84 complaints reported

2006 Ford Escape Brakes

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
84
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2017

WHILE DRIVING (NOT BRAKING) THE CAR ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASH ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" AND A PING SOUND. WHEN BRAKES WERE NEXT APPLIED THEY HAD BECOME VERY SOFT AND NOT AS RESPONSIVE. I PULLED INTO A SAFE AREA AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED LIGHTS AND MESSAGES WERE GONE AND THE BRAKES WERE WORKING CORRECTLY. CONTINUED TO DRIVE AGAIN AND THE MESSAGE DIDN'T REOCCUR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES ON BOTH HIGHWAYS AND RURAL ROADS AND ALWAYS FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE PROBLEMS DON'T INITIATE WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY BRAKING. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST. THE REPORT THEY GAVE US SAID " VERIFIED CUSTOMERS CONCERN. RETRIEVE CODA 1524, 1526. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL SENSOR RELATED. ALSO RETRIEVE CODES FOR TRACTION BATTERY COOLING FANS." THE SERVICE DEPT RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER (AT A COST OF $2078.95) AND THE HYBRID BATTERY COOLING FANS (AT A COST OF $716.99).

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2016
Dec 2016

BRAKES SUDDENLY FAIL. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKE FAILS UNEXPECTANTLY AND YOU MUST USE EXTREME FORCE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND THEY WILL WORK AGAIN AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON LINE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. NOT ONLY DID I FIND MANY COMPLAINTS BUT THESE WERE ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS OF PRODUCTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2016
Oct 2016

ABS LIGHT COMES ON. BRAKES ARE LOOSE. HAPPENED NOW MORE THAN 10 TIMES. WE JUST PULL OVER THE SIDE AND TURN OFF THE CAR. START AGAIN AND BRAKES WORK FINE FOR A WHILE. THIS IS AN SCARY CAR. I USE TO DRIVE MY KIDS AROUND.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2016
Sep 2016

BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON. ABS LIGHT ALSO COMES ON - LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ABS COMES ON.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2016
Aug 2016

DRIVING ON CITY STREET WHEN "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AS WELL AS ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH. VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE USED TO STOP VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2016
Jul 2016

VEHICLE DASH BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER ADVISED MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2500. IN ADITION, HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT MIGHT ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED, FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4000, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT TELL UNTIL THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE NO BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE STOPPED USING THE HAND BRAKE AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2016
Jul 2016 Crash

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION, PREPARING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHEN MY BREAKS COMPLETELY FAILED. THE BREAK PEDAL WAS STIFF, AND WOULD NOT BUDGE. WE HIT TWO CARS THAT WERE SITTING AT THE INTERSECTION, TOTALING MY FORD ESCAPE AS WELL AS ONE OF THE OTHER CARS. IN THE PAST, THE "SERVICE BREAKS" LIGHT WOULD GO ON OCCASIONALLY IN THE SUMMER DURING THE HOT MONTHS, GIVING THE CAR SLIGHTLY LESS BREAK PRESSURE. THIS WAS NEVER A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND HAS ALWAYS CORRECTED ITSELF ANYTIME I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A WHILE. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER HAVING THE BREAKS CHECKED, THEY COULD NEVER DETECT A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, MY CAR HAD ROUTINE INSPECTIONS DONE DURING AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND A FULL SERVICE INSPECTION BEFORE THIS. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD, AND THE ACCIDENT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. AFTER RESEARCH, I FOUND MANY 2004-2006 HYBRID FORD ESCAPE OWNERS TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS AND EXPERIENCES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2016
Jul 2016

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES BECAME MANUAL. WHEN I CHECKED ON THE CODES (C1478, C1313 & C1480) I FOUND THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM, THAT THE REPAIR COST IS RIDICULOUS AT APPROXIMATELY $5000. AND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2016
Jul 2016

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, DASH LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2016
Jun 2016

NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BRAKE, MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HYDROLIC REGENERATIVE BREAKING SYSTEM AND ABS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS, SPEEDS BETWEEN 0-40MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME VERY HARD AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS WITH LOSS OF BRAKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AM FORCED TO RAPIDLY RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKE AGAIN (PUMPING) THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS PUMPING OF THE BRAKES HAS CAUSE THE BREAK PEDAL TO GO FROM HARD/IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH TO COMPLETELY SOFT HITTING THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING CAPABILITIES. ON THESE OCCASIONS I AM FORCED TO PULL OF THE ROAD QUICKLY, DOWNSHIFT TO LOW GEAR AND EVEN USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. ONLY ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME WHEN THIS EVENT OCCURRED DOES THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATE OR DISPLAY. WHEN THIS OCCURRES I AM USUALLY FORCED TO TURN THE ENGIN OFF, REMOVE THE KEY, LET THE SYSTEM PURGE (MAKES NOISE) AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO KEEP DRIVING AND FIX THE ISSUE. SOMETIMES IT FIXES TO ISSUE FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVING TIME WHILE OTHERS ONLY WORK TEMPORARILY AND THE ISSUE RETURNS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL THAT THIS BRAKING ISSUE IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND I AND OUR PIECE OF MIND IN THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT GOOD. AS AN ADDITIONAL NOTE THIS BRAKE ISSUE ONLY BECAME EVIDENT AFTER WE HAD ANOTHER RECALL ISSUE FIXED ON THIS VEHICLE FOR STALLING. BEFORE THAT FIX WE NEVER HAD ANY BRAKING ISSUES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
May 2016

