2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID Power Train Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping between gears, and there was a significant delay while shifting into third gear. Additionally, the contact stated that when turning the steering wheel while driving, the vehicle failed to respond immediately and responded with a significant delay. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring more frequently while driving. The contact related the failures to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V284000 (Steering) and 15V606000 (Power Train). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I GOT IN TO START THE VEHICLE. UPON REVERSING IT IMMEDIATELY LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL, SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AND I SAW THE LETTERS 'SAFELY STOP' APPEAR AS WELL AS THE RED TRIANGLE (PER AUTO MANUAL THE RED TRIANGLE IS DESCRIBED AS 'MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LAMP' AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AT THAT POINT AT ALL. I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. OFTEN IT WOULDN'T TURN ON AT ALL, BUT WHEN IT DID THEN THE RED TRIANGLE WOULD APPEAR AGAIN & CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE.

Mileage: 150,000

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID THAT DISPLAYED A STOP SAFELY NOW SIGN AND THEN IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER, WHILE I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER AND WITHIN SECONDS WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. I AM THE NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO AND IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE CAUSE. IT IS THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM PUMP, AND YET EVEN WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL. I BELIEVE THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TERRIBLE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS. HAVING A CAR LOSE COMPLETE POWER ON A HIGHWAY IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND THE ISSUE APPEARS TO ONLY BE WITH 2005-2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. AGAIN INDICATING FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM SOMETHING THEY ORIGINALLY DID WRONG IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE CAR AND YET CHOOSES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS.

Mileage: 150,000

DEALER SAYS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MUST BE REPLACED, POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REFRESHED. ESCAPE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN CITY, LOSS OF POWER AND FUEL, EMERGENCY LIGHT, HAD TO BE RESTARTED. KNOWN ISSUE. "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY 2009 - 2013 ESCAPE OF WARRANTY EXTENSION 10 YEARS, 150K, IS NOT EXTENDED TO 2008. MY ESCAPE IS 9 YEARS, 110K. SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR ALL YEARS. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SCARY.

Mileage: 110,000

THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE WITH A "PULL OVER SAFELY" SIGN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2013 WHEREIN I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE COOLING PART FOR THE HYBRID BATTERY REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS FAULTY. THE REPLACED PART HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THAT SAME WEEK BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WITH FORD. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, AND THE SAME RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED AND THE PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART IS ONLY FOR 2 YEARS, BUT AFTER 3 YEARS WITH THE PART, THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I FIND THIS AGGREGIOUS IN NATURE AND A RACKET THAT FORD IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. THE MAKE AND MODEL WERE A PART OF A RECALL SPECIFIC TO THIS VERY ISSUE, BUT MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, SO I'M OUT OF OPTIONS FOR FORD TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THEMSELVES, TELLING ME THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT ASSIST ME WITH THE REPLACEMENT/COSTS AND NOW I'M EXPECTED TO COME OUT OF POCKET AGAIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE ORIGINAL SITUATION OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON THE I5 SOUTHBOUND NEAR LAKE ELSINORE, CA IN THE HOV LANE ON THE FREEWAY, AND TWO DAYS AGO IT WAS STATIONARY AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AFTER DRIVING IT THAT MORNING AFTER SITTING FOR ONE HOUR.

Mileage: 161,000

THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICES 14S05 / NHTSA RECALL 14V-286 AND 14S09 / NHTSA 14V526000 WERE PERFORMED ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT GO AWAY. SINCE THE RECALLS, THE CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH REDUCED STEERING RANGE, KEY/IGNITION NOT TURNING, POWER SURGE WHILE DRIVING, LOCKING STEERING WHEEL, AND THE WORST: A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF THE POWERTRAIN WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN A STALL-LIKE CONDITION, PUTTING OUR LIVES AT RISK. ON JUNE 11, 2016 THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND STEERING HOUSING REPLACED. WE ASKED FOR SERVICE TO CHECK THE ENTIRE CAR-- EVERYTHING!!!!-- AS THE CAR HAD BEEN ACTING STRANGELY WITH POWER SURGES AND LOCKING STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. TODAY, JULY 10 2016, WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE-5 IN CA, HEADING FROM HOME (DANVILLE, CA) TO COLLEGE (SAN DIEGO, CA) THE CAR'S SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING UP THE GRAPEVINE, A SECTION OF FREEWAY THAT IS EXTREMELY CROWDED AND FULL OF LARGE 18 WHEELERS. MY POOR DAUGHTER (WHO NOW OWNS THE CAR) CALLED ME, SCREAMING HYSTERICALLY, FULL OF TERROR AND FEARING FOR HER LIFE. SHE HAD NO POWER, WAS UNABLE TO STEER, DID HER BEST THE DODGE THE 18 WHEELERS AND "LIMP MODE" OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. SHE'S NOW ON THE WAY WITH TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO DROP THE CAR OFF AT FORD OF VALENCIA CA. I TOLD HER DO NOT EVER DRIVE THAT CAR AGAIN. IT IS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE.

