2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV Complaints

1/25/13 PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY TAKING DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ~ AS I APPROACHED STOP SIGN I HAD NO BRAKES. PEDAL TO FLOOR ... THANKFULLY NO CARS WERE COMING ~ YANKED WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND PULLED UP EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. DROPPED CAR OFF AT 5 STAR FORD NRH, TX AND NOW HAVE BEEN QUOTED OVER 4600.00 TO REPLACE HCU ABS MODULE ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES?! THE PART ALONE IS 4100.00 .... ARE YOU SERIOUS?! I AM DISGUSTED THAT I HAVE NOW SEEN AND READ SO MANY INSTANCES OF OTHER CONSUMERS WITH EXACT SAME ISSUE AND WITH NO RECALLS OR LIABILITY ON FORD'S BEHALF! THIS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED AND IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, TO SAY THE VERY LEAST. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE RED "BRAKE" WORD APPEARED, AND THE RED "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE CAME ON. BRAKES SEEMED FINE, SO I CONTINUED DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES. STOPPED AT A STORE. WHEN I CAME OUT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER AND STARTED THE CAR THOSE LIGHT MESSAGES DID NOT COME ON, SO I DROVE TOWARD HOME ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. AS I WAS ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM HOME I DROVE OVER A RECESSED MANHOLE COVER IN THE STREET AND THE RED BRAKE WORD, THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN WHEN I HIT THAT BUMP, AND ALSO A WHITE "ABS" WORD. THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY FELT LIKE THEY WERE GOING OUT AS I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AHEAD. I DIDN'T ACCELERATE ANY MORE BECAUSE THE BRAKES FELT UNRESPONSIVE, SO I COASTED THE REST OF THE WAY THROUGH THE TURN AND TRIED TO PULL OVER AND STOP IN A SPACE WHERE THERE WERE NO PARKED CARS, BUT BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND I REALIZED I WASN'T GOING SLOW ENOUGH TOWARD A PARKED CAR AHEAD. I WAS ABOUT TO SWERVE BACK OUT INTO THE STREET BUT PRESSED THE BRAKE DOWN HARD ALL THE WAY AND FELT IT STOP LIKE A MANUAL BRAKE, AND I STOPPED BEFORE HITTING THE PARKED CAR. *TR

SIX DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALER, MY FATHER LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THE REPAIR INVOLVED REPLACING THE ENTIRE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE NEXT TIMES THE ABS LIGHT WENT OFF WHILE EITHER HE OR MYSELF WAS DRIVING WE WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES TO MAKE SURE WE HAD PROPER USE OF THEM. WE DECIDED NOT TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THE ABS LIGHT WOULD NEVER STAY ON AND THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE IN WORKING ORDER. ALSO, WE DID NOT WANT BE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR THE LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME WE EXPERIENCED IN JANUARY. THE NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST BRAKES WAS SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 WHEN MY FATHER WAS DRIVING. THIS TIME THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS WENT ON. OUR DEALER SENT US TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HELPING US OUT ON THE REPAIR TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. WE TOOK THE FORD BACK TO OUR DEALER WHO ENDED UP PUTTING A NEW AXLE ON THE VEHICLE AND CLEARING THE REST OF THE CODES. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I HAD TO BUY AN AXLE. IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A THE AXLE'S TONE RING BEING BROKEN AND NOT GIVING A READING TO THE SPEED SENSOR. THE NEXT TIME MY FATHER LOST BRAKES WAS ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2012. THIS TIME THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HE HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. WE HAD THE DEALER TOW THE VEHICLE THIS TIME. THE SERVICE SHOP SAID THEY CLEARED THE CODES AND COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO REPRODUCE. BY THIS TIME WE ARE BOTH DONE WITH THIS CAR. I TOLD THEM I WANTED SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE IN CASE SOMEONE GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. THEY GAVE ME THE PAPERWORK STATING THEY COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO DUPLICATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED AT THIS TIME . THE VERY NEXT DAY, MY FATHER LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. AGAIN, WE HAD THE DEALER TOW IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

"STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARS ON SCREEN WITH RED TRIANGLE: CAR GOES DEAD, COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CAUSED A BIT OF A MESS OF THE TRAFFIC BUT NO ACCIDENTS: NO WARNING FOR A COOLING PUMP TO KEEP THE BATTERIES COOL. I FOUND THE PROBLEM ONLINE IN 5 MINUTES AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THE NEXT DAY AT FORD. "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS OVERHEATING PROBLEM. TSB 08-24-5 STATES THAT SOME 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRID AND 2006-2008 MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND CODES INDICATING A TRANSAXLE OVERTEMP. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN REDUCED POWER AS THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FAIL SAFE OPERATION. CODES P1A0E, P1A0F, P0A3C, P0A3E, P0A7A, P0A7C AND P1A0D MAY ALSO BE SET." *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS COMES ON AND THE BRAKES BASICALLY ARE UNRESPONSIVE. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES JUST TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING ANY FASTER OR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MIDAS, AND THEY FIXED A FEW THINGS RELATED TO BRAKING AND SAID THAT THE CAR WOULD BE FINE NOW, BUT JUST A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

