66 complaints reported

2006 Ford Escape Engine

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

Reports
66
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2011

ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING THE WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW", ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR AND IMMEDIATELY PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON WHICH PREVENTED TRAFFIC FROM REAR ENDING ME. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AWAITING DIAGNOSIS WHICH I AM BEING TOLD BY THE DEAL WILL PROBABLY BE RELATED TO THE HYBRID BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2011
Apr 2011

AT 9 MONTHS PREGNANT, WHILE DRIVING HOME I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO I BROUGHT IT THERE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO OIL IN THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY OIL CHANGED A MONTH BEFORE. THE OIL LIGHT NEVER WENT ON AND WE DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKING OIL. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER TELLING ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 46,000 MILES! HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKING MY OIL EVERY TIME I GOT GAS (AT 9 MONTHS PREGNANT!) AND IT WAS UP TO ME TO KEEP UP WITH IT, NOT THE CHECK OIL LIGHT. HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD NOT RELY ON THOSE INDICATORS. A NEW ENGINE AND $5000 LATER AND NOW MY CAR LEAKS OIL. I HAVE BEEN BRINGING IT IN EVERY MONTH TO FIX THE LEAK AND IT ALWAYS STARTS AGAIN WITHIN A WEEK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS NOW. I HAVE 1 MORE YEAR LEFT FOR MY ENGINE WARRANTY AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT THEY WILL FIND THE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AS SOON AS THAT TIME COMES. I'M SO UPSET AND FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CAR AND EVEN MORE SO WITH THE SERVICE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2008
Feb 2011

LESS THAN 9 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2008, THE ENGINE LIGHT OF MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT V6 WENT ON. MULTIPLE SHOPS ATTEMPTED TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT GET THE LIGHT OFF WITHOUT WANTING TO DO MANY STEP BY STEP "COULD BE THIS..." REPAIRS. COMPUTER CODE INDICATED THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. CAR REMAINED WITH AN EXPIRED INSPECTION STICKER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE DIFFERENT THINGS WERE TRIED. FINALLY A SHOP FOUND A CORRODED WIRE, AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT. LESS THEN 7 MONTHS LATER THE CAR BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON, AND IT STALLED AND DIED WITHIN MINUTES. IT REQUIRED 12 JUMOS TO GET IT THE APPROX. 8 MILES HOME. THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE THEN REPLACED. LESS THAN 1 MONTH LATER THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED. A 2ND ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE PUT IN. 2 MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY BEGAN FLASHING THE ENGINE LIGHT PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN. INSTANTLY THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THE FRONT END BEGAN SHAKING, AND MAKING LOUD RATTLING NOISES, AND FRESH GAS CAN BE DETECTED FROM THE FRONT END. IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE NO OIL, ALTHOUGH THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLENTY BASED ON LAST OIL CHANGE, AND THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THE ENGINE NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. (MILEAGE LISTED AT FAILURE IS THE ENGINE EVENT). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2011
Sep 2010

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, RIGHT AFTER THE WARNING "STOP SAFELY NOW", THE CAR SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. AFTER WEB RESEARCH, IT IS QUITE COMMON FOR THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CARS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THERE IS NO TIME FOR YOU TO STOP SAFELY BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN, NOT EVEN A 5 OR 10 SECONDS. THE DEALER CHECK IT OUT, IT WAS A WATER PUMP FAILURE CAUSED THIS, CALLED FORD, BUT FORD DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE REPAIR COSTS MORE THAN $600.00. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS NEED TO BE FIXED. WHO IS GOING TO DRIVE A CAR WHICH WILL SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY TIME TO RESPOND TO? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2010
Sep 2010

