal free, it causes my suv to accelerate at an uncontrolled rate. this has been a continuing issue and has only gotten worse.

Reported in: COLUMBUS OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was driving my 2008 ford escape and the accelerator pedal gave out . i was going up the on ramp and i went to accelerate and the gas pedal went limp ..from reading alot of reviews on line this has cause numerous accidents and ford is not recalling this.

Reported in: BUFFALO NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z88K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

car burned down to the frame. turned the car on it started to smell like something was burning. smoke and fire started coming out of the a/c vents. the contact left the vehicle immediately and it went up in flames. after speaking with the police and firemen and they had a chance to look at the remains of the car once the fire was put out, the best conclusion they could come up with as to what happened was some sort of electrical fuse malfunction. updated 12/20/10 * bf the fire originated within the passenger compartment and then advanced into the engine compartment. the exact cause of the fire could not be determined. updated 12/27/10

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have a ford escape 08, and about 6 months ago i noticed that it started leaking at the front of the vehicle, which at the beginning i thought it was the air conditioner. but then searching on the web i realized that the problem was the vehicle oil cooler transmission and now it just doesn't stop leaking alot.

Reported in: ODESSA TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape, broke down in the middle of intersection. did get it moved out of way of traffic. but it was due to a failure in the torque converter. and, after 7 weeks and finding out that it is actually a recall and ford stated that they will not notify owners of the vehicles, but just if it happens to replace it. not everyone could be so lucky as me to get out of imminent danger! when this goes out, the vehicle dies when the vehicle slows down.

Reported in: APO AE || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i have a 2008 ford escape 2008 that has been having issues with the accelerator pedal being difficult to press or getting stuck while driving. i reported the issue in march 2010 to the dealership but they could not get it to replicated so i was told no concern found. however recently i was driving my vehicle on 12/04/2010 which is my birthday and my vehicle accelerator pedal got stuck to the ground of the vehicle while i was merging into traffic and almost had a major accident. i have gone to ford website and noted that this issue has been ongoing with this make and model vehicle, i have taken my car back to the dealership and am struggling with them to get the repair done at cost to ford. ford customer care states there is no recall on the throttle body which in my car and others like mine needs replacing. also i have seen on the official ford site where this problem has been sited by other customers and yet nothing has been done by the company or the government to ensure the safety of the consumer. the service manager at the dealership luckily my problem got that high up the chain to get recognized otherwise i would still be driving myself, family and loved ones in a defective car... for all the ford escape drivers with the year make and models of 2008 we need your help! the economy is in a recession and yet we are still being gourged by capitalist companies that won't do right by consumers...

Reported in: HYATTSVILLE MD || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that she noticed that her rear windshield had exploded. she inspected the windshield herself and saw that pieces of the glass were stained brown and she believed that the defroster had overheated. no police were called and no report was filed. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that he was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

Reported in: SAVANNAH MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i bought my 2008 ford escape xlt in 2007. in aug. of 08' i had to take it in to the dealer and they said it was my transmission. they found that the pump support was worn and worn through the seal rings. i was at 29,094 miles. ford fixed it under warranty. it is now december of 10' and i am at 73,000 miles and having the exact same issues only this time i took it in and they will not cover the repair. the tech report i received states the exact same thing it did when i took it in 08'. i went to this website: http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/escape/2008/transmission/transmission_cooler_failure-tsb_exists.shtml and found many people are having transmission issues. i paid 25,000 for this vehicle and should not have gone through 2 transmissions! what i noticed both times is that it would shift hard into reverse and it felt as though it was slipping once it warmed up.

Reported in: MARSHALLTOWN IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving at any speed, the contact noticed that when he applied pressure to the gas pedal it remained stuck. the dealer was advised and was aware of the problem and recommended that the fuel system be cleaned once every 20,000 miles. the contact did not inform the manufacturer. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where they flushed the fuel system. the current mileage was approximately 80,000. the failure mileage was approximately 40,000. the vin was unavailable.

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

STEERING

i have a 2008 ford escape and when your driving down the road the steering wheel randomly jerks you all over the road.

Reported in: ENGLWOOD TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2008 ford escape gas pedal sticks in cold weather. when the car is started in the morning after a cold night it is very difficult to push the pedal down. after warming it is drivable but has occasionally, in cold weather become difficult to push down after a few miles also. this is very scary. my escape is a stick shift so i was able to put the car in neutral and try to pump the pedal up and down to loosen it up. car is now at the dealer and waiting for the throttle body replacement which is on back order. web search found others with the same problem after car has about 40k miles. do no see any recalls at this time but it is a safety concern.

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2008 ford escape failure to excel or sticking when pushing the gas pedal. after happening too many times, and scares us to use the car we took it in for repairs. according to warranty, this is not covered yet there was no regular maintenance needed or required on the gas pedal. they weren't going to honor our extended warranty until we showed them numerous online emails of others having the same problem. we had to pay $100 deductible from our extended warranty policy. we feel they aren't telling the general public this is a problem with this particular vehicle. we feel this is a serious safety issue and needs a recall.

Reported in: MILFORD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2008 ford escape - 28,500 miles - problems with accelerator sticking. large amount of force required to break through the sticking point which in turn caused the vehicle accelerate faster than desired - especially in stop and go traffic. car was taken to the local ford dealership and they determined that it was the throttle body assembly and replaced it. thankfully, the car was still under warranty.

Reported in: BIRMINGHAM AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

STEERING

the power steering goes out as i am trying to make a turn. if i put the vehicle in park, turn it off and restart it, it will be just fine. this is a serious safety issue, crossing a highway, or turning out into a lane of traffic if the steering fails you do not have the time to put the vehicle in park and restart. extremely difficult to regain control of the wheel, requires great deal of strength to wrestle the vehicle out of harms way,

Reported in: SHELBYVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

a/c condenser-transmission cooler leak. trans. oil all over engine bay which is a fire hazard. car wants to take off on it's own which is caused when trans. fluid gets low. part needs to be replaced. there's hundreds of complaints on line of this particular problem and ford is yet to do a recall.

Reported in: VISALIA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: VISALIA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape ltd. the contact stated that when trying to accelerate the pedal would hesitate and the vehicle would not move forward. she had to continuously engage the accelerator pedal a couple of times in order for the vehicle to start moving. the failure occurred on an intermittent basis. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor has the vehicle been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 68,000. updated 2/23/11 *cn updated 05/05/11

Reported in: OPALOCKA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

TIRES

own a ford escape 2008 with 43,000 miles and original continental tires. at my last oil change i requested a tire rotation an found out that one tire was defective (failure of one steel band) and was causing significant noise and vibration at 60 mph and above. tire thread gage indicated 10/32". it seems the tire has failed to perform when significant life was still available.

Reported in: CAPE CHARLES VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

a binding throttle body causes the accelerator pedal to stick, which results in a sudden and unexpected stall in traffic. fortunately no one was heart.

Reported in: SHORELINE WA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the power steering continued to fail intermittently while driving 35 mph causing the steering wheel to be disabled. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of $1100. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 45,000.

Reported in: FREDERICK MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z08K

STEERING

i have a 2008 ford escape. the power steering goes out intermittently when driving causing the steering wheel to shake and be disable. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of $1100. i can't believe there are so many complaints on the internet and this has not become a recall this is a very dangers problem especially when you are driving on a highway and have to make a quick movement and your steering wheel is hard to handle. my car as to sit for months now because i don't have that type of money in order for it to get repaired. and also my car is only 3 years and a half i would understand if i beat on it or if it was extremely old but its not.

Reported in: HILLSBOROUGH NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

VISIBILITY

my daughter was going through a mcdonald's drive thru with our 2008 escape when she heard what she thought was a explosion and glass appeared everywhere in the vehicle. it scared the heck out of her! i reviewed other complaints about this and ford doesn't seem to think this is a problem. i am wondering what might have happened if our granddaughter was in her infant seat facing backwards as she does! i feel that regardless of what ford thinks, this is a safety issued. as if that isn't enough, the cost of this simple piece of glass is in excess of $600.00 ! all but $250 of that was covered by that, however to me that is $250.00 too much to pay for what appears to be a manufacturer design problem! the repair company (safelite glass - national company) says just in the joliet il office they see this problem almost daily!

Reported in: MORRIS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FAFP6638XK

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

while trying to leave a fast food drive up my power steering froze up. i had to manually ream on the steering wheel to make all corners from the restaurant to my condo - approximately 4 miles. i did not have any component messages on the read out. when the tow truck driver arrived an hour later he was able to move the suv from the garage to his flatbed tow truck - no problem. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where it was "checked out" for two days. nothing was found.

Reported in: BEAVERTON OR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the car began stalling and or jumping as stop and pull when pulling off to drive. i was told tocheck fluid level the transmission. level was low so i put some in it lasted about two weeks. then it started to happen again. when i took it to the mechanic he told me the transmission cooling system was cracked and it will cost $900 to replace the transmission cooler. ford also did this customer satisfaction program 09b10 to fix the problem but not solve the problem because my transmission style cracked.

Reported in: WOODSIDE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

when coming to a stop, the steering wheel began shaking a bit. the next day while driving, the power steering assist went out entirely. i brought to a local shop of a trusted mechanic, who stated it looked like the steering column. he thought perhaps it just needed to be reset, and suggested i go to the dealership first because he didn't have the codes yet for the reset. i brought it to the dealership, and they stated it needed a new power steering actuator and would cost over $1600 in parts and labor. they also stated they had never seen the problem before, despite various near-identical complaints on this, and other forums on the internet. i sincerely hope that this gets investigated before someone is seriously injured, as the dealership has no interest in fixing it for anything less than their $1620. 2008 was the first year that ford tested this electric power steering system on the escape, and it clearly still has flaws.

Reported in: TUCSON AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at 35 mph or above, the power steering would fail without warning. on occasion, the contact was able to shut off the vehicle and allow the power steering assist to immediately reset itself and other times, it would take over five minutes before the engaging. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic shop who advised that the steering pump failed and would need to be replaced. the vehicle was then taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. the manufacturer was contacted but did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000.

Reported in: STERLING HEIGHTS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

2008 ford escape, 4x4, slide with no control on 6 in of snow, crashed on driver side. the frontal airbags didn't deploy, only the side one did. driver broke the nasal bones, the bones under left eye and the nose need about 12 stitches. *ln

Reported in: LOUISVILLE KY || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

STEERING

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel became stiff and the power steering failed. the contact stated the traction control light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact was able to drive the vehicle home. the manufacturer was contacted and stated the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

STEERING

i have a 2008 ford escape and the steering wheel would shake so hard especially when i was just sitting at a stop light or not even in drive that i was shaking while holding it. then the power steering started to go out intermittently without any sign or lights or anything indicating a problem. my issue only happened once in 2-3 week period when i would start the car and drive i didn't realize there was a problem until i had to turn the wheel and it was soo hard to turn. then it started to happen almost everytime i started the car so i would start the car try and move the wheel and if i felt the tension turned off the car and kept restarting hoping it would "fix itself". i looked up the issue online and saw all of these complaints for the same issue, some had this issue while they were driving and lost power steering and had to avoid accidents. i have two toddlers in the car with me and i did not want to risk this issue getting that bad. i took it into the shop and it was told the steering shaft torque sensor and that the entire steering column assembly would need to be replaced costing $1100.+ with all of these complaints and safety issues i'm shocked that nothing has been done to fix this problem that we , the consumer, have no control over.

Reported in: BOLINGBROOK IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04158K

STEERING

we bought our 2008 ford escape in june of 2011. it was a certified used vehicle with about 48,000 miles on it. over the last few days my husband and i have noticed that the steering wheel on our 2008 ford escape suddenly begins vibrating at stop lights. on three occasions now, the steering has become extremely hard, almost as if the power steering just quick working. the problem seems to happen for a few seconds and then it stops. this morning when we started the vehicle the power steering was almost completely locked. my husband turned the car off, then on, then off, then on and the power steering returned to normal. we are extremely worried that the steering may fail while we are driving the vehicle. my husband contacted the dealer this morning to tell them that we are bringing the vehicle back to be fixed.

Reported in: OLATHE KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i recently noticed that my 2008 ford escape was leaking some fluid on the driveway. i had also noticed some slippage of the transmission while driving at slow speeds. my service station advised that there was a leak in the transmission cooler. they encouraged me to take it to the dealer, because it was likely under warranty. the escape was a "certified pre'owned" model which carried an additional warranty for the transmission. my local ford dealer confirmed that transmission leak, but declined to cover the cost of repairs, because they said that the item was not covered by the warranty. after learning of the problem, i did some research on the internet and discovered that this is a widespread problem among owners of 2008 ford escapes. i feel that this transmission leakage problem poses a safety risk to the public. if ford is unwilling to address this issue, then this model should be subject to a safety recall.

Reported in: TX TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03118K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal squealing when first starting. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who advised that the alternator belt bracket pulley was defective and would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was approximately 39,000. the failure mileage was approximately 38,900.

Reported in: BESSEMER AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

STEERING

have a 2008 ford escape. this car is having issues where the power steering will go out in the middle of driving and turning. this has been going on for a couple of months. i took it to a ford dealer and they said they have never heard of this problem before. although you can go on ford escape customer forums and see countless instances where this has happened to other people some resulting in accidents. i have asked ford several times to help me with this issue and they say that we need to replace the whole steering column $1700 charge. this is happening with most of the postings i saw and with my own vehicle at relatively low mileage. it seems that this would not be a normal wear and tear on the vehicle with low mileage. continuously people i have seen and also for myself have gotten the answer from ford that they haven't heard of this issue before. i am not happy because i have to expend the money to fix this but more so i want to have this issue corrected before someone really gets hurt. if an elderly person were driving this vehicle with that problem they would wreck because of not having the strength to keep the wheel in motion correctly. same may be with a younger driver. please please take a look at this problem for me.

Reported in: DAYTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i own a 2008 ford escape that was one of thousands that was manufactured with a defective transmission cooler. i am one of thousands who want something done a recall produced as this is a major safety issue. the defective part seems to break without warning. the part develops a crack and leaks all of the vehicles transmission fluid out which can cause 2 issues. the transmission fluid can ignite underneath the hood by blowing back on the exhaust manifold or by going undetected all the fluid can drain out and cause the transmission to not engage when merging into traffic or highways causing a crash. this is a major problem that ford motor company knows about, they will not replace the part as part of a mistake in their manufacturing. they will have a minimum wage customer service associate say sorry until you get frustrated and hang up on them. please look into this issue before someone gets killed as when i brought up that fact the customer service department didn't care and they told me to hope for a recall. the owners that have paid to fix their cars are also out another $1000 on a car that is only 3 or less years old. i hope whoever gets this takes this seriously and does the research. you can call ford and question them as i'm sure they have at least thousands of complaints, the internet is full of complaints, videos, and many concerned owners. again this defective part is going to get someone killed and i hope you can help all of us owners get recourse by getting a recall issued and keeping the roads safe from these death traps ford continues to manufacture with this defective part.

Reported in: CAIRO NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

STEERING

on the morning of 3/1/11 i got into my ford escape to drive to work. i started the car, and backed out of my parking space, i noticed that the steering was very stiff, which i attributed in my mind to the ice storm from the night before. that evening when i returned home from work the steering was fine. however, the next day, again the steering was stiff as if there were no power steering. i shut off the engine and restarted the car and the steering was fine. again that evening all was fine, but the next morning no power steering. repeating my steps from the day before, i restarted the engine and all was fine, however that evening again there was no power steering. i referred to my owners manual and found that there is no power steering reservoir to check or fill. i contacted a mechanic and he wasn't sure with no reservoir, so he and i both began researching on the internet and found several websites which listed my very same problem, and stated that the steering column would need to be replaced with estimates ranging from $1100 to $1700. there were several entries which mentioned accidents which could have been avoided had the power steering been working. this is apparently an electrical problem within the steering column which leads me to wonder about the air bags working during an accident. i had my mechanic look at it, he contacted ford and they gave him a couple of things to check, but doubted any of them would be the cause. he took the escape to his local ford dealer to get a reading from the cars computer, and they confirmed that a steering column was necessary. my concern is that ford is not acknowledging that there is a problem with the power steering. i would hate to think that someone has to die before this problem gets the attention it requires to start a recall.

Reported in: SYCAMORE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

STEERING

i have a 2008 ford escape and the power steering is going in and out. the steering will lock up while driving. 3-27-11, steering locked up while driving and i had almost ran over a child riding her bike. i could not control the steering. when the car is shut off and then turned back on the problem stops.have seen many complaints on this issue and ford has not had a recall yet. hey ford, what is it going to take, a fatality before you recall this on going problem. i would hope that a huge company as yourself would get to this matter immediately, before the unthinkable happens and then what?

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

POWER TRAIN

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated the vehicle jerked forward when accelerating from a very low speed or a stop. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the vehicle needed a new condenser to help cool the transmission. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 38,300. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: CHESAPEAKE VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving approximately 35 mph and as the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle began to lurch forward violently as the vehicle exhibited an abnormal increase in engine rpms. the failure recurred when driving at various speeds. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where a diagnosis was performed. the failure was contributed to a leakage within the transmission. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 26,500.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. while driving approximately 65-70 mph, the engine stalled and there was a beeping chime heard in the vehicle followed by a message displayed on the instrument panel instructing the contact to stop and pull over safely. the vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and the engine was restarted. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the electronic cooling pump was being replaced. the failure mileage was 51,000. the vin was unavailable.

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated she received notice of an unknown manufacturers recall notice in regards to the transmission cooling leakage. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs but the contact did not know what repairs were completed or hear any mention of transmission problems. five months later while in the parking lot driving less than 20 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle took at least twenty minutes to restart as she pulls back into the parking space. the vehicle was then driven the next day to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and stated she needed a new transmission. the manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 96,000.

Reported in: WHITE PLAINS MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

anti-lock brakes activate at both city and highway driving speeds. the abs and traction control light turn on and off intermittently. road conditions at the time of the activation were dry.

Reported in: SHARONVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

STEERING

i was driving home from work when all of a sudden my steering became very stiff and i noticed my traction control light come on, it was raining so i didn't think anything about it, but when i started to make a left hand turn the steering was very very stiff, no power steering. i had my vehicle towed to my dealership and they said the electronic power steering control module was 'fried' and they have never seen this before. approx $1100. unbelievable!! i have had my veh for 3 yrs to almost the day and approx 43,000 miles. this is unacceptable.

Reported in: WAUNAKEE WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

STEERING

i have a 2008 ford escape and experienced vibration and loss of power steering while driving my daughter to school last week. i was told through ford that i needed a new steering column and because i did not buy the extended warranty they said that i had to pay 1363.10 for the repair! i was so upset! i called fords manufacture number spoke to one of their lawyers and still i was turned down for a malfunction that could have turned into a very bad accident. i lost all power to my steering wheel as i was on the highway taking my daughter to school. i feel at 76,000 miles a vehicle should not have issues with the steering column at that young age of the vehicle and that ford should stand behind its product even though a customer did not buy the extended warranty at the time we could not afford the warranty.. it has not been documented yet but i had an issue of my accelerator freezing up on me 3 weeks ago and i had to get off the road to try to get the peddle to unstick and after trying a minute or so i was able to get startedagainbut was so very nervous that i would lose the flexiabilityof the peddle again! ford told me that they have had no other complaints with this issue. i am wondering if there are any other people experiencing these issues as well and if there is any way i can get ford to pay for these malfunctions of my ford escape? i have to say i feel like my life has been in a very stressful place lately with a vehicle that should be backing their customers patronage! even if an extended warranty was not purchasedthese electrical problems that ford has seen on my vehicle should be documented so that they understand the concerns of there customers! is there anyone else that have had any of these same experiences as myself?

Reported in: NEW BOSTON NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z88K

STEERING

?we own a 2008 ford escape xls with approximately 76,xxx miles on it. ?4/2: within 2 hours of being on the road in the early morning, we went to pull off the road into a gas station and it took great effort to turn the car. this was sudden and very dangerous as there were other cars at the entry/exit point and we were not expecting the need to apply such pressure to turn the wheel. if there had been a car at the entrance, we would have hit them due to the wide turn we made. owe were able to engage power steering after moving the steering wheel back and forth several times. successfully pulled out of parking lot, but power steering went out again within 5 minutes of being on the road. subsequently stops had similar results. sometimes the power steering engaged immediately, and sometimes it took several turn off/turn on attempts for it to re-engage. owe have also noticed that the steering column began to pulsate upon ignition when power steering was engaged. there is also a low-level vibration noise associated with this. however, when power steering goes out, the vibration and noise is eliminated. ?we contacted both our local ford dealer as well as another dealer near our destination. both service departments were unaware of any service bulletins of this being a common occurrence in ford escape?s. ?while the car is still drivable with manual steering, not knowing when the power steering will disengage makes for very hazardous driving conditions, especially when making turns or sudden maneuvers. ?upon searching the internet, it would appear that this is becoming a more common occurrence in ford vehicles that possess the eps technology and have similar mileage. *additionally, customers are reporting many different attempts to fix this problem, including the replacement of wiring harnesses, steering columns, and other costly repairs that may or may not fix the issue.

Reported in: COLUMBIA MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z18K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my 2008 ford escape transmission cooler (part 19712) went bad at 36,451 miles. ford would not cover the cost as i was 451 miles over my warranty and there was no recall issued. i've read over 50 complaints from multiple websites that deal with the same issue. it is a safety hazard to have parts in a car that do not hold up and begin leaking transmission fluid. why is nothing being done for this?

Reported in: AURORA IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU041X8K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission fluid leak due to faulty transmission cooler.

Reported in: LAMPASAS TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

my daughter (who drives the van) complained for 6 months that her abs on her brakes was causing the brakes to let go then grab even at very low speeds. i took the escape to the dealer for additional tire problems plus an alignment, since the tires had cupped, and was told that nothing was wrong with the brakes. after continued problems i had new breaks installed at an express brakes place in south part of kansas city, ks. they also inspected the abs and found nothing wrong. but the problem continued with additional loud squealing. finally i took it to bob allen ford in overland park, ks. where they charged me $652.17 for replacing the broken rf tone ring(s), unfroze the front end alignment bars (or something like that) then put another set of brake pads on, turned the rotors then did another alignment. they said that the express brake place had failed to turn the rotors that the brand-new brakes were eaten up. the escape has 53k miles on it but we have been having this problem for over a year. in addition, i was forced to put new tires on prior to all of this because two of the factory tires had cupped and all of them had turned to (something like) plastic causing them to skid and slide on take off and on stopping, creating a very dangerous potential for my daughter. i kept the old tires. the replaced tires are almost new with little tread wear. note: that i tried to also add a complaint about the tires but that section demanded information that i couldn't provide therefore it simply refused the entire complaint.

Reported in: RICHARDSON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

my issue began the same as many others i have read about on the internet, which screams, "where is the '08 ford escape transmission cooler recall?". i had a routine oil change & tire balancing on fri, 04/01/11 at my local ford dealership & by the following thurs, had noticed a somewhat large leaking-spot on my garage floor & a friends asphalt driveway. my first thought was to automatically relate this dark oil-like residue, to the recent oil change. at the same time, this leak/spot seemed to be coming from just behind the front bumper on the passenger-side, which didn't jive with the typical location of a more centered oil-leak. nonetheless, my ford advisor assumed the same thing i was; that the plug or filter was probably loose & to bring it in for immediate correction. here's where the shock & utter disbelief began. i was told my issue was not related to the recent oil change, but in fact a transmission fluid leak from a transmission cooler. i was also told this was not covered under the 36k warranty, since i was now at 37,099; nor was it under the transmission warranty. i was then taken back to my car where the tech explained that this "cooler" looks like a really thin radiator, but is actually a separate cooling unit that sits just in front of the radiator. i was then told the leak is a result of the constant vibration of this unit hitting the radiator, which eventually cracks the left (passenger-side) bolt area. he also said this is a common repair & that it only happens around the left bolt, not the right. i then asked how it wasn't going to reoccur if it's a known defect. he replied that ford knows about it & has now included a small rubber bushing that comes with the new replacement unit that somehow absorbs and/or prevents the vibration. i was initially told this was a $650 + repair, but by the grace of god, the advisor was able to get ford to approve my cost at $200. it wasn't $0, but better than others; so, "how is this obvious defect, not a recall?".

Reported in: CICERO IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

my throttle body is sticking every morning. i have been stuck in traffic on i-5 in tacoma and had to use all my strength to depress the throttle which lurched my daughter and i into oncoming traffic and nearly caused a fatal accident. it has caused my children to be late for school, myself late for work and alot of stress and fuel. i have to keep the throttle depressed while stopping and have to use my right foot for the break. i drive an automatic. the dealership knows that the 2008 ford escapes are having this problem and are doing nothing to help resolve the issues. when i call to ask about the issue i get treated very poorly. i am one of thousands of people having this problem and ford needs to address it.

Reported in: LACEY WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z78K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that after moving the vehicle from the driveway, he noticed a large amount of fluid on the ground. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer and they advised him that the transmission coolant line had fractured causing the leak. the manufacturer was contacted and advised him that there were no recalls on his vehicle. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were approximately 28,700. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

last year ford had a recall on 2008 ford escapes, which i was never informed about. the issue of the recall was that the transmission fluid was leaking through the ac system (cooler). this makes the drive very hard, and when one is stopped at a red light the vehicle hesitates to go, then jerks back and forward when the gas pedal is pressed, i was always scared someone would hit me from behind, and cause a crash, i believe this may lead to crashes. apparently the vehicles start doing this when it is over 40,000 miles driven, and i am currently right around that range, and my issue started about 3 weeks ago. i took it to the dealership and am told i am not covered under the recall because my vehicle did not qualify; however, i am having the very issue that the ford 2008 escape was recalled for last year, so it is my belief that there are more vehicles who will demonstrate this issue, and ford has missed some vehicles and should extend that recall to cover the new vehicles that are also demonstrating this very issue, because this is a serious problem if that fluid runs out the vehicles may stop in the middle of the road cause a number of crashes, as well as the jerking motions when the vehicle hesitates to move when at the stopped position.

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03118K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

at about 50,000 miles my 2008 ford escape developed the following symptoms: both the abs and traction control lights in the dash instrument display come on a few minutes after starting out on a journey and stay on until the engine is turned off. from a few instances of quick stops, it is apparent that the abs system is not operative. this is a potential accident waiting to happen. i did not notice any effect on driveability as a result of the traction light being illuminated. upon investigation on the internet, i found that the most likely cause of these lights being lit was a failure of a "abs tone ring"; sure enough when i jacked up the car and looked carefully at these toothed rings just inside the wheel bearing/steering knuckle housing, i found that the front driver side ring was broken with about a 1/16 to 3/32" gap. the most likely cause of this failure is reported to be corrosion of the steel hub that the ring is pressed onto. the corrosion causes the ring to be stressed by the expansion of the area under the ring as the iron turns to rust, probably enhanced by the copious amount of road salt used in pa in the winter for ice and snow melting. reported costs to repair this poorly designed engineering fiasco are in the $500-700 range at a dealers shop and ironically the ring itself is available for about $7-15.

Reported in: MARS PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

i have a 2008 ford escape and it seems there is a part in which the cars transmission could be ruined. this part is the a/c condenser which tends to go out every 20,000 miles which is my experience so far. there was a recall on this part but it seems it did not do any good because even after the replacement part is put in, the part still has to continue to be replaced in order to keep the car functioning as it should be.

Reported in: OLATHE KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i took my 2008 escape limited in for an oil change and was told transmission fluid was leaking. i then noticed the car was hesitating between switching gears. i took it to an auto repair shop that noticed the transmission fluid was being pushed out. when they called ford they were told the problem was not covered by warranty because i've had the car 3.5 years eventhough there are only 14,065 miles on the car. now i'm reading about a recall for this exact problem online but i was never notified. hopefully this means i won't have to pay though being without a vehicle for several weeks is extremely aggravating.

Reported in: SOUTHGATE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94158K

STEERING

i own a 2008 escape with the eps system. i love the vehicle in general, but over the past year i have had 3 incidents where the power steering fails completely while driving, rendering the vehicle unsteerable. in all three episodes, i had to stop the vehicle (on the roadway), shut off the engine, then restart it, and the power steering again functioned. i did contact my local dealer who searched the ford service bulletins, and found nothing, however, had serviced a few vehicles having the exact same intermittent-type problem, by replacing the steering column. (they said this would cost me $972.77) . i also researched the issue with the nhtsa and found many owners of ford vehicles with the eps system having exactly the same problem. since this is (obviously) a significant safety concern, it surprises me that ford has not yet addressed the issue via a recall or at the very least a service bulletin. i do not want to trade in or sell this vehicle, but i currently do not feel confident about its safety reliability. any information that can be provided regarding this significant issue would be helpful.

Reported in: NEW CUMBERLAND WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

AIR BAGS

08 escape 4dsw awd was involved in a crash, was pulling out of drive when hit by a ram 350 across the front end from behind left front tire causing total loss and minor injury to passenger of chest and knees. the car has 6 locations of airbags and none of them deployed.

Reported in: SNOWFLAKE AZ || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

TIRES

2008 ford escape xlt 4wd, excessive tire noise on continental contitrac tires, size 235/70/r16. rotated at proper mileage throughout the lifetime of the car, now has 35000k on it. this should be a tire recall do to the amount of people that seem to have this same issue.

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

POWER TRAIN

my ford escape just started leaking fluid one day. even thought ford admits its a huge huge problem that will effect my transmission its not recalled or covered by the warranty. the tranny cooler/ac condenser is leaking.

Reported in: FLORENCE AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving approximately 25 mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to higher speeds. the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a barrier before rolling over. the contact sustained minor scratches. the police were called and a report was filed. the vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was pending investigation. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and current mileages were approximately 31,000. updated 07/20/11 *bf updated 3/16/12 *cn

Reported in: STANFORD CT || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93ZX8K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

important addendum to o.d.i. # 10407083: (june 16, 2011) tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving approximately 25 mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to higher speeds. the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a barrier before rolling over. the contact sustained minor scratches. the police were called and a report was filed. the vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was pending investigation. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and current mileages were approximately 31,000. *********the car had ongoing mechanical issues which were brought to the attention of our ford dealer: chief complaint was the gas pedal dropping to the floor by itself-had to be manually coaxed back up to normal operating height; the dealer checked at 1st complaint, said it was ok: at 2nd complaint of the same: they installed a new throttle cable & gas pedal. the car was in a roll over accident which totaled the car shortly after the visit to the mechanic. the car accelerated out of control by itself. ford has 2 other passenger vehicles on recall now for a similar problem: throttle body issues leading to runaway acceleration (free style & free star).

Reported in: STAMFORD CT || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93ZX8K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

abs tone ring cracks because of rust on the axle and then it spins on the axle and causes the abs to activate and the traction control to activate because it believes you are skidding. then the abs and traction control warning light activate to say there is something wrong with the system. after much research, this is a very common problem, is a design flaw, and is a safety feature for the vehicle.

Reported in: WASHINGTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Reported in: WASHINGTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

accelerator pedal is stuck all the way to the floor. *kb

Reported in: FLORISSANT MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

gas pedal fell to floor and vehicle lost all power. no previous warning. unable to use gas pedal. driving on highway at 65mph. was able to pull off ro side of road.

Reported in: MINOA NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the ford escape 2008 with 76,559 was making a noise in the transmission when placing the reverse. also there was a noise in the motor like a zoom . i took the suv to the ford dealer and they checked and found a problem with the transmission and the motor pulleys, bearings as well. the estimated repair cost $3,099. i decided to take the car home. while driving a distance of about 58.2 mileage i was waiting in the road, the light change from red to green and when i press the pedal to pass the highway the ford escape 2008 make a huge noise and did no moved. the drive and reverse did not engage and the parking was making a huge crank noise. there was not way no move then i wait in the side of the road until the road service came to take the suv. i contacted the ford customer service and they required the unit to be taken back to the ford dealer for evaluation and support. they will need to repair the transmission and make pulleys, belts abd bearings changes. so far the dealer will cover 25%, the ford 50% and the customer the 25%. the ford escape noise in the transmission and motor started about the same week of the august 04, 2011. the ford escape 2008 was taken to the ford dealer on august 04, 2011 in the morning about 10:00 to 11:00 am and the failure occurred the same day in the afternoon about 5:30 pm.

Reported in: HUMACAO PR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2nd instance in less than one year of broken accelerator pedal cable clips in 2008 ford escape. the defect is known and is addressed in a ford tsb, number: tsb-09-21-9. this is an unacceptable problem that should not be repeated. the first instance occurred while attempting to pass on the freeway. the failure of the clips resulted in a complete loss of power, which was only non-life threatening because the vehicle was in the right lane. today's instance occurred in a parking lot... after the car was sitting. no power was exerted on the pedal at the time of breakage. this is clearly a defect warranting recall and a more permanent and suitable repair fix. as i stated, this is the second instance in less than a year, so the original part replacement solution is not effective.

Reported in: HIGH POINT NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving at approximately 35 mph the contact crashed into two other vehicles. the air bags did not deploy. there was damage to front end of the vehicle. the driver of one of the vehicle complained of back pain but did not seek medical attention. the police were called to the scene and a report was filed. the vehicle was taken to a body shop for repairs to the body damage. the vehicle had not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 59,000.

Reported in: PARMA HEIGHTS OH || Crash: Y || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 ford escape has 68,000 miles on it, the transmission is jerking when shifting into first and second gear. it is really bad shifting to second, it's almost like the motor is dropping. my a/c also just started having issues, the fan only works on high.