THE BRAKES ON OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID BEGAN GRINDING AROUND FEBRUARY 2016. WE HAD THE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AND IT BRAKED BETTER, BUT WITHIN A MILE AFTER LEAVING THE FORD SERVICE CENTER THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND SHORTLY AFTER - WHILE MOVING - THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. WE HAD TO COAST TO A STOP AND PULL OVER. WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND TURNED ON AND OFF, YOU CAN SOMETIMES GET THE BRAKES TO WORK FOR LESS THAN A MILE. ITS SO UNSAFE, WE HAD IT TOWED TO SERVICE CENTERS FOR ESTIMATES. TWO FORD DEALERS AND ONE OTHER SERVICE PLACE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM THOROUGHLY AND ALL CAME BACK SAYING THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT MUST BE REPLACED AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $4,500. OTHERWISE, WE LIKE THE CAR, BUT THIS ONE REPAIR IS GREATER THAN THE BLUE BOOK VALUE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2016
Mar 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE PULLING INTO A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. UPDATED 06/08/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK IN PLACE FOR APPROXIMATELY5-6 SECS BEFORE THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2015
Nov 2015

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" REQUEST LIGHT AND THE RED BRAKES LIGHT. I HAD "SOFT BRAKES" BUT I COULD STILL USE THE BRAKES SO I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD FERRARIO DEALERSHIP. IT IS NOW A WEEK LATER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4800.00. I THEN REPLIED TO NOT REPLACE THE ABS AS I HAVE BEEN A CAUTIOUS DRIVER FOR OVER 45 YEARS AND DRIVE DEFENSIVELY. THE SHOP TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO BLEED ALL THE TIRE'S BRAKES AS I REQUESTED THAT I "AT LEAST" HAVE HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND IT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE FLUID LEVEL. ALL WORKED PROPERLY EXCEPTING THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THIS EVENING I WENT AND RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE SHOP AFTER THEY HAD REPLACED THE LEAKING HOSE ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE (ALSO HAD THEM REPLACE THE HOSE ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE). ACCORDING TO THE CONVERSATION WITH THE LEAD TECHNICIAN MY FRONT BRAKES WERE HARDLY USED (OVER 60% OF THE CARS BRAKING) AND LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE RUSTING OR CORRODED OVER WHILE THE ROTORS AND ALL THE PARTS REPLACED EXACTLY ONE YEAR PRIOR STILL LOOKED NEW. BEING CONFUSED ABOUT THIS, ASKED WHY NO ONE HAD CAUGHT THIS EARLIER. WHILE ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE SHOP (WITHOUT PROPER BRAKES AND ONLY THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE AND THE HYBRID LOW GEAR TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY WITH) I RESET ALL THE FUNCTIONS LIKE I NORMALLY DO AFTER A SERVICE SHOP VISIT. LOW AND BEHOLD THE ABS LIGHT WENT OUT, BUT THERE WERE STILL NO BRAKES WITH SMALL EXCEPTION. I AM NOW WONDERING BOTH HOW AND WHO IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT FURTHER EXCESSIVE COST (PAID OVER $480.00) THAT I'VE ALREADY INCURRED WITHOUT HAVING THE BRAKES AVAILABLE TO ME. BECAUSE I WORK CONTRACT JOBS AND TYPICALLY DRIVE TO JOBS OR JOB SITES I AM NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THE LARGER CONCERN FOR ME IS THAT THIS TYPE OF FORD SUV HYBRID VEHICLE HAS A RASH OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2015
Sep 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,154.MA 08/04/15 UPDATED 9/29/2015*JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2015
Aug 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT TONE RINGS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2014
Aug 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF NORMAL AND EFFECTIVE BRAKING. THE ABS AND BRAKE SERVICE LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON IN THE DASH AND IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP IT, IT BECAME NECESSARY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. WHENEVER ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE TO THE RIGHT, CLEARLY INDICATING THAT (AT LEAST) THE FRONT BRAKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY USELESS/INEFFECTIVE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE AS IT TOOK ALL OF MY SKILL AS A MOTORIST TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND TO PROTECT MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WHO WERE ALSO WITH ME. AFTER GETTING ONLINE AND READING COUNTLESS FORUMS AND ARTICLES, I DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A DISTURBINGLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS TO LOSE EFFECTIVE BRAKING BY WAY OF A FAULTY HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT: A PART TO WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT COSTS AN APPROXIMATE $4,200 TO ACQUIRE. AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS, IN FACT, THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY ESCAPE. THIS VEHICLE, APART FROM THE FAULTY HCU, IS IN INCREDIBLY GOOD SHAPE AND HAS NO OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE ATROCITY THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PART. IT HAS BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF RECALLING THIS DANGEROUS UNIT UNTIL, INEVITABLY, FATALITIES OCCUR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2015
Aug 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 5/18/15*CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2015
Jul 2015

