2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID Engine Problems

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WITH APPROX. 140,000 MILES. INITIALLY, HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S GAS ENGINE STALLING OUT WHILE IN MOTION AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FROM 35 TO 55 MPH. MESSAGE IN DASH SAID TO PULL OVER SAFELY. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN ONE DAY AND EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND RUN FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES. NEXT DAY IT RAN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE OCCURRING ONCE AGAIN. EVENTUALLY THE HYBRID BATTERY HAD NO MORE JUICE AND I HAVE TO BE TOWED. GARAGE, NOT DEALER DX STICKING THROTTLE LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THEY CLEANED IT, RECHARGED THE HYBRID BATTERY AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. VEHICLE WORKED WELL FOR 6 WEEKS AND THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT AFTER INITIALLY STALLING OUT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM, ON 2 OCCASIONS OCCURRED WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD. RETURNED IT TO GARAGE WHERE IT STALLED WHEN COLD ONE OF THOSE TIMES. AFTER THAT IS DIDN'T STALL FOR THEM AGAIN. GARAGE LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT NO CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS OR FIX. THEY SUGGESTED THAT CHANGING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE ASSEMBLY MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT CONFIDENT OF THIS. VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED.

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED DAY FORD (LOCATED AT 2124, 3696 WILLIAM PENN HWY, MONROEVILLE, PA 15146, (412) 856-0600) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,621.

Mileage: 187,621

STOP SAFELY NOW & SERVICE SOON - WRENCH. *TR

Mileage: 144,000

THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER COMING FROM A STOP, IT IS NOT TRANSMISSION, IT IS LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON SHUTS OFF ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE RED TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION LIGHT COMES ON WITH A WARNING TO STOP SAFELY NOW ON THE DASHBOARD AND YOU ARE STRANDED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WHILE DRIVING BOTH FREEWAY AND SURFACE STREET SPEEDS, SUDDENLY. I AM AFRAID NOT ONLY TO NOT ONLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT HAVING ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME, ESPECIALLY MAKING A LEFT TURN. IT IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON A DARK STREET AROUND 9PM, CUTTING OFF ON THE FREEWAY LEAVING ME NO CHOICE BUT TO COAST OFF THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AGAIN IT JUST SHUT DOWN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT @ 40 MPH, WHILE DRIVING ON THE SURFACE STREETS, THIS TIME IT WAS EARLY EVENING BUT ONCE AGAIN LEFT ALONE STRANDED UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK COMES. THE DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. BUT I CAN SEE THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 146,000

SEE ATTACHED REPAIR INVOICE # 68143 DATED 01/04/2018. LANDMARK FORD TUALATIN, OR 97281 DEFECTIVE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY COOLING FANS & DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY ASSY PAID INVOICE AMT $2208.95. *JS

Mileage: 128,475

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. LANDMARK FORD IN TIGARD, OREGON WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

HYBRID MEC PUMP FAILURE: MY VEHICLE HAD THE MEC HYBRID COOLANT PUMP FAILURE THAT IS COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE. MY PARTICULAR VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LARGE SCALE RECALL UNDERTAKEN BY FORD. I HAD THE PUMP REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER IN 2011, AND THEN AGAIN IN 2012 AFTER A SECOND FAILURE. THIS COST ME OVER $3000 IN TOTAL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. IT SHOULD BE.

Mileage: 120,000

WHILE DRIVING, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING " SAFELY PULL OVER AND STOP NOW", THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT, NO POWER AT ALL. I PULLED OVER AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES RESTART IT. EVERYTHING SOUNDED FINE. I TALK TO A FORD DEALER WHOM SEEM NOT TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT. I HAVE AN ENGINE CODE P1A0C (ETB), FROM MY ACTRON@ DEVICE. I STARTED TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH ISSUE AND THE SOLUTIONS GIVING BY THE DEALER'S SERVICE HAVE BEEN ALL DIFFERENT I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF THEM FIXED THE ISSUE. SOME HAVE STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 148,810

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE VERY STIFF, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SKID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAN WAS CHANGED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE HIGH MOTOR TEMPERATURE AND STOP VEHICLE SAFELY WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Mileage: 114,000

OUR VEHICLE SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE AND THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE WE ARE MOVING OR STOPPED IN AN INTERSECTION. WE GET A MESSAGE OF STOP SAFELY NOW ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT IN SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC AND YOUR CAR STOPS FOR NO APPARENT REASON THIS ISN'T VERY SAFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 30 TIMES. SOMETIMES IT GOES A YEAR WITHOUT A MISHAP OR THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY.