Reported in: MIDDLETOWN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: MIDDLETOWN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the transmission cooler fitting fractured, causing transmission fluid to leak. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer replaced the entire transmission condenser. the contact had not driven the vehicle since the repair. the failure mileage was 57,550. kmj

Reported in: DANVILLE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z38K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the transmission fuel was leaking through the cooling system. the vehicle was parked when the contact noticed the leakage. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the transmission cooling system. the manufacturer was notified who advised that the vehicle was not covered under any recalls. they offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 59,500. updated 10/04/11*lj updated 3/30/12 *cn

Reported in: DANVILLE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z38K

VISIBILITY

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that three of the windows on the vehicle dropped down into the door panel abnormally. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who repaired the window regulators on two of the windows. the third window needed to be fully replaced. a complaint was filed with the manufacturer, who offered no assistance. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 70,000.

Reported in: WEDOWEE AL || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 25 mph, the brake pedal was applied and the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated with an increase in the engine rpms. the failure recurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the idle air control valve was replaced. one day after the repair was performed the identical failure recurred without warning. the vehicle was currently at the dealer for diagnosis and repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

Reported in: BURBANK CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

POWER TRAIN

defective transmission cooler fails and leaks transmission fluid. the vehicle lurches while low on transmission fluid.

Reported in: LEWIS CENTER OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the tire pressure monitor light comes on and the message center says "tire pressure monitor fault". at the same time the door ajar light and brake lights came on. the volume on the stereo automatically goes down or stops working or can't change stations when i get the tire pressure message or reboots along with the air conditioner blowing hot air. the doors don't automatically lock, when they do lock, the ac comes back on. as it got worse the dash has a mind of its own, somedays it doesn't light up other days it stays on all night. sometimes when i ride over a speed bump it will fix the problem, but it always comes back.

Reported in: NORTH PROVIDENCE RI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

STEERING

i have experienced a serious safety concern, and it appears that there is no current recall or acknowledgement of this issue. while driving, the steering locked up. luckily, the car was only traveling out of the driveway at low speeds. this happened a few moments later, again, at a low speed of driving. the only remedy initially was to turn off and turn the car back on. we have taken the vehicle immediately to the dealership for fear of serious injury/death and was provided information that there is an electrical short in the steering column, causing the functionality of the steering to fail. after research, there appears to be quite a few complaints from other owners online with this exact same situation, all in the 2008 ford escape, which is the vehicle i drive. additional research shows that this model year was the first year that ford equipped a vehicle with electronic power steering vs traditional power steering. after filing a complaint with ford seeing that there are no recalls and urging a voluntary recall, i was denied any assistance or reassurance that they are concerned for safety of others that may be driving at higher speeds when the steering fails. *tt

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU031X8K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 5 mph, the contact was unable to maneuver the steering wheel. the contact shut the engine off and regained power steering after restarting the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

Reported in: FLORENCE AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

STEERING

the 2008 escape i own has been the most dangerous vehicle that hit the road. the most recent failure has been the steering shaft and a joint which caused the vehicle to be unable to steer. it happened in a parking lot and i just slammed on the brakes so i did not hit anything but it could have been much worse. the car was clunking and my mechanic said most likely it's a ball joint or tie rod and to get it in soon, but i have been trying to catch up as this vehicle was just in due to the failure of the transmission cooler which was almost a $1000 repair. the car again is undriveable, and from what i researched this problem is another $1500 to repair. ford is making money hand over fist with these vehicles and will not repair anything. second major issue where i was told out of warranty not our problem! people are going to get killed, if i wasn't 1 year from paying this junk box off i would dump it. the first issue almost caused a major accident because the part that failed dumped all my transmission fluid out and i went to merge onto the highway and my vehicle almost stood still and would not move. this steering problem would have been much worse as 95% of my 55 mile commute is highway and i am thanking god it happened in a parking lot and not on the highway. someone needs to help us not only to get ford to fix and pay for their faulty product but to recall these items before someone gets killed!!!! don't buy a ford escape they are dangerous and a huge money pit!

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

SUSPENSION

traveling about 35-40 mph. the left rear lower control arm broke in half. as a result of this failure the car jerked hard to the left than back to the right and then rolled over on to the drivers side and rested there with the side curtain air bags deployed. i have contacted the local dealer. the dealer backed off this immediately and said to contact ford directly. i contacted ford via the corporate web site 4 times with no response. i also returned to the local dealer for guidance they gave me the phone number of the district manager. i called and left a message. i have yet to get a response. i have pictures if desired.

Reported in: NORTH EAST MD || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

STEERING

while my wife was driving our 2008 ford escape with 70k miles, the steering suddenly locked up. i was told by ford that this problem was rare, but i have found dozens of complaints with the exact same issue. the electronic power steering (eps) module has failed. ford had modified this module 8 times since 2008 when it was first used. the repair estimate is $1300. ford is unwilling to do anything about the problem. the reason the problem is rare is due to the fact that it appears to happen around 45k miles or above. most 2008 model cars are just now coming into that mileage. this is a life and death defect as the driver loses control of the vehicle. i happen to be in the field of broadcast. i intent to launch a nationwide campaign to alert 2008 escape owners of the ticking timebomb they are driving and to determine how many failures have already occurred. if you own a 2008 ford escape, please be aware that you are likely to experience this issue. first indication may be a slight vibration in the steering wheel. at this point, failure is imminent.

Reported in: TRUSSVILLE AL || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

while driving to work,a wrench light illuminated. my car then had difficulty shifting and seemed to struggle to shift into gear. i took the car to my mechanic the next day and ended up having to spend $3,400 on a complete transmission overhaul. i do not think this should be since i service my car including transmission service on a regular basis.there was a recall on the condenser a while back. this was corrected.

Reported in: HIGHLAND LKS NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

noticed steering wheel vibrating while driving on highway at posted speed 70 mph. continued to vibrate and move while stopped at stop lights. on 10-25-11 my wife drove across the university campus and lost power steering while in parking lot. turning vehilce off and restarting appeared to solve loss of power assist steering. steering wheel continued to move slightly side to side while driving to dealership. currently under inspection and we are waiting for price estimate at the time of this complaint. *tt

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

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving at idle speeds when a clunking noise was heard from the steering column. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they confirmed that the universal joint for the steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and the vehicle was repaired. the vin was unavailable. the failure and current mileages were 58,000.

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

VISIBILITY

11/01/2011: while driving the 2008 ford escape xls at approximately 40 mph on a smooth paved street, the rear window completely shattered. the rear window and tailgate were closed at the time. no injuries or other damage reported. the rear defroster had been on for 5-10 minutes prior to the incident and was turned off about a minute before the rear window shattered. note: the glass had an aftermarket tint film applied approximately 6 months prior to the incident.

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

purchased 2008 ford escape in june 2007. after around 25k miles the transmission was leaking fluid according to the ford service center we took it to. they repaired this at no cost since this was under the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. had a minor issue back in august with the air fan not blowing air properly. the fan had to be placed on high before it would blow out any air. this was fixed and cost approx. 200 dollars since the warranty was out in june 2007. no big deal. then on october 30, around 73k miles on the car, it started stalling while driving and shaking violently. put on brakes it would start to stall and when giving gas it would shake and then stall. took it to the ford service shop which is also the dealer where we have purchased around 5 or 6 vehicles and who has always serviced our ford vehicles and were told that it needed a brand new transmission and since it is out of warranty this will cost $4,900.00. have checked on numerous websites and this is a common issue with ford escapes. i actually know someone who bought her vehicle at the same dealer, the same year vehicle and had the same exact problem with around the same mileage when her transmission went out as well as the fan problem. i do not feel that i should have to pay for this since we had the same issue back when the car only had 25k miles on it. this car is only 3 1/2 years old and we should not have these many issues with this car. i cannot afford to have it fixed so it will sit in my driveway.

Reported in: TRENTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: TRENTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

POWER TRAIN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6xq2zyqmoi - this video depicts exactly what is wrong with the ford 2008 escapes. my vehicle started to leak transmission fluid profusely last week; which is not only a problem in major traffic if the ford escape 2008 transmission has no fluid, but also is an safety issue to those who walk in parking lots where my car has leaked fluid; it may cause a fall... especially with so many ford escapes 2008 having this exact problem. how many ford escapes 2008 must abruptly run out of transmission fluid before this does become a dire safety problem? side note: ford hq states this is an ac problem; however, if my car leaks out all the transmission fluid, isn't it a drive line problem?

Reported in: ARTESIA NM || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving 35 mph when the steering wheel seized. the contact was able to pull over to the side of the road where the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer stated that the entire steering column needed to be replaced. the contact did not replace the steering column due to the part being on back order. the failure mileage was 81,000.

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94168K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i had purchased this truck new from the dealer in march of 2008, this truck has had many problems in the past starting with the day i bought the truck. now a few year's later the "a.c. condenser" was leaking transmission fluid and the dealer is now telling me that it is not covered under my "drive train warranty". i am not a mechanic but the several mechanic's that i have spoken to said that, that part is vital to the power train. i am a young struggling nurse trying to pay off school loans, and they are telling me that this is going to cost $700.00, i cannot afford it and i need my truck. i bought this new with the impression that these things will not be an issue and if they were they would be covered by ford's warranty. i have done some research on the internet and this is a major problem with this specific year and truck. i am hoping that you guy's will be able to help with this matter. thank you and god bless.

Reported in: COLLEGEVILLE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z88K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: COLLEGEVILLE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z88K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that she was unable to shift from second gear. there was an increase in engine rpms as she attempted to accelerate but the vehicle would not respond. the dealer advised the contact to replace the transmission and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure however did not offer any assistance since there were no recalls for the failure. no repairs were performed. the current and the failure mileages were 76,000. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: BLUFFDALE UT || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

the power steering in this vehicle failed twice. both times were at low speed, and i was able to recover. a search on the internet reveals this to be a somewhat common problem with escapes, but has yet to be acknowledged by ford. i will take it to the dealer but am afraid that i'll have the same experience as others, in that the problem will not be present when the dealer looks at it. at this point i no longer consider the vehicle safe.

Reported in: PATERSON NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving, the accelerator pedal fractured without any warning. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that a spring in the accelerator pedal broke and as a result, needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 36,100.

Reported in: GARYSBURG NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i was in my car and when i stepped on the gas to accelerate and pull out on to the road, my engine raced and i only rolled forward, down the small slope, into traffic. after about 3 seconds my transmission caught and the car jumped forward and i momentarily lost control, barely missing another car in the other lane. turns out almost all of the transmission fluid had leaked out from the transmission cooler, causing a malfunctioning transmission. after bringing the vehicle in to get inspected, and talking to multiple dealers, they all say that they consistently fix this issue on the 2008 ford escape. some even say they have trouble stocking the part because they do so many. the vehicle has a faulty transmission cooler/ac condenser that consistently breaks and causes the vehicle to lose transmission fluid, resulting in unsafe vehicles. *kb

Reported in: NEW ORLEANS LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04148K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: NEW ORLEANS LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04148K

STEERING

i was driving down the highway when my power steering failed - it didn't lock up but became extremely hard to maneuver. i have taken it to the ford dealership & the man i spoke with said he's never heard of this being a problem.

Reported in: DODD CITY TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

was driving down the highway and the power steering failed. looked on internet seems to be common.

Reported in: GUYMON OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

STEERING

i own a 2008 ford escape. i was driving down my street,started to turn into my driveway and had a hard time turning the steering wheel. the power steering totally shut down. i turned off the car and restarted it and everything was ok. it has happened 3 times in the last week. checked online and this seems to be a common problem. interested to see how ford handles this.

Reported in: OAK LAWN IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

POWER TRAIN

i purchased a 2008 ford escape new in september 2008. after 50,000 miles i noticed a buzzing sound from the engine compartment. after searching the internet for probable causes, i discovered a tsb stating that idler pulley may fail prematurely. i purchased and replaced the pulley and noticed a transmission fluid leak near the radiator. after searching the internet some more, i discovered another tsb stating that the transmission coolers crack due to a flawed design. i contacted ford through the website and they stated their are no recalls for my vehicle and directed me to the dealership that sold my vehicle. the repair estimates are between 800-1000 dollars. i have exceeded my warranty and multiple persons have stated that ford does not honor it anyway for this component. i have owned 3 fords with the similar issues. ford posts tsbs not recalls even though the defects are caused by poor designs. if the cost benefit analysis doesn't add up in their favor, expect to pay out of pocket. i no longer allow my wife to drive this vehicle and fully expect to trade it in shortly.

Reported in: PIKEVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

transmission defect on 2008 ford escapes.

Reported in: SUNRISE FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

was making a turn after stopping at a light. in the middle of my turn i felt the power steering fail. i was able to drive home with great effort made to steer. i got home and turned my vehicle off. my husband started my 2008 ford escape and had no problems with steering. after popping the hood, he found nothing wrong. after researching the internet, there seem to be numerous complaints of this same exact thing happening and restarting the car seems to reset the power steering. the problem seems to be the steering column. i am wondering why nothing is being done by ford to fix this problem? i am also very afraid of it happening again and causing an accident!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reported in: PLAINWELL MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

STEERING

i was about to leave work and when i started the car to pull out of my parking spot i was unable to turn the steering wheel. i know enough about cars to know that this was related to the power steering...not knowing at the time that my car had an electric power steering, i looked under the hood to check the fluid then i went to get my warehouse mgr to come take a look at it for me. when he started the car the steering was fine. i was able to drive home but was very cautious about it. my husband and i have noticed over the past week that my steering wheel will vibrate or shake when stopped and then this occurs. from what i am reading this seems to be a common occurrence. i have 2 small children and don't want to be in an accident with them in the car if this occurs out the of the blue again! we now consider this car to be a dangerous hazard and undriveable ...we will be getting rid of it.

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

STEERING

my vehicle has been experiencing a jerking movement in the steering wheel (feels like force feedback from a driving simulator), most noticeable at a stop. it appeared to be a malfunction of the electronic power steering system. i had the vehicle inspected and was told the steering column needed to be replaced to correct the issue. this is because the electronic power steering is located in the column. i was told that the parts are not available at this time and are on national back order pushing their availability out 5 months or so. i have been forced to drive the vehicle for several weeks in a worsening condition until a few days ago the power steering completely failed at highway speed. power steering will come back after restarting the vehicle, but now the steering goes out 3 or more times on my 30 mile highway commute. i have also noticed that there is a tendency for the vehicle to "auto-steer" or veer in either direction with no driver input. needless to say, i have lost all confidence in the safety of the vehicle. i have contacted ford customer service directly and am awaiting a response.

Reported in: MAPLE GROVE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

STEERING

our escape has less than 44,000 miles on it and this past saturday the power steering just failed! and i had 3 children with me!! thank god we weren't doing 70mph on the interstate...or in a curve...next to an 18-wheeler...or where i had to make a quick avoidance maneuver! i learned (from internet postings...'cause it sure isn't in the owner's manual...) that it usually works properly again after turning the engine off and restarting...i guess the computer 'reboots'???, but, who knew?! well, it just happened again less than a week later to my wife and daughter and since this is absolutely a safety issue, we've taken it to a dealership. i live in tn and if anyone recalls (no pun intended), this is also the place where a local investigative news reporter broke the infamous toyota acceleration story. hmmm...maybe i'll contact him and see if he can find out if ford is bent on ignoring all these complaints... just do the right thing, ford! remember the explorer!!!

Reported in: GREENBRIER TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU041X8K

STEERING

on 12-13-2011, the power steering failed on this vehicle. fortunately i was in a parking lot when this happened. i was able to drive home by exerting great force on the then manual steering. if this had happened while actually in motion i doubt that i could have controlled the vehicle to a safe stop. the next morning i started the car to take it to the ford dealer and the steering worked. the dealer was unable to find a problem. i then telephoned the manufacture and was told they could not help me unless the dealer was able to find a problem. i told the person the car was unsafe to drive and was told unless the dealer can find the problem we can't help. i told the person i would report this incident to the ntsb and was told that is your right.

Reported in: HAMILTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

as i was getting onto the highway from an entrance, my steering failed. i could not turn the steering wheel to control the car. thank god i was going slow and was able to pull over. i shut the engine off, turned it back on, and was able to drive. i have researched this complaint and there are many ford escapes, with this same complaint. i hope that something will be done before a death occurs. i plan on pursuing this further even up to involving media and legal action.

Reported in: WALLINGFORD CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

STEERING

i was merging onto a highway from an entrance. as i was getting onto the highway, i was about to pull on, when my steering locked up. i was able to pull over, shut the engine off, i started the car and the steering was fine. i researched this problem and found that there were many of the same complaints. i could not find any recalls for this problem. will there have to be a death before something is done. i will pursue this further, thru the media, social media, and legally.

Reported in: WALLINGFORD CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58B

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that after parking the vehicle, fluid was observed leaking from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the mechanic confirmed a trans core leak in the transmission. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 40,842.

Reported in: SWARTHMORE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z38K

STEERING

the steering wheel started occasionally jittering while the vehicle was stopped. then when i went to leave a parking lot the power steering was completely non functioning. it has since been spotty.

Reported in: MESA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that when driving approximately 5-55 mph, the accelerator pedal would become stuck and could not be released for at least twenty minutes. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. the manufacturer had not been contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 22,800.

Reported in: CALAMAZOO MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STEERING

i was driving at about 65mph on our freeway and i lost complete control of my power steering. i almost got hit by 3 other vehicles as i was unable to turn steering wheel. i then put my caution lights on and used all my force to get to the side of the road. i then power the car off and waited a few minutes and turned it back on my steering was then fine. i got back on the freeway and within 3 minutes i lost all of my power steering again. so i then did the same thing multiple times just to make it home. i no longer feel safe driving my ford escape.

Reported in: YOUNGSTOWN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle response time to acceleration attempts was extremely slow and the pedal could be depressed into the floorboard abnormally. the contact would have to depress the accelerator pedal at least three times for the vehicle to respond when the failure would occur. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was told that the pedal felt as if it was becoming slightly stuck when depressed, but that the contact should not be too concerned with the failure. in addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was hesitant to start and the contact would have to turn the key several times before the vehicle would respond. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 109,716.

Reported in: SRPING LAKE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

POWER TRAIN

i noticed a transmission fluid leak toward the front of the vehicle. the car was beginning to shift erratically, and slipping between gears at highway speeds. was causing some concern while driving in the fast lane of the interstates. it was beginning to spray up under the hood, and i was worried about it getting on the exhaust manifold and starting a fire. after doing tons of research on line, if find out about a trans cooler defect. i see this has happened to 100's if not 1000's of people that owned 2008 escapes. i was told ford did do some repairs on these cars that where built early 2008, and that a csp (customer satisfaction program) was sent out march 2010, and expired in august 2010. my escape was built in sept. 2007, which should have covered it. ford sent a csp #09b10 to owners for a replacement because of the know defect to the cooler. since i didn't not own the vehicle until november 2010, i had no idea of the problem, and since the original owner never took it in for repair, i have to pay the price. i called ford customer care, and both them, and the ford dealer acknowledge the defect, but would not cover it. since there is no recall, and the csp is over, i had to pay $644.41 out of my pocket. this is ridicules i am paying for a defect that ford knows about. they both told me to hold on to my receipt in case there is a recall i can get reimbursed. i think this is the last ford i will own. even though this is connected to the drive train, and keeps your transmission from failing, its not a drive train part, and ford will not cover cause its not internal. as far as i see it! its power train related, and if it unknowingly fails, the transmission will fail. hopefully ford does the right thing, and repairs or reimburses the customer that had it repaired for the mistake ford made with the defective part before someone gets hurt.

Reported in: WEST NEWTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z48K

STEERING

my steering wheel locked i have to pull over, turn off the car once i turned it back on it was really hard to steer, very dangerous and now i have to pay 1100.00 to get this replaced which is too much for a 2008, they should recall this since so many people have the same problem.

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the accelerator pedal became stuck and could not be dislodged. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told there was no way to remedy the pedal failure. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was unknown.

Reported in: CLINTON NC || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

found puddle of transmission fluid on driveway. transmission cooler is leaking just like all 2008 ford escapes. not covered by warranty. dealer charges $816. why isn't it covered by a recall? we are disappointed.

Reported in: MEMPHIS TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

POWER TRAIN

my car appeared to go into neutral while driving, then revved up and shot forward. putting myself and passengers at danger of getting into an accident. this appears to be a common flaw in the power train (transmission) of the ford escapes. there should be a recall issued before a fatality occurs due to ford negligence. i called ford immediately upon arriving at work and will take it in at the end of the day but, having looked for complaints/recalls on line i see that this is very common and ford is not taking responsibility.

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU037X9K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU037X9K

AIR BAGS

i was hit head on by a vehicle that was traveling aprox 60 miles per hour. my airbags did not deploy. but the airbag light on my bash lit up as if they had deployed. i have asked several certified mechanics why this happened and have never been given the same answer twice. i asked a ford plant worker that helped build my escape, he also had no answer. my brothers was also involved, this last summer, in a high impact totaling his focus and the airbags did not deploy, again, no answer, just a lot of shrugs and him hawing. once again my best friend had a 2012 explorer it was 4 months old she hit a deer full on causing over 18,000$ in damage, and again, no airbags deployed! why? i find it disturbing that we all paid no less that 15,000$ for a ford vehicle and none of us were protected by the safety equipment, nor were we provided with a sufficient explanation as to why it did not work. do any of you have a viable non double speak reason for this? * information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) * tt

Reported in: KANSAS CITY MO || Crash: Y || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the accelerator pedal wire snapped while driving. the manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. the dealer was in the process of replacing the cable. the failure and the current mileage was 90,000.

Reported in: ROCHESTER HILLS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while at a complete stop, the contact noticed that the accelerator pedal was detached. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the accelerator pedal was repaired. the failure recurred and the vehicle was towed back to the dealer where the cable was glued to the pedal. the contact no longer felt safe driving the vehicle. the failure mileage was 35,643 and the current mileage was 36,830.

Reported in: FLORENCE VT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z68K

STEERING

like many others the eps (electronic power steering) system gave out on my 2008 escape (75,000 mi.). it started with the steering wheel occasionally clunking and shaking both when driving and when the car was idle (as long as it was started). as soon as the wheel was turned to the left or right the power steering would engage and it would be fine. the problem quickly got worse to the point where the clunking/shaking was happening at all times until the power steering just flat out failed while driving. luckily i was in a position to react and manually steer without incident but i was definitely worried as it could have been much worse. the place i bought it won't honor my warranty as this isn't covered under the power train(understandable, but still very frustrating) and with the electronic power steering there is no fix without swapping out the entire steering column. $1250 parts+labor+tax. i called ford directly and they just tossed me around saying that they will look into it and see if they can fix it as manufacturer defect. they said i could expect a call back in a few days, 1 week tops. 3 weeks later and no phone call. after finding this website i realized that there are several others experiencing the exact same problem. also, the part is on back order everywhere in the country which leads me to believe that the problem is much bigger than indicated on this forum. i am frustrated in trying to hold ford accountable. the lady at ford explained that recalls are justified by crash data and there is no way to get one started prior. this is crazy, so not only is someone going to need to crash, but several people are going to need to crash in order for anything to get done.

Reported in: LAS CRUCES NM || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i was driving with two family members when power steering failed on a freeway off ramp. steering failed whereas i narrowly avoided a major collision. vehicle extremely difficult to turn with electric steering failure.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

STEERING

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

STEERING

my steering wheel keeps shaking while driving for the last week. it freeze upon initial start-up and i have to turn the car off and turn it on again for the steering function to be restored. the freezing occurred sporadically over the past few months but now it happens every time i start my car. haven't taken my car into the dealership yet but will do so soon before this problem progresses any further and causes an accident because after reading the complaints with the exact problem i fear that is what to come. who has to die for the ford company to conduct a recall? i submitted this information to my local news station and maybe they will be able to shed some light on the matter.

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

STEERING

steering locks up periodically while driving at variable speeds, and situations, there is a grinding when you turn steering wheel both directions even while parked. i have seen many complaints online about this same problem with many owners of the same make & model.

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the accelerator pedal became stuck to the floorboard while the contact was attempting to merge onto the highway at approximately 35 mph. the accelerator pedal could not be released. the contact had to shift into neutral and coast to the shoulder of the road where the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer diagnosed the failure as the accelerator pedal cable being fractured. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and denied any assistance with the repair. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 53,300.

Reported in: HARRISBURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

STEERING

like many others the eps (electronic power steering) system gave out on my 2008 escape (106,000 mi.). it started with the steering wheel occasionally clunking and shaking both when driving and when the car was idle (as long as it was started). as soon as the wheel was turned to the left or right the power steering would engage and it would be fine. the problem quickly got worse to the point where the clunking/shaking was happening at all times until the power steering just flat out failed while driving. luckily i was in a position to react and manually steer without incident but i was definitely worried as it could have been much worse. with the electronic power steering there is no fix without swapping out the entire steering column. $1250 parts+labor+tax. i called ford directly and they just tossed me around saying that they will look into it and see if they can fix it as manufacturer defect. after finding this website i realized that there are several others experiencing the exact same problem. also, the part is on back order everywhere in the country which leads me to believe that the problem is much bigger than indicated on this forum. i am frustrated in trying to hold ford accountable. ford explained that recalls are justified by crash data and there is no way to get one started prior. this is crazy, so not only is someone going to need to crash, but several people are going to need to crash in order for anything to get done.

Reported in: GRAND PRAIRIE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

STEERING

my power steering did not work when i backed out of a parking space. if i turned the car off, and then started it again, the power steering would work. this started happening daily, then many times a day and now, sometimes i have no power steering at all, and sometime it will work for a short time, but it goes out while i'm driving which is very dangerous. the repairs will be about $1200, we are waiting for the parts to arrive to get this fixed.

Reported in: ORION MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tires problem.... 04/09/2011-purchased (used) ford escape 2008-xlt 4 wheel- mileage 37583. 07/08/2011-mileage- 40668- driven 3085 miles* the dealer replaced rotors, brakes in - (no cost to me), due to rusting & corrosion, dealer claimed probably sat on lot too long without being moved. tires at this time were reported in "green" code- 08/11/2011-mileage- 41229- driven 561 miles* oil change, tires at this time were reported in "green" code. 02/23/2012- mileage- 44144- driven 2915 miles* inspection failed- due to tires dry rot! total miles driven in 10 months* 6561. tires are goodyear/michelin x cross terrain 225/65r17 dotb93t.

Reported in: EASTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

WHEELS

Reported in: EASTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the contact stopped the vehicle on the side of the road and shut off the engine. after restarting the vehicle, the steering resumed normal function. the failure recurred twice. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

Reported in: ST. PETERSBURG FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04188K

STEERING

while entering into traffic onto a busy street the steering failed. was able (with great effort) to straighten the vehicle in the lane and then safely pull to side(fortunately, my wife was not driving as she would not have had the strength to carry this out and probably would have crashed). turned ignition off and looked under hood to see if belt had broken, etc. could not find traditional power steering pump. turned ignition on and steering worked! and has worked since. discovered this vehicle has an electric power steering pump. and they are frequently failing. called dealer-roughly 3 week backlog for part-which is the entire steering column-pump not able to be replace separately. how could a car designer or the government allow this type of steering pump to be put on a vehicle(probably just to squeeze out an extra mpg)? it is not only plain dangerous, but impractical. if i had known that this was how the steering was on this car i would not have bought it! the nhtsa should require (ford at least) to issue a recall and stop this type of power steering being offered on new vehicles. i have had pumps and belt snap on vehicle in the past while driving, but never with this amount of steering loss.

Reported in: PITTSBURGH PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

STEERING

while driving my 2008 ford escape going about 40 miles an hour, the steering column completely lock up making is impossible to steer. i was able to navigate the vehicle to the side of the road. we brought it in to have it looked at and were told it is an electronic censor that is imbalanced vs. having power steering fluid it runs electronically. the way it is built, you have to replace the entire drive shaft vs. just the censor. hundreds of complaints online about this very issue with this make, year and model. it is a definitely safety concern. we called both the dealership and ford motor company and neither is willing to take ownership or assist.

Reported in: SAINT MICHAEL MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

power steering would go out without notice. at first it would resume after turning off the vehicle and restarting, however it then began jerking the steering wheel during operation of the vehicle. we live in an area with extreme winter road conditions so this was a very dangerous problem. finally we had it repaired at an authorized ford dealer at a cost of $1500.00. this dealer seemed to think that the failure is common. afterwards, looking online, we find that many have experienced this occurrence. this is an extreme safety issue and should have resulted in a recall of this product. this model has electric power steering which clearly wasn't perfected before being put into production.

Reported in: ALPINE WY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU941X8K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle began to decelerate and the transmission warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection where the mechanic advised the contact that the transmission would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Reported in: CASTLE ROCK CO || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving 40 mph when the electronic power steering assist failed and caused the steering wheel to seize. the contact was unable to control the vehicle and crashed into a tree. the airbags did not deploy and the contact sustained neck and lower back injuries. the police were contacted and a police report was filed of the incident. the contact's insurance company inspected the vehicle and deemed the vehicle as destroyed. the manufacturer was contacted and did not acknowledge the failure to the power steering component. the failure and the current mileage was 113,000.

Reported in: BLADENTON PA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z18K

AIR BAGS

Reported in: BLADENTON PA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z18K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact noticed that there was a fracture in the air conditioning condenser, which was causing transmission fluid to leak. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, but the technicians were unable to determine the cause of the leak. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was 58,930. updated 04/19/12*lj updated 04/25/12

Reported in: WEST BEND WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

SEAT BELTS

i was out with my children and we got into the vehical to leave our destination and my child could not buckle her seat belt becaue it locked on her. now the seat belt is so tight to the seat that it is about to cut through the interior.

Reported in: BRUCETONMILLS WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

STEERING

my daughter was on her way to school when entering a curve in the road her steering locked up she then went off the road an struck a culvert went airborne and when coming down started rolling she was thrown out of the car even though she had her seatbelt on as the police report stated she spent 5 days in the icu with her back broken in 3 places she just turned 17 she has aleast 2 months before maybe she will be back to normal we will have to home school her for the rest of the year. i will be contacting a lawyer and ford motor company and as i have read ford is at fault whether they admit it or not.

Reported in: CLAY KY || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

on several occasions my power steering has failed. on each occasion the anti-skid warning light has come on at the same time. the vehicle is still able to be steered as long as you have enough strength. the power steering will reset as soon as you shut the car off and restart. 3 times this happened in the exact same spot while driving on the 408 at about 60 mph in orlando, fl. the 408 is a toll road equipped with electronic recording of toll usage (e pass). this happened while passing one of the electronic recorders. on other occasions it tends to happen on warm afternoons, and then shutting the vehicle off and restarting will only reset it for a short time before it happens again. this is a very dangerous situation and from researching the problem although not wide spread, is certainly not unique with ford escapes of that year, yet ford claims to have little or no knowledge of the problem. no mechanic, ford or otherwise has a clue as to what to do with this. i don't have the money to take this in to the ford garage for them to blindly replace parts and pieces at hundreds or thousands of dollars per visit. i sincerely hope someone can help before people begin dying on our roads due to this problem. to: ford motor, please remember toyota's experience of the past years before blindly dismissing this problem. *js

Reported in: WINTER PARK FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed the rear driver's side exterior door handle partially detached upon entering the vehicle. in addition, the rear driver's side door lock failed to function properly. the vehicle was not inspected. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 43,000.

Reported in: FORT WORTH TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the electronic power steering failed. the failure occurred when the vehicle was operated for more than ten minutes. the dealer was notified and stated that there were no recalls or warranties addressing the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and also stated that the failure was not covered by warranty or recall. no furhter assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 85,000.

Reported in: INDIANAPOLIS IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. after starting the vehicle, the contact attempted to accelerate and noticed that the vehicle would not respond. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the throttle cable was replaced. the contact was still experiencing the failure. the current and failure mileages were 56,000.

Reported in: EAS POINT MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

STEERING

power steering failed intermittently while driving on i40 in tennessee. car vibrated and steering shook whenever car was steered straight. driver had to weave the car within the lane to minimize driving in the straight position. power steering failed completely when car was started the next morning, making it difficult to steer manually while driving a mile to the dealership. ford dealer service (crossroads ford, cary, nc) found that the electric steering components required replacement, including the steering column, at a cost of $1400. i have requested that the dealer provide me with the old parts after the repair. this same problem is reported on the internet for the 2008 escape and other ford vehicles with electric steering, although ford reportedly denies that it is serious issue. for example, see http://www.carproblemzoo.com/ford/escape/steering-problems.php. this is a serious safety problem and a consumer ripoff, and i ask that the nhtsa investigate. ford should perform root cause analysis and recall for correction, instead of denying problem. high-speed steering failure in a vehicle with only 75,000 miles shows poor design or manufacture. my wife and daughter only avoided death or injury through luck. had driving conditions been different, they could have died.

Reported in: TIJERAS NM || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that he started the vehicle and it would not accelerate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who repaired the vehicle. several years later the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified and acknowledged that there was a retainer clip that could remedy the defect. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 11,152 and the current mileage was 57,000. updated 07/06/12 *bf the consumer stated when he returned to his vehicle, he discovered the accelerator pedal was loose and all the way to the floor. there was no resistance that indicated the accelerator was connected. the dealer replaced the accelerator cable.

Reported in: HUNTINGTON BEACH CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact noticed that transmission fuel was leaking onto the driveway. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacture was contacted and they advised that there were not any recalls on the transmission. the failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was 62,972.

Reported in: HOLLY MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was driving at approx 25 mph and the vehicle started to make a whining noise. the vehicle then accelerated by it self. it was taken out of gear to stop the vehicle from crashing. the vehicle was towed to repair facility. they determined that the a part in the transmission failed and then causing failure of the whole unit. *jb

Reported in: HOWELL MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: HOWELL MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

when driving the instrument cluster fails. all the dashboard lights come on, the speedometer/fuel gauge/etc move to 0 or the far left. looking online for ford instrument panel failure, there are hundreds of complaints about it. checked with the mechanic who says it is a common failure with ford. they have a bulletin about it but it will not construe a recall until a death or injury from a crash related to the defective equipment. this may also fall under a tort lawsuit. *tt

Reported in: GRAND FORKS ND || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: GRAND FORKS ND || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: GRAND FORKS ND || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

STEERING

the power steering faltered going around a corner and i had to manually steer the car. the power steering came back without intervention but it was quite difficult to control the vehicle manually in the turn. i brought the car to the dealer right away. i am still awaiting the dealers diagnosis.