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED AT AIRPORT PARKING LOT FOR A MONTH. WHEN RETRIEVING IT UPON RETURN BRAKES FAILED, ABS AND BRAKE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. WE PARKED THE CAR IN THE LOT, RENTED A CAR TO GET HOME. NEXT MORNING WE ARRANGED AAA TO TOW VEHICLE. WHEN TOW OPERATOR CAME THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEMS WAS PERFECTLY FINE. WE CHOSE TO PAY HIM AND DRIVE THE CAR HOME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. THEY NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED ANY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BECAUSE THERE WAS ALSO LOUD BRAKE NOISE. NOW ONE YEAR LATER, JULY 27 2015, [97000+ MILES] SLOWING FOR A RIGHT TURN ON A RURAL HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN. WITH NO WARNING THE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. WITH A CONCERTED EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ABS LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT. CONDITION PERSISTED AS WE CONTINUED A FEW MILES TO THE SHOPPING PLAZA. AFTER SHOPPING WE DECIDED TO RETURN DIRECTLY HOME, BUT WHEN CAR WAS STARTED THE FAULT HAD CLEARED AND THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. WE HAVE JUST SPENT THE MORNING SEARCHING INTERNET AND FIND THIS IS AN ISSUE FORD KNOWS ABOUT AND IS DENYING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. AND APPARENTLY IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO RESOLVE WITH THE NEED TO REPLACE THE HCU. WE NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT ARE AMONG THE MANY WHO FEEL THIS IS CERTAINLY A SERIOUS ENOUGH SAFETY ISSUE FORD SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN ITS RESOLVE FOR OWNERS WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEMS. OUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR IS, THAT THOUGH THERE IS SOME ABILITY TO BRAKE IT IS NOT ANYWHERE EQUAL TO THE 'NORMAL' BRAKING CAPACITY AND THAT IS DANGEROUS. AND THE INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM OCCURRENCE IS TROUBLING TO SAY THE LEAST. WE WILL CONTACT THE DEALER TODAY TO GET THE REACTION TO OUR CONCERN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2014
Jun 2015

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SUDDENLY RECEIVED WARNING MESSAGE ABOUT THE BRAKES AND HEARD WARNING BEEPS. IMMEDIATELY I LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY (BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND GIVE VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE) BUT STILL HAD ACCELERATION AND STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I NAVIGATED THE CAR TO A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO AN EVENTUAL STOP ON THE SHOULDER USING THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. TESTED THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT SEEMED NORMAL. I THEN STARTED THE CAR UP AND MOVED A LITTLE BIT FORWARD AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. NO WARNING MESSAGES OR SOUNDS. THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY AS I DROVE IT BACK TO A SAFE SPOT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2015
Jun 2015

BASICALLY, THIS IS HAPPENING AT LEAST 1 X / DAY. I AM TAKING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW, BUT FORD REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND GET THIS FIXED. I WAS DRIVING ON A REGULAR ROAD AND MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE WARNING BELL. MY HYDRAULIC BRAKES FAILED AGAIN! I PUT MY FLASHERS ON, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY THE FLOOR AND ROLLED TO A STOP WITH THROBBING EMERGENCY BRAKES STILL WORKING. THEN I TURN OFF MY VEHICLE AFTER PUTTING IT INTO PARK, TAKE OUT THE KEY, WAIT A FEW SECONDS, THEN START THE CAR AGAIN. IT WORKS AGAIN TEMPORARILY. NOW, I KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT AND I PLAN FOR IT SINCE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT IF I AM EVER IN A SITUATION WHERE I CANNOT CONTROL MY ENVIRONMENT, I CANNOT GUARANTEE SOMEONE WILL NOT BE HARMED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE IN MY VEHICLE. PLEASE! HELP US DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2015
May 2015

WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THEY WERE VERY HARD TO DEPRESS AND SLOWED THE CAR VERY SLOWLY. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHEN WE NEEDED TO STOP, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, WITHOUT A DOUBT. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND MY MECHANIC RESET THE COMPUTER AND ALL WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THEN THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. MY MECHANIC, WHO I TRUST IMPECCABLY WAS BAFFLED BY THE WHOLE THING AND ASKED THAT WE SEND THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. THE DEALER (FIRST DEALER) IS TELLING US WE NEED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, THEN MAYBE THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT, WHICH THANKFULLY, IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY IN CA BECAUSE IT'S A HYBRID PART. HOWEVER, IF IT IS THE HCU, WE STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER, EVEN THOUGH I SUSPECT IT'S THE HCU FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE. I THEN CALLED THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE CAR WHEN WE INITIALLY BOUGHT IT (SECOND DEALER FROM HERE ON OUT). THE FIRST DEALER IS QUOTING US $2800 TO FIX THE MASTER, WHILE THE OTHER IS QUOTING AROUND $2000. THE SECOND ONE IS ALSO SAYING HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE HCU AND JUST CHANGE IT OUT WHERE DEALER 1 IS SAYING FORD SAYS IN ORDER TO CHANGE OUT THE HCU, THE MASTER HAS TO BE CHANGED FIRST. THE SECOND DEALER IS SAYING THIS SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE. WE JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE SELLER AND FRANKLY, I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I'M READING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART OF THE CAR AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE FORD IS HAVING SOME SERIOUS, LIFE THREATENING ISSUES WITH THIS COMPONENT...AS WELL AS GIVING PEOPLE MASSIVE BILLS TO FIX THEIR CAR. THE ONLY THING THAT SHOULD COST $4000 ON A CAR SHOULD BE THE ENGINE. NOT THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS IS INSANITY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2014
Apr 2015

I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND MY BRAKE LIGHT AND WARNING SOUND CAME ON WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE FOR A RED LIGHT. I HAD TO PUSH REALLY HARD TO GET THE CAR TO STOP AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2015
Jan 2015

THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND A CHUGGING SOUND IN 2013.... TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE TONE RING ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS BROKEN AND REPLACED FOR $350.00. ON 12 JANUARY 2015, BOTH THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH MESSAGE TO SERVICE BRAKES. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS FAILURE OF THE ABS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM --- APPROX. $4,000.00 TO REPLACE. I DON'T HAVE $4,000.00 PLUS AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN THIS 2006 ESCAPE HYBRID.... THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY REPORTED, AND IS A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD APPEARS TO BE DISMISSIVE --- MUCH LIKE GM AND THE ACCELERATION ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED DEATHS DUE TO THIS ISSUE..... YET. WE NEED TO GET A RECALL BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2013
Dec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED A BRAKE INSPECTION WHICH LOCATED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS FRACTURED PREMATURELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2014
Aug 2014

APPROXIMATELY 8-9 MONTHS AGO I FELT LIKE THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS GOING OUT IN MY 2006 ESCAPE HYBRID. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP THAT I TRUST A FEW DAYS LATER AND THE MECHANIC DROVE IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS OK SO NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME HE DID NOT PERFORM ANY SORT OF A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST BECAUSE HE FELT THE BRAKES SEEMED OK. FAST FORWARD TO APPROX. 8/17/14, I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND BEFORE I TURNED MY CAR OFF BOTH THE LED MESSAGE BOARD INDICATED AN ISSUE NEEDED ATTENTION (CAN'T RECALL EXACT WORDING) AND THE RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP INDICATING THE BRAKE UNIT NEEDED SERVICE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC AND HE PERFORMED A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. HE GOT BACK TO FOLLOWING: "BRAKE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS CODE: C1471 HIGH PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR VOLUME CONSUMPTION PLAUSIBILITY FAILURE. RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER FIRST AND RECHECK SYSTEM. IF CODE RETURNS THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED." THE COST TO PERFORM THIS WORK IS NEARLY $8,900.00 AND ALMOST ALL OF THAT CHARGE IS FOR REPLACING THESE TWO DEFECTIVE PARTS, NOT LABOR. THE COST TO REPLACE THE FAILING HYDRAULICS EXCEEDS THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 91,589 MILES ON IT AND THE WHOLE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IS FAILING. I CHECKED OUT VARIOUS INTERNET BOARDS AND IT LOOKS LIKE MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM SCORES OF OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, AND MANY OF THEM RIGHT AT THE SAME APPROX. MILEAGE INTERVAL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Ford Escape has 84 Brakes complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.