There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Ford Escapein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the oil cap had loosened. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the oil cap and the valve cover were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.
THE CAR SHOW A MESSAGE SAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND STARTS STALLING AND THEN SUDDENLY TURN OFF BY ITSELF. IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY OR THE STREET
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HAD INITIALLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE HOSE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKE HOSE AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE USED CAR DEALER WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR A FEW DAYS, THE CONTACT CALLED THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. HOLMAN FORD TURNERSVILLE (3641 ROUTE 42 SOUTH, TURNERSVILLE, NJ 08012) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HER FAILURES TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 15E045000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
I FOUND MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2008. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. IT SHOT DOWN AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I HAVE RESEARCH INTERNET AND FOUND THAT SAME FORD ESCAPE MODEL FROM 2003- 2008 ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHEN I RUN MY VIN DOES NOT APPEAR IT HAS RECALL. ITS SUPPOSE TO HAVE FORD RECALL 14S19. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO METRO FORD (5422 WAYNE TERR, MADISON, WI 53718) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE BEFORE CRASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARMAX OF ARLINGTON (8400 ANDERSON BLVD, FORT WORTH, TX 76120, (817) 801-1501), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE TEST COULD NOT BE READ. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *JS
ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY WARNING.
ENGINE STOPPED DEAD WHILE DRIVING.STATED STOP SAFELY NOW.WELL AS CAR STOPPED DEAD WITH NO WARNING IS WAS NOT SAFE..SERVICE SAYS NEEDS NEW THROTTLE BODY. THATS FINE BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARY YEOMANS FORD (1420 N. TOMOKA FARMS ROAD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124, (386) 274-6700) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYDRO PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,927.
AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES, WARNING LIGHT COMES ON TO PULL OVER SAFELY, AND ENGINE WILL STALL. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AS WELL AS COMMUTER TRAFFIC. YESTERDAY I HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD BY POLICE WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF FOR 10 MINUTES, CAR STARTED BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. FORD HAS RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ON MY CAR AND SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STOP-SAFETY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PRODUCE A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE AUTOBAHN IN GERMANY AND THE CAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON SHUT OFF AND DISPLAYED THE 'STOP SAFELY NOW' MESSAGE. THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER SO I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY THERE WAS HARDLY NO TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN 1 HOUR.
WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE THEN STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55+). A RED HAZARD LIGHT THEN CAME ON, AND A STOP SAFELY MESSAGE CAME ON. PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER, AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE ALLOWED FURTHER DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 20-30 MILES BEFORE THE ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SHUTS DOWN DUE TO A "MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT (MEC) PUMP" FAILURE, I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT FORD MOTOR CO HAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED FMC THEY TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE THAT "ACCORDING TO MY VIN MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL PROGRAM, MY CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND I'M GETTING WORRIED ABOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT
THE GAS PEDAL IS VERY HARD TO PUSH DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP. IT IS CONSIDERABLY WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO CONTROL ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE WRENCH INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATE 01/13/16 MA
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILURE EQUIVALENT TO THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM BUT TOLD MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT IN THE APPLICABLE GROUP. LOSS OF ALL ENGINE POWER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 65MPH WITH A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILOR BEHIND ME. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A DING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A MECHANICAL PUMP ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, AND THE WRENCH LIGHT BECAME VISIBLE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. I REALIZED IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILING. I DROVE IT HOME AS I WAS ONLY A MILE FROM MY HOUSE. ONCE I STARTED IN FORWARD MOTION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, WHEN IT DID SHIFT, THERE WAS A FORCEFUL LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS AND MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE GOING WRONG WITH FORD'S ESCAPE MODEL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED, WITH THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES THAT SUV HAS.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026