Mileage: 116,742

IT WAS BEEN MORE THAN COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD ERROR MESSAGE" STOP SAFELY NOW" ON MY FORD 2008 ESCAPE HYBRID. DURING THAT TIME, I WAS DRIVING INTERSTATE ROUND 50-60 MILES PER HOUR AND ALL OF SUDDEN, IT STOP THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY GET IT FIXED. UNTIL RECENTLY, MAY 22, 2016 AND JUNE 20,2016 THE ERROR "STOP SAFELY MESSAGE" CAME BACK. I TOOK TO THE SAME DEALER I USED TO GO BUT THIS TIME. I LEFT IT FOR 2 DAYS BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO DIAGNOSE WHATS IS THE ISSUE. I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THOSE DAYS BUT MY CAR WAS NOT FIX OR THE DEALER SAYING IT WILL TAKE A WHILE. I AM SURE THEY KNOW WHAT IS THE ERROR CODE. IS THIS A RECALL?I SEEN OTHER COMPLAIN IN HERE ALMOST THE SAME LIKE ME.

CAR WONT START, THE (STOP SLOWLY NOW) APPEARS ON DASH SCREEN . IT ATTEMPTS TO START THEN IT IS KILLED, THEN THE STOP SLOWLY NOW WARNING COMES UP..IT HAS DONE THAT WHILE WE ARE DRIVING TO. WE HAVE REPLACES HYBRID COOLING PUMP WE WERE TOLD THAT IS THE PROBLEM. FIXED IT NOW IT IS WORST

Mileage: 121,000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH, TRIED TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND NOTHING HAPPENED I COULD NOT GO ANY FASTER AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 20 MPH. I KEPT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN I HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHERE MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE I COULDN'T DRIVE IT ANYWHERE. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD AND TO REPLACE IT WAS 780.00 THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2009 TO 2013 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR 2008 OR HYBRIDS.

Mileage: 129,800

MAY 2014 RECALL INVOLVED THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND TORQUE SENSORS THAT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD BEEN NOTICING SLIPPING IN MY STEERING WHEEL WITH SLIGHT PULLING TO OPPOSITE SIDE. IT HAPPENED IN STRAIGHT DRIVING CONDITION SUCH AS INTERSTATES BUT SEEMED MORE NOTICEABLE AS I WAS NAVIGATING A CURVE. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP WITH A RECALL NOTICE I HAD AND TOLD THEM I WAS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS AND CONCERNED. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND TOLD ME THEY HAD RESET A POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. IT SEEMED ALITTLE BETTER AT FIRST BUT THEN STARTED NOTICING AGAIN SAME PROBLEM. 10 MONTH LATER I TOTALLY LOSS MY POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY FAMILY. IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND I ALMOST HIT A TRUCK COMING AROUND CURVE. TOOK IT BACK TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD TORQUE SENSOR GONE OUT AND FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS CALL RECALL HOT LINE STAYING THEY FELT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF UNDER RECALL SINCE I HAD BEEN IN WITH IT BEFORE AND TORQUE SENSOR WAS PART OF RECALL. I CALL HOT LINE SET UP CASE AND WAS DENIED BY FORD SAYING AT THE TIME OF SERVICE DURING FIRST RECALL VISIT I MADE THEY HAD FOUND NO DEFAULTS SO THEY ONLY RESET POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND CLOSED RECALL OUT ON MY ESCAPE. I AM OUTRAGED THAT FORD DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THEIR ON CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND STAFF WHO ADVISES ME THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND FIXED WITH MY VISIT THAT I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS. INSTEAD THIS CONTINUED TO ESCALADE UNTIL I TOTALLY LOST POWER STEERING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED WRECK AND ENDING BADLY. I FEEL FORD HAS TAKEN RECALL EFFORTS AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE WITH RESETTING THESE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULES RATHER THAN TAKING EXTRA STEPS IN REPLACING TORQUE SENSORS THAT WERE PART OF. *TR