Mileage: 124,000

DRIVING CAR AND BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. HAD TO JUMP ON THE BRAKES TO GET ANY TRACTION WHATSOEVER. WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. YELLOW ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON, ALONG WITH MESSAGES OF CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REGEN BRAKES DISABLED. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCAPE HYBRID THAT IT IS THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT - A PART TO REPAIR WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH.

Mileage: 75,000

I OWN A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID- I RECEIVED NOTICE LAST YEAR OF RECALL FOR STALLING. I ASKED DEALER IN DEC TO REPLACE. WAS TOLD PART WAS LIMITED AND AS LONG AS NO PROBLEM THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET PART.( ALSO ASKED IN JAN- NO CHANGE.. IN FEB THE VEHICLE STARTED STALLING NUMEROUS TIMES. AFTER THEN HAVING THE CAR 3 DAYS. WAS TOLD THEY NO LONGER AM ABLE TO GET THE PART. TOOK IT BACK TWICE MORE AND AM NOW BEING TOLD THEY ARE NO LONGER MAKING THE PART . AND MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL.- IS THERE A NUMBER TO CALL AT FORD TO SEE WHY NO PART.. *TR

Mileage: 186,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

ON COLD MORNING, CAR STARTED DROVE DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE CAR JUST DIED, SAYING "BRAKE SAFELY NOW." SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY ON COLD DAYS WHEN HEATER IS ON. IT WILL NOT START AGAIN FOR 30 MINUTES. IT WILL START, BUT WILL CONTINUOUSLY DIE. WE HAD CALLED FORD IN MIDDLESBORO, KY AND SPOKEN WITH FRANK WHO SAID OUR VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS. I THEN FOUND OUT IT HAD A RECALL. I TOOK IT IN OVER THE WEEKEND AND HE THEN CLAIMED ON MONDAY THAT THE RECALL ITEM HAD BEEN FIXED. HOWEVER, WHEN I CHECKED THE WEBSITE, IT CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. WE HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED, BATTERY REPLACED AND IT CHECKED BY FORD OF MORRISTOWN, TN. THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH IT. WE HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE'S SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHO SAID IT WAS EITHER THE "ELECTRIC MOTOR WATER PUMP" OR COOLANT PUMP. *TR

Mileage: 161,441

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (ENGINE) AND BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILRUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE DASH SHOWED A WARNING STATING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF 'STOP SAFELY NOW'. I STEERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTED. IT HAS RUN FINE SINCE THEN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE. I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT WOULD START AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN TWICE WITHIN AN HOUR AND THEN THERE WOULD BE NO INCIDENCES FOR WEEKS TO MONTHS AND THEN IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. A MECHANIC REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AND IT APPEARED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED UNTIL THE INCIDENT ABOVE. I AM THE SOLE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR

Mileage: 149,500

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2006 WHEN I BOUGHT IT NEW. AFTER ABOUT FOUR YEARS THE BATTERY PACK BLEW AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WOULD HAVE COST $4000 BUT THANKFULLY I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS COVERED. ON SEPT. 20, 2014 THE CAR THREW A ROD AND THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD COST $5000 TO FIX IT WITH A REBUILT ENGINE BUT THAT IT WASN'T WORTH IT BECAUSE THE ENGINES FOR THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUSLY UNRELIABLE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY JUST FAIL AGAIN. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE SCRAP THE CAR. THE ENTIRE LIFECYCLE OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY 8 YEARS WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS. CARS SHOULD LAST LONGER. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