Reported in: SANTA ROSA CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving 55 mph when the accelerator pedal became stuck in open throttle. the vehicle then lost power and the contact was unable to drive the vehicle any further. the vehicle was towed to a repair shop but was not inspected or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no assistance was provided. the vin was unavailable.the current and failure mileage was 142,000. ..updated 09/04/12 *bf the consumer stated the gas accelerator fell apart like a puzzle. there is no device on it to prevent it from happening again. the dealership was aware of the issue and stated there has been a newly developed part to repair the issue but, the consumer must purchase it. updated 09/12/2012 *js

Reported in: VILONIA AR || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

i have a 2008 ford escape, 3.0l v6 engine. we purchased the extended warranty and service contract with ford and had the car serviced at ford until 6 months ago when the service contract ran out. the car is just over 4 years old at 105,000 miles and the 2nd gear in the transmission went out while trying to merge into traffic on a highway. i reached out to ford to request a good will repair given the fact that this is an ongoing issue and there are numerous complaints on the message boards as well as given the fact that we have diligently had the car maintenance and repair done by ford and they refused. looking at the message boards, this seems to be a significant recurring problem with the escape and i believe ford needs to be held accountable. this presents not only a hazard to the driver but also to other drivers as when the problem occurs, the car looses speed and the rpms rev out.

Reported in: HUGHESVILLE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the accelerator pedal would remain stuck and the contact was unable to depress the pedal. the contact stated that failure recurred often and most frequently during colder weather. the vehicle was taken to the a repair shop, however the failure was not diagnosed. the manufacturer was made aware of failure but no further assistance was provided. the current mileage was 80,000. the approximate failure mileage was 5,000.

Reported in: MOORESVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 2 mph, the throttle began to stick. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the bottle assembly carburetor throttle and a gasket would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 86, 919 and the current mileage was 90,094. updated 08/28/12*lj

Reported in: KEYES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Reported in: KEYES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while braking, the vehicle suddenly surged forward. the contact did not notify the manufacturer or take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. the failure mileage was 49,000.

Reported in: CORPUS CHRISTI TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while reversing from a parking space, the vehicle lunged backwards. the contact mentioned that the failure recurred more than ten times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis and the contact was informed that they would need to update the power control module. the manufacturer was notified, but offered no assistance. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 82,000.

Reported in: BYESVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

ENGINE

i had been traveling in a construction zone so i had my cruise control set somewhere near 35 or 40mph. the construction zone cleared up and i returned to normal speed but left the cruise control on. i accelerated on my own to about 70mph. a minute later the gas pedal left my foot and went to the floor accelerating the vehicle. once at about 80mph the pedal let go and slapped the bottom of my foot (which was still in the position it was in at doing 70mph. the gas pedal (on it's own) moved to the floor and slapped my foot about 6 times before i turned off the cruise control. and again, the cruise control speed was set at about 40mph.

Reported in: NEW BOSTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: NEW BOSTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed a puddle of transmission fluid underneath. the vehicle was not inspected. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 85,000.

Reported in: SEVERN MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H48K

STEERING

the steering wheel pops when turning. when the weather is cold the brakes won't push down. battery goes dead if not driven daily. radio wont play after replace battery that was dead.

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

SERVICE BRAKES

the steering wheel pops when turning. when the weather is cold the brakes won't push down. battery goes dead if not driven daily. radio wont play after replace battery that was dead.

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

STEERING

steering was very loose causing vehicle to weave back and forth on roadway..took vehicle to repair shop and lower steering arm was replaced correcting problem.

Reported in: CLAYPOOL IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the accelerator pedal would become stuck while driving at least 35 mph. the contact had to use their hand to pull up the accelerator pedal, causing it to exhibit an abnormal popping sound. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they were unable to find a failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 94,000. the vin was not available.

Reported in: INDIANAPOLIS IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

vehicle wrench light came on the dash in the morning going to work. on the way home i was stopping by local auto parts store to have code tested. the auto parts tech said that there were no codes popping up. as i left and pulled away from the store the transmission jumped in rpms before it lurched into the 2nd automatic gear causing the vehicle to shudder. every time i accelerated from a stop to higher speeds the rpms would jump up to 3-4 thousand before it would jump into the next gear. took the vehicle to a dealer garage. they said it was giving them codes related to tsb 12-4-8. the estimate for the repair is $2200. ford has issued this as a tsb knowing that it is an issue. they should take care of the repair.

Reported in: FAIRFAX VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

POWER TRAIN

transmission has previously been repaired for leaking transmission fluid at approx. 25,000. now, at about 60,000 miles the transmission has seized. it appears many owners are having problems with the transmissions on this vehicle and ford is trying to say that abnormal noise and failures are typical.

Reported in: VIRGINIA BEACH VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph the power steering failed. as a result, she was unable to maneuver the vehicle. the contact attempted to inspect the vehicle but was unable to find where the power steering fluid was located. the vehicle was restarted and the steering was operating normally. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the failure and current mileages was 127,000.

Reported in: SIOUX CITY IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z88K

SERVICE BRAKES

after making a slight left turn, i was coasting down a hill with a slight downhill slope without my foot on accelerator and was approaching a stop sign. in preparation for stopping, i started applying the brake. when i pressed the brake pedal, it went to the floor and made a clicking sound- almost as if the antilock brakes were activated. the vehicle did not stop. i turned into a parking lot immediately and the brakes began working appropriately again.

Reported in: HURRICANE WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z68K

SERVICE BRAKES

i was coasting down a hill with a slight downhill slope without my foot on accelerator and was approaching a stop sign. in preparation for stopping, i started applying the brake. when i pressed the brake pedal, it went to the floor and made a clicking sound- almost as if the antilock brakes were activated. the vehicle did not stop immediately but slowed until i got to the stop sign.

Reported in: HURRICANE WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z68K

STRUCTURE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that abnormal fumes emitted into the interior of the vehicle when the air conditioning unit was activated. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 83,000. updated 10/10/12 *cn the consumer stated when the ac was on, there were fumes emitting from the vehicle and coming inside of the vehicle. also, the tires were bad and the frame was bent. updated 10/17/12

Reported in: LONG VIEW TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

TIRES

Reported in: LONG VIEW TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

EQUIPMENT:AIR CONDITIONER

Reported in: LONG VIEW TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was passing another vehicle - starting speed 40 mph - when the escape went into passing gear the gas pedal stuck to the floor. i kicked at the pedal and the brake pedal trying to get the cruise control to release the pedal. i did not have the cruise control operating at the time as i had just went through a 45 mph zone. i got my foot under the edge of the pedal and pulled it up. the car was up to 90 mph on a two lane highway at 10:30 p.m coming into a curve. i have contacted ford motor company and they told me that there are no recalls for the 2008 escape, but i know there are recalls for other years for this same problem. the ford dealer repair shop could not make the pedal stick and told me there is nothing wrong with the car. i want to make ford and your agency aware that the 2008 escape has the same pedal sticking problem as the older models.

Reported in: WILLOWS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94138K

POWER TRAIN

the rpm gauge on the 2008 ford escape seemed to be "idling" high. the rpm's did not match how fast i was going in mph like it usually does. it was like the car was hesitating to move. the wrench light came on and i looked up what that meant in the owner's manual. it said powertrain fault/default, take to dealership immediately! the back window stopped working too. i am sooooo disappointed in this vehicle!!! i'm still making payments, as i bought the car barely 4 years ago. with so few miles, it should not have these types of problems.

Reported in: TULSA OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

SERVICE BRAKES

right front abs tone wheel is cracked found during oil change. my understanding this is a very common problem...

Reported in: LIVONIA MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

STEERING

driving home from dropping my kids off at school, the power steering went out in the vehicle. i was forced to shut the vehicle off and start it again to get power steering to work again. i was almost hit by 3 cars trying to avoid me as i was struggling to get the vehicle to a safe stopping point. my vehicle is a 2008 ford escape limited v6 automatic.

Reported in: HAGERSTOWN MD || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

my escape only had 65000 miles on it when we started to have issues with the transmission. while driving the torque converter went out , and the clutch pack went bad.i ended up having to replace the transmission and torque converter. the mechanic i spoke with told me that there was an issue with the clutch pack in the transmission and mine was one of many he has seen with the same issues. no more than 6 months later the transmission is slamming in to gear and shifting hard. we had it looked at and the mechanic said we will need to have the transmission replaced. ford denied any claim to issues with the transmission and refuses to help.

Reported in: LINDEN VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the accelerator pedal became stuck to the floorboard. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis but the failure could not be replicated. the dealer stated that they replaced a part on the vehicle but the contact was unsure of what that part was specifically. two weeks later the failure recurred. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 75,000. ....updated 10/11/12 *bf updated 10/17/2012*js

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

STEERING

power steering failed as a u-turn was being attempted...at rush hour.

Reported in: FUQUAY VARINA NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

STEERING

issue happened four times in last couple months--two times with my wife-two with me-was once on highways with each of us -and once in just going into a parking lot while turning at 5 mph or less-have a witness on last occasion a couple days back at work lot. have also experience a battery dead-took to advance auto of hammonton, nj and advised on sunday passed that battery tested fine. the ignition has been loose-and is getting worse -the key wiggles -and on just a normal input the engine does not turn over --have to put in 2nd or 3rd time -pushing in hard to get contact. feel , but do not know , that this issue effects both the battery and the loss of power steering on the four occasions--in any case it is a real safety issue-will not let my wife drive the car-she uses now the 2000 sel ford van we have for second car. we love the escape-but this is a serious safety issue. i have all my records on my home page ford for years-and all service records-99 per cent from dealership where bought this and many others. they have in past been great. contacted ford.com -received a reply to my e-mail in a day from a [xxx] of ford -they are doing a very intensive study and are also saying there are no current recalls or financial assistance on what our dealership said could cost around $400 to pull down and repair.[xxx] of ford.com promised a reply and hope for solution with and in co-operation with my dealership and ford. ford in the past has always stood up to their responsibilities for us , as has our dealership service department at lilliston ford , vineland, nj . thanks for allowing to share this with other folks -will follow up on a conclusion in the next weeks. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: MAYSLANDING NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: MAYSLANDING NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

POWER TRAIN

failure of 2nd and 4th gear in the transmission.

Reported in: ROOTSTOWN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z28K

POWER TRAIN

starting in the fall of 2009 when the weather got colder, the throttle became unresponsive and harder to depress, requiring a greater effort to press down the pedal to un-stick and only then would the throttle pedal depress beyond the idle position. therefore, the vehicle continues to lurch forward creating a sudden, dangerous condition. the problem has been persistent and continues to get worse.

Reported in: ROMEO MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z98K

ENGINE

Reported in: ROMEO MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z98K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: ROMEO MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z98K

ENGINE

i was driving my 2008 ford escape in a mall parking lot, and when i approach a stop sign the vehicle was extremely hard to stop. i had to use the full force of the brake all the way down to maintain the vehicle from surging/ crashing into cars in front of me. the engine was staying accelerated and would continue to climb in rpms even thou the gas pedal was not being pressed. i pulled off to the side away from other cars and put the car into parked. at this time the vehicle accelerated on its own to about 8000 rpms. the only way to stop the engine was to completely turn the car off with the key. upon turning on the vehicle again the problem did not continue.

Reported in: WARRINGTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Reported in: WARRINGTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: WARRINGTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

out of nowhere in sept and oct of 2011 my sun roof, right passenger and right back passenger windows stopped working. they fell straight down.. the motor and the band quit and now come august and october of .2012 the same thing on the left. i bought this brand new on 2008 out of the dealership and now i have to spend my time and money for a defective auto.

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU031X8K

VISIBILITY

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU031X8K

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

tl* the contact 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that when driving at various speeds or in the park position he would notice excessive play in the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 119,500 and the current mileage was approximately 120,000. ..updated 11/28/12 *bf updated 11/29/12

Reported in: MARAPOSA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49HX8K

STEERING

Reported in: MARAPOSA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49HX8K

POWER TRAIN

2008 ford escape with 76500 miles. started vehicle and proceeded to place the vehicle in drive, when i did it shifted real hard and made a squeeling noise. i placed the car in park and then back into drive and it did it again. the vehicle does the same thing when placing in reverse.

Reported in: SOUTH POINT OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2008 ford escape. consumer states vehicle loss all power while driving *tgw when the mechanic opened the hood, he discovered the engine was covered in fluid. the transmission cooler was leaking, as well as the coolant.

Reported in: HARRISVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

Reported in: HARRISVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

STEERING

power steering failed. same issue as almost all these posts. basically it comes and goes, the big problem is it happens randomly. i have been able to control it however im worried about being lax on the wheel around a freeway turn going 60. this is definitely a safety hazard! im going to take it in but from what i have read on the posts i don't have 1000 to drop. i honestly just dropped 3000 on a new transmission on this vehicle just over 3000 miles over the extended warranty. ford of course refused to help in any way.

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

transmission issue: starting revving high on 1st gear skipping 2nd to 3rd. "slipping" took it in and was told after a scan that it would have to be rebuilt. was told this also by ford as well as another 3rd party transmission place. all 3 of them admitted this is a very common issue. paid 3000 to rebuild the unit. i was 3,000 miles over my ford esp. ford refused to help me out at all. many forums also list this as a problem.

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

POWER TRAIN

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

ENGINE

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while parked she placed the vehicle in reverse and depressed the accelerator pedal. the contact noticed the accelerator pedal was stiff and would not move. after depressing the accelerator pedal continually it finally responded. the failure occurred while stopped at a traffic light as well. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated there was a manufacturer recall but the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Reported in: ZANESVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated when he applied pressure to the accelerator it froze and stuck in place. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and was informed the failure was due to a throttle cable becoming detached from the pedal. the failure recurred numerous times but only whenever the weather was cold. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 120,000. updated 01/15/13*lj updated 1/23/2013 *js the consumer stated the failure was repaired twice and the failure recurred. updated 1/23/2013 *js

Reported in: WEST ALLIS WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

STEERING

first thing this morning i drove vehicle approx. 1/4 mile to intersection. steering was fine. waited for traffic to clear and then attempted to turn. power steering had completely failed. i was able to return home but turning the vehicle around and steering was very difficult. i shut off the engine and let the car set for a minute and then restarted. the power steering had returned.

Reported in: SUNBURY OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

POWER TRAIN

transmission lunging back and forth for about three seconds. these happen at least once a week and are becoming more frequent.

Reported in: DES PLAINES IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 10 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed with a delayed response. there was a voluntary recall issued by the manufacturer related to the throttle however, the contact�s vin was not included in the recall. the manufacturer and an authorized dealer were notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 54,900. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: MIDDLETOWN CT || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while entering the vehicle, she noticed that the transmission was leaking fluid. the contact also noticed that the transmission was slipping sporadically while driving. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the connector that linked the transmission to the air conditioning unit failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was called about the issue. the failure and current mileages were 71,000.

Reported in: PLANO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while sitting at a traffic light, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without any warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission cooler needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 90,000.

Reported in: GROTON CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the dashboard cluster (instrument panel) failed while driving causing the speedometer and rpm gauges to drop to zero. all the instrument lights turning, car not starting on, ac blowing warm ai, were all side effects of the problem. searching for the problem has amounted to almost $900 in expenses. sent in complaints to ford, who promised to escalate the issue and then never contacted me. took it to the dealer, who mentioned that they didn't know what it was and that it was somewhere in the vehicle. took it to a reliable mechanic who called in a specialist to find broken connections within the panel causing it to fail intermittently. i have the mechanic's report stating that many similar models have this exact issue and is surprised ford in not giving attention to this safety issue.

Reported in: ONTARIO DC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate and jerk abnormally when shifting gears. the vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist where a diagnostic was performed. the failure was located at the transmission, which needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and the current mileage was 71,000.

Reported in: STOCKHOLM NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

power steering is failing in the middle of turns causing the vehicle become very difficult to steer. the vehicle must be shut off and restarted to regain power steering function. failure is intermittent. based on web research this failure is very common. i feel that this could cause a accident given the right situation.

Reported in: LIVONIA MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04138K

STEERING

my daughter was entering an interstate from a cloverleaf when the steering failed and locked which forced the vehicle across to lanes of traffic. luckily there was not an accident and she was able to get it to the berm and turn off the motor.. after the initial shock of almost being killed she restarted the car and the steering worked. this is the second time the steering has failed. i contacted the dealer and they said they have never heard of this before, even though i contacted them when it happened the first time! this is dangerous and ford should be made to replace all of the steering columns on the 2008 escapes since this is the year they were first introduced on this vehicle and by the amount of complaints and reports i have discovered. the nhtsa has issued recalls on vehicles with far less dangerous problems in the past.

Reported in: PITTSBURGH PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

as the weather has been getting colder, i started to notice how difficult it was for me to accelerate. this incident has been occurring every morning. on wednesday i mentioned it to the ford service person and he said that it could be the body throttle. on thursday i noticed that the acceleration problem continued more frequently as i drove to work. upon internet searching i saw an article about your investigation and wanted to add my information. today i had the car serviced and the body throttle was replaced. with the weather getting colder and this part will mostly like will work hap hazardly, i feel that this is something that should be recalled by ford. how many fatal accidents and innocent people must become victims before safety procedures are implemented? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: WATERFORD WORKS NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Reported in: WATERFORD WORKS NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

SERVICE BRAKES

my third ford and again right front abs ring cracked and had to be replaced.

Reported in: DIGHTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

my third ford and again right front abs ring cracked and had to be replaced.

Reported in: DIGHTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

my third ford and fuel tank straps had to be replaced due to it being rotted.

Reported in: DIGHTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

POWER TRAIN

while driving at 65 mph on i-10, toward armstrong international airport, the vehicle, with no pre-warning began to decelerate (slow down). the vehicles speed did not respond to depressing throttle pedal; the vehicle would not maintain speed. fortunately, there were no vehicle in the right lane and i was able to get to the shoulder of the road. there, by turning off the ignition and restarting the vehicle i was able to continue the trip until the second and third occurrence. this situation occurred three more time on the return trip home. all on the interstate highway. needless to say, after the first occurrence i proceeded in the far right lane where i could get to the shoulder easily. after doing some investigation, i have found that this has been occurring on ford escorts since 2004 at least. i find it difficult to believe that such a potentially dangerous design flaw in an automobile has persisted so long. imagine what would be the consequences of having this occur while driving in the middle of a six lane interstate with 18 wheelers all around. at best there would be an accident, there is a very high probability of fatalities.

Reported in: GRETNA LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03G09K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: GRETNA LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03G09K

ENGINE

Reported in: GRETNA LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03G09K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated the vehicle stalled without warning. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the air conditioning condenser and the transmission cooling system failed, causing a loss of transmission fluid. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileages were 44,000.

Reported in: CHARLESTON SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04168K

SERVICE BRAKES

tl-the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 10 mph, the contact approached a stop sign and when the brake pedal was depressed there was a delayed response with the traction control and abs warning indicators illumination. in addition, there was a loud grinding noise and after repeated attempts the vehicle came to a stop. the engine was turned off and upon restarting the vehicle resumes normally. the failure occurred five different times. the vehicle was taken to a authorized dealer who were unable to perform a diagnosis unless the malfunction was actually occurring. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 35,000. js

Reported in: SERNANDINA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

POWER TRAIN

while driving gas pedal is sticking, electronic throttle body failures resulting in stall/surge while driving. this ia a very dangerous defect that can cause serious injury or death and needs to be addressed by ford motor company . there currently is not a recall to this year model. please help me.

Reported in: AUSTIN TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: AUSTIN TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

STEERING

power steering was interrupted, leaving me to rely on manual steering. power steering returned after the car ignition was shut off and the car restarted. i took the car to the dealer on monday 12/17, and was told that a "code" said that a sensor in the steering column had failed, and that the entire steering column had to be replaced, at a cost of about $1400. dealer service rep told me the steering might "lock-up" while i was driving if i didn't have this fix. i understand from an internet search that many ford escapes have this power steering problem, and that replacing the steering column does not fix the problem. it seems to me a recall is in order.

Reported in: HANSON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94198K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

i noticed that on cold mornings the gas pedal would not depress until a certain amount of force would be exerted on the pedal. sometimes you would have to stomp on the gas to get it free. sometimes a quick press-release-press again would free the gas pedal. as the engined warmed the problem would decrease. on occasions i would stop at a stop sign and roll halfway through the intersection before i could get the pedal free. dealer indicated that they couldn't find anything wrong although i am aware of 1 other ford escape and 2 mazda tributes with the same problem.

Reported in: EAST BERLIN PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

while driving my car out of a parking lot the power steering failed to work. it was very difficult to turn the car and the issue remained while driving at higher speeds. upon turning the car off and restarting it, the power steering worked briefly but the steering wheel will shake back and forth while making a loud noise when the car is stopped but running.

Reported in: GRAND BLANC MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

while attempting to leave work this morning i started my vehicle and when i went to back out of the driveway i was unable to steer the vehicle. if this would of happened while driving on the road the outcome would not be good.

Reported in: STERLING HEIGHTS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04138K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

when the weather gets cold the gas pedal becomes stuck and will not depress. after repositioning foot, the pedal would depress. yesterday on 12/27/12 the pedal would not depress while driving, which almost caused an accident because i could not accelerate when needed. i took the car to the ford dealer and the issue was with the throttle body, which had to be replaced. this seems to be a dangerous issue and a recall should be issued.

Reported in: COLUMBUS OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: COLUMBUS OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

was driving out of the garage from the dealership after the scheduled oil change, the steering wheel was not moving. i stopped the car and walked back to let them know, one of the tech's said the engine had been cleaned and therefore i had to wait for some wires to dry. have had steering problems since then. when starting engine, i need to turn off and on 2 or 3 times for steering wheel to release and when stopped (but idling) steering shakes and makes crackling sounds. it all started at the shamaley dealership, in el paso, texas. car has been there since yesterday. never had problems before until i took for an oil change on 11/27/12.

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

when the vehicle is first started, it is impossible to press the accelerator and after a few moments, the accelerator will depress. there is no indication when the accelerator will be free and great care must be taken to avoid a sudden lunge forward. just allowing the vehicle to idle and warm up does not seem to make any difference.

Reported in: PLYMOUTH NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

STEERING

the vehicle began to not have power steering at start-up a few times, with the problem being corrected by turning the vehicle off then on again. the day of december 27, the vehicle was turned on and steering wheel jerked/pulsated from side-to-side, but power steering was still working. we then tried to make it home one night when the power steering completely stopped working while on the highway. the vehicle was brought to the ford dealership and problem was found to be the power steering column. luckily the ford escape, with 88,500 miles on it, had an extended warranty covering the $1400 in repairs.

Reported in: AURORA CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z48K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

gas pedal sticks, especially in cold weather. have had to put car into neutral on more than 1 occasion due to pedal sticking at high speed. also sticks when accelerating at low speed, making acceleration almost impossible.

Reported in: ST CLAIR SHORES MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

Reported in: ST CLAIR SHORES MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Reported in: ST CLAIR SHORES MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

the power steering has been locking up in my 2008 ford escape and also when idling at a stand still my steering wheel pulses/vibrates. i have to turn the vehicle off, and restart it. some times that fixes it and some time it doesn't. should be a recall with all these power steering problems, this is not safe!

Reported in: WEST DES MOINES IA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

while sitting in traffic my steering wheel suddenly turned on its own slightly. as i started to move forward i realized the steering was extremely difficult and appeared to have no power steering. i was just near the dealership so i was able to get it in to them. it turns out the steering column is electronic and broke requiring very expensive repairs. i researched this problem on-line and i am finding it to be a similar complaint across the country including with others who were actually moving at the time of the column failure. many at low mileage (less than 55,000). i feel this is being ignored by ford as a safety issue and that it is a known defect that ford should be responsible for fixing.

Reported in: QUAKER HILL CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the steering wheel seized as the power steering assist failed without warning. the contact mentioned that she shut off and restarted the vehicle, and it resumed normal function. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the electric steering and the torque sensor were defective and needed to be replaced. however, they referred the contact to the dealer to verify the failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 150,000 and the current mileage was 168,000.

Reported in: DENVER CO || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

unable to steer vehicle due to loss of power steering, after restarting vehicle problem went away but returned while idling at a stop. the steering wheel began pulsating and moving on it's own. had to have vehicle towed to repair facility because it was unsafe to drive. steering would unexpected loose power assist.

Reported in: SOUTH LYON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

STEERING

for the last 6 weeks, my steering column would shake when car was idling. i attempted to back out of a parking space pn 12-4-12 and the power steering did not work. i restarted the engine and it began working. since then, this has happened at least once a day. on 1-4-13, the power steering became no longer functional. the only place that could repair this problem is at the local ford dealership in my town. it is well known dealerships charge more for repairs than private garages. the cost will be $1300 and it will take 2 to 3 days to complete the repair. technician stated the sensor in the steering column was unable to be replaced, so the entire steering column would have to be replaced. i do routine maintenance on my vehicle and am curious why this problem wasn't involved in a recall. it is a definite safety issue!! while searching online, i found many others who experienced the same problem. while my car was under an extended warranty, another steering problem occurred, but the warranty covered the repair expense. fortunately, i have enough in savings to cover this repair, but am not pleased about it. my car is only 5 years old and i have never had this problem with any other vehicle i have owned.

Reported in: LANGSTON OK || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving, the steering failed. the contact also stated that a strange noise emitted from the engine compartment while making a turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the steering column needed to be replaced and the computer needed to be reprogrammed. the technician also stated that there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 88,133.

Reported in: LIMA OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z28K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving approximately 10 mph and approached a stop sign. the brake pedal was depressed however, there was a delayed response and the traction control and abs warning indicators illuminated. in addition, there was a loud grinding noise heard from the vehicle. after repeated attempts, the vehicle halted. the engine was turned off and when restarted, the vehicle resumed normally. the failure recurred five times. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but they advised the contact that they were unable to perform a diagnosis without the malfunction occurring while being diagnosed. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 35,000. the vin was not available.

Reported in: SERNANDINA FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

drove vehicle yesterday, no problems. this morning started to drive and lost power steering. made it back home but could have been bad if on highway.

Reported in: EDGEWOOD NM || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated the steering wheel became hard to turn while driving in traffic. the steering wheel returned to its normal position when the vehicle was turned off and restarted. the failure was experienced several times. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 84,000. updated 3/20/13 *cn the consumer stated there was a complete loss of power steering when accelerating forward from an idle position. updated 04/17/13

Reported in: CAMDEN NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated when she started the vehicle the steering wheel began to fail. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing and they stated the entire steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileage was 91,999.

Reported in: KENNESAW GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04188K

STEERING

the car involved was a 2008 ford escape. i was driving at about 45 and i lost complete control of my power steering. i was unable to turn steering wheel. i used all my force to get to the side of the road. i then turned the car off and turned it back on my steering was then fine. i got back on the road and i lost all of my power steering again. this steering problem is very dangerous and recall must be enforced!!

Reported in: BOULDER CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94188K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: BOULDER CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94188K

STEERING

my ford escape is my family and work vehicle. one morning i started it after it was parked in cold overnight, engine started but the steering was stuck, thought battery was bad. restarted several times until steering loosened up. drove car and every stop light or while idling, the steering wheel vibrated so hard and have to hold it steady, thought, time to have my control arm replaced again. took it to a friend's car shop , said, they've been having costumers bringing their ford escapes lately with the same problem. they couldn't fix it. told me to go to my dealership. dealership diagnosed it , electronic steering problem $90 for diagnosis, $1100 parts and labor, about 3-days to order for parts. too expensive and dangerous, needs to have a recall.

Reported in: GROSSE POINTE WOODS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

WHEELS

Reported in: GROSSE POINTE WOODS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: GROSSE POINTE WOODS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

driving down highway and lost power steering. had to use all strength to exit the highway. stopped and restarted car and everything was fine. began driving toward home, but during a stop light steering wheel began to shake (while idle) and lost power steering again. i have extended warranty and this is not covered. this is very dangerous and ridiculous.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

twice in the last month, while making sharp turn and u-turn, we lost our power steering. the first time was when turning into a parking lot, but the second time was in traffic. each time it took all of our strength to get the steering wheel turned so that the vehicle could be moved out of traffic. both times we put vehicle in park and turned off ignition. when re-started, power steering was fine. this is a very dangerous vehicle failure. we were fortunate that we were able to get out of traffic each time, but may not be as lucky the next. when we got home, we googled 2008 ford escape steering problems to see if there had been a recall that we were not aware of, and we were astonished to see how many other people had reported this same failure. a recall needs to be issued before someone loses their life.

Reported in: ROWLETT TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the power steering failed without warning. the contact mentioned that it became very difficult to steer the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 65,000.

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

STEERING

1/22/13-started my vehicle up at 8am and the power steering would not engage, thinking is was due to cold, i stopped the vehicle and restarted the vehicle up, power assist engage and i drove the vehicle approx 1/4mile when i attempted to make a left turn the power assist failed and nearly collided my vehicle onto oncoming traffic due to steering failure; i immediately drove home and parked the vehicle. on 1/23/13 i drove the vehicle very carefully to a nearby ford dealership (approx 2 miles from home). i was advised by the service representative (after a diagnostic test) that the steering column requires replacement due to the electronic module failure as it is part of the vehicles electronic power assist system (epas) and was quoted a repair price (>1400.00). i did some online research and found that this type of steering failure is extremely common with this vehicle and the epas and many many complaints have been registered by consumers on this exact steering problem. due to the unpredictability, potential danger and the commonality of this type of complaint with this type of vehicle, could this warrant a recall of this vehicle or at least a service bulletin of this potentially catastrophic steering issue?

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03118K

SUSPENSION

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03118K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

while backing out of a parking space the steering locked on my wife's 2008 ford escape. she called me to come help her as she was not able to move her escape. upon arrival i inspected the vehicle for obvious signs of problems, none were noted. i tried to move the steering wheel; i was quite shocked that the steering wheel could not be moved. since i am 6'4" and 300lbs most things that i grab move?the steering wheel should have moved, just without the assist of the power assist. the vehicle was towed to a ford dealership for them to diagnose the issue. i was informed that the sensors in the steering column are bad. the dealership stated that they were able to reset the computer and that the steering now functions. the dealership informed me that i have two choices drive the vehicle and see if the issue repeats or replace the entire steering column ($1,500.00). i explained that this is in fact a safety issue as the steering failed completely and locked up as i was unable to move the steering wheel. ford customer care was contacted and they have offered no assistance in this issue and claim that they have no knowledge of any issues pertaining to this problem on record. this statement by ford customer care seems to be highly suspect as a quick internet search found many identical issues. the complete failure of the steering system is beyond unacceptable! if someone with my strength cannot move the steering wheel than how is someone the size of my wife supposed to move the steering wheel if and in this case when the steering system fails. ford needs to accept that there is in fact a major safety problem related to the failure of the electronic steering system of the ford escape. complete failure of the steering is not acceptable. again this was a complete failure of the steering system!!!

Reported in: HAGERSTOWN MD MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

Reported in: HAGERSTOWN MD MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

this morning i was backing up from my drive way. than when i put it in drive the steering wheel would not turn. it scared me being that i was in the street so i turned the car off and turned it back on and the steering wheel worked. but this is scary if i had been somewhere else and there had been traffic. i have had my ignition worked on by ford several times. they are telling me that this is another problem and it has nothing to do with what is going on. they are telling me that it is going to cost me around $1600.00. this should not have happen.

Reported in: IRVING TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z38K

STEERING

vehicle lost power steering while driving. while vehicle is idling, steering wheel pulses back and forth slightly, but occasionally turns right by itself. ford states that this is an issue with the sensors on the steering column wearing out, but is not a safety issue? i guess brake failure is not a safety issue either! the "fix" is only 14-1500.00. this should be a mandatory safety recall repaired at ford motor company expense.

Reported in: MONROE TWSP NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

2008 ford escape with serious steering wheel shaking during driving. feels like column is going to lock up or make vehicle swerve off course. when the car was stopped and turned off, and back on symptoms went away. however, upon driving vehicle again, same conditions came back- very strong and very difficult to keep vehicle on drive path. when googled- many reports show up about serious and expensive replacements of the entire steering column are out there. see:http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2008/ford/escape/steering there are many other site with complaints about this issue. how can ford not issue a recall about power steering column failures? this should be considered a serious risk issue.

Reported in: MEDFIELD MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph and attempting a left turn, the power steering assist failed. the contact mentioned that the vehicle became hard to steer. the contact shut off and restarted the vehicle, as it resumed normal operation. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician advised that the power steering sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 69,000.

Reported in: GERMAN TOWN WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

STEERING

while driving the vehicle the steering locked up. i managed to pull into a gas station and asked a gentleman for assistance. he happened to own a 2008 ford escape. he said to turn it off and start it again and it will work. it did. now while idling the steering wheel moves left and right erratically. i researched the problem and it is happening to a lot of people with this vehicle, in some cases with serious accidents. i researched the steering system used. i uses a stepper motor for power assistance. i work with cnc equipment with stepper motors. generally when a stepper motor acts erratically or locks in position it is a problem with software having been corrupted or an incidence that causes the encoder to lose position. ( both cases can be caused by shock, power surge or loss of communication) when a stepper motor is under power it is locked in position until it receives communication to move,in steps,very small increments. (you cannot move them by hand) this is ok on a cnc machine. you just ruin what ever you are fabricating. on a vehicle steering system, its catastrophic failure (you cannot turn the steering wheel) and a very serious issue. stopping and restarting the vehicle and having it work again sounds like the system reboots. the re occurrence makes it sound like the firmware is corrupt. the system is apparently not isolated enough to avoid being corrupted. it may also be just a bad batch of encoders at any rate it is a serious issue ford needs to address before someone gets killed. it isn't just the owners of these vehicle that need it fixed. everyone on the road is endangered. i looked at nhtsas test protocol and found no tests for electric power steering systems. in the past this wasn't an issue with hydraulic systems, you had manual over-ride. you can't turn these systems manually. you go whatever direction it is pointed when it locks.