THE VEHICLES WARNING LIGHT SYMBOLIZED AS AN ORANGE/YELLOW WRENCH ILLUMINATES ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS LAGGED IN RESPONSE TO APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, OR HAD DELAYED ACCELERATION RESPONSE. THE ISSUE IS ONGOING, AND CONTINUAL ON A DAILY BASIS STARTING APPROXIMATELY ON MARCH 2, 2015. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER, A TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT CAME ON IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE DATA SYSTEM SAID "STOP SAFELY NOW". THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE SAME DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MEC PUMP. ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER THE SAME ISSUE BEGAN OCCURRING MULTIPLES TIMES PER DAY UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN. IT IS NOW AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP GETTING DIAGNOSED YET AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE RESOLVED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

CURRENTLY FORD HAS A RECALL (14S19). THE COOLANT PUMP MAY MALFUNCTION, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE HYBRID ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS TO OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. "WHEN THE HYBRID ELECTRONICS SYSTEM GETS TOO HOT IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE POWERTRAIN, RESULTING IN A STALL-LIKE CONDITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH," ACCORDING TO FORD'S FILING WITH NHTSA. MY VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND I HAVE ALREADY NOTIFIED THIS AGENCY. ONCE AGAIN, ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2014, I WAS DRIVING IN MARYLAND, NEAR DC, IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND I LOST ALL POWER. IT IS REALLY HORRIBLE LOSING ALL POWER WHEN YOU ARE IN THE LEFT MOST LANE (NO LEFT SHOULDER), AND LOSE ALL POWER. SEVERAL CARS ALMOST HIT US...AGAIN. I DON'T CARE IF MY HYBRID SYSTEM IS OVERHEATING. I WOULD RATHER DESTROY THE BATTERIES THAN ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSING ALL POWER IN DC RUSH HOUR. *TR

Mileage: 122,500

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (APPROXIMATELY OVER 50 MPH), THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE WOULD COME ON. THE CAR WOULD GO INTO LIMP-HOME MODE AND ALLOW ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES ON A 60 MILE TRIP HOME, ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO 10 MILES AT A TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED AT TIMES WITH AN ENGINE OVERHEATING MESSAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED IT FOR ABOUT $1000. A WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE ON A 30-MILE HIGHWAY TRIP WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, BUT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE THEN. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS VEHICLE LOSES POWER, RED TRIANGLE (WARNING) LIGHT ON AND (STOP SAFELY NOW) ON MESSAGE CENTER WITH WRENCH LIGHT (SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT). VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER BE DRIVEN AND MUST BE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (IF POSSIBLE) PLACED IN PARK AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. THIS WILL RESET THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE USUALLY ON THE FIRST KEY CYCLE, SOMETIME IT REQUIRES A SECOND OFF/ ON CYCLE OF THE IGNITION. THE WRENCH LIGHT (SES) MAY OR MAY NOT RESET, BUT WILL EVENTUALLY GO OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 8-10 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, SO FAR AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH OR LESS IN CITY TRAFFIC. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY OR NIGHT THAT THIS HAPPENS ON A BUSY FREEWAY, IT IS HARD ENOUGH TO GET TO THE CURB IN CITY TRAFFIC. THIS COULD CAUSE SOME REAL PROBLEMS ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

Mileage: 78,455

MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE FORD RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. FORD IS REFUSING TO COVER IT, EVEN THOUGH OUR VIN IS REPORTED ON FORD'S RECALL WEBSITE AS PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 154,000

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND LOST POWER STEERING. THE TORQUE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED ME THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING MODULE FOR $2200. WE WERE DECIDING WHAT TO DO NEXT, WHEN THE RECALL CAME OUT FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX IT AS FORD HAS NOT PUT OUT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. IT IS NOW JUNE 16TH, WHICH IS WHEN THEY PROMISED CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD BE OUT BY. WHEN WE CALLED ABOUT GETTING A RENTAL VEHICLE, AS MY HUSBAND AND I ARE NOW USING ONE CAR, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THEN 15 DAYS LATER THEY CALLED AGAIN SAYING NOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. HOWEVER, READING THE RELEASE FROM THEIR SPOKESWOMAN ON AUTOBLOG, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS COVERED, WHICH IS REPLACING THE POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC SENSOR MODULE. FORD IS TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK HERE AND NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE LOST INCOME DUE TO OUR LACK OF HAVING A SECOND CAR, AS I MUST DRIVE MY HUSBAND TO WORK 15 MILES ONE WAY, THEN GO BACK ANOTHER 55 MILES THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SO NEITHER OF US CAN TAKE ON EXTRA WORK SO THAT EACH OF US HAS A WAY TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. *TR