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL AND GOING TO WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A NOISE, THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTCAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. SHE THEN STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION. THE CAR AGAIN SHUT DOWN. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD SERVICE DEALER. THEY EXAMINED IT AND SAID THAT OUR MOTOR WAS DEAD AND THE ENGINE FLOODED. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT WE HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR. THE FORD SERVICE PERSON QUOTED US FOR A NEW MOTOR 3800..FOR USED AND 5400 FOR A NEW ONE. TWO DAYS LATER HE UPPED THE PRICE TO 4800 FOR A USED ONE. I ASKED FOR SPECIFICS TO THE FAILURE BUT WAS NOT GIVEN ONE. AGAIN, I HAVE HAD PLENTY OF OIL CHANGES AND INSPECTION WITH NOTHING INDICATING A PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC CHECKED IT AN IS REPLACING IT FOR LESS. I REALLY BELIEVE THEIR IS SOME ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2010
Feb 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. SHE HEARD A NOISE WHEN SHE RESTATED THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO MOTOR OIL. SHE CONTINUED TO HEAR THE NOISE AFTER SHE ADDED OIL TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW CRANK SHAFT AND ENGINE. THE DEALER THEN INSTALLED A USED ENGINE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,175. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2010
Jan 2010 Fire

MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CAUGHT FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 8 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS LAST USED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2010
Aug 2009

I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING @ 70 MPH. THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND FROM THE ENGINE, THEN A "STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY NOW" WARNING, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2009
Aug 2009

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. DRIVING ON HWY 75 SOUTH IN OHIO. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 68 MILES AN HOUR. MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND SLOWED ABRUPTLY. THE INFO DISPLAY SAID MAIN ENGINE OVER HEAT SLOW AND CONTINUE TO SAFE STOP. I PULLED OVER AND DROVE OFF THE HIGHWAY SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND RESTARTED IT. IT RAN FOR ABOUT A 1/2 MILE AND SHUT DOWN AGAIN. THIS TIME I STARTED UP AGAIN AND DOVE IT ABOUT FIVE MILES BEFORE I SHUT IT DOWN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES.THERE WAS NO SIGNS OR SMELLS OF HOT OVER HEATING ENGINE. I THEN GOT IN A DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 MORE HOURS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. MY CONCERN IS THAT I ALL MOST GOT REAR ENDED FROM A SEMI. I HAVE READ OTHER HYBRID FORUMS WITH OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2009
Mar 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED, BUT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE VALVES WERE OFF, WHICH THREW THE PISTONS OFF AS WELL. THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER WAS EXPOSED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 33,392.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2009
Jan 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A ROD CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE PER THE WARRANTY SINCE IT HAS EXPIRED AND THE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2009
Dec 2008 Fire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING NO MORE THAN 50 MPH, AN EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED FLAMES. ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OVER AND HELPED HER EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH SNOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEN LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR WAS FAULTY, WHICH CAUSED THE EXPLOSION DUE TO THE PISTON BEING BLOWN OUT OF PLACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE SHOP AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THE DEFECT SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN A TWO YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2008
Oct 2008

ENGINE FAILED. ENGINE OF SUV WOULD REV AT HIGH RATE. SUV HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. TOW TRUCKER DRIVER NOTED THAT SUV HAD BEEN TOWED BEFORE BECAUSE TOW HOOK HAD BENT FRAME. I TOLD THE DRIVER THAT THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN TOWED DURING MY LEASE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2008
Nov 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-60 MPH OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE CONTACT MUST MAKE 2-5 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DEALERS AND NONE WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER STOPPING. UPDATED 11/26/07. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2007
Apr 2007

AS FLEET MANAGER , I HAVE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE ON ALL 3 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID VEHICLES. DURING EACH FAILURE, THE MAIN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND THE VEHICLE GOES TO STRAIGHT ELECTRICAL POWER WHICH COULD CAUSE A WRECK IN SITUATIONS WHERE A RAPID DROP IN SPEED COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED ON ALL THREE HYBRIDS AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 36,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACES THE WATER PUMP THAT SUPPLIES COOLANT TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AFTER EACH FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REPORTED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I RESEARCHED EDMUNDS.COM AND THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN THEIR CARSPACE AUTOMOTIVE FORMS. FORD NEEDS TO RE-ENGINEER THIS SYSTEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
Feb 2007

LOUD NOISE WHILE STARTING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. IDLER PULLEY WAS SHREDDING THE SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY WAS OVERHEATING. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Ford Escape has 66 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.