2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID Complaints

PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING MOTOR SUDDENLY SHUTTING DOWN ON THE HYBRID VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT VEHICLE TURNED ON UP TO MODERATE VEHICLE SPEEDS. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED, IT CONFUSED THE DRIVER, AS THE POWER STEERING WOULD EXPERIENCE SUDDEN LOSS DURING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN ELECTRIC MODE (0-30MPH). THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING PUTS THE DRIVER IS AT RISK OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND ACCIDENT. COMPLAINTS TO THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM ARE DIFFICULT. WITH THE MOTOR OFF IN ELECTRIC MODE, AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THE DRIVER IS LED TO BELIEVE THAT MOTOR IS AT FAULT, AND WILL COMPLAIN TO THE MECHANIC IN SUCH WAY. PICTURE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITH NO POWER STEERING. YOUR LED TO BELIEVE THAT VEHICLE MOTOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH THE HYBRID, AS THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN, IT'S IN ELECTRIC MODE. NO INDICATORS ARE PRESENT WITHIN VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH POWER STEERING. SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATES THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR PROBLEM, CAUSING A BINDING ISSUE WITH THE COLUMN. TWO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS REPORT THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE ISSUE. SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE ARE INDICATING THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT UNIQUE, AND RATHER COMMON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT ANDY GATES (FORD, VICTORVILLE, CA) REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN IT'S CURRENT STATE. THE REPORT FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT VICTORVILLE, CA INDICATES THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DESIGNED WITH SAFETY FLAWS, AND FORD IS HAVING DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM EARLY ON. *TR

PURCHASED 2008 4 WHEEL DRIVE FEH USED IN NOV.2010. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. FIRST OCCASION ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER START/STOP IGNITION BRAKES CAME BACK. TOOK TO FORD DEALER FOR CODES. NO CODES NOTED. SECOND OCCURRENCE OCT. 2011. BRAKES FAILED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE. ABS AND REGEN BRAKE DISABLED LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER KEPT CAR 8 DAYS. COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. CODES DID REGISTER. TALK OF A MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT, BUT FAVORED RECHARGING ELEC. BATTERY AND CHANGED DIRTY FILTER ON IT. I WAS VERY LUCKY - IF THE BRAKES HAD FAILED AS THEY DID AND I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WITH ANOTHER CAR AHEAD OF ME I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. DEALER SAYS IT PROBABLY OK. BOUGHT CAR FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD SON TO DRIVE - TOO UNSAFE AND UNPREDICTABLE. TRADED IN. *TR

GOING FROM MISSOURI TO ARKANSAS MY CAR SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING NO INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON AT THE TIME AND A TRIANGLE CAME ON STATING I COULD PULL OVER SAFELY NOW AND STOP. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AFTER TRYING TO MAKE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY ENGINE WORK. NOTHING HAPPENED. PEOPLE HELPED ME PUSH MY CAR OFF THE ROAD AND THEN A MAN SUGGESTED I TRY TO START IT AGAIN. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND RAN FOR ANOTHER 20-30 MILES AND THEN PROCEEDED TO DO THIS ABOUT EVERY 5-10 MILES FOR HOURS. THE TEMP WAS RAINING AND ABOUT 60 DEGREES. AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME IN DRY WEATHER AND AT NIGHT IT DID THE SAME THING FOR 136 MILES. THIS WAS AT NIGHT AND I TRIED TO KEEP IT AT 60 MPH. FINALLY DROPPING IT TO 50 AND FINALLY MADE IT HOME. I'M TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC BUT WHEN I CALLED FORD WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I FIND THIS TO BE AN UNTRUTH AND FORD ( WHICH MY FAMILY HAS SWORN BY FOR MANY YEARS) REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING DOWN A CONGESTED INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME "STOP IMMEDIATELY" WAS SCROLLING ACROSS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN TRAFFIC. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS WITH LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR IN CITY TRAFFIC AS I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES BEFORE MAKING IT HOME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ABS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, ALONG WITH MESSAGE "SYSTEM BRAKE FAILURE" AND "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED". AT THIS TIME, THE BRAKES ALMOST FEEL TOTALLY OUT (1/2 PRESSED) OR VERY TOUCHY (FULL PRESS). TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE ABS MODULE ($2500) WHICH WE AGREED TO. A FEW DAYS AFTER IT WAS REPLACED, SAME THING HAPPENED (LIGHTS, MESSAGES AND BRAKES ISSUES). WE TOOK IT BACK, AND BY THE TIME IT WAS TO THE DEALERSHIP THE LIGHTS, MESSAGES AND BRAKES WERE BACK TO NORMAL. THEY COULDN'T FIND AN ISSUES. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE IN A TRAFFIC JAM (VERY SCARY!!!) TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE CODES. TOOK THE CODES TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOOK MY ESCAPE FOR 2 DAYS, SAYING THEY RESET THE CODES AND IT WAS A COMPUTER ISSUE. 5 DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN OUR DOWNTOWN (VERY SCARY). NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE HOWEVER I HAVE SEEN OTHER MENTIONS ABOUT THIS ONLINE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE GASOLINE ENGINE DIED AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THERE WAS NO OTHER WARNING LIGHT (NO HIGH TEMPERATURE WARNING). I DROVE SLOWLY ON ELECTRICAL ENGINE POWER UNTIL THERE WAS A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES PARKED THERE WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF, I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER AND HE COULD SEE NO REPORTS IN THE COMPUTER AND NO EVIDENT CAUSE FOR THE ENGINE TO FAIL. HE SAID TO WATCH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE - IT ONLY COMES UP ON THE SCREEN WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM (AND IT DID NOT COME UP WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED). A WEEK LATER, AGAIN ON A LONGER DRIVE (MORE THAN 20 MINUTES) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR STALLED AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. THE DANGER OF PULLING OVER ON A MULTILANE FREEWAY IS VERY SCARY. OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES, I RE-STARTED THE CAR AND PULLED BACK INTO TRAFFIC, ONLY TO HAVE THE GAS ENGINE DIE 5 MORE TIMES. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND TAKE THE ESCAPE IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILURE OF THE COOLANT PUMP AND REPLACED IT FOR $500. THE MILEAGE OF MY CAR WAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID (53,000 MILES) IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON I-5 I HEAR A POPPING SOUND AND SUDDENLY ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE IS LOST. A RED EXCLAMATION POINT WITHIN A TRIANGLE APPEARS ON THE CONTROL PANEL AND A SINCERELY BIZARRE MESSAGE DISPLAYS ITSELF: "PLEASE PULL OVER SAFELY". THIS IS QUITE THE CHALLENGE WITH 18 WHEELERS BEHIND ME, TO THE SIDE OF ME, AND OTHER CARS ALL AROUND. WITH QUICK REFLEXES, I AM ABLE TO GET OVER TWO LANES AND SLOWLY (I THINK ONLY THE ELECTRIC ENGINE IS WORKING, NO GAS) DRIVE OFF THE NEXT EXIT. SITTING IN THE CAR, I AM IN SHOCK. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN? BECAUSE WE ARE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM OREGON TO THE EAST BAY AREA IN CA, WE ATTEMPT TO GET BACK ON THE FREEWAY AND MAKE OUR WAY SOUTH. WITHIN 40 MINUTES THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENS AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME THERE ISN'T AN EXIT RAMP. WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF AN BUSY TWO-LANE SOUTHERN TRAVELING FREEWAY. ONCE SAFELY TO THE SIDE, THE CAR RESTARTS AND APPEARS TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, BUT WANT TO GET HOME. I DECIDE TO GO A LITTLE UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT (A HAZARD) AND STAY IN THE LEFT LANE. AFTER THE CAR FAILS AND TELLS ME TO "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW" FOR THE 5TH TIME, I DECIDE I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. WE CALL FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND WAIT TWO HOURS (YES! TWO HOURS!) FOR A TOW TRUCK, ONLY TO BE CALLED BACK BY AN AUTOMATED DISPATCH THAT GIVES US THE NAME OF A DIFFERENT TOWING SERVICE THAT ESTIMATES ITS ARRIVAL TIME IN 2 HOURS (THE FIRST COMPANY APPARENTLY HAD TO GO TO A POLICE EMERGENCY TOW, BUT I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T AGREE ON A DECENT WAGE FOR THE SERVICE). NOT WANTING TO WAIT 2 MORE HOURS, I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE AGAIN. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THE CAR FAILS AND WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GLIDE TO AN OFF RAMP AND INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. THANK GOODNESS WE DIDN'T GET ANY FURTHER; THE NEXT STRETCH OF FREEWAY HAD NO SHOULDER AT ALL AND THE NEXT PART WAS A LONG BRIDGE. CAR IS NOW AT DEALER WAITING FOR MON APPT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR TIRES WERE UNABLE TO TURN PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT IF SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ITS CONDITION THAT THE REAR TIRES AND AXLE WOULD SEIZE. THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. 4 MONTHS AGO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR 300 DOLLARS THEN CAR SHUT DOWN WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH SHE ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT SO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT PUMP ANOTHER 600 DOLLARS. NOW MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND CAR HAD NO BRAKES WITH MESSAGE REGEN BRAKES DISABLED I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE COST TO FIX IT WILL BE LIKE 3,000 DOLLARS. BECAUSE THE ABS MODULE IS BAD. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY THIS KIND OF MONEY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST NOVEMBER 2010. *KB