Reported in: MANCOS CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

STEERING

the first incident occurred when i was backing out of a parking spot and the steering wheel locked up and i was unable turn it in either direction. i turned the car off and on a few times before i was able to drive it. upon returning home and pulling in my driveway, the steering wheel started to vibrate and move on it's own. i parked the car, turned it off and waited a couple of minutes before starting it up again. at that time, the steering wheel completely locked up and i was unable to turn it even after turning the car off and on a few times. so as of this morning (feb 1, 2013) the steering wheel vibrates and is locked when i start the car.

Reported in: MILFORD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN

my gas pedal sticks, especially when it's cold out. i've talked to ford about it and 3 other mechanics and no one knows why. i have a heated garage so it's not frozen. not sure what to do but is embarrassing and dangerous!

Reported in: SIDNEY IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: SIDNEY IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STEERING

power steering will not work. after shutting the vehicle off and restarting, it works. same problem every other day. must be an ongoing problem with this model and year ford. afraid it may shut down while driving on the freeway.

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

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle was started however, the steering wheel seized without warning. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the steering column needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and the current mileages were 62,000.

Reported in: ALBERQUERQUE NM || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the steering wheel seized. the vehicle was moved to the shoulder and restarted and the system independently reset but the failure recurred. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle needed to be taken to a dealer. the failure mileage was 102,000.

Reported in: TUSTIN CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

POWER TRAIN

after driving 10 miles with the vehicle functioning correctly and then coming to a complete stop at a red light, upon starting back up the automatic transmission would not switch gears until the engine got up to 5000rpm. when it did switch it seemed to change into 3rd gear instead of 2nd because i had almost no power and had to very slowly accelerate from there. further, it remained in 3rd gear and would never switch to 4th. this created a very dangerous situation on an open highway at night where the cars behind me expected a continuous acceleration to 50mph. i came very close to being rear-ended. my mechanic has determined that 2nd gear and 4th gear are gone. this appears to be a very, very common problem amongst 2008 ford escapes and a $2500 repair. this is a manufacturer's defect should be the subject of a recall before this causes a serious accident or fatality.

Reported in: SIMI VALLEY CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i was driving down the 5 freeway. i had been driving for about 45 minuets. i changed lanes to the right and the steering got extremely hard to move. i pulled of the freeway at the next off ramp. the entire time the wheel was very hard to maneuver. i came to a stop turned off the car, checked all my fluids, and googled the issue on my phone. all results lead to electrical power steering. i turned the car back on and all function returned.

Reported in: ARVIN CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

STEERING

Reported in: ARVIN CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the wrench warning icon illuminated as the vehicle lost acceleration power. the vehicle was diagnosed by both an authorized dealer and an independent mechanic, who both advised that the transmission gear shifter failed and the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 73,000. updated 03/01/13*lj updated 03/07/13

Reported in: BRISTOW OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

STEERING

i was driving with my two year old daughter going 40 mph down the road, i went to go take a turn and my power steering suddenly just went, i almost hit a telephone pole and the guy behind me turning luckily swerved around me. i had to shut off the car then turn it back on for it to work again. i was told the eps system electrical power steering) is the issue. this is a huge safety problem and from what i see this is a very common issue with the escapes, but yet it hasn't been recalled. it needs to be fixed before people get seriously injured!

Reported in: DOVER NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

STEERING

while backing up at a gas station, i turned the steering wheel to the right and it jerked the wheel back straight. power steering quit working, i did manage to get the vehicle backed up and went into next parking lot. wasn't sure what to do, so i turned the truck off, then started it back up and my power steering was back. now after reading all the complaints it has me scared to drive my truck. this problem hasn't happen since 02-14-13 but i never know when the power steering will go out. this is a major safety issue and it's sad that ford and the recall department hasn't taken the right action on this problem. how many deaths must happen before you to decide to recall this problem. it's not a cheap fix for the owner of these trucks. and ford has been notified plenty of times about the steering issue and have decided to ignore this major safety issue.

Reported in: SMITHS GROVE KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape xlt. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate from a complete stop and the accelerator pedal was extremely difficult to depress. once the vehicle accelerated, it did so at a high rate of speed. the vehicle was later taken to the dealer where it was found that the throttle body failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. approximately 5 years later, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 120. the current mileage was approximately 84,000.

Reported in: ROLAND HILLS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel seized. the vehicle was moved to the shoulder where the it was shut down and restarted. the vehicle functioned normally then the failure recurred shortly after. the contact also stated that the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Reported in: COLD SPRING HARBOR NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was driving my 2008 ford escape and was waiting at an intersection to turn left when the green light came on. i proceeded to step on the gas pedal so i could go but for some reason the gas pedal was hard and the car would not move no matter how hard i pressed on the pedal. i kept on pressing the gas pedal and eventually the vehicle bolted and went into the middle of the instersection where the left turning light signal was now gone and now found myself in the middle of incoming traffic. traffic had to stop both directions and eventually after continuously pressing on the gas pedal, the car moved and eventually i was able to leave the intersection. the same situation occurred again a day later while driving and i had to continuously press on the gas pedal to keep moving while it was raining and then the day after that. this is becoming a hazard and a safety issue for me. i contacted ford but was told that because the car is no longer under warranty they cannot do anything about it. since i have contacted ford before about the same problem i 2010 and received a letter 3 years ago to take the car to be fixed, i assumed that ford would have fixed it again since this is clearly a manufacturing defect issue with the gas pedal. i would like the ntsa to investigate this gas pedal that is sticking and hopefully force ford to recall such vehicles as they are a death trap especially for an expectant mother.

Reported in: ARLINGTON VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was stopped at a stop sign and went to take off and the gas pedal would not go down no matter how hard i pushed. this has happened periodically over the last two years when driving, however it would be for only just seconds. today it went on for approximately 5 minutes and i lifted the pedal up and moved the mat to make sure it was not stuck underneath. after 5 to 10 minutes of sitting at the stop sign, it started to work again. i was able to drive for another quarter of a mile and it again locked up and i couldn't push it down and the car came to a standstill in the middle of the road. fortunately no cars were coming. after another 5 minutes it started to work again and then worked fine as i drove 20 miles into work. upon leaving work, the pedal locked up briefly approximately a dozen times and the would unlock. this time i was in rush hour traffic and it was much more hazardous. today was extremely scared because the car came to a standstill with no power. if i had been on the freeway i would have caused an accident that could have resulted in major injuries.

Reported in: RIDGEFIELD WA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i was driving my kids to school when the steering wheel began to shutter rapidly. the shuttering made the vehicle difficult to control. i shut the vehicle off and the problem went away until the next time i went to drive the vehicle. later that week the power steering went completely out while i was driving in a parking lot. i almost hit another vehicle as i was manuevering through the parking lot. after stopping and restarting the vehicle the power steering returned.

Reported in: BLUFFTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

STEERING

the vehicle's power steering is failing on a regular basis. it is equipped with electrical power steering system so is not attributed to low fluid levels, hoses, or lines. this is a popular problem among owners of the same car with similar mileage.

Reported in: RICHARDSON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

car involved is a 2008 ford escape xlt. while on a 250 mile trip, i had exited i-20 and was driving approx 40mph on a 5 lane highway when i heard a click and the steering became totally unresponsive. it took my entire body weight against the steering wheel to guide the car to the side of the road. after turning the car off and restarting, the steering capability returned to normal. have been told the power steering motor will have to be replaced. considering the number of complaints and severe crashes, there should be at least a "soft recall" on the steering sensors, column and power steering motor.

Reported in: NORTH AUGUSTA SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

STEERING

while driving my 2008 ford escape going 45mph my power steering failed. luckily i was able to pull off the road without causing an accident. i stopped the vehicle and shut it off. once i restarted the vehicle the power steering started working again. as i continued to drive my steering wheel began to shake and the power steering went out again. i looked up on line about this and found numerous complaints concerning this issue. this is an extremely unsafe condition that is directly related to this vehicle across the country. i'm surprised no one has been killed yet but it will happen if something is not done about it. i contacted my ford dealer and there is currently no recall on this vehicle for this problem. i also contacted the ford motor company and registered a complaint with them but got no response. based on the number of complaints and the safety issue with this i feel something needs to be done about it.

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

POWER TRAIN

driving along and the wrench icon comes on while the vehicle stalls and decelerates. this issue reoccurs consistently and appears to be that the vehicle is unable to smoothly transition automatically into 2nd/3rd gear. vehicle diagnosed by authorized dealer who advised the transmission needs to be replaced. vehicle has not yet been repaired since dealer claims it is not under recall and is no longer under warranty.

Reported in: MISSISSAUGA NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

VISIBILITY:SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY

while traveling down a open highway, the sunroof glass on the above vehicle (2008 ford escape) exploded for no apparent reason. the glass buckled upward when it broke. the outside temp was @60 degrees and cloudy. there were no other vehicles anywhere near. the above miles are appx.. i will be taking pictures for record.

Reported in: BILOXI MS || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while entering into a parking space, the steering wheel began vibrating and could not be turned. the failure occurred without warning. the engine was turned off and restarted, as the power steering assist reset independently. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, who stated that the power steering module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 100,000.

Reported in: ELKHART IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

POWER TRAIN

on, or about the date listed above, and several incidents later, our 208 ford escape continues to stall unexpectedly at various speeds. the car was brought to the mechanic who was unable to reproduce the stalling. computer diagnostics yielded no codes. after almost two weeks in the shop, we needed our car back, so i have decided to drive it and let my wife and daughter drive my honda because of safety issues. i would like to say, and document on this official website, that the stalling problem is known by nhtsa and an investigation to this problem was started in february 2013 by your agency. this problem, as noted by so many others, is a serious safety issue and people have been injured in mvas as a result. not sure if anyone has been killed yet, but that is inevitable due to the nature of the stalling incidents. someone needs to initiate legislature or a mandate, or whatever it is you do, so that ford is forced to recall and repair this problem. i am personally holding ford, and the nhtsa responsible if something is not done about this problem in an expeditious manner. god forbid that there should be anymore injuries, or anyone killed as a result of this defect that is already documented and being investigated. remember: once you start an investigation, you have acknowledged that there is significant evidence of a problem.

Reported in: WEST MONROE LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i turned on my seat warmer on driver's seat and heater, within a minute or so smoke started coming out bottom part of control panel where it meets the console. the smoke got worse. i was in the middle lane of heavy traffic and had a difficult time getting over to turn off and get stopped. by this time the smoke was quite bad (had electrical smell) i had all windows down & sun roof open. the car alarm went off, the heater would not turn off. i finally got stopped and got out of the vehicle. a lady pulled in to the church parking area where i was and called 911 for me. by this time you could see actual fire (flames) coming from the same spot as smoke. it was amazing how quickly it was in flames. the vehicle blew up. the fire department arrived in time to put out the fire. the only thing left is the metal shell and the tires. nothing in the interior. all windows and sunroof blew out. bumpers, lights, tail lights melted. thanks ford.

Reported in: DOUBLE OAK TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

SEATS

Reported in: DOUBLE OAK TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that when he started the vehicle, the steering wheel pulsated and there was no power steering assist. after restarting the vehicle several times, the power steering would activate. the failure recurred numerous times. a dealer was notified and an appointment was secured for diagnosis of the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 102,000. updated 4/24/13 *cn the consumer stated the steering column assembly was replaced on march 15, 2013 at a cost of $ 1366.50

Reported in: SARNAC MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03188K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the power steering assist failed without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 102,359. ...updated 05/22/13 *bf updated 06/05/2013 *js

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93ZX8K

STEERING

as i was backing up, i lost power steering. i was unable to turn the wheel without great force, and backed into the porch. after turning the car off and turning it back on, this resolved. it happened again the next day going forward at 40 mph. i could hear something in the steering column click and then lost power steering. now the power steering has completely gone out. when i start the car, i can turn the steering wheel all the way one direction and "trick" it into having power steering for a moment before it clicks off again. i have sustained a neck and shoulder injury from having to use my entire body to turn the wheel, and slamming into the porch when the wheel got "stuck" in a turned position and i was unable to turn it back. it is unbelievable that no one has died as a result of ford's defect. will the nhtsa wait until then to force ford into a recall?

Reported in: KNOXVILLE TN || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1fmcu92z88k

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: KNOXVILLE TN || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1fmcu92z88k

STEERING

power steering goes out for no reason. it clicks in the housing under the steering wheel, in the steering column. needed to add that we have had several injuries and more than one accident where a vehicle sustained damage as a result of this defect.

Reported in: HENDERSONVILLE AA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1fmcu92z88k

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: HENDERSONVILLE AA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1fmcu92z88k

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the power steering system malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to become difficult to steer. the contact took the vehicle to a dealer for a diagnostic test. the dealer stated that the torque was defective. the dealer stated that the entire power steering system needed to be replaced. the contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. the failure mileage was 88,000.

Reported in: FARMINGTON HILL MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

STEERING

i was approaching a stop light and noticed that the steering wheel began to shake in my 2008 ford escape. at this time i still had power steering but the steering wheel continued to vibrate. as i proceeded through the light, it continued to shake with a slight grab to the right periodically. as i continued onto the freeway, the shake continued until the power steering went out completely. after getting home, i shut the car off and waited a few minutes, started it up again and the vibration in the steering wheel was back but the power steering was working again, after a few minutes, the shake was gone and so was the power steering. to this date, 03/10/13, i do not have power steering at all. i took it to my ford dealer and was told that the whole steering column needs to be replaced because of the torque sensor in the column. my mileage at the time i noticed the shake was 82,000. the cost to replace this is outrageous, and the safety issues involved are severe cause for concern. i noticed that there are many, many other 2008 escape owners with this same issue. this should be a recall!!!

Reported in: CALDWELL ID || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. the engine was turned off and upon restarting, the steering wheel began to operate normally. the vehicle was neither diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 58,000. the vin was unavailable.

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

STEERING

at around noon on 3/11/2013, my steering wheel started to vibrate while driving down the freeway at about 75 mph. after running some errands and dealing with this all day, i was exiting the freeway to the feeder road (during rush hour traffic) and my power steering totally went out. it was all i could do to move the car to the side of the road. i pulled a muscle in my arm pulling so hard out of sheer panic. it's a miracle i didn't hit another car, as it was bumper to bumper on each side of me due to the time of day. once i turned the car off and back on, i had control of the steering again but the vibrating has not went away and it is getting worse! i'm afraid to get back on the road and since the car is around 130k miles...no warranty. i see online that many others are having the same issue. i want this problem recalled and fixed by ford before someone is seriously hurt on the road!

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that he started the ignition and there was an immediate loss of power steering assist. the engine was turned off and upon restarting the power steering assist began to function normally. the steering wheel would also shake intermittently. the failure recurred whenever the contact was driving at various speeds and during initial start up of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. the technician stated that the failure was contributed to the steering column sensor. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the malfunction. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000. the vin was unavailable.

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

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

cpsc: i1320536a. 2008 ford escape. consumer stated these cars have power steering control issues. *ln the consumer stated the power steering control module, an integral part of the new electronic power assist steering system can malfunction without warning and the leave the driver without steering.

Reported in: WINDSOR NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

while sitting idle at a light the steering wheel shakes, powering steering system shuts down while operating vehicle.

Reported in: HOLLAND PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04178K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

this is an update to previous incident. $10486901 having spent the previous ($900) to find the problem, customer took the vehicle to a ford dealership repair shop. they agreed with the other mechanics that the instrument cluster was defective, but said that they could not give anything in writing till i paid their diagnostic fee ($135) and saw for themselves. i agreed. now i have spent another ($1120) to replace the instrument cluster. i also have in writing from the ford dealership that the speed cannot be viewed while driving (it reads 0 mph) and is a safety issue. contact me for the next step.

Reported in: MISSISSAUGA NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: MISSISSAUGA NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Reported in: MISSISSAUGA NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

SERVICE BRAKES

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 20 mph and decelerating, the engine suddenly seized then stalled. the abs band and skid control warning lights illuminated. the engine was turned off for fifteen minutes and then restarted but the computer reset itself and showed no failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the abs band needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified who stated to contact nhtsa and file a complaint. the failure mileage was 58,000.

Reported in: WEBSTER MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

STEERING

power steering keeps going in and out. usually it will not work when i start the car but if i turn it back off and on a few times it starts working again. the steering wheel also vibrates or pulsates when i am driving. hasn't happened while driving yet but i am scared that it is just a matter of time. seen a lot of ford escapes having this problem.

Reported in: HILLIARD OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

three times in last 4 weeks vehicle has stalled while driving. it will then restart immediately with no effort. it will then will surge, jerk very slightly upon driving it again. on one occasion there was no surging or jerking. car was just purchased in late jan. 2008 as a used vehicle. no check engine light. no warning lights whatsoever. no indicators when hooked up to a engine code readouts. just stalls. have had one very close near accident when someone was behind me and almost slammed into the back of my car as it died in the middle of the road at 40mph. when idling at stop light or just in park there is no indication of stalling, jerking, or rough idling. no indication of bad timing. just while driving - no warning whatsoever, just stalls...not while accelerating, not while deceleration, just while driving. has not happened on highway at high speed however this car is mostly driven in town, 90% of the time.

Reported in: GRAND RAPIDS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

got off work drove across street, parked for an hour, got back in started to back up and it was like i didn't have power steering. let other car go, continued across street to gas station to check under the hood. nothing looked wrong. started car back up and we had power very confused. i guess it's possessed. like when the horn would make noise on its one couple yrs back. didn't get too far and all of a sudden the steering wheel made shakin noise like it was grinding and we lost power again. turned around and headed to dealership. they said it was steering column control board. 1400.00 to fix. don't have that kind of money. need to see if we can install it ourselves. from the sounds of it looks as if they should have this recalled, for we will be on the hunt for a new car and we thought about a 3rd escape but not now.

Reported in: FULTON MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

beginning in the month of october 2012 my steering wheel began shaking. the power steering went completely out just as i was taking a turn on the freeway. i just barely managed avoid hitting someone head on.

Reported in: COLUMBUS MS || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

as i was coming to a stop to turn right at a corner, i heard a click and felt a vibration in the steering wheel. when i then tried to complete my turn, it was obvious that there was no power steering. i completed my turn, drove about a quarter of a mile and then pulled over. i was able to reactivate the steering by turning off the ignition and turning it back on. the problem repeated itself later in the day as i was pulling out of a parking space.

Reported in: WEST BLOOMFIELD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: IFMCU93178K

STEERING

while driving, power steering went out. vehicle is equipped with no power steering pump, it has electronic power steering assist. for about the past month, the power steering would not activate and i had to turn off my car and it came back on. the steering while has been shaking while driving. today though, was the first time it went out while driving. i called ford consumer line and they seemed unconcerned about this issue. luckily, we live in the country and do not have much traffic, so i was able to pull the car over before it caused an accident. looking online, there has been a number of complaints concerning this same issue. the link below, currently has 113 complaints about this same type of issue. i am submitting this complaint before somebody does get injured or killed because somebody's steering goes out on the freeway at a high speed. i am asking the transportation safety administration to investigate this matter before something does happen. http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2008/ford/escape/steering.

Reported in: ELIZABETH CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU031X8K

STEERING

i was driving down the road approximately 40mph going around a turn. the vehicle was difficult to steer it was like having no power steering this happened very suddenly with no warning. i was barely able to maneuver the vehicle off the road. once i finally got it to a pull off area, i got out and looked around the outside of the vehicle to see if there was something wrong from the outside nothing to been seen. i then got back in the vehicle and restarted it, then the steering was normal. this was a very scary moment, as i had three children with me. i have done research online tonight i have found alot of complaints about this same situation from many other 2008 escape owners. really scary part is: this complaining people also stating recurring incidents. sure wish ford would recall this dangerous hazard.

Reported in: AIRVILLE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

this is my second complaint, same issue. again, yesterday driving at about 30 mph the car just shut off. no problems immediately before, no sounds, nothing. it just stalled. started up right away. no problems driving after except it did feel like it jerked a bit (almost unnoticeable except now i am very aware of this) on two occasions within 5 minutes after the stall. this car was purchases as a used vehicle back in jan. it is a 2008. i also filed a complaint yesterday on this same issue which occurred just in the last few days and again a couple of weeks ago. so this is the 4th "stall" since i purchased the vehicle 7 weeks ago.

Reported in: GRAND RAPIDS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

Reported in: GRAND RAPIDS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

we lost power steering upon restarting the vehicle. had this happened at road speed we most certainly would have had a major safety concern.

Reported in: WILTON CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

STEERING

driving down the road heard a click in the steering and then wheel locked up could not control the car had to pull over on side of the road put car in park turn off the engine and restart then the steering was ok this has happend 5 times since my purchase of my escape very dangeres when driving i have had my escape two weeks i puchased used this should be a recall due to the fact it is very dangeres.

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

STEERING:COLUMN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised the contact that the steering column needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure and current mileage was approximately 108,000. updated 05/08/13*lj updated 05/21/2013 *js

Reported in: STERLING HEIGHTS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

STEERING

my wife's escape suddenly started losing its power steering, but would return to normal after a shutdown and restart of the vehicle. on the same day, she started noticing a clunk or pop during turning of the steering wheel. it is not at the end of the turn, but somewhere at around 40-50 percent in either direction. if her car fails at highway speeds, i will sue the living daylights out of everyone involved in this failure. that is a promise.

Reported in: WESTBOROUGH MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

multiple power steering failure occurrences resulting in loss of vehicle control while driving. steering wheel vibrating and jumping while vehicle is stopped. please investigate?

Reported in: BERTHOUD CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

STEERING

lost power steering. turned car off and on again power returned. few weeks later while in parking lot same problem. when looked up problem discovered this was a problem with a lot of 2008 escapes. this was the year ford changed to electronic steering. i could not take the chance of this happening while driving on the highway or at a higher speed. i transport my grand children a lot so i had to have it repaired. the bill was $1500.00 i reported to ford but they had already decided this was not a safety issue!!!

Reported in: TORONTO NY || Crash: N || VIN #: IFWCU93158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i have almost been in many accidents recently on the highway and at green lights. the gas pedal keeps freezing and is like a wall. it will all of a sudden not move and no matter how hard i push it is stuck. then all of a sudden it starts and accelerates really fast. is very dangerous and today it almost got me into a serious accident on the highway when it all of a sudden wouldn't work.

Reported in: SHIPPENSBURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

STRUCTURE:BODY

i was driving on i 40 in garner, nc, and heard very loud noise, it was my moon roof, exploded, shattered. i looked on internet and found no recalls on this. did find people who have complained about the same thing has happened to them with their escapes and ford not going good for it, what does it take? injury?

Reported in: GARNER NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93166K

VISIBILITY

Reported in: GARNER NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93166K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the power steering assist failed as the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 85,000.

Reported in: BERGENFIELD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94128K

STEERING

during lunch hour slowed to make a right hand turn and brakes seemed to lock and grind. steering wheel vibrated and the abs and traction control light came on. attempted to accelerate and the car seemed to be locked up for a few seconds. vehicle behind me almost hit me due to vehicle failure. lights would not go off for about 1 minute after accelerating to about 25 mph. while driving about 10 more minutes they illuminated several more times. during drive home the same thing happened 3 more times and always when slowing to make a turn and then attempting to accelerate again. now abs light won't go off at all.

Reported in: SPRINGBORO OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

SERVICE BRAKES

Reported in: SPRINGBORO OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

STEERING

the power steering failed to work. after turning the car off and restarting, the steering worked, but had vibrations which were more noticeable when stopped. the steering wheel would click and move on it's own. it has continued and i am not confident it is safe to drive.

Reported in: PORTLAND MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMC493108K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

traveling at 50 mph down the highway and the car "stalled" and drastically lost speed. was able to pull to the side of the highway, put it in park, and restart the engine. the car made it the 2 miles back home without further incident. did research on the problem and discovered a website with complaints about ford's throttle bodies being defective and causing similar incidents. i took the car in for repair and the mechanic test drove the vehicle and experienced the same "stalling" two times. after he looked at the throttle body to see if it was broken or had blockage, and after he called the ford dealership for insight, he suggested replacing the throttle body. the throttle body was replaced at a cost of $624.30. there have been no further incidents since replacement.

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94108K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

i was driving and the power steering went out! i struggled to maintain the escape on the curve. i pulled off the road and shut off the car, when i turned it back on i was able to turn the wheel but that didn't last very long. i parked it for awhile and borrowed a car but i had to return it so now i'm driving and just praying i don't loose all control. today it was diagnosed, need a new power steering electric motor, cost between 1300-1500 dollars! that is something that shouldn't be happening, ford needs to fix this problem. i see how many complaints there are when i checked it out at all locations online.

Reported in: PINCKNEY MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STEERING

Reported in: PINCKNEY MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

opened hood to jump battery @ approximately 1:30am in november, car was jumped, hood slammed down. driving on the i-4 the hood flew up and smashed the windshield. the safety catch did not prevent the hood from opening, when tested and replaced the safety catch does not keep hood from opening,,it was replaced with a new one and still does not catch.

Reported in: ORLANDO FL || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while the vehicle was having routine maintenance performed, the technician found that transmission fluid was leaking from the condenser at an alarming rate. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 27,400.

Reported in: CANTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

traveling on road. press on gas pedal nothing happens. gas pedal will not go down. no response from pedal .no warning lights come on. car loses speed.car will not accelerate. taken to ford dealer. replaced throttle cable and gasket.

Reported in: JASPER GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while reversing from a residential driveway, the steering wheel seized without warning. the failure recurred three times. the contact was able to restart vehicle to resume proper steering capabilities. the vehicle was taken to dealer for diagnosis however, the diagnosis had not been provided. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the incident. the approximate failure mileage was 89,000. the vin was not available.

Reported in: ALLEY SPRINGS SD || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

accelerator pedal sticks in the up position in cold weather. if slammed with driver's foot it will release then start operating...this is an unsafe driving condition. the problem occurs every winter. vehicle was taken in for warranty work for this specific problem at least 5 times. throttle body was replaced two times but problem has not been fixed. after the throttle body was replaced, the vehicle would operate correctly for a few months then the problem would return. ford dealerships ( two different ones) and ford customer service center operator & supervisor refused to acknowledge any design problem with the vehicle .

Reported in: BAY CITY MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

sticky throttle. especially when weather is cold. something is not catching and i have to pump gas pedal to get it to catch. please recall!!

Reported in: ELMA WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z38K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while driving 10 mph, the vehicle revved but failed to accelerate. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the second and fourth gears would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 66,000.

Reported in: PHILADELPHIA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that when starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. the vehicle was shut off and once restarted, the vehicle resumed normal operation. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the steering column would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 80,000. updated 07/30/13*lj the consumer stated it was extremely difficult to steer the vehicle and she had to use both hands to control the vehicle.

Reported in: WEST END WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

POWER TRAIN

my 2008 ford escape's transmission started slipping while in overdrive. it then went out and revved up to 5,000 rpm's and would not move while in over drive or drive on the interstate causing me to almost get rear ended. i had to shift to second gear and limp it home.

Reported in: MARIETTA OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: MARIETTA OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

ENGINE

Reported in: MARIETTA OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

WHEELS

i pulled into a parking space at around 5-10 mph, hit the brakes and the accelerator pedal stuck. the car took of at around 40-50mph jumped a fence and crashed into a ravine, hitting a big tree. i was pinned in the automobile hit my head and injured my leg. i was taken to the emergency room where i suffered a spinal cord injury and a huge hematoma on my left leg.

Reported in: DALLAS TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCUO3168K

STRUCTURE:BODY

Reported in: DALLAS TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCUO3168K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: DALLAS TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCUO3168K

SERVICE BRAKES

Reported in: DALLAS TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCUO3168K

POWER TRAIN

addendum: original nhtsa#10283836 (sept 2009) bought certified used 2008 ford escape in 2009. before the first payment, the transmission cooling assembly blew, dumping the transmission fluid onto my driveway (part #8l8z-19712-j, tsb 09 09 04). mileage: 21,775. cost of $1000+ repair was covered under warranty. fast forward, may 2013 (mileage: 59,391). as predicted back in 2009 by many here on this website: complete transmission failure. it died in 2 lanes of traffic, as i blocked vehicles, no forward or reverse gears. my transmission fluid was flushed: 2009, 2011, 2012, and topped off otherwise; measures i took to protect against this exact failure. yet it completely failed, <60,000 odometer miles. this $3000 repair was covered under the extended powertrain warranty. current warranty: now 12 months/12,000 miles. minus tow truck, 2 missed work days, and loss of use of my vehicle for 3 weeks. it is entirely possible this dangerously flawed design (sharing an ac/transmission condenser) will fail yet again, even as soon as 6 months. there is no manufacturer recall. the condenser assembly allows the fluid to remain chronically low for long periods. i topped my fluids regularly & proactively flushed 3 times in 4 years, yet the transmission still burned up and failed. note the repetition of the word ?burnt? in the technician notes, even though the transmission fluid levels were listed as ok. the condenser assembly (w/ ac & transmission sharing a condenser w/ a flawed weld that bursts), and the chronic problem w/ the electronic power steering that completely freezes the steering column in place on failure are huge safety issues. tragedy is predicted. followed w/ class action lawsuit. memos will reveal discussions all along regarding the epic fail of the 2008 ford escape. our safety and major inconvenience are minor collateral damage.

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

STRUCTURE:BODY

i purchased a used 2008 ford escape in summer of 2010. may of 2013 paint began to chip around the rear wheel wells exposing rust that had been there for what had to have been a lot longer than just the previous winter. i contacted ford directly to get this response (shortened for space): after reviewing my resources, there are no warranties or programs in effect that would provide coverage of your current concern. i have also verified that your vehicle is not involved in any open recall programs. i understand that you feel that this is a common issue with the same year, make and model of your vehicle. however, ford motor company and the national highway traffic and safety administration (nhtsa) work together to proactively identify areas of concern through investigation of consumer and dealer feedback. during an investigation ford cooperates fully with nhtsa. due to our rigorous safety standards and constant testing, not all issues result in recall or customer satisfaction programs. if a program is announced on a specific component, ford will notify you by mail. it was further explained to me via phone that since my vehicle was produced 6/2007 it was out of a 5 year warranty and further since i was the second owner of the vehicle there was no warranty. upon doing research before contacting ford i found this was an issue as early as the 2005 model escape. i do not understand how it is possible for a company to continue to sell a vehicle with an issue such as this. i am fortunate that financially i am in a position where getting a better car was possible and has been done, but who resolves this for other owners whom could not see the issue until paint chips, like me and then are told, ford whom should be responsible for it will not be?

Reported in: DUBLIN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94188K

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM

ac started blowing hot air. called dealership. when i took it there, started blowing cold again. has blown hot air for 30-40 minutes 2 more times then blow cold and act fine. monday, dropped off at dealership, they kept overnight, fixed moisture packs or something they called them. picked up car day before yesterday. yesterday, blew hot air again. went back to dealership, it was blowing cold again. they don't know what else to do and they are a ford dealership!!!

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

STEERING

i was taking a left hand turn and the power steering/steering column failed and i crashed into a curb,

Reported in: TEWKSBURY MA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

ENGINE

i was turning into a bank parking lot and the engine just shut off. it took a minute to even realize what had happened. when the steering became very stiff i realized the engine had turned off. i applied the brakes to stop the car and put it in park. it started back up when i turned the key. there was not any warning or any indication that the car was going to just shut down. had another car been behind me i would have been hit.

Reported in: EAST STROUDSBURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

POWER TRAIN

vehicle startup is very slow and after 35 mph changeup makes a very strong and when i stop at traffic lights come back again the same problem.

Reported in: BAYAMON PR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04188K

ENGINE

vehicle fails to accelerate properly after a complete stop. rpm's are raised to high before the transmission shifts into 2nd gear.

Reported in: MONTGOMERY AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

vehicle fails to accelerate properly after a complete stop. rpm's are raised to high before the transmission shifts into 2nd gear.

Reported in: MONTGOMERY AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

POWER TRAIN

vehicle fails to accelerate properly after a complete stop. rpm's are raised to high before the transmission shifts into 2nd gear.

Reported in: MONTGOMERY AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

STEERING

very dangerous issue with this car. the electronic power steering goes out sometime without warning making the car difficult to steer. if this happened during a high rate of speed during a turn it would 100% cause a serious accident.

Reported in: ORLANDO FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

the window just fell down inside the door. i wasn't in the vehicle at the time. this could have happened while i was driving down the road. i searched online and several other escape owners have experienced the same malfunction. i initially thought that someone had broke into my vehicle. if ford is aware of this problem, why haven't they remedied the problem? if this would have happened while i was driving in the rain, for instance, it would have been a disaster.

Reported in: MEMPHIS TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

driving home, came to a stop (red light) when it was time to go i pressed on the gas pedal and my truck wouldn't moved, then i let go of pedal and did it again and my truck jolted and started moving. as i was driving and trying to increase speed my truck would shift..if i tried to pass 30 mph it felt like it was decreasing. every time i came to a full stop it kept repeating the same situation, press gas pedal and no movement. it was pretty scary because here in california there are fast drivers and i was afraid that if my car wouldn't go any faster i would be hit, and i had my son and nephew in the car. this is very disappointing, never did i ever have issues with ford til now and what makes it worse there are no warnings it just happens. now its costing more then $300 dollars to fix this. but who is to say that after i spend all that money this wont happen again. i should be driving a vehicle that hasn't been recalled and the dealer should have contacted me about this and fixed it.