Mileage: 154,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWARY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATION WENT OUT AND THE OK TO STOP SAFELY LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT OPERATED OK. THIS IS PROBABLY THE 6TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST MONTH. I WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS A LIMITED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM BUT WAS TOLD BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT BUILT AT A PARTICULAR FACTORY MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THIS LIMITED PROGRAM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE SEEN ON OTHER WEBSITES. THIS IS SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL. *JS

Mileage: 120,000

CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF AT 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF, ONLY THE "WRENCH INDICATOR" WAS ON; IT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY. SERVICE CENTERS CAN NEVER DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE ONCE THE CAR HAS TURNED OFF. WARNING LIGHT ON DASH SAID "SAFETY MODE" AT THE TIME OF ENGINE SHUT-OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER ABOUT TWO MINUTES. DASH WARNING INDICATORS TURNED OFF. GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE ONLY FOR THE CAR ENGINE TO TURN-OFF AGAIN AT THE BASE OF AN OFF-RAMP ABOUT FOUR MILES FARTHER UP THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 55-60 MPH BEFORE THE SECOND INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

THIS WEEK THE NEWS HAD STORIES ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS RECALLING SEVERAL CARS BECAUSE THE IGNITION CAN SUDDENLY TURN OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE EVEN DEATHS DUE TO BAD ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION FAILURE AND CAR LOSING POWER. THIS REMINDED ME OF AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHICH WAS SIMILAR. I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID LAST DECEMBER, ON I-280 IN SAN FRANCISCO DURING RUSH HOUR AT 65 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASH BEEPED AT ME, FLASHED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, DISPLAYED A MESSAGE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, AND THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER! I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY AND NO POWER TO SAFELY PULL OVER. I WAS LOSING SPEED AND SLOWED TO WHERE I CUT BETWEEN OTHER CARS AND OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I'M SURE I CUT SOMEONE OFF IN THE PROCESS. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. THERE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS BEFORE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED IT WITH CODE P1A0D, WHICH WAS A BAD COOLANT PUMP FOR THE ELECTRIC GENERATOR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION AS I DID WHERE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE AT HIGH SPEED AND PUT THEM INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS FINDS SEVERAL BLOG REPORTS OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS. FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS, BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD: MACDONALD V. FORD, CASE NO. 3:13-CV-02988, IN THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

THROTTLE BODY FAILURE; ACCELERATION ISSUES. *TR

WHILE EXITING A STATE ROUTE ON A OFF RAMP I WAS APPLYING BRAKES ON A TURN. THE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, CHECK BRAKES WARNING CAME ON AND I LOST ALL OF MY BRAKES. FAULT CODES THAT ARE SETTING ARE U2023,C1526,C1477. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND TO REPAIR IT YOU MUST REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER $850 AND ABS PUMP ASSEMBLY $3500. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

IT WAS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 62 DEGREES. IT WAS SUNNY. THE STREETS WERE DRY. I WAS DRIVING SOUTH FROM AUSTIN TO NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS ON I-35 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 A.M. I HAD THE SPEED CONTROL SET FOR 55 M.P.H. AS I WAS LEAVING SAN MARCOS, AN ALARM TONE SOUNDED, AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY SHOWED "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER USING BATTERY POWER ONLY AT LESS THAN 20 MILES AN HOUR, CAUSING ISSUES WITH OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE, WITH MANY OF THE OTHER DRIVERS ANXIOUS TO GET TO WORK. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DID A PERIMETER SCAN FOR ISSUES. NONE WERE DETECTED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED FOR UNTOWARD ISSUES. THERE WAS NO SMOKE. THE ENGINE WASN'T OVERLY HOT. OIL WAS FULL TO THE APPROPRIATE MARK. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME ABOUT 1790 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND A FULL DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES DETECTED. AFTER COMPLETING THIS CHECK, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE FOR ANOTHER 20 OR SO MILES WHEN THE ALARM AND DISPLAY REPEATED AS ABOVE. AGAIN THERE WERE NO ISSUES. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT THREE MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE 75 MILE COMMUTE. THE RETURN TRIP HAD NO ISSUES. SINCE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT FORD HAS HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE THE FIRST ESCAPE HYBRIDS WERE ON THE ROAD, AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO DEFINITIVE PROBLEM OR CORRECTION. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA EXAMINE THIS TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL SHOULD BE PERFORMED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY ALARM THAT SHUTS THE VEHICLE DOWN COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Mileage: 92,827

FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC WATER PUMP FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM CAUSES THE IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF THE VEHICLE LEAVING DRIVER NO POWER TO MOVE TO A SAFE AREA. THERE IS NO WARNING BUT JUST AN IMMEDIATE ELECTRICAL SHUTOFF UNTIL DRIVER CAN MOVE TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE AND LEFT US IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BEFORE I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PART CLAIMING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR HYBRID WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THE PART IS INTEGRAL TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR

Mileage: 62,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

Mileage: 52,000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A SUMMER NIGHT AT AROUND 9:00 PM, THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED, A RED WARNING TRIANGLE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DASH MESSAGE SCREEN SAID, "STOP SAFELY NOW." I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED IT OFF, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON 5 SEPARATE TRIPS SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER HAS HAPPENED, OFTEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. THE FAILURE OFTEN HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME TRIP. EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED HAS BEEN IN THE SUMMER AND IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EVENING. EACH TIME THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED ONCE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ALL OCCURRING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AFTER AT LEAST 40 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON A HOT DAY, THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY CUT OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED RAPIDLY. A RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS: "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW AND TURN OFF ENGINE". ALL 4 TIMES I WAS DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE. ALL 4 TIMES THE CAR STARTED AGAIN NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. AFTER THE 3RD INCIDENT, I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN SOON, AND IT STALLED AGAIN AFTER 10 MORE MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. FIRST INCIDENT LATE JULY 2012, THEN LATE AUGUST 2012, AND TWICE ON JUNE 19, 2013. THIS IS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE, AND I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT TO BE REAR ENDED. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR SEE ANY CODES IN DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, REFUSES TO PURSUE. HELP!!!! *TR

Mileage: 51,000

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID (FEH) "STOP VEHICLE SAFELY" RED TRIANGLE WARNING AND IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN DUE TO THE WELL-KNOWN DEFECT IN THE BOSCH OEM MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLING SYSTEM (MECS) PUMP IN THE 2005-2008 MODEL YEARS. SEE FORD TSB 08-24-5. IF THE NHTSA DID EVEN A CURSORY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THEY WOULD SEE MANY, MANY HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS AND RELATED ACCIDENTS OR NEAR-MISSES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE FAILURE IS ONLY TRIGGERED BY DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR DRIVING UP STEEP HILLS AND THE SHUTDOWN IS IMMEDIATE (NO PRIOR WARNING), CAUSING SUDDEN AND SIGNIFICANT DROP IN SPEED AND FRANTIC ACTIONS BY THE DRIVER TO ABRUPTLY STEER THE UNPOWERED CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE ARE NO EXTERNAL INDICATORS TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SUDDEN SLOWDOWN AND LANE CHANGE AND THE DRIVER DARE NOT USE THE BRAKES TO SIGNAL OTHERS BECAUSE TO HIT THE BRAKES WITH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE ALREADY QUICKLY SLOWING TO A STOP WOULD CAUSE THE FEH TO ABRUPTLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. ALTHOUGH THIS PART IS UNIQUE TO THE HYBRID VERSIONS OF ESCAPES, FORD REFUSES TO CLASSIFY IT AS A UNIQUE HYBRID COMPONENT (WHICH WOULD BE COVERED BY THE 8 YR 100,000 MI WARRANTY) AND ROUTINELY CHARGES $800 TO REPLACE IT. IN MY CASE FAILURES HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, ALWAYS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. TWO OF THE FAILURES NEARLY CAUSED MULTIPLE CAR PILEUPS BECAUSE THE INTERSTATE WAS FULL OF CARS AND SEMIS WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT. I AM FRANKLY SHOCKED THAT THE NHTSA DIDN'T REQUIRE A RECALL YEARS AGO FOR A WELL-KNOWN AND COMMON DEFECT THAT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSES FEH'S TO ABRUPTLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW DOWN SPECIFICALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS OR STEEP HILL CLIMBS, FORCING THE DRIVER TO ABRUPTLY CHANGE LANES TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. SEVERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS ARE BEING PREPARED. ISN'T IT TIME THE NHTSA ADDRESSED THIS VERY SERIOUS DEFECT? *TR

Mileage: 60,000

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME APPROX 5:30 PM ON A BUSY FOUR LANE ROAD FROM AN ERRAND AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" LIGHT CAME ON. AT THAT POINT SHE COULD NOT GET OVER DUE TO TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST DOWN A HILL INTO A TURN LANE NEARLY HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR AND STOP THE CAR. WE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND BRING IT HOME. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE COOLANT MOTOR TO THE BATTERY WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE HYBRID BATTERY TO OVERHEAT THEREBY SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY. THIS IS TO PREVENT THE HYBRID BATTERY FROM OVERHEATING. I DO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE, BUT THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 50,000 MILES TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM SHUTTING OFF . WE WERE GETTING READY TO DRIVE ON A 600 MILE TRIP IN THIS CAR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WAY THE WARRANTY IS WRITTEN, IT IS NOT COVERED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY ESPECIALLY AFTER 50,000 MILES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PROVIDE A RECALL AND/OR FIX TO THIS PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