PART TWO: NOTE FROM CUSTOMER: NO PARTICULAR DASHBOARD LIGHT ISSUE (EXCEPT FOR ONE) WORKED FINE UNTIL UTTER SYSTEM COLLAPSE OF CAR -- UTTER AND QUICK DEATH, LIES LIFELESS ON DRIVEWAY,LEAVING ME W/BROKEN HEART -- MY LOVE AFFAIR W/FORD ROCKED TO DEPTHS. HAD 3 PERFECT TAURUSES, & I NEVER EXPECTED A $5000 FIX ON A CAR WHEN IT'S BEEN DONE TO OTHERS WITH NO GOOD RESULTS. WE ARE AS POOR AS PICKLES. I HAVE READ SO MANY EXACT SAME STORIES ONLINE THAT I BELIEVE THERE IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" & THAT YOU ALL WILL BE (NO OFFENSE) BE HIT BY A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OR A BUNCH OF LEMONS LAW SUITS. I'VE READ THE SAME STORY OVER AND OVER -- BATTERY FAILURE, NEW BATTERY ALSO FAILED IN DANGEROUS PLACES WITH CHILDREN CAR. ALL HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING; OUR BATTERY WAS PRETTY NEW. BUT A NEW BATTERY BOUGHT, INSTALLED & FAILED AFTER ONE WEEK, DIED AND NEVER RECOVERED - THE CAR, I MEAN.) I HAD JUST FINISHED PAYING FOR IT; IT SEEMED AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN PUT ON A "FAILURE WHEN PAID FOR" INTERNAL TIMER! TECH SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN 5 SIMULTANEOUS FAILURES AT ONCE, THOUGH I HAVE ALREADY READ OF THE MOST CRUCIAL, DANGEROUS PROBLEM MANY, MANY TIMES, DESPITE THE "LOCAL" FLORIDIAN MANAGER (I'M IN CA) WHO URGED ME, IN A SWEETLY CONDESCENDING FASHION, TO GO BACK TO FORD FOR THE FIX BECAUSE "THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET". [XXX] STRAIGHT, & MANY OF THEM ARE RIGHT. SO GLAD I FOUND THIS SITE. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO, WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE -- WE COULD HAVE FAILED IN THE FREEWAY -- WE ALMOST FAILED COMING HOME FROM A PARTY AND TWO WEEKS IN A ROW LOST OUR SPOTS AT THE FARMERS' MARKET BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DIED. OKAY, FORD -- I'M TRULY AND TOTALLY UPSET -- I PUT $27K INTO THAT VEHICLE AND NOW IT THIS A DEAD HEAP. PEOPLE WITH OTHER 2006 HEV (FORD ONLY) WRITE OF TRULY TERRIFYING FAILURES ON THE FREEWAY. MAKE IT RIGHT -- THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WE WANT RECOURSE & JUSTICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

REPAIR QUOTE FROM JOURNEY FORD, NOVATO: J#1: STEERING CONCERN-CUSTOMER STATES NO POWER ASSIST (?) TO POWER STEERING & "SERVICE POWER STEERING IS ON MESSAGE CENTER. TEST DROVE VEHICLE & CONFIRMED POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. RAN TESTS & PULLED CODE B2277. PERFORMED PIN POINT & FOUND EPA'S MODULE & GEAR FAILING. SUGGESTED REPLACING MODULE & GEAR & RE-TESTING.CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIR. J#1: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: CUSTOMER STATES WRENCH IS ON & BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. HAS BEEN HIT ON RT SIDE & REPAIRED. INSPECTED VEHICLE & MULTIPLE LIGHTS ARE ON IN DASH. PULLED CODES & HAVE CODES B1239. REAR DOOR MODE FAILURE. RAN TESTS & FOUND HYBRID BATTERY MODE DOOR IS FAULTY. SUGGEST REPLACING & REPROGRAMMING BCM. CODE P0A81 & P0A8D FOUND TSB FOR UPDATED HBRD BATTERY & COOLING FANS. SUGGEST REPLACING & RETESTING. RAN TESTS & FOUND U2060 FOR ABS CONCERN. RAN TESTS & FOUND TSB FOR UPDATED HARNESS & NUTS & BOLTS FOR ABS MODULE GROUND CIRCUITS. ALSO PULLED MULTIPLE CODES FOR LOW BATTERY.TESTED BATTERY & FAILED TEST. CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIR. J# +91FOZ DECLINED SERVICES (WE EXPECTED MORE OF FORD - WE ARE LEFT WITHOUT A CAR AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME OF OUR LIVES. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED, OVER 60, WITH EXCELLENT PROSPECTS FOR LIVING IN OUR CAR -- IF WE COULD GET IT TO MOVE. HERE IS THE LIST OF THE SERVICES, TOTALING CLOSE TO $6K!!!!! TO CONTINUE THE TECH'S QUOTE: #9999 EPS MODULE & ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR ABS WIRE HYBRID BLEND DOOR HYBRID COOLING FAN KIT ALIGN BATTERY THIS IS PART ONE -- PART TWO TO FOLLOW. LUCKY YOU ALL! I'M SORRY TO COMPLAIN AS I AM A REAL FORD LOVER -- HAVE HAD THREE TAURUSES AROUND HERE IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER, EVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED IN THEM. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE SAFE IN THIS CAR AND I KNOW, I KNOW I NEVER WILL BE. I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE GIVEN A NEW CAR OR A GOOD REPAIR AND THEN A SOLID RE-TEST. THAT'S BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN REAL JUSTICE. *TR

STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND ENGINE DIED WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH ON A 2-LANE ROAD.

"ABS" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" APPEARED ON DISPLAY. APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL AND ANTI-LOCK ENGAGED CAUSING A "CHATTERING" SOUND FROM BRAKES AND SEVERE VIBRATION. EXTRA PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BRING VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OR COMING TO A STOP, IT WOULD USUALLY SHIFT TO BATTERY MODE; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT SHIFT AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. THE MILEAGE ALSO DECREASED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COOLING SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND A KIT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.