Reported in: LONG BEACH CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: LONG BEACH CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

STRUCTURE:BODY

i was pulling into a parking space at a speed of < than 5mph and suddenly the vehicle sped up out of control to a speed of 40-50mph tried to mash brakes to the floor, but vehicle continued jumped a fence and hit a huge tree off in a ravine. two men were watching as the car sped up and ran to pull me from the wreckage after the crash, i was pinned in on the driver side, i suffered multiple injuries.

Reported in: DALLAS TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

SERVICE BRAKES

Reported in: DALLAS TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

POWER TRAIN

i was accelerating up a hill, when i noticed that it did not have any power. the car would rev up but not change gears. when i got it to the dealer they said an intermediate band broke on the transmission. apparently the escape is known for transmission problems. the 2nd and 4th gears go out on them. ford would not pay for any of the repair which was $1358.41. this is the second escape i had with transmission problems. needless to say i will never buy a ford suv again.

Reported in: RED LION PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the throttle became stuck and the vehicle accelerated without manual force. the contact was able to stop the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis but they were unable to duplicate the problem. the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

Reported in: TRINITY FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that when attempting a turn, the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. the approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

Reported in: MILWALKEE WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

after being at a stop my 2008 ford escape surges forward with the slightest acceleration being given to the gas pedal. i have nearly rear ended people on several occasions. i can't afford a new car. how safe is this for myself and a 4 year old son!?

Reported in: FAYETTEVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

just had the transmission on my 2008 ford escape give out on me. after reading multiple articles on the web, i saw it was a common issue with ford. apparently there was a service notice for a ford car with the same transmission as my escape. i find it ridiculous that i have less than 50k miles on my vehicle and now am having to fix the transmission. i feel like ford should fix this issue at no cost to me because they are using faulty transmissions. that they know are defective.

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z38K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z38K

POWER TRAIN

my vehicle has less that 55,000 miles on it and i am having tons of problems with the transmission slipping. i should not be having these issues. i am very strict when it comes to changing my oil and having things serviced on this vehicle. i should not be having transmission issues, especially at under 60,000 miles. i feel ford should step up to the plate. they know there is issues with this models transmissions. please help, any advise welcome.

Reported in: STANFORD KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was stopped at an intersection when the power steering failed. the engine was restarted and the vehicle continued without an issue. the vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. the manufacturer was not notified of the incident. the approximate failure mileage was 111,000. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: HANSON MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

at the time i was driving this car i was going around a curb in a parking garage when i suddenly lost acceleration on the gas pedal. the pedal went flat to the floor and apparently came undone from its cable. i was unable to drive the car and called a tow company. the tow driver hooked the cable back up for me and i was able to drive again. after searching on line, it appears that ford offers an inexpensive plastic clip that could prevent this in the future. this is the second time it has happened since i had this car. this is a defect on ford's part and there should certainly be a recall for this to prevent an accident from happening. ford wanted me to bring the car in and charge me alot for the service. they need to acknowledge this problem since many other 2008 ford escape owners have had the same problem.

Reported in: WALLINGFORD PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle became difficult to steer as the steering wheel became very loose. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the cap of the u-joint had become detached and would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 118,000.

Reported in: LA PLACE LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle would not accelerate as the wrench warning icon illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. the technician stated that the transmission would have to be rebuilt. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000. *tt

Reported in: WEBSTER MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

i recently had to pay for a repair for a known defect for the 2008 ford escape. it was a transmissions fluid leak near the ac condenser assembly which required replacement. there are numerous complaints and i would like to add to the list as opposed to sitting by and taking it. manufacturers wants people to faithfully support them by buying their products and in return they should faithfully repair known common problems instead of acting as if they don't exist. i should not be held accountable nor responsible for your factory defects! *jb

Reported in: ROUND ROCK TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light, the steering wheel seized without warning. the contact mentioned that after turning off the engine and restarting, the vehicle resumed normal function. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 86,000.

Reported in: BAYVILLE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i was awake sitting at my dinning room table, i smelt something (burnt rubber) so i check all room in the house. i walk outside and saw smoke coming out from my ford escape that was park. i woke my kids, called the fire department and grabbed the water hose. once the fire fighters were on the scene, they opened the driver door, smoke exited the doors exposing oxygen causing some flickering of the flame to start. water was discharged onto the smoldering interior of the vehicle & cooling down ignition of dash area (radio is located). the heat was so hot that it cracked front windshield, melted all plastic frame inside the vehicle (middle area near radio & shift gear) and blacken all the windows. once fire was under control, fire fighter stated it was an electrical wire. battery cable was also cut to prevent any deployment of the air bags. but then i was in shock just thinking omg! i was driving the vehicle to work all week and park it later that night. today i still don't know the electrical fire started, very puzzling because the vehicle was not running and there are no recalls from ford dealer on this model. unfortunately, i didn't have enough money to pay for my vehicle insurance for another month so there fore am stuck with the bill. i bought the use vehicle at drive time in phoenix arizona and the finance company has nothing to do with my situation but for me to pay the vehicle off. like i said i still don't know the exact cause of the fire expect it was cause by wiring. i could see the v shape outline of where the fire started. not only that but i had problems with the ignition, i had to turn the key all the way around in order for the vehicle to start (no recalls)? i am still sad by all of this but very thankful that no one was driving the vehicle......who knows what could have happened?

Reported in: TUBA CITY AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

2008 ford escape. consumer writes in regards to steering column issues. *smd the consumer stated the electronic module in the steering column failed.

Reported in: INDIANAPOLIS IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the stop safely now warning message displayed as the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic cooling pump needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 67,838 and the current mileage was unknown. updated 01/23/2014 *bf

Reported in: ROBBINSDALE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H58K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: ROBBINSDALE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H58K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i have a 2008 ford escape purchased used in 2011, and from day one been having problems. i brought it back to the dealership within the first week i purchased it. it stalled while driving and they couldn't resolve/find the problem. the problem went away, only to come back to where the car stalled when ever i came to a stop and engine light on. now it doesn't stall but has a rough idle, hesitates when shifting gears and the check engine and throttle light comes on.driving in traffic i feel i will get whiplash from it not accelerating when trying pressing the gas and it not going and bucking. i see im not alone with this problem. i feel ford should play a part in fixing this being that's its not the driver obviously its the car! if i could afford to get another car i would but have no choice to be stuck with this one.

Reported in: BATON ROUGE LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

ENGINE

Reported in: BATON ROUGE LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

SERVICE BRAKES

while driving at about 40 mph, my car unexpectedly applied the brakes itself, without me touching the brakes at all, rapidly bringing the car from 40 mph to about 5 mph. luckily, i was driving on a back road with no one behind me, so there was no accident. in order to move the car out of the way to somewhere safe along the side of the road, i had to shift down into first gear and almost floor the gas in order to fight against the heavily applied brake system. once out of the way, i called a tow truck and had the car repaired at a local garage. the garage fixed the problem by replacing a broken "tone ring" on the car - a toothed ring around the axle that the abs system uses to measure whether the wheels are slipping. a crack in the ring had widened the gap between two of the teeth, making the abs computer go haywire thinking that the wheels were slipping. since then in 15000 additional miles, i've had all three other tone rings brake, causing similar situations to different degrees. i've been told by multiple mechanics that this problem is common on the ford escape, and that the tone ring - despite being highly exposed to the elements on the undercarriage of the car - is made out of very corrodible material and they see them break all the time. my experience affirms this observation, and highlights a very dangerous situation that could easily be fixed by ford using more robust quality materials to make the tone ring.

Reported in: BOSTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z38K

STEERING

the car has randomly started loosing power steering.

Reported in: PALMYRA VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

STEERING

the vehicle's power steering system suddenly failed without warning. this occurred while the vehicle was stopped so there was no risk of accident at the time. this issue has never occurred before. i turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering returned. i did an on online search and discovered this is far from an isolated problem. i found literally hundreds of other 2008 escape owners reporting sudden steering loss problems with characteristics matching precisely what i experienced. these complaints seemed to begin to surface within the last 2 years. it appears the electronic control unit (ecu) mounted in the steering column is to blame for the failures. i believe 2008 was the first year ford introduced the ecu to replace conventional power steering pumps. well it looks like they have a problem which ford has apparently ignored so far. i am submitting this complaint in the hopes that the nhtsa will compel ford to issue a recall. this is not an inconvenience, this a life threatening defect. if power steering fails at highway speeds someone is going to get hurt and quite possibly die. please investigate this. and please do it soon.

Reported in: RALEIGH NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

POWER TRAIN

as i was accelerating onto the interstate my 2008 ford escape surged and speed decelerated. the wrench warning symbol came on which is the "throttle/powertrain" warning light. the rpm's go as high as 4,000 rpm's before it changes gears. i took it into aamco to find out what the problem was, they said the transmission has to be replaced $3,000.00 so i brought it to the ford dealership which is looking into the problem now. as i read all the complaints about this same issue a recall should be issued, not just a service bulletin. ford needs to stand by its product and correct there mistakes. i feel this is a strong safety issue as it makes the vehicle very unsafe to drive.

Reported in: ANTIOCH TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

POWER TRAIN

vehicle will not shift gears until 3250-3750 rpm. wrench warning light turns on.

Reported in: CARROLLTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

while driving my 2008 ford escape this morning the gas pedal got stuck and would not accelerate. this problem happens often in cold weather and occours when durring the first start of the day. this happend to me when pulling out of the driveway into traffic. i was able to safely roll into an adjacent parking area where after allowing the vehicle to warm up and testing the gas pedal a few times it resumed normal operations after about fifteen mins. if you google gas pedal stuck on cold mornings..ford escape 2008 quite a few complaints come up. this needs attention as it is very dangerous.

Reported in: MOUNT LAUREL NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the power steering failed without warning. the contact merged shut off and restarted the engine, and the vehicle resumed normal function. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

Reported in: RICHMOND VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

this occurred in 2012 also. loss of powersteering -when pulling into our yard. had son check the belts-fluid levels-all ok;restarted and it was ok. took around back yard and it immediately loss the power assist again. actually steered it as was for about 400 yards around the large back field of our farm as it was-it never became normal again during that approximate 400 yards --until i shut off engine-restarted again and til today september 19, no re occurrence. have been on many forums and seen so many others with same problems. a steering assist electric module or something similar seems to be the problem. this has happened to my wife two times -one in the back yard and one in mall parking lot area. we know what to do now-shut down engine and restart; however, if this happens while on highway in traffic while attempting to either pass or get back in you lane --it could be life threatening to not only us but the others on highway. please, there have been enough complaints for a remedy -or at least an acknowledgement by ford -not as our e-mail to ford customer relations and a reply by a representative, [xxx], who stated they have done what they feel necessary and as to their responsibility of this problem, by telling us to take to ford dealership for an analysis test by their professional mechanics and technicians. we as do so many ford owners know the problem-cause-and why must we pay a large analysis problem for same. thank you nhtsa-we are fortunate to have some one that is concerned. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: MAYSLANDING NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

i was driving on the freeway when my hood blew up, i could not see! i was on the right side of the lanes and by lowering my head i could see a small area and was able to pull over. i was lucky nobody was injured. i have to get my hood replaced because it was damaged.

Reported in: AMERICAN FORK UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

i purchsed this car december 22, 2007. in late january 2008 i was stopped at a stop sign and when i accelerated the car crept along for several feet before the transmission "slammed" into gear and then the car moved normally. i went to the dealer where i purchased the car and since they were unable to duplicate the problem they said there was nothing they could do. i have experienced this problem many times since and every time the dealer says they can't diagnose the problem if they can't duplicate it. there is no pattern to his transmission "slippage," so i can't predict when it will happen and neither i nor the mechanics have been able to cause it to happen. last week i was stopped at a light on a very busy 4-lane street in the middle of sarasota, fl, and when the light changed the engine raced, but the car would not move. it finally started moving slowly and after a few feet the transmission finally kicked into the right gear and moved normally. i was lucky that no one slammed into the back of my car. i tried to find a phone number for ford customer service, but apparently they no longer take phone calls. a friend of mine has a 2011 escape and she said she has experienced the same problem. there are many similar complaints on internet blogs. this is a real safety issue that needs to be corrected.

Reported in: ROTONDA WEST FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU0312BK

STEERING

while driving the steering just lost all power, this vehicle has electric steering control, was able to pull over and shut down . restarted and steering came back. upon research online, there seems to be quite a few of these steering incidents and ford is not doing any recall. *js

Reported in: SALEM MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

SERVICE BRAKES

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while coming to a stop, the abs and the brake lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the master cylinder had to be replaced in the hydraulic system. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 139,000.

Reported in: MATTHEWS NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H08K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while parked, the contact attempted to shift into reverse and failed to engage without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the mechanic stated that the cooling pump system in the transmission had to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure and current mileage was 112,000. the vin was not available.

Reported in: TWIN VALLEY MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

starting at around 15,000 miles my window regulator/motor broke in my 2008 ford escape. currently in october of 2013 i have replaced all of the window regulators/motors (4 total) in my car. the windows broke at around 15,000 miles, 30,000 miles, 60,000 miles and now at 85,000 miles. when speaking with my ford service advisor he has stated that this is a huge issue with the ford escapes and continues to say that is really should be a recall for this make/model. the last window broke when i was driving and sounded like a gun was fired at me and my drivers side window dropped, causing me to swerve in traffic. this is a major safety concern and should be a recall. as stated all 4 of my windows have now been replaced and they cost about $380 per window to replace. ford customer care has been unresponsive to this issue and they should be held accountable for the lack of safety of the window motors/regulators which creates an unsafe environment for the driver and all passengers in this ford model. i would strongly encourage nhtsa to review this claim seriously and recall this part, as ford is creating an unsafe environment for all individuals driving this car.

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

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

rear window glass explosively shattered while vehicle parked in garage. research on internet shows this is not a unique problem and has happened to others with this kind of vehicle and this vehicle year. seems like a potentially dangerous situation. luckily, nobody was nearby when it happened.

Reported in: RIPON WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49HX8K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

the gas pedal sticks. i have been told it is most likely the throttle body. it is getting progressively worse and i fear it may lead to an accident if it is not repaired.

Reported in: CHASKA MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

the gas pedal sticks. i have been told it is most likely the throttle body. it is getting progressively worse and i fear it may lead to an accident if it is not repaired.

Reported in: CHASKA MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

STEERING

the incident reported is only one of many similar -in 2012 reported to ford-dealership where purchased car did work on their own to fix-(no-charge-and only have the parts numbers used to repair-do not know the fix for the problem then) in 2013 the steering electronic assist has failed both my wife and i on more than multiple times! all except one time at low mph in parking lots-malls-and back yard. the one exception time was on a highway at normal 45 to 50 mph -cologne ave, mays landing nj only solution to get power steering back to normal is to stop -shut engine down-restart engine-and the electronic assist is back and ok again. all except one time -had to restart and run around the back yard -shut down and restart again. these incidences of actual times and events reported to ford customer relations--no action except to advise return to dealership for diagnosis. at our cost>we know and ford knows -why should we pay another $100 for another diagnosis as in 2012? this is a life threatening situation if it happens on highway-not only to driver of subject vehicle , but to others on the highway. our escape a 2008 -but actually bought in march 2007; also we understand thru so many other complaints similar to ours that the 'electronic assist power steering first put on the escape model in the 2008 year. possible that ford found out the problems and later corrected--but they are not acknowledging even that a problem ever existed! with so many complaints of exactly same as ours on so many forums as ford forums, car complaints, edmunds , and two or three other places that can not recall as write this--how can it just be passed off as a rare incident to just a few?

Reported in: MAYS LANDING NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

STEERING

while setting at a handicap space after eating. i started my car and the steering was hard to steer going into reverse or forward. it still hasn't come back to me yet after setting for a whole day. the only thing that i did before parking was go over a speed bump with one side of the car and making one turn after 50 yards of straight driving to the space.

Reported in: MIDLAND TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03118K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

may 30th, 2012 2008 ford escape stopped at a stop light, gas pedal was stuck rendering vehicle unable to move. mileage was approximately 70,000 miles. had vehicle towed to local ford dealership. they replaced the entire pedal assembly. within about 3 months, the pedal seemed to start catching again. problem is intermitted not continuous but very dangerous in heavy traffic. owner must press firmly to get the gas pedal to work which causes the suv to leap forward. just over a year after the pedal assembly was replace, it is being replacing again due to the same sticking problem.

Reported in: ALTONA IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Reported in: ALTONA IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

my steering column would shake while i was at a stop and within a few days i have lost the electrical steering (power steering). i now have no electrical assist for the steering and have been informed that they have to replace the entire steering column in order to fix the problem.

Reported in: LINCOLN NE || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

STEERING

sunday october 20th, 2013. while driving my 2008 ford escape the electric power steering failed. this was like trying to drive a tank. when i got to a safe place to pull off the road i turned off the engine and restarted the car. the steering worked ok at that time. i took my car to a repair shop to have the steering checked and was told the only pace to get this fixed was at a ford dealer and that this type failure on the 2008 escape was a common occurrence. looking on line i confirmed that this problem was very frequent with the 2008 ford escape and could happen at any time. fortunately it happened to me on a quite sunday morning when there was little traffic and i was able to pull off the road without endangering myself or other drivers. i feel this is a major safety issue that could result in a serious accident with potential personal injury and/or a loss of life accident. i feel ford should be required to recall the 2008 ford escapes equipped with this type steering and make the necessary repairs to protect the lives of both the ford drivers and others that might be encountered on the road should the steering fail.

Reported in: ASHEVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

STEERING

my daughter has her car on a college campus and driving around the drill field at 20 mph the power steering locked up. she was able to pull over, turn the car off and restart. the date listed was the first time that the steering locked up but has done it a several times since. i myself was in a kroger parking lot and put the car in park and it locked up. in the past 3 weeks the power steering has locked up on my daughter 3 times while on campus - nearly causing a 10 car pileup behind her. as a college student, on a college campus this is a huge concern for us. i have read many many many complaints to ford on the power steering issue and can not believe they are continuing to put peoples lives in danger by not recalling and fixing this power steering problem.

Reported in: ROANOKE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z48K

STEERING

while sitting in the parking lot i went to drive and i had no power steering. nothing seemed to be wrong but i turned off the ignition and restarted then power steering worked fine. this has since happened again on 11/4/2013 with my wife driving. she was able to pull over and shut off the vehicle then restart and everything began to work again. investigating this problem there are many others with the same problem and ford doesn't seem to be doing anything about this problem. it's a huge safety issue because if your driving down the highway you cannot turn the steering wheel.

Reported in: GARLAND TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while turning at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. the contact also mentioned that the power steering assist failed several times and the failures were intermittent. the vehicle was restarted and resumed normal function. the vehicle was taken to an authorized mechanic who test drove the vehicle but was unable to duplicate the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 63,000 and the current mileage was 65,600.

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

STEERING

Reported in: LEXINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

it was approximately 45 degrees outside and i was driving down a road at the posted speed limit of 50 mph and took my foot off of the throttle. i attempted to get back up to speed and the throttle was locked shut and i could not accelerate at all. this happened repeatedly until the engine warmed up. it has continued intermittently since that time and yesterday was so severe, i could not move from a stop sign. i went to the dealership and they wanted to charge me a total of $385 to replace the throttle body. now i see that there was a recall and i am feeling very ripped off. ford should pay for this manufacturing/design problem.

Reported in: SEDRO WOOLLEY WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Reported in: SEDRO WOOLLEY WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle decelerated and shifted out of gear. the contact mentioned that the wrench warning lamp illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the technician diagnosed that the second and fourth gears malfunctioned. as a result, the transmission needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 75,000.

Reported in: WEIRTON WV || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

i put it in reverse and it would stall and then punch in and take off. then i would put it into drive and the same thing would happen. it was kind of scary. if someone was in front of me i could have hit them. that happened a few times and finally it wouldn't move at all. my transmission just quit on me. with only 66,000 miles on it and i still owe $15,600 on it now as a single mother of two i have to try to come up with $3700 to fix this????? this vehicle just got broken in with 60,000 miles on it. i'm so upset. this should never happen and after doing research it happens all the time with this vehicle! where is the recall on it? i should not have to pay for this!

Reported in: WINNECONNE WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed to operate normally without warning. the contact also mentioned that the power steering motor would engage and disengage sporadically. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the power steering power assist unit needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 42,000. the vin was not available.

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

STEERING

i placed a message on the nhtsa database on 11/04/13 concerning the power steering on my 2008 ford escape. i called the ford corporate center at 800/392-3673 - the ford center stated that by calling their number they will have a record of the problem and the more people that call the center is how the recalls are initiated and not by simply using the nhtsa database. if you are having power steering issues with your ford escape, please call the ford corporate center and get you name on the list and hopefully we can have this vehicle recalled before someone gets terribly hurt.

Reported in: ROANOKE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z48K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

while driving on the highway 595 speed of 65 mph the car just lost power causing to reduce speed fast with no prior warning. had to move from the far left lane to the right lane on rush hour almost causing an accident.

Reported in: WESTON FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94158K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: WESTON FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94158K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

while attempting to back out of my driveway, the steering wheel locked and the car wouldn't move. i registered the complaint with aboutautombile,.com on that very same day. the # is 10489579. the car was taken in last year and no one could find a problem as it is intermittent. 3 days ago, my 16 year old son was driving to school and as he was turning right at a corner (20mpg), the wheel locked. since i was not with him, we said we would keep an eye on it. today, again he was turning (this time left at 20 mpg) the wheel locked again. he was able to get it across the road and park it in a plaza. i picked him up and drove him to school. i have been waiting on service to call me to get the vehicle looked at. at this point, even though his school is lose to home there is no was i want my son to drive this ford product. i work at henry ford hospital and i am bewildered as to why this has not been recalled as it is an obvious safety issue. looking on-line, there have been a large number of customers with the same complaint.

Reported in: CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: M2603855853

STEERING

Reported in: CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: M2603855853

STEERING

while driving at 45 mph, the electric power steering (eps or epas) failed. the car instantly lost all ability for power steering, without alerting the driver. the problem is intermittent, and may fail at any time. the epas can sometimes be re-instituted by stopping the car (in the middle of the road at times, or freeway), turning off the car completely ... waiting 10 seconds, and restarting the car. but this does not mean that the problem will not occur again at any time within the same driving incident. the epas continues to fail at inopportune times, without alerting the driver until failure has occured.

Reported in: ROMULUS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: ROMULUS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

STEERING

while my wife was driving our 2008 ford escape the power steering failed without warning and it became difficult to turn the steering wheel. luckily, she was not going that fast so she was able to pull over and stop. she shut the vehicle off and restarted it and the power steering was working. the same thing happened a second time about two to three weeks later. we brought the vehicle to our mechanic and he did some research and was able to locate hundreds of 08 escape owners who have experienced the same problem. this is a huge safety concern and needs to be addressed before someone is seriously injured.

Reported in: LYNN MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94178K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 10 mph and attempting a turn, the steering wheel failed to operate normally. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the steering column needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 160,000.

Reported in: COVINGTON LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

STEERING

while driving the steering column began to shake and i lost all power steering. i was also informed this has caused wear on my tie rods and they are now in need of replacing.

Reported in: LAPLACE LA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

while driving, the steering column locks up and will not turn. dealership has confirmed many similar occurrences have occurred yet will not fix the know problem as a recall. one day soon this will be major accident which could have fatal outcome. my daughter is a mother of one and another due early next year, such an accident could have major injuries or worth. this needs attention even more than the health care plan which would have to take care of the injuries which could occur.

Reported in: MINT HILL NC || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test where the dealer stated that the transmission cooler was defective and needed to be replaced. the dealer replaced the transmission cooler. the failure mileage was 68,000.

Reported in: HENRICO VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

STEERING

just starting to make a left turn from a stop sign. steering seemed to be locked up, very hard to move wheel. car almost went off road as it was a t intersection. speed on cross road is 40 mph and luckily i was able to back up prior to being hit. once the car was back behind stop sign the engine was restarted and steering started functioning again. this is the second time the steering went out. the first time was approximately 6 months ago, speed approximately 20 mph and was attempting to turn into school parking lot to drop off children. i was able to get car to curb and restarted the engine. there was no warning or idiot light prior to steering going out on either time. this seems to be a common problem with this year and make. i am surprised no one has been killed or seriously injured. there are quite a large number of incidents recorded online of this very problem. not much word from ford though...

Reported in: BEAVERCREEK OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94148K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the automatic power steering failed. the vehicle engaged in manual steering mode without warning. the failure was recurring. the vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

Reported in: MECCA IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

STEERING

while sitting at a light in detroit, the epas (steering) failed. i am a grown man and it took all my strength to steer the car to safety, holding up traffic all around me. once it was turned off, it reset itself and worked again. it has happened 3 times since and am taking it to the dealership, all at zero or low speeds. if a weaker person were to experience this it could result in a real problem as it is almost impossible to steer.

Reported in: CLINTON TWP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was trying to go from stopping to accelerating. i tried to press on the gas pedal, but the pedal would not move. it has happened several times prior to this event, but never on the on ramp to a highway. it is a dangerous malfunction.

Reported in: RANDLEMAN NC || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

when going from a complete stop to accelerating the throttle sticks and will not accelerate! this has happen many times before and happens at least once a day!

Reported in: ELYRIA OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the accelerator failed to respond to acceleration attempts without warning. the contact also mentioned that the vehicle erroneously decelerated while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the throttle body would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 50,000.

Reported in: WOODRIDGE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

STEERING

i was driving down the road and loss power steering, luckily i was only going 45 miles per hour and was able to maintain control of the car. surprised to see so many complaints and ford not standing behind their products. this will be the last ford our family will own. how in the world can they say this is not a safety issue is unbelievable. what will it take a fatality to get fords attention?

Reported in: ACWORTH GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04178K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was driving to work and exiting off the high way as i turned the corner my accelerator pedal broke off and was laying on the floor. luckily i was turning on to a residential street and i could stop in front of some houses, but i had to have my car towed to the ford repair shop which there is was told my warranty had just expired and i had to come out the pocket with 230.00 and that their had been no recalls on the fords.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

VISIBILITY

both of the hinges on the rear liftgate glass were cracked and splitting. the local dealer said that this could allow the rear glass to fall off in traffic causing both damage to my truck and to other motorist. i feel that this is a safety issue and should be recalled as an inferior part for ford to be using on their vehicles.

Reported in: CUMBERLAND MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94108K

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

Reported in: CUMBERLAND MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94108K

STRUCTURE:BODY

my ford escape is rusting out around the rear wheel well on the passengers side as well as at the welded seams on the inside of the doors. i am very disappointed as this vehicle was not cheap and i even paid extra or the rust proofing and undercoat before the vehicle ever even left the dealer parking lot. i don't think a good quality, well made vehicle would be rusting out in such a short time. i have always been a ford customer and take very good care of my vehicle and i am very disappointed in this quality.

Reported in: CUMBERLAND MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94108K

STEERING

tl* the contact owes a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the steering wheel suddenly malfunctioned and became difficult to turn. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the electronic power steering needed to be replaced. the contact stated that no repairs were performed to the vehicle. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 160,000.

Reported in: QUINCY FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z28K

STEERING

in feb. 2013, the power steering went out on our 2008 ford escape. after shutting down the engine, i restarted the engine and the problem was gone. i took the vehicle to the ford dealer where i purchased the suv, they told me it was only an anomaly, and probably would never happen again. at that time the vehicle was under an extended warranty. on nov. 3rd, my wife was driving around a turn when the steering went out again. she narrowly missed hitting 2 cars. i took the vehicle in to the same garage, and once again the problem was gone after re-starting. after several days i was told that the problem had been located, and it was a sensor attached to the steering column, which necessitated a $957.14 repair bill. unfortunately, the extended warranty had now expired. the dealership said there existed no relief as there hadn't been a recall for said problem. i have now discovered that this has been a common and ongoing occurrence with this vehicle. there are multiple websites which attest to said problem including www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2008/ford/escape/steering, which lists 155 complaints for this problem. there have been literally thousands of such complaints yet no recall. this is an ongoing safety problem, and who knows how many accidents and/or deaths have been attributed to this defect. i am told that this electrical steering feature was first utilized on the 2008 ford escape, whether it was used on other models, i am not aware. hard to believe ford allowed us to drive this vehicle when they were aware of the defect i certainly hope you can save others from suffering negative consequences in the future.

Reported in: ELYRIA OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

STEERING

i purchased my 2008 ford escape at 71,000 miles, now at 122,000 miles my steering appears to be locking up. or losing power steering. while the vehicle is in park idling, the steering wheel will move from side to side on its own making noise that sounds as if it is coming from the steering column. there have been thousands of complaints on this. ford needs to recall this before someone gets hurt. driving down the highway at 70 mph, and steering locks up. this is an accident waiting to happen. i called ford and they have yet to do anything about it. as many complaints they have out there with this issue, you think they would take this into consideration and the safety concerns for this.

Reported in: HEATH OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the contact turned the engine off and after restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel returned to normal function without failure. the manufacturer was made aware of failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

Reported in: CEMENT CITY MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03118K

STEERING

while backing out of my driveway the power steering failed, placed the escape back in the driveway. will call the ford dealer on monday.

Reported in: CAROL STREAM IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

no gas pedal could not move vehicle had to have towed accelerator cable has happened 2 more times jan 26 2010 21843 miles dec 2 2011 33,651 seems to be sticking again at 50,000 ford says no one else having problems tsb 9-21-9 tells different.

Reported in: BELLEVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU3Z78KB

STEERING

i started my escape on day and noticed that the steering wheel was locked up, i could not turn it, so i turned the truck off and started it back up and it was working. it has done this several times, sometimes it takes quite a few time of turning it off and on to reset it. i have not had issues with it locking up while driving, but i am worried about it, so have not been driving it. while in the park position the steering wheel does shimmy a little and makes a noise.

Reported in: CARLSBAD NM || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

started car and attempted to turn wheel to find absolutely no power steering, was able to get car to repair shop. once car was shut off and restarted, power steering worked perfectly, then once driving it intermittently would stop working causing severely dangerous driving conditions. no warning lights on vehicle regarding power steering control issues were ever displayed. diagnostic test done at ford dealership shows error with the sensor in steering column, which requires a complete replacement of steering column. ford online forum list hundreds of complaints with that exact same issue, similar mileage on vehicle. car is scheduled to be repaired by ford dealership, unable to drive until repaired do to sporadic loss of power steering.

Reported in: COTTONWOOD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

STEERING

help! i bought a brand new 2008 ford escape and have a pretty good record of maintenance. a week ago, i noticed my steering wheel is locking. i have to restart so many times before i can move it. two days ago, i was exiting from the freeway and as i turned, the wheel locked and almost crashed, straight head on to the opposite side. that was frightening! i checked online and surprised to find thousand of complains about the same incident for 2008 model and up. i believe this is a mechanical problem and ford should have update the way how they make the electrical sensor/power steering wheel that is causing this and should not be stuck to pay $2,000 just to have this parts fixed. there should be a recall for this before someone gets really hurt and cause death.

Reported in: SEATTLE WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

the accelerator would not move at all on my 2008 ford escape. before the accelerator would hesitate a little bit and than go. this is an issue that ford need to fix asap.

Reported in: MACOMB MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

the accelerator would not move at all on my 2008 ford escape. before the accelerator would hesitate a little bit and than go. this is an issue that ford need to fix asap.

Reported in: MACOMB MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

accelerator pedal sticks upon attempting to accelerate. this problem has been on and off for the last six months, but has worsened. last incident (12/14/13) pedal completely stuck to floor. contacted dealer and was advised of a $70 diagnostic fee and deductible. prior to this incident from august 2011 to august 2013 experienced three incidents of steering column locking, column did not respond to keys, keys would not unlock doors manually or with clicker, and ignition switch would not turn when key is inserted. dealer replaced steering column (2011), but problem returned on two separate occasions within two years. on last two visits to dealer regarding ignition problem - dealer could not verify problem existed and deemed the battery as problem. dealer replaced my newly installed battery (less than a year old) with their battery without my consent and required me to pay for unapproved battery - which i had them to remove, and reinstall my original battery that worked fine. called on ford dealer on 12/16/13 regarding incident of pedal sticking, and received head wrenching response. was informed that my car was not on the list for recalls eventhough ford just paid a hefty $17+ million fine for not recalling these fords for sticking gas pedals!

Reported in: DOWNEY CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Reported in: DOWNEY CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

problem with vehicle speed control my 2008 escape (not hybrid) 2.3l xlt began having issues where i would get a sticky gas pedal. it would sometimes take some jiggling to get the gas pedal to depress so that i could accelerate. i cleaned out the throttle body and the issue was resolved for about a month. we recently had some cold weather in the 10 - 30 degree range in which my gas pedal started acting up again. it got so bad to where i could not depress the gas petal intermittently. when the gas pedal would depress my car would jolt forward like too much gas was applied. the issue seemed to dissipate if i let the car warm up for 30 minutes before driving. i purchased a new throttle body from courtesy ford for $278.00 installation was quoted as $386.00. i opted to have my brother install it for me. it has been 10 days since installation and the issue seems to be resolved. i have not had any issues since replacing the throttle body but i still do not trust the car. i hesitate to take my family in the car and am thinking about getting rid of it for something else. this issue is a safety hazard and should be recalled by ford before someone gets hurt or killed.

Reported in: PORTLAND OR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving in reverse at an unknown speed, the steering wheel failed to maneuver in any direction. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 79,000. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: NEW BRUNSWICK NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i had been having an issue with my vehicle starting and the steering wheel not unlocking. had to turn it extremely hard or put the key in and out a few times turning to unlock. upon starting the prior 2 weeks it would hesitate- like it had to think about starting. i had it checked out by my mechanic and he said everything looked good - no issues with starter, alternator or anything. on 11/27 vehicle wouldn't start - ended up with a new battery. now two weeks after battery install i have a very loud clunk in my steering wheel column and my steering wheel is loose. makes me very nervous. of course the extended warranty just was up.

Reported in: PORT ST LUCIE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

STEERING

while attempting to turn left on an intersecting road from a stop sign, the power steering went out with no prior warning. it took all of my strength to get out of the intersection and off of the side of the road. after turning off the engine and restarting the car a couple of times, it began working again. the car was taken to the nearest ford dealership and they said the steering column had to be replaced for $1,300.00 which is not covered under my extended warranty that was purchased when i bought the car brand new. i could not drive the car because after researching on the internet, i have found hundreds of the same complaints and this can happen intermittently while driving at any time. this is a major safety concern and i can not believe that ford has not made a recall on this! i can't bare to think of what could have happened with my child in the car as i was taking him to school.

Reported in: GREENVILLE SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

SERVICE BRAKES

i put my car in reverse to back out of my sloping driveway onto a very narrow and busy hillside residential street. with cars coming down the hill past our driveway it is especially critical that i have an operational braking system. when i pressed on the brake pedal there was no response and i went shooting out into the street. i had the car towed to a nearby repair shop that i frequent for most service appointments. they got in the car to test drive it and had no problem whatever with the brakes. they put an electronic scanner on the engine and it reported that there was one or more problems in the braking system although the test drive went fine. they said that with the scanner message that was reported, i would have to take it to a ford dealer. i have made an appointment with same and will have the outcome in a couple of days. none of that really matters at this point because i now have a car that is not safe to drive, let alone have someone else drive it. from all of the similar, if not exact, incidents i have been reading about on the web it does not sound likely that the dealer is going to find a definitive answer as to what is causing this problem. furthermore, that car is useless to anyone else so what do i do with it.

Reported in: CORTE MADERA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59H28K

STEERING

started vehicle and began to back out of driveway when i noticed the power steering wasn't working. turned the vehicle off and upon re-starting, power steering began to work again. this has occurred several times since.

Reported in: HARTFORD IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

STEERING

the first time my steering wheel started to shake for no apparent reason at a red light. then it stopped as i proceeded to drive down the road the steering wheel jerked to the left. i then was worried because i had my little boy with me. i ran into the store and then went home and it stopped. today, i drove 36 miles pulled into my driveway, stopped waiting for the garage door to open and the steering wheel started to shake. i tried to tape it with my phone and it stopped after a couple of minutes. will have it checked out because i would hate to drive my little one and have the power steering go out in it.

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

throttle sticks shut when outside temperature falls below 30 degrees . have to feel around for right spot to get throttle to move and vehicle to drive. had throttle cable replaced once by ford , has done this every winter since then . this year being worse then normal and got stuck so pedal wouldn't move at all.

Reported in: LIMERICK ME || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

when the temperatures drop to below 25 degrees - the accelerator / gas pedal will often "freeze" and not allow acceleration and/or will stay depressed even with application of the brake (car still stops) and idles very high when in neutral. when starting from a traffic light at times the vehicle will not accelerate properly.

Reported in: RACINE WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

ENGINE

engine just stopped in the middle of driving and i almost got involved into a car accident. i pulled over my car and shifted the gear to p and re-started the engine. it worked but i felt engine was not functioning okay. it felt like it kept burping constantly. i could feel the move. i drove back home to worry about the issue.

Reported in: BUFFALO GROVE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04108K

STEERING

this problem originally occurred on dec 12th 2013. when i started my car,the steering wheel was locked. i then turned off the car,pulled the key out of the ignition and restarted it,and the wheel was fine then. as i was driving, my steering wheel would shake slightly back and forth without me touching it. there were no indicator lights lit up on my dashboard. then while driving some more,i heard a faint click,and my steering wheel was locked again,it had absolutely no power steering and it took all of my strength to turn the steering wheel. that has continued to happen every time i drive now,and recently it has gotten to the point where the steering wheel is always locked with no power steering. i took the car to the mechanic and was told that the electronic steering sensor is malfunctioning and the whole steering coloumn needs to be replaced and it is a very big job. i am still awaiting my quote to see exactly how much it will cost me.i have had this car for only 7 months and it seems like this is a common problem among the 2008 ford escapes. i do not understand why this issue has not been recalled,they can recall things like a power window for locking up and not being able to go up or down,but not this. this problem could cause serious injury and possibly death. this is the only car i have and i rely on it heavily. it it almost impossible to turn the steering wheel and this issue needs to be taken care of by ford already. how many complaints do they need before this problem is addressed??

Reported in: ALBUQUERQUE NM || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z98K

ENGINE

while stopped at intersections while driving the vehicle will stall out or when accelerating from through the intersection it will stall out.

Reported in: MOGADORE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

while stopped at intersections while driving the vehicle will stall out or when accelerating from through the intersection it will stall out.

Reported in: MOGADORE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

while stopped at intersections while driving the vehicle will stall out or when accelerating from through the intersection it will stall out.

Reported in: MOGADORE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving approximately 35 mph when the power steering assist suddenly failed. the contact indicated that the vehicle was previously diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who determined that the power steering sensor had malfunctioned. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000.

Reported in: ALBUQUERQUE NM || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

STEERING

upon starting the vehicle, power steering was unable to work. there is no power steering liquid in this model, and instead uses a computer to assist with power steering. after sitting for several moments, a second attempt was made, and power steering successfully responded. there are hundreds of complaints of a similar nature regarding 2008 models and some for the 2009 model of the ford escape. is there a recall of any form going on for these dangerous issues or do we have to shell out a few thousand dollars for something that we were unaware of when purchasing the vehicle?

Reported in: MUKWONAGO WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

after years of intermittent problems with my gas pedal in cold weather - sticking, high idle, not accelerating etc... i finally took the vehicle into the local ford dealer. i've been told the throttle body needs to be replaced due to a "carbon build up"! i mentioned that this has been happening since i purchased the vehicle and getting worse. i mentioned the numerous complaints recorded however the dealership (pocorro ford racine wisconsin) is not willing to admit it's a problem with the part from day one!

Reported in: RACINE WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

STEERING

i was coming to a stop and the electronic assist steering locked up, proceeded to pull away from stop sign and continued to drive to my destination without any steering assist. upon arrival, turned off car and restarted to get steering assist back. i'm glad nothing happened this time!!!!!, car is undrivable, and too expensive to fix. ford needs to step up and stand behind their product, too many corporations leave the dealer and/or consumers with paying the bill for their neglect.

Reported in: LEECHBURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

STEERING

my husband and three young children were driving on the interstate from atlanta to miami when the steering instantly became close to impossible to control. with my husbands assistance in pulling the wheel with me we were able to pull to the shoulder. i immediately assumed that there was a leak/or low power steering fluid. after searching the internet on my phone, on the shoulder of the interstate, i learned soon enough that the vehicle actually had power assisted steering and that many people had run into this issue. i was able to restart the car and the steering was fixed, for the moment. approximately every hour or so the wheel would lock again and while going 70 mph i would have to recrank the car while in neutral to gain back control. the repair cost me $1251.17 and had me unable to return home for 5 extra days longer than i planned. this could have killed my family had the traffic been heavy or had i needed to drive defensively.

Reported in: CONYERS GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

gas pedal sticks and when you push it, the vehicle will not go. after pumping it a few times, the car goes forward very fast. when pushing the gas pedal, you don't know if the car will not move or if it will lurch forward.

Reported in: APOLLO PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z78K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

car stalled when driving on hwy in snow storm on two different occasions. also, rpm's climb, just had the steering column replaced 2 months ago.

Reported in: WILMINGTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

STEERING

car stalled when driving on hwy in snow storm on two different occasions. also, rpm's climb, just had the steering column replaced 2 months ago.

Reported in: WILMINGTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

ENGINE

car stalled when driving on hwy in snow storm on two different occasions. also, rpm's climb, just had the steering column replaced 2 months ago.

Reported in: WILMINGTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

STEERING

a few weeks ago my 2008 ford escapes steering wheel intermittently started vibrating and making clicking noises while idling. i researched this issue on the internet and discovered that this is an indicator the power steering will go out and it can happen while driving at anytime. people on freeways or while turning would loose there power steering which is a safety hazard and can cause a serious and potential deadly crash. i learned that aft first if you loose your power steering you can turn your engine off and back on again and the power steering will return. i called the local dealer regarding this serious problem and they said there isn't any recall. when i asked them why ford hasn't stepped up to the plate and taken responsibility for this serious safety issue they suggested i call ford corp and ask them. when i did, all i was told was there isn't a recall; they wouldn't say anything further. my husband has since called and filed a formal complaint with ford. in the mean time, my power steering has gone out many times while pulling away from a stop or parking spot. yesterday while driving it to the dealership to be repaired it went out while actually driving down the road. what will it take for ford to take responsibility for this issue, people to start dying?

Reported in: PLACERVILLE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to function properly while making a turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the electronic power steering had failed. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 87,800.

Reported in: SIMI VALLEY CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z18K

STEERING

power steering completely went out going around the curve. did not turn the car out because a test was done on the battery yesterday and it was good, but left work today and had to have it jumped. bought a new battery. started the vehicle again and still no power steering. will be fixed tomorrow for a total of 1200. i could have been with my small son today, but luckily i stayed home from work and my husband took the car.

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

STEERING

it first happened when you started the vehicle , no power steering !!!!! shut it off ,, restart it and you had power steering again. this happened around 20 more times in the next month . then the power steering would shut off while driving it , regardless of speed . it was worst than having old standard steering . as long as you were rolling you could steer it , but when you stopped it took both hands to turn the steering wheel. it was very scary and dangerous . my wife drives this vehicle to work monday through friday . she has been scared to drive it not knowing what might take place when the steering goes completely out. well it finally went out today !!!!!!!! don"t know what it"s going to cost ? i think ford should have to take care of this problem . it a very serious safety problem . thank you

Reported in: PINEWOOD SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

the vehicle has been experiencing a sticky gas pedal that is difficult to push to accelerate in cold weather. driving the vehicle is difficult in traffic due to the inability to accelerate. the gas pedal has to be stomped in order to brake it loose.

Reported in: AUSTIN TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

STEERING

steering wheel began to shake or shimmy when the vehicle was stopped and idling. turned vehicle off and back on... the began to drive, power steering was out completely. the vehicle would steer - but was very hard to control. pulled over shut vehicle off, power steering resumed, but steering wheel was shaking again at idle. very dangerous if it were to happen at an speed. my daughter would not be able to control the vehicle, i am very strong and it was hard for me to control. this should be recalled - as so far i see 190+ complaints on this site, and many others on different sites, while trying to find a diagnosis for the problem. ford should address this immediately.

Reported in: NEWMARKET NH || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

my wife encountered a steering failure on our vehicle yesterday. upon review by my mechanic he reported a failure of code b2278 and the reported fix is the replacement by ford of the entire steering column. he also suggested i look online because this appears to be a very common problem among the mid-2000's ford escape hybrids. there are dozens of webpages, each with dozens of entries such as this page ( http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2008/ford/escape+hybrid/steering ) detailing steering column failures with near tragic results. a clear pattern of steering failure is right in front of the nhtsa's eyes as evidenced in this email. i am imploring you to act. it is bad enough that the column costs $2,000 to replace. does my son have to die before the agency takes action? please take the necessary steps available to the agency to ensure the reasonable safety of ford escape drivers. i will be happy to direct you to the other forums or assist in any manner the agency requests. take care.

Reported in: DANA POINT CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H58K

STEERING

power steering went out, then reset itself. has gone out again, and has not reset. went out when highway driving. serious safety issue. i have read numerous reports on this year make and model having the same issues. ford needs to recall before someone gets killed.

Reported in: WEST BARNSTABLE MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

STEERING

my daughter was driving this car and the steering went out, ie: steering wheel hard to turn.she was able to pull over and shut the car off. when she re-started, the steering was fine. this happened to me several times before in the exact same manner. luckily, neither of us was going terribly fast but this could happen anytime and at any speed. this vehicle needs recalled, as i see many other people have had the same issue. i cannot allow my daughter to drive this car in this condition.taking it to mechanic for check today, but they told me on the phone that this is very common. i bought this car new in 2008, and have been very diligent in my maintenance. this repair could exceed $2000! this sounds like an issue that should be corrected by the manufacturer as a defect!

Reported in: VALENCIA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

STEERING

on dec 27 2013 we were driving escape . when trying go around curve ford lost all power steering which caused us to almost hit wall. my husband drove to side road. shut it off . waited few minutes started it power steering was back. took it to garage was told power steering sensor was going out . was told it be 1123.00 cost. it happened again on january 3rd 2014. was told that this is a safety issue and that ford knows its not working right. need a recall before someone gets hurt or killed. our escape is not only one doing it. the ones with electric power steering are failing. i'm scared drive it much.

Reported in: MONTICELLO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z98K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: MONTICELLO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z98K

STEERING

just as many of the other complaints logged on this site about the 2008 ford escape my issues started with a rattling of the steering wheel when i was idling or breaking. then a few days later i turned my car on and my power steering wasn't working. i turned the car off and restarted it which resulted in the steering working again. this happened a few times for about a week. i was starting to think maybe this is a serious problem an i should get it checked out. the next time i drove it my power steering completely failed while i was driving on ice. i am very glad i was being cautious and going slow. if i had been going faster i could have had a horrible accident. now i've read endless complaints on line about this same problem and am hearing it could cost 1-2,000 to fix! please recall this before it becomes fatal!

Reported in: WEST BRANCH MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z48K

POWER TRAIN

when i would come to a stop or even start to slow down and start to go again my car (transmission) would jump, rev up to 4/5 rpms and stall in the middle of traffic, i would take my foot off the gas as soon as it would do this and it would do the same thing without me even on the gas, always twice meanwhile again stalling in the middle of traffic. my (wrench) light also came on which showed powertrain/control throttle. after taking it to a ford dealership they are quoting me $3500 to fix the problem oh and did i mention my warranty ended a month in a half ago! i know i have seen many others this is happening to and sincerely believe ford is not standing behind their product or wanting to admit there is a problem.

Reported in: SPRINGFIELD MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

STEERING

after making a left turn and braking at a stop sign, i experienced a sudden loss of power steering.

Reported in: PAWLEYS ISLAND SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

after making a left turn and braking at a stop sign, i experienced a sudden loss of power steering.

Reported in: PAWLEYS ISLAND SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

STEERING

the vehicle's steering began to shutter. then the power steering suddenly gave out. i was barely able to make turns to the right to exit the highway. the condition goes away after stopping and restarting but less than a minute after restarting, the condition returns. i have yet to be able to take the vehicle in for repair of this issue. this is dangerous.

Reported in: PORTSMOUTH NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z88K

STEERING

i bought my 2008 ford escape on january 15 2013 at 67,000 miles it has 78,000 miles and is doing what so many other complaints said are doing. when i go to turn left especially makes a loud bang click noise in the steering wheel/column. i do have a warranty but others don't. there is over 500 complaints on this issue on safe car.gov. please dont let a death be a deciding factor for a recall to be issued and to save a couple bucks. evidently there is a problem. like i said had my car for one year.

Reported in: MARYSVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z08K

STEERING

my wife was backing out of the driveway and started driving down the street, when she got to the stop sign the power steering cut out and stopped working all together. i went out there and turned off the car and restarted it and it was working again. i'm very glad it did not happen on the freeway. she would have crashed. this needs to be recalled with how many incidents that have beed reported.

Reported in: PAPILLION NE || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

noticed a vibration in steering on the way home yesterday on the highway. made a left turn onto street and steering wheel got extremely tight and hard to staighten. this morning started the 2008 escape and had no power steering. i am a fairly large male and it is tough for me to steer it without power steering and really do not know how a female could. it was lucky i was driving it when the steering went out or else i guarantee there would have been an accident, if not with another car, into a house or business building. i have read numerous accounts online of instances just like mine and somebody will eventually be killed. lets hope a recall happens before this happens!

Reported in: ODESSA TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

STEERING

hey back in december of 2013 i was driving home and i noticed the steering wheel started to shake. it wasn't a violent shake but it was noticeable. now i knew i need my sway bar links replaced so i thought that was the issue. as we entered into 2014, (january) it was getting progressively worse. on 1/16/2014 (thursday) that morning before i went to work, the steering wheel was stiff. so i had to cut the car off and cut it back on and it loosened up. i knew at that point that is wasn't the sway bar links. so that friday (1/17/2014) i took it in to a car shop close to my house (wasn't a ford dealership) and i was told that my electronic steering column was bad and that the sensor was dying. i couldn't understand why this was happening until i looked online and saw that i wasn't the only one with this problem. there are people all over this country and in canada who have had similar problems. to be exact the same problem!! ford has not recalled this issue. i'm sure ford has tons of people that review all online comments, so they have to know about this issue. this is dangerous because just today(1/21/2014) my fiance was driving to work and she came to a red light. when it was time to go, the steering wheel got stiff and made it hard to turn. the sensor went out and it was manual turning. she got to work and when her shift was over, she started the car and the steering was loose again. we can not drive like this and know one else with an ford escape should have to drive like this either. i also found out through various websites that 2008 was the first year they went to this electronic steering column. they couldn't have done the proper testing on this vehicle, i only have 63000 miles on this car and this should not be an issue so soon! please email me back and tell me what i need to do to make ford recall this. thank you

Reported in: SHAKER HEIGHTS OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while sitting at a stop light, the rpms increased excessively. in addition, the vehicle hesitated between first and second gear. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the 2-4 band needed to be replaced in the transmission. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 72,000. the vin was unavailable.

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

STEERING

my 2008 ford escape has a bad steering sensor that caused issues with steering and had pulling to the left. ford informs me that they have to replace entire steering column to fix failed sensor and are quoting $1675. after searching online i see hundreds of similar complaints about ford escapes 2008-2010. this is a safety issue that must be addressed by ford.

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

STEERING

on 1-18-2014 my 2008 ford escape experienced shaking and pulling on the steering wheel when i was sitting idle in my driveway, then it just stopped. drove about 1/2 block and started pulling; took it to the mechanic and it is the electronic power steering $1200-1500 to repair and according to my mechanic when he talked to the local ford parts house they told him this part# has been changed 17 times because they keep failing. this is not acceptable! how can a problem with your steering not possible be a recall item?

Reported in: ARDMORE OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

STEERING

my wife was driving her escape down the freeway and the power steering stopped working. she was able to get it to the emergency shoulder and call me. when i got there i shut the car off and could not find anything that would tell me a major failure had happened. i started the escape and the power steering started to work again. i called the dealership where we bought the car and they told me that some of the escapes have a problem with the power steering sensor. they quoted me $1200-1400.00 to fix it. this makes this car dangerous. ford should fix this problem.

Reported in: WEST JORDAN UT || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while sitting at a red light, the power steering assist failed to operate without warning. the contact shut off and restarted the vehicle to allow the system to reset. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. the vehicle was not diagnosed for the failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 54,000. updated 2/26/14*cn

Reported in: PITTSBURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

STEERING

upon start-up the steering lacked assist. it drove fine, but took additional effort to turn at slow speeds. at highway speeds steering was fine but it was still apparent that assist was gone. during drive home, i stopped once and restarted car at which point the power assist returned.

Reported in: ROSEVILLE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z08K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

the gas pedal is getting stuck and not working properly especially during times when the weather gets cold. when gas pedal is pressed to moved vehicle forward the pedal gets extremely difficult to press down and vehicle doesn't move. once it does work it jerks the vehicle forward in which if another car is in front this could cause an accident.

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

STEERING

as many other customer complaints have stated, my power assist has gone out, and it is very difficult to steer the car. during the prior two-three days i have noticed that when the car is stopped, i could occasionally feel a pulling shake in the steering wheel. my family went out to dinner (fortunately just minutes from home!) and when we came out, the problem began. obviously with more than 200 people noting the same thing, ford needs to issue a recall on this electric steering system!

Reported in: WRIGHT CITY MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

as i was yielding the right away from oncoming highway traffic, i turned into the turning lane and felt something didn't feel right. as i straighten out my wheel to proceed to go forward the power steering was out. at this time i was heading out town and thankful i was not that far from home. i began to head back home and grab another vehicle so i was able to meet my appointment. after researching this problem i noticed there were several complaints on this exact issue. it infuriates me because we just bought this vehicle for our 16 year old daughter as her first car. how many deaths will have to occur before they recall this? all i?m seeing on this vehicle for recall are seat covers, how ridiculous does that sound. they know that if you have the heat on in the vehicle that the sensor overheats that it will cause this then why are they not coming up with something to correct it. a concerned mother of a teenage daughter.

Reported in: EVANSVILLE IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond to acceleration attempts. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the throttle body needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Reported in: OCEANSIDE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z58K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

on 1 -28- 2014 i tried to mash gas pedal down it wouldn't do anything i kept pressing on it i went down and accelerated almost hit fence got end lane tried give it gas it was really sluggish almost get hit bytruck then it started working sluggish. on 1-29 14 it did it again but this time i couldn't get it to press down without pressing really hard on pedal when i stopped at stop light it would not press down. had sit for about five minutes almost got hit in back end after pressing hard on pedal it finally went down but i had press hard on pedal. this is a serious situation. u have no warning. please make ford recall this . im terrified. its dangerous for me my son and other drivers.

Reported in: MONTICELLO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z98K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: MONTICELLO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z98K

ENGINE

i was at a stop sign, at a complete stop. when i accelerated, the car felt and sounded like it was going to stall and the gas pedal did not work--then the car surged forward. the abs light and traction control lights then came on and would not go off. this is the 2nd time i have had an issue with the throttle body--i had it replaced at a ford dealer 3 years ago, and now it is being replaced again. i have had the car since 2008, and i'm on my 3rd throttle body--the original one, the one replaced at the ford dealer, and now this one. the financial burden is stressful enough, but then add on the fact that, at any time, the throttle can freeze up and stop working which can cause a serious accident.

Reported in: WOODLAND PARK NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: WOODLAND PARK NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: WOODLAND PARK NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, he attempted to make a right turn when the power steering assist malfunctioned and the steering wheel started pulling in the opposite direction. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the power steering assist module was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 175,000. updated 04/14/14*lj updated 04/22/14

Reported in: WARREN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

STEERING

vehicle started with a jerking motion in steering wheel. then progressed into sporadic loss of power steering. no warning lights. turning the engine off then back on released the steering wheel. if so many people are complaining about this ford needs to recall it. it is not about regular vehicle maintenance this is a product of failure.

Reported in: EVANSVILLE IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the power steering assist failed to operate without warning. the contact shut off and restarted the vehicle to allow the system to reset. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering module needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 100,000. updated 03/12/14*lj

Reported in: MAY VIEW MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94128K

STEERING

clicking noise followed by loss of power steering assist. restarting the engine allows for restoration of power to steering. hundreds of reports of other electric assist units failing. ours has not recurred, but we drive two lane roads to and from work. if this happens again at some points it could lead to bad crash. ford knows of the issue, and it only a matter of time until someone is killed.

Reported in: PLEASANT GROVE AR || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i was driving in the neighbor hood and my electronic steering failed. i was able to drive it to the nearest car shop and they took a look at it. they informed me the electronic steering chip was going bad. so it will work at times and then it will fail again. this is a major safety concern. i am a bigger guy so i can handle not having steering assist. however if this happens when not expecting it, it could easily cause an accident. there is a growing list of complaints online with people having the same problem.

Reported in: FARMINGTION MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

power steering sporadically fails. this can happen at startup or while driving. it can cause a serious accident resulting in injury or fatality. there are hundreds of complaints logged online, even on the ford website. every dealership/auto body states that this should be a manufacturer recall.

Reported in: OAKVILLE MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while driving approximately 20 mph, a loud clicking noise emitted from the dashboard in addition to a loss of power steering. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. the vehicle resumed normally upon restarting. the failure recurred when the vehicle was in operation. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the steering column was replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 146,000.

Reported in: WEST NEWTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the driver was backing the vehicle out of the garage when the power steering suddenly malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. when the vehicle was restarted the steering wheel functioned normally. the failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. the manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. the failure mileage was 68,000.

Reported in: HAMILTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z38K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact started the ignition and the noticed that the steering wheel had seized. additionally, the steering wheel would shake whenever the contact was driving 35 mph or more or when accelerating from a complete stop. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. the technician stated that the steering column would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 57,960. updated 8/11/14*cn updated 08/22/2014 *js

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

steering wheel initially started to pulsate at stop light.. next incident i started the vehicle and there was no power steering, turned vehicle off and restarted and had steering back...next incident steering wheel pulsates while driving and loses power steering while at speed.. pull vehicle to roadside and restart and regain steering.. not having this vehicle recalled to fix this issue is the most insane thing i have ever heard of.. if a frail person or elderly has this happen to them, people will die.. its not a matter of if this happens but when it will.. if it hasn't already.. anybody reading this i hope you or your children or family or friends or anybody for that matter does not die as a result of this matter going unresolved... it is mindboggling that ford turns its back on this issue..im not alone in this, there are complaints all over the internet.. can you imagine a loss or multiple losses of lives after so many complaints being registered? please help

Reported in: LYNBROOK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

STEERING

Reported in: LYNBROOK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

SUSPENSION

serious vibration, lot of cracking noise, steering wheel locking up, have to adjust steering wheel to start vehicle.

Reported in: GRAND PRAIRIE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

STEERING

serious vibration, lot of cracking noise, steering wheel locking up, have to adjust steering wheel to start vehicle.

Reported in: GRAND PRAIRIE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

serious vibration, lot of cracking noise, steering wheel locking up, have to adjust steering wheel to start vehicle.

Reported in: GRAND PRAIRIE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

STEERING

tl-the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated when he turned the vehicle ignition switch on. the power steering failed without any warning. the vehicle had not been taken to an dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 58,000.lj

Reported in: LOMBARD IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

STEERING

the power steering would not engage when starting the vehicle. i would have to turn off the vehicle and restart until in engaged. when it was operating, the steering wheel would shutter back and forth. i took it in to the ford dealer and scan code b2278 confirmed that the torque sensor was bad in the electronic power steering assist. required the steering column to be replaced at a cost of $1,439.68.

Reported in: MIDLAND MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

STEERING

power steering on my escape went out without warning, if i would have been going faster or making a turn, i could have lost control of my car and crashed. the number of complaints online is astounding, this is a huge issue and something needs to be done to make sure no one gets seriously injured.

Reported in: PLYMOUTH MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

when the temperature outside gets cold, the gas pedal on my '08 escape will stick in place and will not press down. if i jiggle it or jam it down hard i am able to make the vehicle accelerate. the issue is very prominent when it's cold out and the car hasn't been ran for a while. the gas pedal will jam both when stopped and when attempting to accelerate at higher speeds. it can be dangerous in parking lot situations when trying to slowly maneuver out of a space or around blind corners, and the gas pedal sticks, causing the car to lurch forward without much control. it's also dangerous when driving since you may be trying to accelerate from a stop but are unable to due to the gas pedal sticking. this can cause unsuspecting drivers to slam on their brakes, as they were assuming that you were going to move forward in traffic but the car is unable to advance. it has proven to be very dangerous in snowy situations and unplowed roads and driveways. when attempting to accelerate, the pedal will stick and then suddenly lurch forward, causing the car to slide around. trying to drive up a snowy slope from a stop is nearly impossible, since the sudden acceleration causes you to spin out in the snow rather than allowing you to advance slowly. i have read that cleaning the throttle body is an effective fix for this issue but haven't yet tried it.

Reported in: LORAIN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: LORAIN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 209,000.

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

STEERING

my daughter was making a left turn from a full stop after turning had to force steering back lucky there was no on coming traffic later that day while turning into gas station steering locked up on my wife lucky she was going slow called dealer where we bought vehicle took in for service 2/5/2014 done on 2/6/2014 replaced steering column $1431.06 can ford even replace a little finger for that amount i don't think so will not buy another ford.

Reported in: SICKLERVILLE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

STEERING

at idle speeds vehicle wheel shakes on its own when driving, power steering sensors force wheel to fluctuate, and motor inside steering column makes noise. vehicle taken to dealer, was told standard fix is for steering column to be replaced, but cannot yet verify that is needed yet. was told the condition will get worse, and for now to wait on repair, which would cost $1,600 to replace steering column.

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

as i was driving to work this morning, my power steering suddenly went out, without warning. i was able to gain control of the vehicle, but would most likely have crashed if this had happened on a busier road, or at greater speeds. i planned on taking the vehicle to my mechanic, but my first internet search uncovered the breadth of this issue, which seems to affect most escape owners at or near the five year mark of the vehicle. this internet search also made ford's crass response to this widespread issue, to stay silent and increase their profit margin due to shoddy products. in light of this, i am strongly considering trading the vehicle in for a more reliable make.

Reported in: DORAVILLE GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03158K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

the gas peddle sticks and raves up and other times the vehicle dies when starting from a stop position. the incident has happen multiple times and seems to be more when the vehicle is cold. so far there has not been a accident and mechanics are giving me multiple answers but cannot fix the issue. there is not a recall on the vin number for my car but the issue is going to cause an accident for my car and me.

Reported in: PAULINE SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: PAULINE SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

while stopped at red light, i noticed a "twitch" in the steering wheel. steering appeared to be normal as i was driving. later, again while setting still, i again noticed steering wheel actually "twitch" on it's own, my hands were off of the steering wheel. this vehicle has electronic steering assist. vehicle is currently at dealership being evaluated. they are telling me that ford currently doesn't have a recall on this. this definitely a safety issue! i have found online other reports of losing steering assist. this could lead to crashes in certain driving conditions and situations. the steering system of any vehicle is one of the most basic and fundamental safety systems, and being so, should be far more reliable and proven through testing and being g backed up by the manufacturer. i am being told that this could cost $1000-$1500 to repair, as they may have to replace the entire steering column. that in my estimation is unacceptable.

Reported in: PLYMOUTH IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

STEERING

when i start the car intermittently i have no power steering until i turn off the car a restart it. also when the car is idling the steering wheel shakes and makes a knocking noise. i am very concerned that the steering will go out on the highway and cause an accident.

Reported in: SPRING GROVE IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

when i started my vehicle, a warning light in the shape of a wrench stayed on. i look in the manual and this said powertrain. upon further checking, i found this is a problem in these escapes. when i stop at the railroad track or at a red light, the vehicle will surge forward when i take off. the shifting is rough at times. i also just had to have the dome light in the vehicle replaced. this, too, i was told was a common problem. the lights would not work when i opened the door and also the dash lights would go off and on. this was a 103.88 repair job and the dome light, after being replaced, is loose and does not fit properly. when this having to be replaced frequently, i would think there would be a replacement light that fit the roof correctly.

Reported in: LYNNVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Reported in: LYNNVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: LYNNVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i don't know who to contact but my 2008 ford escape has experienced power steering loss. there are several issues. the power steering randomly goes out while driving making controlling the escape impossible. you have to turn car off and restart to get power steering to come back. if this would happen while moving at a fast speed it would be a very dangerous situation. i will be taking my car to a dealership tomorrow but there has been hundreds if not thousands of complaints concerning this situation (http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2008/ford/escape/steering). ford estimated repair price is $1700.

Reported in: DELAWARE OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

twice this morning, while at a stop light, the steering wheel has begun to move on its own. the movements are small, rapid adjustments to the left and right. while investigating the cause, i found this to be a growing problem reported with this 1st year model ford escape with "electric power steering", and has been cited, by many, to result in numerous, no-warning, losses of power steering. the problem reported is a malfunctioning steering torque sensor, and the repair is the replacement of the entire steering column, part #3c529 ($908.00) plus labor. i believe this to be a serious safety issue and that a recall should be issued.

Reported in: OWENSBORO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

POWER TRAIN

was driving down road at 50mph then lost all acceleration. wrench light came on, engine would rev, but we would not go forward. crawled to side of road, then acceleration picked up, then stopped, then went, then stopped. then when the car was not accelerating and we were going maybe 5mph the throttle stuck and rpm's went extremely high.(into the 5-6 range) put vehicle in neutral and it slowed down a little. if suv acceleration would have actually caught at that point we would have spun out and crashed . crawled until we got home. this is a 2008 ford escape v6 with 69k miles. there has been a recall on the 09's. why not the 08.????? it uses the same drive-by-wire as the 09's. all signs are pointing to a throttle body failure. lets add the 08's to the recall list please someone better do something about this known problem before someone gets killed.

Reported in: COVINGTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03138K

STEERING

started vehicle in parking lot. as i went to back out, i realized i had no power steering. turned vehicle of, then back on and power steering came back. however, now the steering chatters at idle. after having read the numerous complaints on the nhtsa sight, i decided to add mine to the list. over 1/3 of all the complaints received for this model are for the same issue. when is there going to be a recall?

Reported in: SAINT LEONARD MD || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

went to turn on the vehicle and had no power steering. the car had been sitting, in the cold, a couple days. i contacted the dealership and they suggested turning the car off and back on but this didn't work. i was not close to home so i drove the car, with no power steering to the closest auto shop. at this time i found out that it was an electric power steering unit. when the vehicle was turned back on at the repair shop the powersteering worked fine and i drove home. over the next month this was happening more and more and i started hearing a "noise" and the steering wheel would move when idling. yesterday, driving down the highway i lost all powersteering. i would have to turn the car off/on several time to get it to work and when it is working the steering wheel shakes! i was astounded when looking on line to check for a recall, the number of complaints and customers having the same issue...same model and year, and yet nothing has been done. i spoke with ford this afternoon, both my dealership at home and the main customer service center to which i was told "that they are unaware of any issues, no recall has been issued, and they recommend that i get the repair completed". of course the repair has to be done, to the toon of $1500...this is crazy. this is clearly and issue with a major part of the vehicle, a huge safety concern as well. no power steering on a 4wd vehicle is dangerous!

Reported in: KANKAKEE IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

my power steering just all of a sudden would not work, i could turn it off and back on and it would work initially. but then it would go out as i was driving. now it doesn't ever work. its very dangerous when trying to turn especially in bad weather. i called about getting it fixed and they said it would cost $908 for the part alone!!