I WAS ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. I COULD STILL STEER TO THE SIDE, BUT THE ENGINE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR-ENDED. BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. CONTINUED TO HAVE MULTIPLE SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAID THE BATTERY FAN WASN'T WORKING, SO I PAID A LOT TO HAVE IT FIXED (ABOUT A YEAR AGO), HOWEVER, I STILL HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, MORE OFTEN AND ON MANY OCCASIONS NOW. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING MUCH WORSE. I DREAD DRIVING ON FREEWAYS NOW, ESPECIALLY UP HILLS. I AM BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN LATER THIS WEEK. WONDER WHAT LINE THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE ME THIS TIME. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

MY 06' HYBRID ESCAPE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, IT JUST GAVE ME A " PLEASE PULL OVER NOW". I ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON I44 AT 75MPH BECAUSE OF ALL POWER LOSS. WHEN I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I LET IT SIT FOR LIKE A MINUTE AND THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT DROVE A GOOD 5 MINUTES AT ABOUT 60 MPH BUT AS SOON AS I ACCELERATED ABOVE 60 IT GAVE ME THE SIGN AGAIN, AND I HAD TO REPEAT THE PROCESS. I DROVE IT HOME ON THE ACCESS ROAD STAYING BETWEEN 30-40 AND THANK GOD, IT MADE IT HOME. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

MY CAR HASN'T HAD ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS AND WAS WORKING FINE. ON 7/21/14 I WAS DRIVING AT 40 FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES WHEN THE "SAFETY ALERT" LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS PROMPTED TO PULL OVER SAFELY. I WAS IN THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC, GOING UP A LARGE HILL AND WAS DOING MY BEST TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING ABOVE 20 AT THIS POINT AND WAS GETTING SLOWER AND SLOWER. I MADE IT OVER ONE LANE AND THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED AND STARTED ROLLING BACK A LITTLE. THE CAR NEVER TURNED OFF THOUGH AC, LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC STAYED ON BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WORKED NORMALLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS QUOTED AROUND $800 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE. FORD HAS RECALLED OVER HALF MILLION VEHICLES FOR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE, INCLUDING MANY ESCAPES. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

WE PURCHASED THIS FORD ESCAPE HYBRID IN AUGUST, 2012, AFTER PROCURING A PRE-SALE EVALUATION AT FORD DEALER 1, INCLUDING A FULL VIN SEARCH FOR ANY INCOMPLETE RECALLS.THE EVALUATION FOUND NOTHING INCOMPLETE.RETURNING HOME 6.11.14, ON OUR RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE ESCAPE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FLASHED 'STOP VEHICLE SAFELY' AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TURNED OFF ALL POWER. RESEARCH INDICATED A FAILED OEM MECS COOLANT PUMP (TSB 08-24-5), AND WE HAD ISSUES GETTING THE CORRECT PART FROM FORD DEALER 1 AND SOURCED A DORMAN PART FROM THE LOCAL X AUTO PARTS STORE, SUPPLYING IT TO AN ASE-CERTIFIED SHOP FOR INSTALLATION (VEHICLE INOPERABLE/ON A LIFT). ANOTHER 'STOP VEHICLE SAFELY' EVENT OCCURRED 6.24.14 WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE ON AN EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE RAMP, WITH THE ESCAPE TAKEN TO FORD DEALER 2 FOR EVALUATION. FORD DEALER 2'S VIN CHECK FOUND CSP 07B48 AND TSB 09-18-6, NOT AVAILABLE PREVIOUSLY. FORD DEALER 2 MADE REPAIRS CONSISTENT WITH THE CSP/TSB ON 7.12.14 AT OUR EXPENSE. THESE SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS WELL-KNOWN TO FORD (BOTH CSP 07B48/TSB 09-18-6 AND TSB 08-24-5) WERE NOT IDENTIFIED BY FORD DEALER 1 IN OUR PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION, OR BY FORD IN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR OF THE CORROSION ISSUES IN THIS ESCAPE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT KNOWN/IDENTIFIED SAFETY ISSUES GENERATING AN ERRANT BCM SIGNAL DISABLING THE CAR MADE THIS PARTICULAR ESCAPE A TICKING TIME BOMB. WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUES DESPITE OUR DILIGENCE, BUT FORD HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.WE WERE FORTUNATE WHEN/WHERE OUR FAILURES OCCURRED. FOR ANYONE ELSE IN A SIMILAR ESCAPE WITH THE CSP 07B48/TSB 09-18-6 AND TSB 08-24-5 REPAIRS NOT ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED, THE NHTSA SHOULD COMPEL A LONG-OVERDUE RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