DURING A 300 MILE TRIP, THE FEH "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING CAME ON AND CAR SHUT DOWN. WE WERE ON A BUSY LA HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY, READ UP ON THAT WARNING SYMBOL AND RESTARTED CAR WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT THEN. 25 DAYS LATER, DRIVING THE CAR ON 45 MINUTE TRIP, 'STOP SAFELY NOW' LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY. HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART CAR. AGAIN THIS WAS HIGHWAY DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NO CAR SHOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 54,093

DRIVING ALONG, MY WIFE SUDDENLY NOTICED THAT BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. DASHBOARD STATES ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, AND REGEN SYSTEM FAILURE. SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED CAR OFF. RESTARTING, FAILURE LIGHTS STILL COME UP, BRAKING STILL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE BRAKE FLUID IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE! IT'D BEEN FILLED AT LAST OIL CHANGE (LESS THAN 1500 MILES AGO) TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER 2 DAYS, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HCU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THAT THEY WOULD BE SPECIAL ORDER PARTS AND THAT IT'D COST EXTRA $ FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE REPAIR. (I'D TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I'D RESEARCHED AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, FORD HAS MANY TSBS OUT FOR THIS, CALLS INTO QUESTION THE TRAINING OR THE ABILITY OF THIS DEALERSHIP TO PROPERLY DO THE REPAIR) FORD IS THE ONLY SUPPLIER FOR PARTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR REPAIR, AND THEY CHARGE A PREMIUM PRICE FOR THEM! $7000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD BE VOLUNTARILY RECALLING. IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST MAKE THE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR A LOT LESS MONEY! *TR CONSUMER TRADED THE VEHICLE IN JULY 2014 TO MARK MILLER TOYOTA IN SALT LAKE CITY, UT. UPDATED 6/8/18*JB

Mileage: 59,575

DRIVING VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY @ HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, EXPERIENCED ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER. AMBER WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MOVED TO SHOULDER OF ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, STOPPED VEHICLE, TURNED OFF IGNITION & AFTER ABOUT 30 - 40 SECONDS RESTARTED VEHICLE, POWER RESTORED & VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY (WRENCH LIGHT OFF). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED, NOT UNDER WARRANTY (DESPITE TSB 09-19-12). ON FEB. 3, 2012, EXPERIENCED SIMILAR LOSS OF POWER PROBLEM, AND THE AMBER WRENCH LIGHT AND MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN (MILEAGE AT THIS POINT: 45,500 MILES). AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION & RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN NORMALLY FOR 45-60 SECONDS, THEN WOULD FAULT & SHUT DOWN. I WAS CLOSE TO MY WORKPLACE, SO I LIMPED IT BACK TO WORK. CALLED DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED CALLING FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HYBRID CERTIFIED DEALER, WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY THIS TIME) AND THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. WHEN I CAME TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF POWER & WARNING LIGHTS (OPEN WRENCH LIGHT). DEALER NOW CLAIMS A SENSOR IN THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY IS BAD & IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM (CLAIMING THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY). VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALER AT THE TIME OF THIS POST. *TR

Mileage: 36,050

A PROBLEM THAT SURFACED AGAIN AFTER EXPERIENCES MANY TIMES SINCE THE ABOVE MENTIONED INCIDENT DATE: A WRENCH SIGN WAS COMING ON THE DASHBOARD FREQUENTLY, AND SOMETIMES DISAPPEARED ITSELF WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING.SIMILAR SIGN OR INDICATION FOR OIL CHANGE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED EVEN AFTER A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE WAS DONE WITH THE DEALER. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED IN EARLY PERIOD, I (THE CUSTOMER) WAS ADVISED TO DISREGARD, BECAUSE THE MECHANIC FORGOT TO RESET AFTER THE OIL SERVICE, WHEN FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOTIFIED TODAY (11/7/12), IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AS A SERVICE ISSUE, WHICH I DO NOT AGREE. SINCE THE PROBLEM EXISTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IN EARLY STAGES AFTER THE PURCHASE, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH BATTERY DOOR WHICH MALFUNCTIONS, AND DOES NOT ALLOW VENTILATION ON & OFF. THE BATTERY WAS DOWN, ALL CONTROLS DISAPPEARED AND THE CAR WAS LOCKED IN POSITION ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO (APPROXIMATE JUNE 2010). THAT TIME A MAJOR SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, WHICH REQUIRED A MONTH LONG PERIOD TO FIX IT. (SAFECAR REFERENCE 365127). UNFORTUNATELY, I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM YOUR OFFICE ON THIS PAST ISSUE AND COMPLAINT. SINCE BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE TO DO WITH BATTERY AND MONITORING DEVICES, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM FOR SAFETY OF ALL USING THIS MODEL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR FINDINGS ON BATTERY VENT DOOR FUNCTIONING. THANKS *TR

Mileage: 21,239

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A LONG TRIP (9 HOURS) A TRIANGULAR WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON: STOP SAFELY NOW, AND THE CAR DECELERATED QUICKLY AS THOUGH THE ENGINE HAD ABRUPTLY STOPPED, BARELY ALLOWING TIME TO PULL OFF ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A SHOULDER AT THAT SPOT ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY STOP A CAR THIS SUDDENLY THAT IS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY! AFTER READING THE MANUAL WHICH DIRECTED DRIVER TO WAIT A BIT AND THEN RESTART CAR, THE DRIVER DID SO AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN, TWICE, ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR ONLY 2 HOURS. PLEASE; JUST BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A CRASH, INJURY, FIRE, OR DEATH DOES NOT MEAN THIS IS "SAFE ENOUGH." *TR

Mileage: 79,000

2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKE AND SHIFTING THE CVT TRANSMISSION INTO LOW RANGE, TO HIS SURPRISE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT DOWN AND ALLOW THE ENGINE COMPRESSION TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO LOW AT 50-60 MPH AND EXPECT IT TO SLOW DOWN. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS MANUAL STATED THE TRANSMISSION MAY BE SHIFTED INTO LOW AT ANY SPEED. UPDATED 09/11/12

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING LOST ALL FORWARD ENGINE POWER (COMBUSTION ENGINE AND HYBRID SYSTEM). THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE IN THE LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARS ON THE DRIVER DISPLAY. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND NARROWLY AND MIRACULOUSLY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS WITH FOLLOWING TRAFFIC INCLUDING TRACTOR-TRAILERS AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS INDICATES A HYBRID MEC PUMP FAILURE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS FAILURE MODE ON THE INTERNET AND THROUGH OTHER SOURCES, IT APPEARS THAT THE FOLLOWING SITUATION EXISTS: 1) THIS COMPONENT EXHIBITS A VERY HIGH AND PREMATURE FAILURE RATE AT ALL MILEAGE LEVELS. 2) THE FAILURE MODE (SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER) IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO RESULT IN FATALITIES AND MAJOR ACCIDENTS. 3) THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS WELL KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND VARIOUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACEMENT OF THIS COMPONENT. 4) NHTSA HAS PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED 25 SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL DEFECT REPORTS, YET STILL NEITHER NHTSA NOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ACTED TO PROTECT FORD ESCAPE OWNERS FROM THIS SAFETY CRITICAL DEFECT. I URGE NHTSA AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO OPEN A FORMAL SAFETY INVESTIGATION ON THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID MEC PUMP "STOP SAFELY NOW" POWERTRAIN FAILURES BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST AND MORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR DUE TO THIS DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 76,102

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH THE POWER CUT OUT AND A WARNING WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH TO PULL OVER SAFELY. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND CONTINUE DRIVING, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO FORD. THE FORD DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *KB