Reported in: HIAWATHA IA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

after taking the vehicle to a ford dealer for an oil change the next day my wife started the car in a school parking lot and there was no power steering. not knowing what to do, she drove it. after she parked it and started it again the power steering came back. the power steering now goes out intermittently when starting the vehicle, so we turn it off and back on and the power steering is restored. at stops the steering wheel vibrates side to side, but when the vehicle starts moving the vibration goes away. i see many posts on this known issue, is someone going to have to get hurt or die before a recall is issued on this problem.

Reported in: COLORADO SPRINGS CO || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated the power steering failed. the vehicle was not taken for inspection or repairs. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 109000.

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

STEERING

i purchased a 2008 ford escape on september of 2013 everything was running properly until the month of february 2 ,2014 my power steering began to get difficult to turn when i turned off the ignition and back on again it would resume to its normal procedures. also the steering column shakes when i start the vehicle it now it occurs more than before my concern is driving and it would lock up causing an accident .i have taken my vehicle for an estimate which will be around 1400 to 1500 being that i am barely purchasing i am unable to fix this problem.. this however is a great concern for other persons with problem this definitely should be a recall alert!!!

Reported in: LAS CRUCES NM || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

STEERING

was making a lft hand turn out of my church parking lot and steering became impossible. it took both hands turning with all my strength to make the turn. when arriving home i had to get a male person to get the car into my parking spot as i could not. he turned the car off and it sat for 10 min or so and then worked just fine. i am scared to death this will happen again during heavier traffic times.

Reported in: KINGSPORT TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU941X8K

STEERING

suddenly i began hearing a clicking noise in the dash of my 2008 escape with 96,800 miles. next i began hearing a raspy noise in the steering column. while in idle my steering wheel jerks to the left and right on it's own. both the jerking and the noises come and go with out any prior warning. this seems to be a major issue in many of the 2008 escapes, and someone is going to get seriously injured or killed. i contacted ford and they acted like they new nothing of the issue. until this point i have been pretty pleased with my vehicle, but the fact that ford has not had a recall after so many incidents, makes me not want to buy a ford ever again. my mechanic has suggested i replace the electronic steering column. the cost will be around $1300.00 with parts and labor.

Reported in: SOUTH BEND IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

STEERING

power steering all of sudden went out while i was driving.

Reported in: INDIANAPOLIS IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

power steering all of sudden went out while i was driving.

Reported in: INDIANAPOLIS IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

my wife complained one day the steering column was shaking. then a few days later she said the power steering was not working. to get it to work, she turned the ignition on and off until it worked. i drove it a few days later and found the column shaking violently. the next morning, the battery was dead. apparently the sensor in the column did not tell the ignition to turn off and it drained the battery. tow truck started the battery, i drove it to the dealer and they tell me it will be $1000. ridiculous. i have never heard nor have my friends heard of this type of issue in a car with less than 200,000 miles. dealer says this is infrequent but from my reading on this site i am doubting their word. ford should be more helpful with this. share the cost or repair for free. this is a severe safety issue. other than fires, or brakes can you imagine a more serious issue.

Reported in: WHITE LAKE MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

the power steering on my 2008 ford escape just went out, before it went out the steering wheel moved left to right on its own at a idle. soon after that there was no power steering at all. i called the dealership and they said they where not aware of any problems and that i should bring it in and have it looked at. after searching for this problem i found out there are very many complaints with the same year make and model as the one i own even the same mileage at the point of break down. this is very dangerous it works when it wants to, the repair is close to 2,000.00 and i'm wondering why there is no recall on this issue considering lives could be lost very easily if it decides to go out during a sharp turn or at faster highway speeds.

Reported in: BELLEVILLE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

STEERING

i was pulling my 2008 ford escape out of the driveway when the power steering failed. the ignition was turned off and then turned back on and problem seemed to resolve. however, that was 2 weeks ago and it has been happening every day since. also, the steering wheel now vibrates from side to side all the time. the vehicle only has 56,000 miles on it! i'm concerned that it might go out while i'm driving. it's a costly repair that our family can't afford. i've seen thousands of complaints on multiple websites. how can ford not issue a recall? this is a huge safety issue!!

Reported in: DES PLAINES IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the power steering assist failed. the vehicle was shut off and restarted however, the failure was sporadic. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

Reported in: FREMONT WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU041X8K

STEERING

teenage daughter driving to school when electric power steering failed without warning. obviously it is the power portion only that fails, but sudden loss of power assist in a vehicle the size of a ford escape for a young driver is rather traumatic. had it been at highway speed on a corner (like 5 minutes earlier) instead of a parking lot the results could have been horrible. researching the nhtsa website i see this is an extremely common complaint for such a relatively new vehicle.

Reported in: LITTLETON CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

my vehicle would cut off when i stopped for red lights or stop signs. after taking it to the dealer multiple times they said the ac condenser was bad. it was replaced because it was covered by warranty. in 2009 at approximately 25000 miles. i began having the same problem. the dealer said that i was no longer covered by warranty and it would cost $800 to replace the ac condenser again. i purchased an ac condenser from the internet and had someone outside the dealer replace. now february 2014, i noticed a puddle under my vehicle and it was determined that once again my ac condenser needs to be repaired. once again i have had to replace this item. i currently have 150000 miles on my vehicle.

Reported in: BALTIMORE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

STEERING

sometimes when the vehicle is started the power steering doesn't work, and when it does the steering wheel shakes when the vehicle is idling as well as when it's driving.

Reported in: TWIN LAKE MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

steering wheel stopped working, no power steering at all. now when you sit still the steering wheel jitters and a klicking sound from where steering goes thru firewall. power steering working again but still nervous about it. car is now setting at auto mechanic.

Reported in: INDEPENDENCE MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STEERING

tl - the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while driving 35 mph the steering wheel started to shake and vibrate, it then became hard to maneuver the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the steering shaft position sensor malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 84,000. rk

Reported in: DAYTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

STEERING

at first it was hard to start unless i pushed the key in while starting then the power steering just went out totally. the steering wheel also vibrated when sitting and idling prior to the steering going out.

Reported in: CARLYLE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

STEERING

power steering works intermittently steering wheel has a slight twitch most definitely a safety hazard when it just randomly stops seems to be a common issue among ford escapes.

Reported in: BARRY IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 2008 FORD E

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE

power steering works intermittently steering wheel has a slight twitch most definitely a safety hazard when it just randomly stops seems to be a common issue among ford escapes.

Reported in: BARRY IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 2008 FORD E

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

power steering works intermittently steering wheel has a slight twitch most definitely a safety hazard when it just randomly stops seems to be a common issue among ford escapes.

Reported in: BARRY IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 2008 FORD E

STEERING

power steering quit while driving down the road. could not get the vehicle off the road fast enough for on coming traffic. i see that there had been quite a few complaints with the same problem. not sure why a recall has not been made.

Reported in: DANDRIDGE TN || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z88K

STEERING

our ford escape lost power steering right as were going into a curve in the road. there was not warning that this was going to happen. lucky i was able to get the vehicle stopped. once i turned the car off and back on again the steering started to work. this problem started to happen more often which prompted me to research what the problem was. i was surprised to discover that many ford escape owners have experienced the same problem. everything i have read states the steering column is faulty and needs replaced. this is a serious safety concern since this is my wife's daily driver.

Reported in: EPHRATA WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU59HX8K

STEERING

no power steering upon vehicle start up. power steering returns after turning off and restarting vehicle 1-4 times.

Reported in: NEW BERLIN WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

power steering stopped working pulled over stopped engine restarted steering working again google problem when i returned home found many angry people with same problem. seems to be a problem that is not an easy fix and common to the steering of the 2008 ford escapes.

Reported in: SAINT CLAIR SHORES MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GKDM19W1WB

STEERING

i was going to drive home from work, upon going to back out of my parking space i realized i had no power steering. i had no choice but to drive the vehicle home, 25minutes on the freeway. after getting home and going to take the vehicle to the mechanic the steering was fine. mechanic said it was electronic and had to be repaired at the dealer. while researching the part this evening i found hundreds to thousands of the same complaint. just emailed ford from their website, will also try calling on monday. this part failure is going to cause serious injury, accident or death and needs to be investigated and recalled.

Reported in: LINCOLN PARK MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

my wife was driving my 9 year old daughter to her karate class when there was suddenly a lot of vibration in the wheel.the steering wheel suddenly locked up causing my wife to lose power steering on a small turn. my wife was able to get our car off the road as there was a dirt pulloff to the side. we took it to a garage and they said this is a common problem. after doing research i found other car manufacturers will honor a recall for this same problem. ford is not honoring any recalls and is making money off of this dangerous defect. it is sad to see a car manufacturer who is willing to put families lives at risk to make extra cash. after talking around my mother also had the same problem with her escape of the same year. i had always been a fan of ford products, however i will never buy another ford product again.

Reported in: WARREN PA || Crash: N || VIN #: IFMCU02Z18K

STEERING

i turned my car on and started driving straight forward. shortly after i realized i had no power steering. the only way i could turn was to muscle the wheel. backed up and parked the car for the night. next morning started it and had no issues. the week before i had noticed some knocking and ticking in the wheel. so figured i'd get it checked out after loosing it completely. stopped to get gas and as i was pulling out onto the busy highway lost it again had to muscle the wheel to avoid being t-boned. immediately took it to the dealership. they knew the problem immediately and gave me high estimates which was a red flag for me that it might be a common issue if the receptionist can diagnose it. did some research to check other options like fluid or belts. saw 1000's of similar complaints online and 100's here. something needs to be done to make ford recall this before someone dies.even if someone dies it probably won't get fixed because they aren't around to tell that they lost steering. plus the problem fixes itself after being turned off so it may not show in investigations of a fatality. also the issue seems to happen after the car reaches 100,000 miles. so complaints and incidents will only go up as more cars hit that 100k mile mark. now it the time to attack the problem.

Reported in: HOLDEN MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

STEERING

while in motion, the steering wheel was a like a dead weight dropped on it and was very hard to steer and drive the vehicle. making it very unsafe to operate. i researched my issue and found other complains regarding the same model and year.

Reported in: ASHLAND MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that there was an oil leak. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was a transmission fluid leak from the condenser, which needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 139,700.

Reported in: HIDALGO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the steering wheel started to shake and vibrate. the vehicle was shut off and restarted however, the failure recurred sporadically. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure and current mileage was 84,000.

Reported in: COLUMBIA MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

STEERING

while driving the vehicle in a parking lot the powersteering cut out. i was able to stop the vehicle and after shutting the car off and turning it back on power steering was restored. when the vehicle is stopped the steering wheel has started to ratchet back and forth. after looking at a few forum i found that the steering wheel position sensor fails and causes these problems regularly.

Reported in: OAKHURST NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while traveling various speeds, steering became extremely difficult. the contact also mentioned that the vehicle vibrated excessively. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 84,000.

Reported in: LONG BRANCH NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn without warning. the vehicle was driven onto the emergency lane; however, the contact continued to drive the vehicle as the failure occurred. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who indicated that the power steering module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Reported in: OSHKOSH WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

the steering wheel locked in position and the vehicle could not be turn in any direction. this was a potentially deadly situation. the driver had no way of knowing when it might occur.

Reported in: MACOMB MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

STEERING

while driving, the steering wheel would shimmy as if a wheel was out of alignment. the steering wheel locked up and was extremely difficult to turn. i pull off into a service road and turned the car off. i started the car back up after about 5 minutes and i was able to steer again. it happens repeatedly when after the car has been parked and i start the car up, the steering freezes. i'll restart the car 3 or 4 times before the steering unfreezes.

Reported in: GREENBELT MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z18K

STEERING

i was driving to parking lot at local store and the power steering quit workingso i stopped in a safe area to investigate the problem shut the vehicle off to look under the hood did not find anything started the vehicle back up problem went away then it happened again at home upon startup no power steering turn vehicle back off has to do this a couple of times then problem went away.now this problem is more constant of no power steering and now the steering wheel sits and chatters back and forth at idle and driving down the road so i took it to the dealer ship and talked to the guys in the parts department and they said this is an ongoing problem and ford can get it figured out as to what there going to do they said as of right now they can't order any power assist columns right yet so i guess ford is dragging there feet on this one i guess until someone dies maybe all the ford ceo's need get into one of they problem vehicles and drive for awhile and see what all of us are talking about??

Reported in: ADRIAN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

steering wheel started to shake from side to side then lost power to steering wheel like it went from easy to very hard to steer. turned car off the restarted and it was ok. now it happens all the time. when i start car up no power, while i'm driving and i loss power.

Reported in: MANCHESTER NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

Reported in: MANCHESTER NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

electric power steering went out without zero warning signs and zero warning signifiers from vehicle dash. was driving on i-10 at 75 mph - steering has always shook at speeds over 70 mph - steering just locked up in the middle of driving, and went into manual mode. there is no recall on this item with ford, but the same issue, at about the same mileage has been reported all over north america (up into canada as well. canada has opened an investigation on this matter for their citizens. a report has been submitted to ford and i have been told to contact the dealership - it is my perception that all owners of this vehicle have been told the same thing. however, a resolution must be made - and not at the cost of the owners because this seems chronically defective. the 2008 ford escape was the first to have this specific power steering placed in it.

Reported in: EL PASO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

POWER TRAIN

after driving on the freeway for approximately 45 miles, i was unable to steer the wheel without a lot of force. i was unable to stay on the road and came very close to hitting another vehicle before coming to a stop along side the freeway. in the past 6 months i have had to replace the transmission (at 69000 miles) and now this. i am not an aggressive driver and feel these problems should be addressed. the steering is a very serious safety issue and should have a recall!

Reported in: GOWEN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

STEERING

Reported in: GOWEN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04118K

STEERING

upon starting my car, i realized i could not turn the steering wheel without great effort. tried it the next day, and the power steering was working, although the steering wheel was vibrating strangely. have had the same problem 2 additional times. after reading numerous other entries on nhtsa website on this same issue, i learned that if i turned the car off and then turned it on, power steering resumed. this worked for me this morning after 3 attempts. brought into mechanic and they could not assess issue. will be bringing into dealer this week. very concerned about what happens if i'm driving and this outage recurs.

Reported in: MINNEAPOLIS MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z18K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the steering wheel seized. the vehicle was shut off and restarted several times before the vehicle functioned normally. the vehicle was taken the dealer for inspection where they stated that the steering torque sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure but was unable to produce a remedy. the failure mileage was 171,979.

Reported in: RISING STAR TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z08K

STEERING

on feb 4 2014 our daughter called very upset stating while making left hand turn steering froze up stopped car no oncoming traffic forced steering back came clear later that afternoon steering froze 2 more times on my wife had to turn engine off and restart steering wheel also had a slight vibration ford has to know they have a problem echlon ford stratford nj knows and had no problem handing me a bill for 1431.06 im just glad there were no injuries or accidents or much worse my wife and i have owned 5 ford vehicles over the yrs will now buy a gmc terrain if ford does not address this problem.

Reported in: SICKLERVILLE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93198K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30mph, a loud grinding noise emitted under the front and the steering wheel failed without warning. the contact was able to exit traffic by turning the steering wheel with force. the local mechanic inspected the vehicle and located the failure at the power steering column and advised that the power steering system needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 125,000.

Reported in: MONTPELIER VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i was heading to work one morning, and i started the car up and didn't have power steering. i shut the car off, and the steering came back. (at the beginning, shutting the car off would fix the problem right way.) i pulled out of my driveway and drove down the road with the steering wheel shaking. there was also a quiet grinding noise coming from the steering column. as the car slowed down (at stop lights etc.), the steering wheel shook more and the noise grew a little louder. as the days went on (3-4 days later), the shaking and noise got worse until it was an uncontrollable, constant shaking of the steering wheel and the noise became so loud and horrid that i thought the car might break down. within that week, as i started my car, the power steering went out about a total of 10 times, and i had to shut off the car and restart it. unlike at the beginning, by the end of the week, i had to shut my car off 4-5 times before the steering would come back. the last day of driving the car, the steering wheel was so loose that it was hard to control on the back roads/highways/freeways and over pot holes. at one point, i made a right hand turn, and i almost thought i was not going to be able to bring the steering wheel/car back. thankfully, i (and no one else) has died from this manufacturer defect in the 2008 ford escapes, but is that what it is going to take in order for something to be done?

Reported in: THREE RIVERS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

Reported in: THREE RIVERS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the power steering failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the electronic power steering had failed. the vehicle was being repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000.

Reported in: THREE RIVERS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94158K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the power steering failed without warning. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure approximate failure mileage was 87,000 and the current mileage was 87,500. the vin was not available.

Reported in: GARDEN CITY MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the fan switch and relay box has a electrical melt down according to the service advisor at the ford dealer. the fan switch was replaced once before. the last time it cost me about $250.00 with extended warranty. now the warranty has expired and will cost me about $1000.00 to replace. i feel ford did a patch job during the extended warranty and it was never correctly fixed. i checked one website and there was 923 complaints about the faulty fan switch. this is a potential fire hazard and ford needs to recall and replace the defective fan switch and relay box on the 2008 ford escape.

Reported in: CARLSBAD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

STEERING

lost power steering when turning from a stop. pulled over stopped and restarted the car and the steering came back. happened again 2 weeks later. when the steering goes out it is nearly impossible to steer the car. the second time it happened was at 30 mph and was lucky enough to be near a shopping center where i could pull in, stop and restart the car. there is no warning when this happens it just goes!

Reported in: NAUGATUCK CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the power steering failed. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. the failure mileage and vin was not available.

Reported in: SHIRLEY MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

the power steering goes out without any warning, making the car impossible to control. this is a problem many many people have reported, i can only hope enough people report it so that you perform a recall. the power steering can come on and go off again intermittently, but this only gives the driver a false sense of security and allows the problem to go unchecked a little longer!

Reported in: GRANGER IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

without warning, the power steering on my 2008 ford escape simply went out. i had no issues or indication that the steering was about to fail and suddenly, the power steering simply stopped working. fortunately, this loss of power steering didn't result in a crash in my case. i quickly scheduled an inspection at the ford dealership and they confirmed that the power steering had in fact failed requiring replacement of my steering column. this was almost a $1,600 repair but had to be done immediately due to the serious nature of the failure. in researching this issue on the internet, i have found scores of other people with the same issue. i discovered that ford had changed from a hydraulic power steering system to an electric system starting in 2008. clearly this system is defective and should be looked into immediately. i was lucky not to have had an accident but one day some one will be killed when this system fails again. don't let this turn into another issue like is currently happening with gm ignitions and lives are lost.

Reported in: OREGON WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU031X8K

STEERING

the power steering suddenly stopped functioning while traveling 45 mph on the highway. i was able to pull the car over to the side of the road and call for assistance. after getting the car to a nearby garage they informed me nothing was wrong once the car was turned off and then on again. i took the car to a ford dealer where they knew of the issue and said it was a common failure in the 2008 ford escapes. the fix was to replace the entire steering column. a quick search of the internet for 2008 ford escape power steering fail yielded multiple results and a pending recall in canada for an issue with the power steering sensor.

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

STEERING

driving down the road, turned down a busy street, wheel locked up. completely frozen, took an incredible amount of strength to turn into a parking lot to safety. restarted car and it was fixed. happened again later that day going down the highway, steering wheel locked. (it's like i have no power steering at all, but it is all electric). the wheel has continued to lock at random times, with no warning what so ever for 20 (twenty!) more times, i have documented them all. nothing provokes this happening, like turning, going up or down hill, slow speeds, nothing, it just happens out of no where. this is extremely dangerous, numerous times i have been in very heavy traffic with no outlet available for me to turn into. it has happened waiting at a stoplight in a turn only lane, but i can't turn the wheel. it has happened again while in the middle lane of a busy highway and i've had to very forcefully angle the wheel so i could get on the shoulder. the wheel unlocks after you restart the car. my stability control light turns on every time the wheel locks. i have done research this is a known problem, hundreds of complaints and ford is doing nothing about it. from what i have read, you have to replace the entire steering column (a $1,300 fix) due to a faulty switch. this is extremely dangerous and i could very easily wreck if it happens in a bad time or bad location. i have had numerous very close calls already and i am afraid to continue driving every day. ford needs to recall this immediately.

Reported in: KYLE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: KYLE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

STEERING

the steering on the subject vehicle "failed" intermittently. in essence, the power steering became non-power steering without any warning on 3 or 4 occasions. the vehicle was much more difficult to steer than a car that had standard steering. if the car was re-started, on occasion it would recover the power steering. i needed to have the entire steering column replaced, which was a repair that cost $970.60. more importantly, this is a serious safety issue.

Reported in: ROCHESTER HILLS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

STEERING

happened several times since nov 2013, while pulling from parked position, steering is very difficult to turn. have to turn off engine and restart to have steering operational. has occurred 6 times.

Reported in: EAGLE RIVER AK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

when i was driving and then going to make a turn the car gas and steering shut down and the car would not move any longer. the steering wheel also got stuck in the process of turning and. the gas peddle also have been getting stuck before this incident it has been going on for at least 3yrs 2011 until 2014 the present we have gone to check it put no diagnosis was done to let us know the steering column system was out until this year when the car went out completely. this is not an acceptable problem and i should not have to pay to get it repaired.

Reported in: CHARLOTTE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

STEERING

Reported in: CHARLOTTE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: CHARLOTTE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z18K

STEERING

at idle and while driving the steering wheel twitches from left to right uncontrollably and without warning. many consumers i've researched are having same problem followed by total power steering failure and extreme difficulty in steering.

Reported in: NORTHVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

at outdoor temperatures below 20 degrees f the fuel tank is nearly impossible to fill. at 0 degrees f it will take over 30 minutes to fill. i am concerned that at some point it will not take any fuel at all.

Reported in: NORTHVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z78K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering column sensor needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 118,000.

Reported in: WEST ORANGE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the power steering assist failed. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 140,000. the vin was unavailable.

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

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. . the contact stated when he attempted to pull out of the parking space, he was unable to steer. the contact stated that the failure had occurred multiple times. the vehicle had not been taken the dealer or independent mechanic for a diagnoses of the failure .the manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. the failure mileage was aproximately 119,000.

Reported in: NEW ALBANY MS || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

for a few months now, the gas pedal has been intermittently sticking in either the fully depressed or non-depressed position. the first few times this has happened, i was on the expressway and traveling approx 70 mph. once the gas pedal was released, i realized that the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own. the gas pedal was lying completely in the depressed position. i could lift the gas pedal with my foot but it would limply fall back to the floor. i was able to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal, but the acceleration continued when i went off the brake. i exited the highway and turned the vehicle off. i continued to lift the gas pedal and wiggle it and it seemed to go back into place. i noticed over time, that this seemed to happen more when the gas pedal was more fully depressed, like when on the highway. at other times, the gas pedal is sticking in the relaxed (un-depressed) position. this seems to be happening during very cold temperatures but continues while driving and when pressing the gas pedal. the vehicle will "jump" forward with the sudden release of the gas pedal after pressing hard enough to make it release. sometimes it takes quite a bit of pressure to make it release. i have read about a recall for these complaints in older vehicles and there are multiple complaints online in the 2008 model. this is a hazard for people, as it happens suddenly and without warning. i don't feel safe having my children in the car.

Reported in: FENTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCUO3Z28K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: FENTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCUO3Z28K

STEERING

this happens multiple times on a long drive over 30 minutes. as i am driving the power steering in my 2008 ford escape xlt will fail and i will lose the ability to steer my vehicle. i have almost had several severe accidents on the highway when it happens at 70mph. this is a huge safety issue and there are many reports of this happening online to similar 2008 escapes. ford has been silent on the issue. this needs a recall in place immediately. ford is aware of the problem and how to fix it. average repair costs are >1400. i can not afford that and will continue to drive/risk my life until this is recalled because i have no other options. the problem resolves itself after restarting the vehicle but happens a short time later. please look into this, i don't feel safe and this is a huge safety issue.

Reported in: SAN MARCOS TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

while driving i lost all power steering. the suv became very difficult to steer. once i was able to muscle it over to the side of the road the steering wheel started to shake back and forth on its own. after turning the car off then back on this went away for a short time. then after about a month or so it happened again. now this happens frequently. i cant drive without this happening. this is very dangerous and needs to be recalled.

Reported in: NASHUA NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

for the last couple of days, whenever i put my car in reverse and begin to back up, i lose my steering ability. the only way i can get my steering wheel to work again is if i turn my car off and then turn it back on again. well, today, it happened again, but this time i tried multiple times to turn my car off and turn it back on and my power steering would not kick back in. i have read through many complaints on here as well as other sites and see that a lot of people are having the same issue with their 2008 escape. i have seen that it can cost over $1400 to get it fixed!! i do not have that kind of money right now!! the fact that there was no warning light to tell me that something in the power steering was going is ridiculous!! in the past 2 years i have had to replace the transmission, get a new battery, get brakes, tires,new gas tank, new sensor for the heating control, and the list continues. this car is only 6 years old and just past 100,000 miles!!! i should not have had to replace all these things already!! i am not about to put another $1400+ in this vehicle especially since it seems to be an ongoing problem with many other escapes. time to do a recall people or you can gladly take this car back!!

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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

STEERING

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

POWER TRAIN

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

STEERING

i was driving down the highway slowing down to make a left hand turn and was unable to turn wheel. after researching it found out if you have the heat on it will cause the sensor to over heat. this is unacceptable.

Reported in: EVANSVILLE IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: EVANSVILLE IN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

without warning, the power steering on my 2008 ford escape simply went out. i had no issues or indication that the steering was about to fail and suddenly, the power steering simply stopped working. fortunately, this loss of power steering didn't result in a crash in my case. i quickly scheduled an inspection at the ford dealership and they confirmed that the power steering had in fact failed. in researching this issue on the internet, i have found scores of other people with the same issue. i discovered that ford had changed from a hydraulic power steering system to an electric system starting in 2008. clearly this system is defective and should be looked into immediately. i was lucky not to have had an accident but one day some one will be killed when this system fails again. don't let this turn into another issue like is currently happening with gm ignitions and lives are lost.

Reported in: CHESTERFIELD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z18K

STEERING

while driving in regular traffic, i noticed that my steering wheel would shudder when stopped. after parking, shutting off car, and then returning, my car had lost its power steering. it has intermittently returned after turning car. off/on, but it is happening more often. quick internet search listed very similar issues and symptoms. all pointing towards the electronic steering assembly. which looks like it costs nearly $1400 to fix usually. i find this extremely dangerous and will not be having my wife or child in this vehicle.

Reported in: APPLE VALLEY MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

my escape had a faulty power steering sensor or steering column that would allow the power steering to stop working at unknown times. this happened several times while driving and affected the way the car would steer. i had to replace this at the ford dealership at a cost of $1,200 to me. this should be a recall item that ford is required to pay for.

Reported in: MIDDLETON WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the power steering assist suddenly malfunctioned as the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. the contact stopped the vehicle and turned the engine off. after restarting the engine the vehicle operated normally. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column was faulty and would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. no additional information was available. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 82,000.

Reported in: NORWICH ND || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU941X8K

STEERING

this is the fourth time that the powering steering has gone out on my escape. i have reported the other incidents as well. just impatiently waiting for ford to recall this issue that is life threatening!! these last two times have been at a low rate of speed thank goodness! its really scary when the steering goes out while driving. i really like my vehicle but i think i am going to trade it so driving will be less stressful for me, even though i have invested thousands of dollars in this vehicle. ford sucks and needs to help save lives... i will not buy ford again, this neglect really makes me angry!

Reported in: AIRVILLE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03198K

STEERING

while driving at highway speeds the steering wheel began to pull and shake to the left and right. the power steering also shuts off entirely while driving, and randomly when starting the car. the car is incredibly difficult to steer when this occurs, making it almost impossible for me to drive. shutting off and restarting the car will sometimes restart the power steering, but the shaking and pulling does not stop.

Reported in: WEATHERFORD TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU041X8K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

when i start the ignition en various occasions i don't have power steering i have to turn the ignition on and off multiple times until i regain power steering. while i'm driving my steering wheel starts trembling and shaking. when that occurs and i come to a stop i loose my power steering. i have to turn the ignition on and off multiple times until i regain power steering.

Reported in: CEDAR CITY UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

STEERING

Reported in: CEDAR CITY UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

STEERING

power steering stopped working while turning corner--car hit mail box @ 10mph. power steering goes out anytime.

Reported in: NEW BALTIMORE MI || Crash: Y || VIN #:

STEERING

i was attempting to leave a gas station when the power steering failed. turned the vehicle off for about 10 seconds, then on again. still no power steering. with great difficulty and with no power steering, backed away from the gas pump to an out-of-the-way area. turned the vehicle off then on again. power steering returned. i checked online to find that other ford/escape owners have experienced the same thing. it also happened again two weeks later at another location.

Reported in: EAST ORANGE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

STEERING

i was driving in town and all of a sudden my power steering locked up and would not release. usually if you put the car in park, shut it off, let it sit fore awhile then start it back up it well eventually release. however, it happens regularly and is a dangerous thing to have happen suddenly.

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

STEERING

i was driving down the street and my power steering stopped working for the third time in a month causing me to run off the road because i couldn't make the next turn. if i pull over, turn off the car, and restart then it works fine. if i was going any faster, this could have been fatal.

Reported in: CHARLOTTE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: CHARLOTTE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

STEERING

was driving and taking a turn when the power steering went out. stopped the car and then shut it off. when i restarted the car the power steering was back on. however, there was considerable shaking in the steering wheel with a rattling noise coming from the steering column. this was only the latest incident. earlier in the morning when i started my car there wasn't power steering. i turned the car off and then on again at which time it worked. this has been going on for about a month happening maybe 1 or 2 times a week. the shaking and noise from the steering column is getting louder while idling.

Reported in: CHISAGO CITY MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i own a 2008 ford escape xlt , v6 3.0 engine. at about 49,000 miles, it started having acceleration issues . this has been an on going problem, but never trips any service lights. i go down the drive way pretty good, but when i get on the highway, i have to hammer on the gas pedal to get it to go and the rpms go way up. the ford dealers can't find anything wrong with it. we know that it's fuel related and have cleaned the throttle body and several sensors. it helped for a short time, several thousand dollars later. but its right back to stalling out. i've never received any recall notices at all. this vehicle is a coffin on wheels ! p.s. this is in regard to the electrical throttle body.

Reported in: CLAYTON WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: CLAYTON WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

Reported in: CLAYTON WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

!st time started to leave, no assist. drove short distance to my home. hard to steer but drivable. second time my wife was driving and started to make a turn ,no assist. was arriving at destination. both times when the car was restarted the power assist worked normally. the 2 above incidents were about 2 weeks apart.the loss of assist wile driving was on 04-01-14.

Reported in: SAN JOSE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04138K

POWER TRAIN

the vehicle began to drive rough and the wrench light popped on the dash. vehicle was taken to a ford dealer and was determined to have transmission failure at 55,000 miles. told would cost over $2k to fix and warranty just expired. we bought this vehicle as a certified pre-owned from the ford dealer 20,000 miles ago.

Reported in: WESTVILLE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

once again, my power steering failed and had to reset it. is ford waiting for a lawsuit or a death to recall this hazard? if someone's vehicle does this while at highway speeds- a lawsuit is waiting to happen.

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

STEERING

power steering went out. was near home and able to get vehicle into driveway. after shutting off and re-starting power steering worked. steering wheel vibrated while driving until repair made.

Reported in: MINNEAPOLIS MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that he noticed corrosion near the rear wheel rims. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the inner and outer frame was corroding and causing it to separate from the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 82,000 and the current mileage was 82,400.

Reported in: HAMBURG NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

STEERING

my power steering keeps going out and on and out and on at any rate of speed. i can't afford the 1500.00 to replace it since i just had my transmission replaced at 4,000.00 it is a big safety issue and i've seen 1000 other complaints online. ford needs to do a recall. this is ridiculous. gm just did a recall and it is the same part. can someone help with this matter please?

Reported in: EARLVILLE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while driving at no particular speed the vehicle lost power steering without warning and the steering wheel was very hard to turn. the power steering was engaged when the vehicle was turned off and restarted. this failure occurred thirty times over a period of a month. the vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

Reported in: DANSVILLE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z48K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while at a stop sign with the vehicle idle the steering wheel jerked to the left independently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the steering column assembly needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 124,693.

Reported in: LAKES STEPHENS WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

STEERING

i am writing to you to seek help on sending a formal complain to ford motor co. to investigate an issue with the 2008 ford escapes where the steering wheel locks in while driving. at first, i didn't think it was a big deal because it has happened only once so far with my 2008 ford escape on 3/13/14 when i was taking my younger daughter to school. i couldn't really move the car and it got so stiff turning left or right that i thought i was going to break the thing. i turned it off and turned it back on right away and nothing happened and i got saddened because i had a field trip to go to that day with my daughter. i decided to go but it was "painful" driving the suv with a very stiff wheel.. ..parking the car at the field trip location it was pretty bad because i couldn't turn the car ,i ended up using 2 parking spaces .i asked one of the parents about the issue and he asked me if it was leaking oil,etc(no leaks) ... the weird thing that happened later that day when he checked my car , it was fine,like nothing has happened.....time went by and after hearing the last few days in the news about gmc complaints and issues never reported, i did a search engine on the web about issues with ford escapes. i went to "carcomplaints.com" and found out that there are over 160 complains about the same issue as mine in different parts of the country and no solutions,no recalls from ford. i sent an email to ford motor co. with no response and i decided to contact 10tv investigates to start"something" about this problem. now more than ever i will be driving nervously thinking when the stiffness issue is going to happen again and god forbid get into an accident.

Reported in: BEXLEY OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03128K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i left the ford dealer's service center after having my car exhaust repaired and less than a quarter mile down the road i suddenly lost all power to the car and could no longer accelerate when i stepped on the gas pedal. i was travelling on a very busy road and i was extremely fortunate to roll into a parking lot without getting hit by another vehicle or causing a major accident. the ford dealer ship found that the throttle body malfunctioned. i found that ford is extending the warranty on this defective part for certain model years under a "customer satisfaction program". i contacted ford and they are refusing to extend the warranty on the throttle body for my car. i would like to find out why my car is excluded from this program. the part is obviously defective and should be replaced by ford per this program.