WHILE GOING ABOUT 73MPH IN PASSING LANE-HEARD "BEEP" DASHBOARD HAD RED TRIANGLE LITE UP AND A MESSAGE TO STOP SAFELY NOW--THEN CAR JUST STOPPED!! I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE--PULLED OFF INTO MEDIAN--READ MANUAL--STARTED CAR UP AND WENT--ON RETURN TRIP SAME THING--ALTHOUGH NOW I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MY "EXIT"--ALTHOUGH WAS PANICKING GOING THRU TUNNEL IN BOSTON. FORD HAD RECALL ON THIS SYSTEM THAT ENDED IN 2009--I BOUGHT THIS IN 2012. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER--THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND FOR A STARTING FEE OF $120/HR THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK. I CALLED FORD IN MI-TOLD TOO LATE--TOO BAD..SO NOW I HAVE PRINTED OUT RECALL AND WILL BRING TO A DIFFERENT DEALER ON MONDAY. SAW THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF. *TR

Mileage: 113,750

WE WERE DRIVING EAST ON I-26 IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 65 MPH IN 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRIANGLE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH SOUNDED AND LIT UP SAYING "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW". AT THE SAME TIME , WITH THE GAS PEDDLE FLOORED, THE SPEED OF THE CAR WAS SLOWING BY THE SECOND! THE GAS PEDDLE DID NOT WORK. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. PER THE MANUAL, WE WAITED AWHILE AND RESTARTED THE CAR, AND WERE ABLE TO GET IT HOME. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE LINE TO ASK IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE I DESCRIBED, BUT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING AN MECS PUMP FAILURE FOR $135. THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $800. DUE TO THE HIGH COST QUOTE AND KNOWING THAT IT ONLY TAKES 45 MINUTES OR LESS TO CHANGE THIS PUMP, WE TOOK IT ELSEWHERE. THE PART IS $277. OUR CONCERN IS THAT HOW COULD FORD DEALERS NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT, WHEN IN 3 SECONDS YOU CAN PULL UP HUNDREDS OF WEBSITES COVERING THIS FAILURE, AND THE DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT IT COULD CAUSE. NOW I HAVE FOUND THIS US DOT WEBSITE WHICH HAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALSO,I AM HOPING MORE PEOPLE WILL COME FORWARD TO GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE "CAN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING" INCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A WARNING LIGHT IN THE SHAPE OF A WRENCH APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED, THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

ERROR CODE IS "STOP SAFELY NOW". I WAS DRIVING, AND ALL IN THE SUDDEN - AN ERROR MESSAGE CAME UP ON DASH DISPLAY "STOP SAFELY NOW". IMMEDIATELY, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY SHUT DOWN RIGHT AFTER, LOST THE ABILITY TO STOP, AND I HAVE NO CONTROLS OF ANY THING. I WAS LUCKY THAT I'M IN A MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT. I ALMOST GOT HIT WITH THE CAR DROVE RIGHT BEHIND ME. WHAT IF THIS INCIDENT OCCURS ON A FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. MY CAR IS FULLY WELL MAINTENANCE WITH SUCH LOW MILES FOR 2006. *TR