Mileage: 111,397

INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON 12/02/2011. AFTER WORK I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON THE 405 FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I WAS IN LEFT LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. SMOKE STARTED TO COME UP FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND TRIED TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER ON THE FREEWAY. THE ONLY LANE TO THE LEFT OF ME WAS THE CARPOOL LANE. IT WAS DURING A HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME AND I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES AS I TRIED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THIS ENTIRE TIME THE CAR WAS GETTING SMOKY AND IT WAS HARD TO SEE AND BREATHE. CARS WERE HONKING AT ME AND ONE CAR PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AND YELLED AT ME THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM MY CAR AND THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND I NEEDED TO GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND PARKED AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR. I COULD SEE SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR NEAR THE ENGINE. ONE TRUCK WITH TWO MEN INSIDE PULLED OVER TO HELP ME. I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER I HAD IN THE CAR TO PUT OUT FIRE. THE TOW TRUCK TOWED MY CAR TO LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE GEARS INSIDE THE HYBRID POWER UNIT CAME APART AND BROKE. THEN TRANSMISSION FLUIDS LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST AND BURST INTO FLAMES. MY SERVICE ADVISER BRIAN SAID THAT THEY DOCUMENTED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES AS A RESULT OF THIS. HE ALSO SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY A CAR WITH ONLY 66,000 MILES WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY THE GEARS WOULD BREAK APART. FORD REPLACED THE UNIT BUT DID NOT CLEAN THE CAR, STILL HAS FLUID UNDER IT AND IT SMELLS HORRIBLY TO DRIVE. FORD CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DON'T WHY IT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. SUBMITTED CLAIM TO FORD AND THEY REJECTED IT. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, APPROX 65K MILES. DROVE APPROX 10 MILES ON EXPRESSWAY WHEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE LOSSES ENGINE POWER, RED TRIANGLE WITH EXCLAMATION POINT, AND MESSAGE "STOP SAFETY NOW." COASTED WITHOUT POWER TO PULL OVER ONTO SHOULDER. ANOTHER MESSAGE READ "ELECTRIC MOTOR TEMP HIGH." I TURNED OFF VEHICLE WAITED 2 MINUTES, TURNED ON VEHICLE AND DROVE APPROX 1/4 MILE AND AGAIN VEHICLE LOSSES POWER WITH SAME STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE. THIS OCCURRED 9 TIMES WHILE ON THE WAY HOME, AND ONCE ON THE JR EXPRESS WHICH IS 2 LANE SO I STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE AND HASSETT FORD SERVICE, NY TELLS ME THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. ARE THEY WAITING UNTIL THERE IS A DEATH AS A RESULT OF ENGINE POWER LOSS ON A 65 MPH EXPRESSWAY TO OFFER A REPAIR? NO ONE FROM FORD WILL OFFER A REPAIR. A PROPER INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY AND A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A SERIOUS CRASH FIRE OR DEATH OCCURS. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TRIANGLE LIGHT WITH EXCLAMATION IN RED CAME ON. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST 15 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

Mileage: 39,605

2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID: TURNED ON THE CAR, TURNED INTO A DRIVE WAY TO TURN AROUND NOTICED PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ON. BRAKE NOT ENGAGED? BRAKE FAILURE CAR ROLLING INTO PARKED VEHICLE HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK TO STOP. BACKED OUT OF DRIVE WAY ABS LIGHT ON, BRAKE FAILURE ON DASH, GET BRAKES CHECKED, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ON. NO BRAKES. I BACKED UP AGAIN AND THEN THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE CAR HAD HYPER BRAKES.... LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WAY SENSITIVE. OVER STOPPAGE... TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS A CONNECTION TO THE BATTERY? THEN MY SON TOLD ME ABOUT THE HYDRAULIC PROBLEM????? FORD STILL HAS CARE SERVICING OTHER ISSUES, 34,485 MILES>. *TR CONSUMER STATED DAMAGED WAS REPAIRED, BY STATE FARM. TRADED THE CAR SHORTLY THERE AFTER. UPDATED 6/8/18*JB

Mileage: 34,485

DRIVING OFF ROAD UP A STEEP INCLINE (40-45 DEGREES), THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT. THERE WASN'T ANY POWER GOING TO THE TIRES EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE RPM WOULD ONLY REV UP TO ABOUT 1200 RPM. IT FELT AS IF THERE WAS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE AS THERE WAS NO POWER BEING DELIVERED TO THE TIRES. THE TIRES DID NOT LOOSE TRACTION OR SPIN EITHER. WHAT WAS ESPECIALLY UNSAFE ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS BACKING DOWN THE STEEP HILL I HAD TRIED TO ASCEND. I WAS TRYING TO BACK DOWN SLOWLY BY USING THE BRAKE, BUT MANY TIMES THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT AND SLIDE SOMETIMES SIDEWAYS WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. I TRIED TO AGAIN TO NO AVAIL. THIS VEHICLE IS USED BY THE US FOREST SERVICE IN WHICH MANY TIMES THE VEHICLE IS REQUIRED TO GO OF ROAD ON FOREST SERVICE ROADS. THERE IS A SECTION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ABOUT OFF ROAD DRIVING, BUT IT MAKES NO MENTION THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UP STEEP INCLINES.

Mileage: 28,700

MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAS EXPERIENCED AT LEAST TWO UNEXPECTED AND UN-COMMANDED ACCELERATIONS IN THE PAST WEEK. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT ONCE AND REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT ABS TONE RING. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TODAY 23NOV2010. *TR

Mileage: 63,084