Reported in: NORTH DIGHTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

STEERING

at first the power steering didnot work upon starting car, restarted and it worked. as time went on this got worse, having to resart several times and now once power steering works it will go off anytime even just drivingstraight on the highway. also when power steering is working the steering wheel shakes. this should be a recall as there have been so many complaints that ford has offered a torche sensor kit instead of having to replace the whole steering column.

Reported in: EMBDEN ME || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

experienced frequent loss of power steering at speed and at stop a few months ago. replacing the battery resolved it for 2 months. then it started again when in tucson. extreme wobble in the steering column at all times. restarting the car helped reset power steering for the first 2 days if the car lost power steering while at rest. restarting the car at speed is not possible and losing power steering is pretty sudden and scary. was driving at 70mph on interstate 10 and lost power steering several times. had to pull over with available manual steering, which was hard. researched online and found similar issues with the 2008 ford escape--loss of power steering both at rest and at speed. filing complaint.

Reported in: CANYON COUNTRY CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: CANYON COUNTRY CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

STEERING

after starting my car to leave the parking lot from my work, i noticed that the power steering wasn't working as i was backing out. i pulled back into my spot, put the vehicle in park, shook the steering wheel to try to get it to work, and nothing. i turned the vehicle off, restarted it, still nothing. i restarted it once more, shook the wheel while starting the engine and it worked fine. i now have to wiggle the steering wheel while starting the vehicle to make sure that the power steering assist turns on.

Reported in: WITHEE WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

POWER TRAIN

my ford escape had 3 transmission failures in the past 4 years. i had it rebuild or replaced by ford twice and it need a third transmission rebuild or replace. the cp4e doesn't hold up or like others commented on this vehicle they have a tendency to have a loose stearing which cause the second gear transmission band to pull away or broken. please advise on this problem or issue a recall since there are more escape with the same problem.

Reported in: HOLLIS NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z98K

STEERING

i was driving on the interstate and lost steering! by the grace of god i was not killed by a tractor trailer that was next to me. my husband grabbed the wheel as it was locked and we barely made it to the side of the road. had it towed to ford. they said there was a tsb and they thought it had a bad sensor. that wasn't the problem. after two weeks of having the car, they replaced the steering column. i paid the $2,000. bill but don't think i should have to as ford should be recalling these vehicles! there are many instances of the same situation people have had that i found online. locally i complained, and the ford regional office denied my request. i wrote to ford's president and did not get a reply. if i had died and it got into the news, they would step up, but i am sure they are assessing which would have more financial impact on them. it is clear they do not care about their customers lives. instead of recalling, they are staying mum. what a shame and a refection on the company.

Reported in: BREWSTER NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU941X8K

STEERING

when i start my car the power steering wont work. i have to shut the car off and restart it and it will work. i noticed my escape was leaking fluid took it to the ford dealer it was the transfer case. after 2500. its fixed and it should be a recall on both as there are numerous complaints on both of these.

Reported in: BLACK RIVER NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: BLACK RIVER NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

starting in about the middle of march, power steering will fail unexpectedly. since then it has become more frequent. if you just start the car with the steering wheel basically on center, there will be no power steering at all. if you crank the wheel to the left or right as you start the car, the steering will work for a while but the wheel will shake and make a noise when it is on-center. it will then sometimes fail completely after a few minutes. stopping and restarting the car may get it to work for a while.

Reported in: WEST BLOOMFIELD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93178K

STRUCTURE:BODY

i have a 2008 used ford escape that was purchased december 2012. it now has 37,000 miles on it. in june of 2013 i noticed above the rear wheel well there is rust bubbles popping up under the paint. once i noticed it in june 2012, i took it to packey webb ford in downers grove, il as soon as i noticed the rusting under the paint. i was told that it was going to be $1900 to fix and that it was not part of the warranty. since the car was less than 5 years and at about 30,000 miles i should contact ford to make sure that the rusting was not covered under warranty. ford told said the wear and tear was part of the car and that it was out of warranty. now if i want to get this fixed, it will cost me $2000.

Reported in: ST. LOUIS MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

i was on the highway with my 2 children and the power steering went out making it difficult to steer and change lanes even with the assist that the vehicle gives. if it was my wife in the care i don't think she would've been able to control it. so i pulled off the highway and read the manual and waited for about 20 minutes. when i tried it again the power steering came back. it thankfully which is not good went out again but i was close to home so i was able to get it home and park it. i looked up the problem online and found that it is a current problem ford is having and quite common. i checked for recalls but there was none. i hope this doesn't turn into a problem like gm where it costs people their lives. i hope nhtsa can help and get this defect recalled. i was told from the dealer i brought it to (fox ford) that it was a sensor in the column but they couldn't just change the sensor it had to be the whole column so needless to say $2300 later it was fixed which the money doesn't compare to my kids safety. again hope you can help!

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMEU03838K

STEERING

i was picking up my toddler from daycare and all of a sudden my steering wheel locked. i was terrified and unable to steer. i turned the vehicle off and tried to exercise the steering wheel and it loosened a little but would keep locking up after a few minutes. found out later this happened to may other 2008 ford escape drivers and they experienced the same terrifying experience of driving and the steering wheel completely locking up. took to dealership and cost was about a thousand dollars to repair. had to get a brand new steering column. a month or two later i find out there is a recall for this problem on previous year escapes, but this seems to be a recall issue for most of them. there should definitely be a recall on 2008's this is very dangerous and scary. if there is a recall issued, i think refunds should be issued to those of us who paid all this money to have these dangerous issues resolved.

Reported in: SOUTHFIELD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU04178K

STEERING

i was driving on a city street when all of a sudden the power steering stopped. it was difficult to steer and turning left was nearly impossible and very painful. i could not turn the steering wheel to park the car. i was very afraid that i would lose all steering capability and get into an accident.

Reported in: BAYONNE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel seized. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 154,000.

Reported in: EMBDEN ME || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94198K

STEERING

sporadic loss of power steering without notice. no error codes. steering wheel becomes very difficult to steer. known failure is sensor in steering column. potential of an accident is high. canada also has an active investigation. ( 3280-03-49)

Reported in: EATON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

STEERING

as i was driving, i was about to make a turn and that's when i lost power to my steering wheel. the wheel was very difficult to turn. i stopped my vehicle, shut if off, and restarted. it began to go back to normal but the steering wheel is shaking on it's own. ever since the first incident, off and on, the steering wheel will have no power. today, i almost crashed while making a left hand turn. it took all of my strength to make sure i didn't hit the median. i was coming to a stop to make my turn and it went out right then and there. after leaving work today again it failed. i was only backing out when i lost power. i already got in touch with ford and they did say it's a known issue but not a recall.

Reported in: POLSON MT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z48K

POWER TRAIN

as i was driving about 30 mph my car suddenly sped up on its own. when i began to slow down my car then would not shift into second gear. the rmps would jump to over 300 when i tried to go faster than 25 mph. once i had gone that speed for a few seconds my car would then do a hard jerk and move into the next gear. this caused many safety hazards for me while driving on the highway.

Reported in: KOKOMO IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: KOKOMO IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03178K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

while turning the wheels the abs light blinks on and off and the car seemed to be slowly losing power. when wheels were straightened again it ran as normal. this happened three times on the drive home from the grocery store, each time when i was turning, the electrical panel was dimming and the gas pedal lost ability to propel car.

Reported in: BELLEVUE WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

ENGINE

Reported in: BELLEVUE WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: BELLEVUE WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93118K

STEERING

power steering stopped working suddenly and without warning while attempting to turn right at a stop sign. i managed to get the car turned, then parked further down the road at my daughter's school. when i restarted the car, the steering worked correctly again.

Reported in: LYNNWOOD WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03168K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while attempting to turn at 10 mph, the power steering assist suddenly failed. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 100,101.

Reported in: WOODSTOCK GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

STEERING

the power steering goes out while driving or parked. the car needs to be pulled over and restarted. this is very unsafe. the power steering will come back on after the vehicle had been restarted.

Reported in: LEXINGTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: IFMCUO4128K

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle was severely rusted near the rear wheel well area. there were also rust bubbles that had formed in addition to signs of corrosion. there was also rust on the bottom half of the interior and exterior door frame. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who inspected the vehicle but did not diagnose or repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the contact was awaiting further inspection of the extensive rust and corrosion. the approximate failure mileage was 70,000. updated 8/6/14*cn

Reported in: ADOLPHUS KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

STEERING

complaint description case # is cas-4154056 in the past i have been a supporter of the "american" company, ford. ford has not stood by its product (and post the links that are on the internet concerning your "steering column problem"!) i could have been killed the day the steering column went out!!! i want my money back! $1,300.00 (i had to replace the steering column, just 7 months after i bought the vehicle. i am definitely of age, i work hard as a graphic designer and know what i am talking about, and know that you have/are robbing the american public, by not doing a recall. (let alone your responsibility in possible injury and even death!!!) in your 2008 ford escape there is a problem with the steering column. you; an american company, meaning i am not dealing with some foreign car dealer! i have heard that you have replaced 5 computers in trying to solve the problem with your steering columns . steering column phoned: 1-800-392-3673 8:46am on march 21st. case # is cas-4154056are you the owner of the vehicle :yesvin : 1fmcu93108ka18374contact informationfirst name : loislast name :goldbeckaddress :n11862 klade roadcity : tomahawk, state :wi, zip :54487email address : loisgoldbeck@gmail.com

Reported in: TOMAHAWK WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

STEERING

power steering failure while driving. power steering goes out.

Reported in: OAKDALE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94178K

ENGINE

i bought my 2008 ford escape used in november 2013. in december 2013 the gas pedal started sticking each time i went to accelerate. it gets stuck "up", meaning i have to pound my foot on the gas pedal in order for it to accelerate forward. my ford is a manual transmission and this makes it not only dangerous on the road but almost impossible to not stall out all the time. called dealership and they were of no help. said car was used and it is what it is. it is now may 2014 and it my family and i can hardly get anywhere. car is very dangerous. took car to midas for a tune up and an estimate. midas stated my car needs a brand new throttle unit, throttle cable and a 3 part fuel kit. this will cost roughly $1000.00 midas stated. we don't have that kind of money. i don't feel safe driving my children around and come to find out that ford extended a warranty for ford escapes 2009-2012 for this same exact fuel kit and throttle issues. 2008 ford escapes are having the same issue for many consumers. please help me. my family and i can't afford to get this repaired and my 6 and 8 year old (and my fiancé) can't be driven around in this car. my own safety is one thing and i will ensure i get to work everyday, but someone is going to get hurt if this is warranty isn't extended or recalled for ford 2008 escapes as well. i have all midas service paperwork and documentation if needed. please help us. we are in danger each time i drive this car and we need a car to drive. thank you-cincinnati, ohio/ may 2014

Reported in: MAINEVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Reported in: MAINEVILLE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

ENGINE

my car isn't working properly due to defective ford throttle body.

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

POWER TRAIN

my car isn't working properly due to defective ford throttle body.

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03108K

STEERING

power steering went out with no warning. it comes and goes now. usually if car is turned off, it works for awhile. no warning when it goes again--no warning lights or anything.

Reported in: ELIZABETH CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z58K

POWER TRAIN

we've owned an '08 escape 2wd xls. at 46300 miles, she experienced a loss of acceleration between 10-20mph; at 22mph the car into gear; at 50mph she got the wrench light. took it to the dealer, they hooked it up on the ids computer, came back with codes p0732 and p0743 internal transmission problem. they said it would need to be torn down to find cause of problem. when i asked how much for that i didn't get an answer and he went to say how if they did that the transmission would already be out and open so fixing it at that point would be the best. after i asked the second time how much is when he said approx. $2500 plus tax... could be higher or lower for the tear down and repair. i declined and decided to take it to aamco. they confirmed the problem. they told me that the cost to rebuild the transmission would be almost as much as getting a remanufactured trans with all the problem areas upgraded and a 3yr 50,000 mile warranty, whereas a rebuild would only get 1 yr warranty. we ended up buying the remanufactured that was the better choice. at the end with labor, install and tax $2837.51. i emailed ford prior to bring to aamco and didn't hear from then until 2 days before my wife's car was done. they call to ask if there was any way they could help but when i told them the escape was no longer at the dealership they said there was nothing they could do. i told them we could not afford to wait to hear from them and that it was a transmission specialist we took it to. they said that they cannot stand by the work an outside (non-ford) shop does. i then told them how i knew ford was aware of the problem because they had issued a service bulletin to its techs advising them of the problems because there are more than 1 problem with these transmissions. ford knowingly put my wife and daughters lives in danger with this problem and they don't care.

Reported in: NEPTUNE NM || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

STEERING

my wife was turning to pull into a parking spot when the power steering went out. she had to restart the engine to get it working again.

Reported in: WACONIA MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU931X8K

STEERING

while driving my steering wheel will lock up which makes it very hard to turn corners.

Reported in: WINDSOR MILL MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

mesc pump failure. driving on highway and vehicle shut down. hybrid coolant pump failure.

Reported in: TUCSON AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU49H48K

ENGINE

i was driving through a crowded neighborhood with many people crossing the roads with the weather being warm. all of a sudden, the engine light and other dashboard lights came on, and the car stalled. the brakes would not work, so i turned on my hazard lights, held the horn down and waved frantically through my open window. luckily i had enough space in front of me so i could allow the car to cruise to a halt. i unfortunately had to roll through a stop sign where the people were aware that i was having an issue with the car. upon stopping the car and turning it off, i got out and looked under the hood for any smoke or other issues. i let the car sit on the side of the road for about 5-10 minutes, and then started it up again. i was within 2 minutes of my residence so i rolled the car all the way home with my hazards on. this could have been a serious situation with multiple injuries and/or fatalities (small children in area). ford needs to fix this issue as soon as possible.

Reported in: MARKHAM NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: MARKHAM NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Reported in: MARKHAM NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

POWER TRAIN

on friday may 23, i was driving to the store and the "wrench" symbol came on. my truck started to stall in mid-travel and i was able to avoid being rear-ended. i do not feel safe in the vehicle. the light went out after we were almost home. however, on saturday, after i pressed the gas peddle, the truck did not pick up speed. it is now parked in front of my door.

Reported in: BALTIMORE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94108K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that once the vehicle was turned off it could not be restarted. the radio also failed and the vehicle exhibited a reduction in power. the failure recurred on 5 different occasions. the vehicle was towed and the transmission, alternator, front axle and battery were all repaired however, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure and current mileage was unknown. the vin was not provided.

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while turning at approximately 22 mph, the power steering failed and the steering wheel locked. as a result, the contact�s vehicle crossed over the yellow line and crashed head on into another vehicle. a police report was filed. the driver sustained injuries and received medical treatment. the three passengers were uninjured. the vehicle was destroyed. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number 14v284000 (steering). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 71,191.

Reported in: PINE PLAINS NY || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU94108K

ENGINE

when i am stopped at a stop-sign, i go to accelerate and the vehicle does not go. after about 2-3 seconds of pressing the accelerator pedal to turn onto a street, the vehicle will then surge picking up a little speed. i have almost been hit by traffic when turning onto a street numerous times. it does not happen when driving at higher speeds only when i accelerate from a complete stop. this is very dangerous because when i need to accelerate, the vehicle will not let me. so basically there is a delay from the time i press the accelerator, to the time the vehicle actually kicks in and goes. extremely dangerous!

Reported in: MONROE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1fmcu04168k

STEERING:COLUMN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving at an unknown speed, the power steering malfunctioned as the steering wheel became difficult to turn. the dealer stated that the steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified and confirmed that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). the dealer would not repair the vehicle because the diagnostic codes were not associated with the recall. the failure mileage was 85,000.

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STEERING

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z78K

STEERING

friday june 6th, 2014 at approximately 3:30pm while driving around a moderate curve in good weather conditions at approximately 40mph, the electronic power steering failed, leaving the steering wheel 'locked' in a right turn. because of the sudden loss of steering, the driver was not able to correct the turn and left the roadway. the vehicle went head on into a large stone lined culvert (approximately 6-8' deep), hit the front end into the culvert wall, flipped across the drive down the other side of the culvert, and then rolled several more times until it came to rest on it's wheels, approximately 20-30' from the initial point of impact. all of the airbags went off. there was no fire, but the engine did smoke. the driver was taken to the hospital via ambulance and, miraclulously only had severe strains, bruising, lacerations, and emotional trauma. there were multiple witnesses to the accident.

Reported in: MOUNTAIN PINE AR || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

for almost a year, to start my car i had to push key in very firmly, then turn. for about one month now, i have to push in, then jiggle in and out until it connects and starts car. sometimes it takes 5 minutes to find the connection. i don't know if this is related to the problem of having no power steering (power steering comes and goes - usually none) which i understand is also an electrical problem.

Reported in: STUART FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

STEERING

Reported in: STUART FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

STRUCTURE:BODY

right & left rear wheel well is rusting.

Reported in: BURLINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z8KA

STEERING

recently on 2 ocasions i was about to make a left turn and my steering became very hard to turn. once making the turn i had to quickly put my car in neutral and turn the key off and then on and the steering was ok.

Reported in: BURLINGTON KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

i have problems with the bearings. i go slow and turn. the same side continues to need repair i have repaired it 3 times in 3 years and now it is messing up again. i have been to 2 different mechanics and they both said the same thing (that the bearings go out on these cars often ) i thinik the car my be too heavy for the wheel system they chose not sure but it starts to pull my steering wheel to that side and i have had 2 alignments because of this issue help!

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

wrench light came on and i immediately took my vehicle to john bleakley ford for a diagnostic test to see what was going on. i noticed that the vehicle was stalling while going uphill and sometimes would not go more than 20. then when driving in the city the vehicle would sometimes jerk. this is a very nervous feeling!!! i was told that it is a factory problem & told to continue driving it. i was told by the service mgr to contact them in january after he contacts ford. i called and emailed often ad it is a nervous feeling to drive a car like this. i finally was able to follow up with the service mgr who avoided me until may 2014, and he only spoke to me after i contacted mr bleakley! i have quoted prices for a rebuilt transmission and a new transmission which is very expensive. i am still trying to figure out what happens when ford customers do not find the money to make expensive repairs. the mileage is too low to need a transmission. also i have maintained my car good. this is dangerous & unbelievable!!!

Reported in: ATLANTA GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z68K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

went to accelerate and the gas pedal would not move. it was stuck.

Reported in: NEW HAVEN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

STEERING

power steering locked up on several occasion upon start up and a couple of times while driving, although speed at the time steering locked up is unknown. steering column had to be replaced in jan 2013 at my expense and totalled $1244.60. due to the recent recall of the numerous ford escape's steering, i feel ford should reimburse me for the expenses related to the defect.

Reported in: NEWNAN GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

STEERING

driving in third lane on interstate then all of a sudden it started veering towards the left and had no control. it veered me into the concrete wall and then i stoppped. both air bagged exploded.

Reported in: LOUISVILLE KY || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1FMCU93158K

SEAT BELTS

i have a 2008 ford escape and i can put the seats down for storage and when i tried and lifted the passenger seat up behind the drivers, the seat belt retractor won't release and i cannot put the seat up. i have tried a can of air and tapping on the retractor and this won't release the seat belt so i can put the seat up.

Reported in: COUNCIL BLUFFSS IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1fmcu03168k

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the steering column seized and the transmission failed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 42,000.

Reported in: CAMDEN AR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: CAMDEN AR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z48K

POWER TRAIN

my 2008 ford escape kept surging up to 5 rpm while i was driving. thank god i was able to pull over without having an accident! wrench symbol appeared that said: throttle/powertrain. had to have car towed to a mechanic who told me i had to take my vehicle to a ford dealership. called ford dealer and appointment was scheduled with on 6/27; of course, i had to have the vehicle towed again. after the vehicle was evaluated the service advisor called and said it is my transmission!!?? how could this be! i only have 80k miles on the vehicle in 5 years! how is the transmission failing at such low mileage?! ont he nhtsa website, i see there are myriads of complaints regarding this same issue, yet no recalls?? no way should i (consumer) be responsible for a total transmission failure at 80k mlies, especially when it's evident it's a manufacturer's defect! my suv is still at the dealership because it had to be re-evaluated by one of their transmission experts.

Reported in: MECHANICSVILLE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z98K

AIR BAGS

my car was involved in an accident, on the hwy, in which the driver lost control and the car rolled several times. the 2 front airbags never deployed. none of the 3 adult passengers were seriously hurt. the car was totaled. i bought the car from a ford dealership for $15,000, used. the airbags should have opened. the driver and passengers could have been killed.

Reported in: ST. LOUIS MO || Crash: Y || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate. the maintenance service sensor illuminated on the instrument panel. an independent mechanic stated that the second and fourth gears were faulty and the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 82,000.

Reported in: WEST CALDWELL NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94168K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: WEST CALDWELL NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94168K

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (power steering) exceeded a reasonable about of time for the recall repair. the dealer stated that the remedy was not available. the manufacturer was made aware of the delay. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact did not experience a failure.

Reported in: BOWLING GREEN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94138K

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, the check engine warning indicator was illuminated and the electrical system failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the egr valve needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

Reported in: BRUNSWICK OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

POWER TRAIN

when the vehicle approaches 15-20 mph the rpm's rev. vehicle also wants to stall at low speeds or when idling. while all these issues start occurring the wrench light comes on in the vehicle. it makes the vehicle useless to drive and down right dangerous on the highway.

Reported in: LAKEWOOD OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

december 17, 2012 with only 97,000 miles on this car it completely stalled while driving, vehicle had to be towed and complete transmission replacement. july 22,2014 vehicle starting to excel while driving and lose power ....wrench light is on.....124,000 miles recall needs to include 2008 it includes 2009---2013 for throttle body replacement and extending warrany to 150,000

Reported in: AMARILLO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: AMARILLO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93108K

STEERING

i responded to a recall notice 14s05. i call the ford dealer in my area and was given an appointment for 11/5/2014. this is unreasonable. had i called for regular service that would not have me wait this long.

Reported in: ATLANTA GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03118K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated while driving at various speeds the steering wheel became difficult to turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the steering column. the contact was made aware of a recall under nhtsa campaign number 14v284000 (steering), however his vin was not included on the recall. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

Reported in: ANAZONIA MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z48K

STEERING:COLUMN

Reported in: ANAZONIA MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z48K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

when trying to start the ignitin,it sometimes will not start.i have to push in with the key and try this several times before it will crank.if i need to be in a hurry,i can't,because it takes about 10 minutes to get crank..

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

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

my car is under recall for a major safety issue as the steering can go down. i have tried mutliple times to get a hold of fod dealers service departmants and cannot even get them to answer the phones in order to get my car repaired. it is a danger and i have no other car that i can drive.

Reported in: PARKER CO || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while idling, the steering wheel shook and lost power steering. the vehicle was restarted on numerous occasions in order to regain power steering. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number 14v284000 (electrical system), however the vin was not included. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 182,119.

Reported in: SPRINGFIELD MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03148K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

i am having trouble with my 2008 ford escape the ignition switch won't start my car. since about 6 months ago i have to keep pushing my key in further and further to try to get my car to start. sometimes it take 10-15 min before i can actually get it started. reading comments about the car this is a major issue and there should be a recall done

Reported in: NOKOMIS FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: NOKOMIS FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: NOKOMIS FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z68K

STEERING

steering wheel is loose when trying to start car.the wheel has to be turned several times back in forth in order to start car.it has now become very difficult to start,taking 4-5 minutes of turning and jostling the key to start the car.

Reported in: JOHNSTOWN PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

STEERING

2008 ford escape. consumer writes in regards to vehicle steering recall problems. *smd the consumer stated there has been no recall instructions to the dealers on how to fix the problem. *jb

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

STEERING

tl-the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that when driving at low speeds, the steering seized. the contact also stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal and the wrench warning light illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not been notified. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (power steering) but did not confirm if the vin was included. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. djr

Reported in: DETROIT MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: DETROIT MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the power steering failed without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated that the ignition switch and ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. the failure mileage was 93,000.

Reported in: SAN DIEGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02ZX8K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while turning the steering wheel, there was a loud abnormal noise. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering column fractured as a result the steering shaft needed to be replaced. the contact stated that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign id number: 14v284000 (power steering). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 82,409. updated 09-04-14 *bf

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z38K

POWER TRAIN

i was driving on the freeway when my car suddenly wouldn't drive. i pressed the gas, but it wouldn't go. i limped over to the side of the road. my wife and children were in the car, but fortunately they were not hurt. after about 5 minutes, i was able to drive it to the exit (a few hundred feet). this seems like an incredible hazard - one that ford should fix! i can tell you this, i will get the car fixed to where it can be driven, but i will never buy a ford again. ford has put my family at risk and won't do the right thing.

Reported in: LONG BEACH CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z28K

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. shortly after the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (power steering), the failure specified in the recall notice occurred. the dealer stated that the contact would have to pay out of pocket to have the vehicle repaired again. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 59,222.

Reported in: WARD COVE AK || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z48K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

this morning driving to work, again....my gas petal stuck...was going 50 to 1 mph in a second. i have had my 2008 ford escape back to the dealer three different times since i purchased it in 2009 and they stated...they could not "replicate" the issue. i have just learned on 8/12/14 there is a recall on the throttle and i hope they honor the recall. this has been a very scary situation over the years, where my life was put in danger and all i have been told is that they cannot "replicate" the issue when the vehicle was in each time soon after it happened. i am calling my local ford dealer now!

Reported in: USA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93Z68K

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

2008 ford escape. consumer writes in regards to power steering system recall notice. *smd the consumer stated it was difficult to make an appointment. she called three dealerships, and they all had some type of issue. recall # 14v284000.

Reported in: BRONX NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU92Z78K

STEERING

while driving 2008 ford escape electrical steering would quit working while driving down the road and go into manual steering mode. if the vehicle was stopped and restarted the electrical steering would work. checked to see if the vehicle had a recall for the steering problem online and the vehicle did. received recall notice for 2008 ford escape electrical steering failure recal # 14s05. took the 2008 in for repairs at ed koehn ford dealership in wayland, michigan for repairs. mechanic stated that steering had to be reprogrammed. now after the fix (programing) vehicle steering wheel shakes while not in motion while parked. unable to use vehicle. ford states that vehicle has been fixed as far as they are concerned. dealership contacted ford special services for the shaking steering (while the vehicle is sitting motionless) and dealership advised that this would not be covered under the recall. the steering wheel did not shake until ford made the repair for the recall. i have contacted ford customer service twice (1-800-392-3673) which still advises it is not related to the recall. case #5055156-f5p7bq. the recall states that alternatively, the dealer may have to replace the torque sensor or the steering column. in this case, since the reprogramming did not work the steering column should have been changed. the vehicle was not properly repaired. it appears to be a cheap fix by ford at my expense. now ford wants $950 to make the repair which should have been covered at no cost under the recall.

Reported in: HOPKINS MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU02Z58K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i was decelerating to a red light, when my accelerator depressed and stuck to the floor on it's own, i had to shut the ignition off and coast into the gas station to get the vehicle to come too a stop. i took it to andy mohr ford and was told it needs a new electronic throttle body, which is a 600.00 repair. i bought my escape used so there is no warranty nor could i afford this repair. i researched the issue and found a recall for the electronic throttle body, but was told by andy mohr, the recall doesn't apply to my specific build. i then contacted ford corporate and opened a claim with them, i was told they would take care of it ( because it's a manufactures defect and a safety issue )and was referred back to andy mohr this time i spoke with the customer service manager and told the sane thing, that because i don't have a warranty,, the repair isn't coveted and i'm therefore responsible for the cost of repair. this can't be right or legal, this problem poses a safety risk to myself and my family as well as my fellow drivers i could potentially hurt or kill when this accelerator decides to depress and stick again.

Reported in: DANVILLE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

STEERING

power steering would fail often. at first it would not work right after vehicle was started. after shutting down and restarting it would often kick back in and work. it progressively got worse and about 2 weeks after initial incident it would often fail while traveling on the highway at speeds up to 70 mph. this is my wife's primary vehicle and if something were to happen and the power steering failed at those speeds she would not have the strength to properly maneuver the vehicle out of danger.

Reported in: PAGE AZ || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the abs light illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 133,000. the vin was not available.

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

POWER TRAIN

while accelerating to get onto the highway, i noticed the engine was revving but our speed wasn't increasing and it seemed as though it wasn't going into gear. finally once it did shift the wrench indicator light came on. after taking it to the repair shop to have it evaluated i was told that the bands for 2nd and 4th gear were busted and i'd need a new or rebuilt transmission installed. i won't ever buy another ford after seeing all of the other reports on this and knowing that they aren't issuing a recall to fix this problem. this can be real dangerous if someone is coming at you and you can't get out of the way fast enough! i'm taking the loss and trading it in on something more reliable.

Reported in: NEW MARKET MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93128K

SERVICE BRAKES

while driving my front wheel drive ford escape on a trip the abs and stability control lights both came on. this did not initially cause any problems with normal braking while driving in dry conditions. at the end of the trip the abs system activated on every stop, significantly reducing stopping distance on dry ground. my investigation found the following: rusting of the driveshaft surface apparently caused outward pressure on the inside of the front right abs tone ring resulting in it separating in one spot. this probably created a error in the monitoring by that abs sensor resulting in the lights coming on. the ring may have held fast to the rust under the remainder of the ring during most of my trip causing no other problems. near the end of my trip the cracked ring appears to have shaken free, slipping on the rotating driveshaft surface. this may have made the sensor think the wheel was not turning and applied the abs to that wheel each time the brakes were applied. the danger then became increased stopping distance on dry ground and unknown performance on slippery surfaces. in checking around, this appears to be a common problem and the other ring will crack eventually due to similar rusting. repairing this requires the ring to be replaced and possibly the driveshaft section it is mounted on.

Reported in: ELK GROVE VILLAGE IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the air bag and check engine warning lights illuminated continuously. in addition, the vehicle began shaking. the failure recurred on multiple occasions. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (steering) and after the recall repair, the failures occurred. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

Reported in: BROOKLYN PARK MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

ENGINE

Reported in: BROOKLYN PARK MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

AIR BAGS

Reported in: BROOKLYN PARK MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z88K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

two days ago, i was driving on the highway and suddenly, my gears started slipping. i was driving 45 mph and then my car decelerated to the point where i could no longer accelerate. this made it very difficult to get back home and i feared that i would be at risk for a crash. immediately the next morning, i brought my car to a ford dealer and they diagnosed the problem to be with the transmission. my options were to fix one band or the entire transmission. upon doing research about this issue, i found that many other ford customers had experienced the same problems with their 2008 ford escape's transmission.

Reported in: BEDMINSTER NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: BEDMINSTER NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Reported in: BEDMINSTER NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03ZX8K

STEERING

while driving and upon attempting to negotiate a curve noted loss of power steering resulting in difficulty accomplishing curve, stopped at side of road when opportunity presented itself turned off ignition, restarted and vehicle returned power steering. returned vehicle to place of purchase as was under warranty they were not a ford dealer, made adjustments to wiring harness they felt was at fault, vehicle performed normally for some weeks. then vehicle would randomly lose power assist and at times upon startup would not have power steering, each instance was relieved by tuning off and restarting vehicle. after some research and conversations with ford personal was advised enough problems reported to expect recall and to wait till then for remedy. upon recall took to local dealer they reprogrammed and assured problem was fixed. problem returned that pm, returned to dealer they refused to do more work as they claimed recall was done ignoring steps 2 and 3 of recall. now ford corporation says i am on my own to repair defective parts.

Reported in: KINGSPORT TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93188K

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated the transmission was slipping and failed to shift into gear when the accelerator pedal was depressed. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 75,000.

Reported in: PENNINGTON NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93138K

POWER TRAIN

tl - the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that the tone ring on her vehicle fractured. the vehicle was taken to a dealer. the vehicle was repaired. the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 90,000. bt

Reported in: ENGLEWOOD OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94138K

POWER TRAIN

vehicle surged forward when i came to a stop vehicle would not go into gear until i was at 3500 -4000 rpm. i got on freeway &couldn't get to speed limit. the wrench light is illuminated & when i looked up description in manual it states it is the throttle control/powertrain.after doing some research they do have recalls for this but on the 2009-2012 models. it also specified that ford as of feb. 2014 had issued an extended warranty for throttle body assemblies for 2005 - 2012 for 10 years or 150,000 miles. i contacted ford & then state there is no recall nor consumer satisfaction program 13n03 for my car. yet, the have the same consumer satisfaction program for the 2011 milans. this i know cause my daughter has a 2011 milan & she received notice. i do not understand how ford can not comply when this escape clearly has the same problems as the recalled vehicles for 2009-2012. all i was told was to get it fixed & keep receipt and maybe some day could get reimbursed. this is really frustrating and on ford's part totally unaware and unfair to their consumers!

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93168K

ENGINE

the transmission went out and had to be replaced. vehicle has been well maintained and this should not have happened.

Reported in: SMITHFIELD NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU03Z58K

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

i was turning right on a stop light and front left abs tone ring broke. car slipped gears and would not accelerate for 5-10 seconds. rsc light and abs light came on briefly. car continued to do this randomly and abs brakes were activated when braking at low speeds. issue is with tone ring on many ford escapes from 2000-2008. rings often break because of excessive rust build up on ford components causing expansion. part is constructed very poorly and as a result safety is compromised and service repairs profit goes up!

Reported in: BLOOMINGTON IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

SERVICE BRAKES

Reported in: BLOOMINGTON IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: BLOOMINGTON IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU93148K

STEERING

tl- the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact received nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000. the contact stated that the power steering assist fault light illuminated. the vehicle was taken into the dealer and the technician diagnosed the torque sensor needed to be replaced. no repairs were made and the manufacturer declined paying for it as the vehicles software was update, completing the recall. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage 101,000. sr

Reported in: GREENE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1FMCU94178K

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