Mileage: 63,792

CAR WENT FROM A HIGH SPEED 60KM TO NO ACCELERATION IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE ERROR CODE INDICATE A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TIME OF DAY: 1800, TEMPERATURE ABOUT 80F. "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED ON CONSOLE. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING A HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE LEFT LANE AND SAFELY MOVED TO THE LEFT CURB AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE DIED. I KEPT TRYING TO START BUT NO SUCCESS. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A TOW TRUCK, I TRIED AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING HOME FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES, APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES. WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED AND THIS TIME THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THIS TIME, IT DIED WITHIN 3 SECONDS AFTER THE MESSAGE APPEARED. IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN OTHER CARS WERE APPROACHING AND WITH VERY LITTLE ROOM TO STOP AND REACT. THIS WAS IN A 35 MPH RESIDENTIAL ZONE. I HAD TO CALL A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST MANAGING THE TRAFFIC. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND CONTINUED THE LAST 2 BLOCKS TO MY RESIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MULTI CARS ACCIDENT HAD I NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE TO THE CURB BEFORE IT STOPPED. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

CAR STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

AFTER A LONG FREEWAY DRIVE, WAS ON A SIDE ROAD AND CAR DIED...ENGINE STOPPED...RED LIGHT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PUT CAR IN PARK, TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. IT STARTED AND WORKED FINE UNTIL THE NEXT INCIDENT, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. IT HAS NOW HAPPEN 4-6 TIMES, ALWAYS WHEN ON A CITY STREET, NOT THE FREEWAY. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

WHILE DRIVING ON I-195 EAST GOING TOWARDS BWI THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF FOR NO REASON OR WARNING THEN A RED TRAINGLE APPEARED STOP SAFELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER IT STARTED I HAD NO POWER WHAT SO EVER WHEN ABOUT 2 MILES AT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND IT DID IT AGAIN MANAGED TO GET IT HOME BASED ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THIS ISSUES OR ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOME ONE TO GET KILLED THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I AM LOOKING INTO GETTING A LAWYER IF FORD DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 123,122

2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED A RED TRIANGLE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND A LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT SAID STOP SAFELY NOW. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

Mileage: 74,000

I WAS ABOUT 4 MILES FROM MY HOME TRAVELING THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 45MPH AFTER A 16 MILE TRIP. WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE DASHBOARD SHOWED A RED TRIANGLE AND THE WORDS STOP SAFELY NOW. I HAD NO CHOICE AS ALL POWER WAS GONE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT BE ON THE FREEWAY AT TOP SPEED! I WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED HOME. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER I RAN AN ERRAND THAT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 25 MINUTES ROUND-TRIP. IT TOOK ALMOST AN HOUR; THE ENGINE STOPPAGE AND STOP SAFELY NOW BUSINESS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. EACH TIME I WAITED 5-10 MINUTES AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY. THE CAR NEVER SHOWED ANY CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS, CHIMES, NOISES OR OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES--IT JUST HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM TERRIFIED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY OR VENTURE FAR FROM TOWN! *TR

Mileage: 124,459

I WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH ON A COUNTY ROAD. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A BANGING NOISE AND I LOST MOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP INTO A OIL CHANGE PLACE. THEY LOOKED AT THE OIL AND IT WAS NEARLY EMPTY. I HAVE ALWAYS CHANGED THE OIL ON TIME AND DONE ALL OTHER MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. THERE WAS NO APPARENT OIL LEAK AND NO SIGN OF BURNING OIL. I HAD CHECKED THE OIL ABOUT 300 MILES PRIOR. THE OIL JUST DISAPPEARED AND THE ENGINE THREW A ROD NECESSITATING A NEW ENGINE. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST 5-6K. I HAVE READ OF AT LEAST 21 OTHER PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM; THE OIL JUST DISAPPEARED AND THE ENGINE THROWS A ROD. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THIS ENGINE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND NOT A FREEWAY AND HAD A PLACE TO PULL OVER. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

I AM SITTING ON I-95 IN CONNECTICUT AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. MY TRUCK JUST STOPPED. THE RED TRIANGLE WITH THE EXPLANATION POINT CAME ON AND THE CAR FLASHED "STOP SAFELY". ALL SYSTEMS ARE NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES THIS TRIP AND I'LL BE LUCKY TO GET HOME ALIVE. *TR

Mileage: 149,754

MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CUT OFF THE COMBUSTION ENGINE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A COUNTRY RD. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF WITH DECLINING POWER IN THE ELECTRIC ENGINE. DISPLAY READ "PULL OVER SAFELY" AND NOTHING ELSE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO BOTH A FORD DEALERSHIP WHO REFERRED ME TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE WHO KNEW ABOUT HYBRID CARS. SINCE THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT IN AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS SHOWING ON A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE SUV HAS DONE THIS NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE AND SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF BOTH ENGINES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT SPEED AND HARD DRIVING WERE THE PROBLEM WHICH IT TENDS TO HAPPEN MORE SO ON 45MIN OR GREATER DRIVES BUT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO DO THIS AT 15MPH IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. VERY SCARY, ESPECIALLY ON CROWDED HIGH SPEED ROADS AS YOU CANNOT "PULL OVER SAFELY" WITH NEITHER MOTOR RUNNING. IF THEIR EXCUSE IS ITS A SAFETY FEATURE IT IS NOT VERY SAFE. I CONTACTED FORD VIA E-MAIL AND THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO REFER ME BACK TO THE ORIGINAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND SEND THE DEALERSHIP THE E-MAIL I HAD SENT TO THEIR CUSTOMER SUPPORT IN CONFIDENCE STATING I DID NOT TRUST THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE THEIR PRACTICES (FOR PREVIOUS REASONS RELATING TO OTHER CAR ISSUES). SAW MANY POSTS IN FORUMS THAT THIS PROBLEM RELATES TO THE COOLING PUMP FOR THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. ORDERING A NEW COOLANT PUMP ONLINE AS I WILL NOT GO TO THE FORD (AS I SAW A POST ELOQUENTLY PUT) "STEALERSHIP". *TR

Mileage: 70,000

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN DISPLAYING A STOP SAFELY NOW ERROR.... APPARENTLY A FAULTY PUMP. THE SAME PUMP THAT WE'VE ALREADY REPLACED 3 TIMES..... NOT ONLY IS THIS ANNOYING BUT IT'S A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER! *TR

Mileage: 147,000

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HWY AT 70 MPH AND PASSING A SEMI, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING CAME ON. THERE WAS NO WARNING, I LOST SPEED AND BARELY MOVED OUT OF THE WAY OF THE TRUCK. THIS FAILURE ALMOST COST ME AND MY PASSENGER OUR LIVES. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR LATER BUT ONLY RAN LONG ENOUGH TO LIMP TO A GAS STATION. WE CALLED AAA, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS EITHER THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE PCM...I HAVE TWO SONS WHO ARE TOP MECHANICS. THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY BELIEVE A WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HYBRID BATTERY IS DEFECTIVE, AND THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO ALL HYBRID OWNERS. I TOOK THIS LETTER TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHEN I RECEIVED IT. THEY SAID IT DIDN'T PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE AND DID NOT PERFORM THE REQUIRED MAINT. REALLY? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS, DEATHS, OR NEAR MISSES MUST HAPPEN BEFORE FORD REACTS AND ACTUALLY OWNS UP? FYI BLOGGING IS OUT THERE FOR US ALL! *TR

Mileage: 125,100

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED (55MPH), ENTIRE POWERTRAIN (GAS ENGINE AND HYBRID MOTOR) COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNING LEADING TO AN ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION CENTER JUST DISPLAYED "STOP SAFELY NOW." THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS AT ALL. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER SITTING FOR ONE HOUR, VEHICLE RESTARTED AND DROVE PERFECTLY FOR ANOTHER 3 DAYS, THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON LOCAL STREETS, LEAVING THE CAR IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. BROUGHT INTO SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I AM ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. *TR

Mileage: 155,000

AT 65 MPH ON HWY 5 IN LOS ANGELES THE VEHICLE DIED AND THE " STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE CAME ON. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET FROM THE 3RD LANE TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING OFF THE KEY I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE. ABOUT 15 MILES LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE. AGAIN ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK TURNED THE KEY OFF AND BACK ON AND WAS AGAIN ON MY WAY. BOTH TIMES THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON SO AFTER THAT I DID NOT USE THE CRUISE AND HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER OCCURRENCE. *TR

Mileage: 121,000

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID GOING ABOUT 65 MPH AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. IT WAS AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. AND I COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AFTER THAT. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD ONLY THE DISPLAY SAYING TO "STOP SAFELY NOW". I PULLED OVER AND LET THE CAR IDLE FOR A MINUTE. THERE WAS STILL NOT OTHER WARNING AND THE CAR WAS NOT MAKING ANY NOISES AND NO STEAM COMING FROM HOOD. I SHUT IT DOWN, WAITED A MINUTE, THEN RESTARTED IT. IT STARTED BACK UP FINE. NOTHING ON THE DISPLAY NOW AND STILL NOT MAKING ANY NOISE. I PULLED AHEAD A LITTLE TO SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE AND IT DID. I LET IT IDLE FOR ANOTHER MINUTE THEN PROCEEDED BACK ONTO HIGHWAY TO TRY TO GET HOME. I GOT UP TO ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. I PULLED BACK TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED AAA FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS LATER, MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL AT THAT POINT. TOWED IT TO A SHOP WHO THEN SAID THE CAR'S OIL WAS NOT READING ON THE DIPSTICK. I HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN MARCH BY A REPUTABLE COMPANY AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED CONSISTENTLY. THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE WAS GONE AND I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ONE. I THEN HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE I BOUGHT, IT FOR A SECOND OPINION AND HE SAID THE SAME THING THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO INTERNAL ENGINE NOISE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME I NEEDED THE THROTTLE BODY AND COOLANT PUMP REPLACED. THEY ALSO SAID NO VISIBLE EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS AND NO INDICATION OF INTERNAL ENGINE USE SUCH AS "BLOW-BY". THEIR OVERALL ESTIMATE TO FIX MY CAR, INCLUDING A NEW ENGINE, IS $8000.00. I NEVER HAD AT ANY POINT ANY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. NO NOISES, NO WARNING LIGHTS. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I CAN'T AFFORD REPAIRS OF THAT MAGNITUDE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

AUGUST 2011 - HAD DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES TN INTO VA WHEN STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE APPEARS. PULLED OVER, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE ENGINE. NO HELP AVAILABLE LOCALLY AS IT WAS SMALL TOWN LATE SATURDAY. DECIDED TO CONTINUE TRIP HOME - DROVE SLOWLY IN RIGHT LANE FOR LAST 200 MILES. NO RECURRANCE THE REST OF THE WAY. MY MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG UPON RETURN HOME. DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN UNTIL JUNE 9, 2012 - ABOUT 150 MILES FROM HOME. SAME SCENARIO - STOPPED FOR A MINUTE THEN WENT ON. HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 20, 2012. AFTER STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THEN RUNNING AT 70 MPH WHEN MESSAGE APPEARS, THIS TIME THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATLY AND I BARELY GOT ONTO THE SHOULDER WITH TRAFFIC SPEEDING BY ABOUT 2 FEET OFF MY RIGHT. TRIED TO START AGAIN BUT MESSAGE THAT THE ENGINE WAS DANGEROUSLY HEATED APPEARED. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT STARTED, I TURNED ON THE HEAT (DESPITE 90+ OUTSIDE TEMP) AND GOT OFF AT NEXT EXIT AND PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. STARTED UP AND DROVE HOME. NO OTHER OCCURANCE SINCE. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME NOW THAT I NEED A COOLANT PUMP BASED ON THE STORED SERVICE CODE. WILL COST OVER $700 PART AND LABOR. JUST HOPE IT FIXES IT. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITH ONLY SECONDS OF WARNING. IN THE AREA I LIVE, I WOULDN'T ALWAYS BE ABLE TO EVEN GET ONTO A SHOULDER SAFELY. *TT

Mileage: 140,000