NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CHANGED THE WIRING HARNESS. HOWEVER, SIX MONTHS LATER THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,900 MILES. *AK CONSUMER HAS INCLUDED MULTIPLE INVOICES STATING BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT. THE DEALER PERFORMED MULTI POINT INSPECTION AND PERFORMED THE VARIOUS TASKS: REINSTALLED SIDE FRONT PANEL, REPLACED HARNESS, ALIGNMENT OF FRONT END AND REAR, REPLACE UPPER STRUT BEARING AND BUSHING, BLED BRAKE SYSTEM. UPDATE *4/16TR THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
NORMAL CITY DRIVING INITIATED FAILURE OF BRAKES TO HAVE PRESSURE. IMMEDIATELY BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. BRAKES MAY BE APPLIED, BUT RELEASE AFTER APPLICATION. INITIALLY, WHEN BROUGHT INTO FORD DEALERSHIP 11 DAYS AGO, PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE ELECTRONIC, BUT AFTER REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BRAKES, THE PRESSURE FAILS TO RESUME. *JB
THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING ON A ONE-LANE ROAD (OFF RAMP OF HWY 101), THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED SUDDENLY. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS APPEARED TO HAVE STRUCK THE WINDOW. THE SHATTERING OF GLASS RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND SOME DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED AND FORD REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. NOTHING WAS DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *JB
SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION FELT AT STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENOUGH VIBRATION FELT TO CAUSE FATIGUE TO THE OPERATOR'S FOREARMS/HANDS - MOST UNPLEASANT WHEN DRIVING 100+ MILES. *JB
I WAS BROADSIDED AND KNOCKED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE FRONT END WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE UTILITY POLE. I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER'S 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. DUE TO THIS MY CHEST AND LEFT SHOULDER WERE INJURED GREATLY. I HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE SUV. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED I HEARD THEM MENTION THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND TOLD THEM TO BE CAREFUL WHEN CUTTING ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TAKEN TO THE ER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND ON THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO GO BACK BECAUSE OF HEAD AND CHEST PAINS. I DO BELIEVE IF THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED MY INJURED WOULD HAVE BEEN LESSER. I HAVE GREAT BILLS BECAUSE MY MOTHER'S INSURANCE DID NOT PAY THE BILLS, BECAUSE I DID NOT LIVE IN THE HOUSE WITH HER. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE WRECKED VEHICLE. *TR
UPON PURCHASE RUMBLING WAS FELT WHILE BRAKING. THE FUCCILLO CAR DEALER MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS THE 4WD KICKING IN. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED AND ONCE THE 90 DAY WARRANTY WAS UP THEIR STORY CHANGED. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TONE RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY OF THESE AND BE LOOKING FOR A RECALL. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE BRAKES BEGIN TO CLANG AND BANG WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE THAT HAS THE GAS PEDAL STICKING ALL THE TIME AND IT'S GOING TO KILL MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S IF WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. I SEE THAT FORD RECALLED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2004 AND 2005 MODELS BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE 2006 MODELS. IT STARTED WHEN I BOUGHT IT SOMETIME IN 2006 AND IS STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR
I OWN A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. IN 2006 IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 18 HOURS. FORD TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE MAIN OFFICE IN DETROIT. I DID. THEY HAD ME CONTACT THE DEALER IN WHICH I PURCHASED BOTH MY ESCAPES. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ABS. WEST-HERR FORD OF HAMBURG N. Y. CAME AND TOWED MY ESCAPE TO THEIR COLLISION SHOP. THEY CALLED ME UP AND SAID THEY MISPLACED MY KEYS, SO I GAVE THEM MY SPARE SET. DAYS TURNED TO WEEKS,WEEKS TURNED TO MONTHS. THEY FINALLY SAID THAT MY INSURANCE SHOULD PAY FOR IT. MY INSURANCE BLAMED FORD. FORD SAID THAT I COULD PICK MY TRUCK UP BUT IF I DID IT WOULD BE OUT OF THEIR HANDS, SO OF COURSE I DID NOT PICK IT UP. FINALLY 1 YEAR LATER FORD COVERED THE FAULTY PART AND "FIXED" MY TRUCK. I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK 4 TO 5 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS. WHILE MY TRUCK SAT AT THEIR COLLISION SHOP FOR A YEAR, MY WARRANTY RAN OUT. I LOST A WHOLE YEAR. NOW THEY SAY WE CAN FIX IT FOR AN "AT COST" PRICE. THEY CALLED ME IN TO AN EXECUTIVE MEETING AND TRIED TO SAY THEY CAN GIVE ME A DEAL ON A NEW TRUCK. MY TRUCK ACCORDING TO THEM NEEDS $700.00 TO BE FIXED AND INSPECTED, BUT THEIR JUST TRYING TO SELL ME A NEW VEHICLE. THEY CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT. I'M NOT EVEN ASKING FOR THE YEAR WARRANTY THAT I LOST, I'M JUST ASKING TO HAVE MY TRUCK PUT BACK INTO THE CONDITION IT WAS IN BEFORE THEIR FAULTY PART CAUSED THE FIRE. IT HASN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE. I AM NOT RICH. MY WIFE AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF THREE, AND I WILL NOT STAND BY AND BE TAKEN BY A BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY. I WILL DO WHATEVER I AM LEGALLY ABLE TO DO. I WAS GIVEN A VOICE AND YOU CAN BET ILL USE IT. THIS WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THEY FIX IT AND MAKE IT RIGHT. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE MEETING TO HEAR THE SMOKE THEY TRIED TO BLOW, IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE THE VICTIMS. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME ON MY RIGHTS. THANK YOU. LEONARD J. HILL *TR --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE FREQUENTLY DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL (MORE THAN A DOZEN OCCURRENCES OVER 12 MONTHS). OWNERS MANUAL DESCRIBES THIS AS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. FOUR ATTEMPTS BY FORD SERVICE TO CORRECT AND ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE BECAUSE CODES ARE ERASED WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF(?). *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE GRINDS DURING START UP IF IT SITS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. ON 04-18-06 THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER ALONG WITH A DELAY IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLE'S WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER ARRANGED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED THIS WEEK. UPDATED 5/16/2006 - THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER LUBED THE DOOR AND APPLIED WEATHERSTRIPPING. *NM
I PURCHASED A 2006 ESCAPE HYBRID ON APRIL 9TH & IMMEDIATELY IT HAD BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEMS - ESSENTIALLY NO BRAKES. IT HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP SINCE APRIL 10TH. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS FIXED ON APRIL 22 & WHEN I WENT TO GET IT, SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED IN TEST DRIVE. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ELSE IS WRONG. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE SENSOR, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE THE ABILITY TO PROPERLY BRAKE IS HIGHLY ESSENTIAL. *NM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE 2006 FORD ESCAPE WITH 100 FAILURE MILEAGE SHE TURNED ON THE HEAT ONE RAINY DAY AND BEGAN TO SMELL A PERFUME/GRAPE CANDY ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATER VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER , AND THE ENGINEER LOOKED IT OVER, BUT WILL NOT SPECIFY WHAT TESTS THAT THEY DID, IF ANY. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THIS ODOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6000.*AK UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB
APPROXIMATELY EVERY 8,000 MILES THE PARKING BRAKE ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, INLINE-4, FWD LOOSENS AND MUST BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE TIGHTENED. THUS FAR, THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. WHILE PARKING ON A HILL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CLUTCH NO LONGER HOLDS THE VEHICLE IN PLACE AFTER 17,000 MILES. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AT 8:02 PM, THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE SEATBELT WAS WORN AND BOTH FOG LIGHTS AND HEAD LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE BOTTOM PORTION AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, BUT THE TOP PORTION FAILED TO OPEN. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING TWO FRACTURES OF THE STERNUM, A HEMATOMA TO THE LEFT CHEST, AND FRACTURES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, AS WELL AS, HEAVY BRUISING TO THE FOREHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. REPAIRS WERE MADE PRIOR TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINEER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.
I HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE GAS PEDAL IS STICKING ALL THE TIME. IT'S NOT A STICKING BECAUSE IT IS STUCK OR NEEDS LUBED. IT IS A HARD MECHANICAL LOCK! NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO YOU CAN NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT'S LOCKED! YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT UNLOCKS TO DO ANYTHING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THE OTHER DAY IT LOCKED UP ON ME AS I WAS PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SIT THERE UNTIL IT DECIDED TO WORK AGAIN. MY HUSBAND DRIVES AROUND WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON SO HE DOESN'T GET PUT IN A POSITION LIKE THIS ONE EVEN IN TOWN! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED- THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF A CAR LIKE THIS! FORD RECALLED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2004 AND 2005 MODELS BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE 2006 MODELS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY OUT MONEY FOR A FAILURE THEY ARE AWARE OF. SOMEONE SHOULDN'T BE KILLED FOR THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND TAKEN SERIOUS. IF I COULD I WOULD GET ANOTHER CAR BUT I WOULD LOSE A LOT OF MONEY DOING THAT. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DEMANDED. IF YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE PLACE. NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THE STEPS OF ACTION TO TAKE TO BE HEARD. WE NEED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TO STEP UP AND PROTECT OUR DRIVERS AND OUR ROADS. THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS! THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE CAR DECIDES TO DO THIS. WHEN YOU TAKE IT IN AND IT DOESN'T DO IT, THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US! *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE WAS MOST PROMINENT WHEN DRIVING IN THE COLDER WEATHER. THE CONTACT RESOLVED THE FAILURE TEMPORARILY BY CONTINUOUSLY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL IT WOULD RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP OR TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. UPDATED 9/19/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE "STICKY PEDAL" ISSUE OCCURRED A FEW DOZEN TIMES WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35MPH. THE FAILURE MOSTLY OCCURRED IN COOLWEATHER. IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR 5-10 MINS AT A TIME. UPDATED 09/20/2012 *JS
THE TRUCK HAS SOME ISSUES WHILE DRIVING IT . ITS REALLY HARD TO DESCRIBE WHAT ITS DOING..BUT WHEN IT STARTS TO ACT UP I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AN I JUST COAST UNTIL THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION STOPS DOING WHAT EVER ITS DOING THEN I AM ABLE TO KEEP DRIVING NORMALLY. I WORRY WHEN EVER I AM DRIVING THINKING PARTS MIGHT DROP OUT FROM UNDER IT IF I DON'T BABY IT KINDA..SO I DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE'S EVER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THEY MIGHT NOT LET OFF THE GAS WHEN ITS HAVING TROUBLE IN ITS SHIFTING OR THE TRANNY IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT UNDERNEATH IT ..WHAT EVER THE ISSUE IS. I AM NOT ONE WHO WORKS ON CARS SO HOW WOULD I KNOW WHAT ITS PROBLEM IS . WHEN I HAVE ASK FORD DEALER SHIPS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY JUST TELL ME THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THE TRUCK SO THERE FOR THERE IS PROBABLY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I KNOW WHAT EVER IS WRONG WITH IT I CANT BE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS ISSUES WITH MY TRUCK.I AM NOT ROUGH ON MY TRUCK.. I HAVE A FORD ESCAPE 4DR 4X4 6CY 2006 ANYONE ABLE TO HELP ME HOW DO I GET FORD TO FIX THIS? I HAVE GOTTEN MY TRUCK PAID OFF NOW AN I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO HAVE TO PAY FOR SUCH LARGE REPAIRS . IM SINGLE MOM OF TWO BOYS ONE OF WHICH HAS SPECIAL NEEDS ..I DON'T HAVE EXTRA MONEY LAYING AROUND TO WORK ON OUR TRUCK..HECK LUCKY TO AFFORD THE GAS TO PUT IN IT ..[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ON 12/7/05, THE MAIN AIR BAG LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASH. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH ONLY 542 MILES DRIVEN ON THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A REPLACEMENT TO A 2005 FORD ESCAPE THAT HAD THIS SAME CHRONIC PROBLEM, WHICH COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY FORD AFTER SIX REPAIR ATTEMPTS. THE 2005 VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BACK BY THE MANUFACTURER AND AT NO TIME WAS A PATTERN OF REPAIRS TO THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE DISCLOSED TO ME PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. WHEN THE 2006 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS SEVEN VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT PRE-EXISTING SAFETY COMPONENT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL, WE LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT. *JB
2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD - VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND CAN BE FELT IN BODY AT ABOUT 55-65 MPH. INTO DEALER 4X FOR ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. CONSULTED WITH FACTORY. NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING IT. DEALER STATED SOME OF THE MODELS ON THE LOT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE AN ENGINEERING FAULT OR AN ASSEMBLY FAULT - BUT FORD IS SELLING FAULTY VEHICLES- AND NOT TAKING ANY SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY. COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES AT ANY SPEED ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE DRIVER SEAT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS CREATE A SEVERE PAIN AT LUMBAR BACK REGION. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE TWO FRONT SEATS WERE NOT ERGONOMIC, AS THEY WERE IN ALL VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY OWNED. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM