CarComplaints.com Notes: With solid trends of engine failure — $4,500 to fix at 85,000 miles avg — AND transmission failure — $3,000 to fix at 75,000 miles avg — we can't recommend the 2006 Ford Escape to anyone except your worst enemy.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 1
Average Mileage:
71,078 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
During the cold months, the gas pedal will not depress. Normally after the car is warm, it will loosen up to be safely driven. However, this morning, 01/04/12, I was forced to let the car roll into a parking lot at a very busy intersection. I sat there for several minutes letting the car get even warmer but still had to mash the gas pedal several times before it would move. Luckily I was still very close to home and once I was out of the parking lot, I was able to let it roll the rest of the way home. After much research today I have learned this is a common problem with this vehicle and wish Ford would do something to fix it before someone is hurt. For now we will fix it at home but as I understand it, the problem will only repeat itself.
I have a 2006 Ford Escape that the accelerator pedal will periodically lock up. Ford will not address the problem. I have read that people either clean or replace the throttle body but the problem resurfaces. It would seem to me to be a defect in that part. It has always happened with me when I am in motion. Like you may take off to cross an intersection or make a right turn and it will get you just far enough to get in traffic and then the pedal freezes and you're stuck. I have become very fearful driving not knowing when it might happen.
My gas pedal began to stick back around the 1st of October 2010 when the weather began to cool. It happened every now and then, at that time. As the winter progressed the gas pedal would stick more often, until the car warmed. I called a local Ford dealership to inquire if they had any recalls on the gas pedal sticking and I was told no. It has been very hot in Texas so I have had little problems. This date 9-6-2011 was the first cool morning in a long time and immediately my pedal stuck as soon as I backed out of my driveway. I was stuck in the middle of the street and the pedal would not bulge. I got out of the car and tried to lift the pedal up, hoping to get it to work. I kept pushing on the pedal and I was finally able to move the car. When I stop at the red light I have to start pushing quickly so I won't get hit from behind. This is very scary and serious. After some research I found that other owners of the 2006 Escape suffered with the same problems. I am hopeful I will make it home from work to try to get some help. Ford needs to look more closely at this issue.
My 2006 Ford Escape gas pedal got stuck in my neighborhood 9 times in one day. This has happened numerous times but it is usually when it's cold. This is the first time it has happened was in the summer. This indicates to me that situation is getting worse. There is no warning. One time I was leaving my neighborhood onto highway when the gas pedal pressed only enough to get me into highway at the bottom of a hill. Luckily, I was able to coast to the side of rode. There are others having the same problem and it needs to be addressed before someone is killed.
When I accelerate from a stop, and need to hit the brake shortly thereafter, the car slows, but then "bolts forward" and it requires me to put on the brakes much harder than I would for the speed I am going, in order to avoid colliding with someone in front of me. This has been happening now for years, and when I take it to the repair shop, they can find nothing wrong. I have been putting up with it, because I had no alternative, but then I read that the Ford freestyles, 2005-2007 are under investigation for what sounds like is exactly the same problem I have been having. So I am filing a complaint because they may be related.
- Bel Air, MD, USA
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The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact was accelerating 20 mph from a complete stop when the accelerator pedal became stuck in the open throttle position. The contact proceeded to drive up an incline to determine if the pedal would free itself but it did not. He was able to release the accelerator pedal by constantly depressing with abrupt force. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 54,574. Updated 03/16/11
2006 Ford Escape - gas pedal sticks and is hard to press down, especially when it's cold outside. Noticed at approximately 55,000 miles. Have noticed many similar complaints on the internet.
Accelerator pedal stuck. Could not depress. Car idled perfectly fine but couldn't press the accelerator. After about 5 minutes it was fine again. This has happened on at least a dozen occasions.
Gas pedal stuck within 1/10 mile of travel on cold morning. First happened in January 2009. Has happened twice in January 2011. Car idled, but could not accelerate while traveling. Coasted to stop in right lane. Repeated pressing produced no response. After about 5 minutes in each instance pedal became operable.
My gas pedal sticks while trying to accelerate when it is cold outside. When I try to press on the gas, the pedal will not budge unless I press extremely hard. This problem will last until the car warms up. This is extremely problematic in the snow!
I reported the same problem 13 days ago, but have had another acceleration problem again today. Again, vehicle would not decelerate when the gas pedal was released. Instead, car continued pulling at same speed and then began speeding up. I was on an exit ramp when the problem occurred. Luckily, I was able to use the brakes to fight against the pull of the car while maneuvering through traffic to avoid wrecking. Had to use brakes constantly until I could get the car to a lot to turn off the vehicle. When in park, motor was racing at 4000 RPM's. turned off the car and tried three times to restart. Each time vehicle raced to 4000 rpms. This is exactly what happened on 12/15/2010 as reported here previously.
The accelerator on my 2006 Ford Escape has been sticking on numerous occasions. It feels like it locks in position and I cannot depress it. The first incident happened when I backed out of a parking spot. It worked fine in reverse, but when I switched gears it would not go forward. When I finally got it to work, I traveled about twenty five feet and then it locked up again. You never know when the accelerator is going to stick. This can prove to be very dangerous my son called the dealership regarding the problem, but they said my car is no longer under warranty. It appears to be an expensive fix, and I've read about many, many people who are suffering with the same defects. It seems it's been an ongoing thing since 2001. My husband is currently experiencing the same accelerator problems with his 2005 Ford Escape. We've currently filed a complaint regarding that vehicle also.
Driving on the interstate, the vehicle throttle stuck at about 75 to 80 mph. The vehicle held this speed on its own for about 5 miles. I pulled on to the shoulder and had to stand on brakes to stop vehicle. With brakes on, the vehicle was still trying to accelerate. I put Escape in park and turned off auto. When I did, it lurched forward. After waiting a few minutes, I restarted car while in park with brakes on hard. The car lurched forward again and immediately after turning ignition jumped up to 4000 RPM. Turned off car and had towed to dealership. After the looked at the car, they said they could not "verify my claim"; therefore, they could not do anything. I was charged $100 for a service call and they did nothing. In the past, my gas pedal has also stuck and had to be mashed hard to get the car to run like many other complaints I've seen here for the same make and model. I had the throttle cleaned and it stopped, but it was very dangerous and almost caused me to get rear ended many times. Today's issue with the car stuck going 80 mph was much much worse. Looks like many people are asking for a recall that has not happened yet!
2006 Ford Escape. Gas pedal sticks. Accelerating - began at about 55K miles. Does not matter at what speed - can be 5 mph or 60 mph on the freeway. Vehicle cannot accelerate to get out of the way of other vehicles. Car usually needs to be turned off and sit for a period of time - 5 to 10 minutes, occasionally can hit on the gas pedal hard over and over to get it to re-engage. Car at 85K miles now, still happens randomly with no notice.
1. during normal driving. 2. the gas pedal on my 2006 Ford Escape sticks and is unable to be depressed (locks) or is difficult to press down while in traffic 3. throttle body was replaced by Ford two years ago after a similar problem but it is happening again and we were almost rear-ended trying to merge onto a highway ramp.
When the outside ambient temperature is below 50 degrees F, the accelerator pedal is stuck in the up position/no throttle and inoperable. This issue only seems to occur in colder months of the year. When first trying to press the accelerator pedal down, it gives resistance as if it's completely stuck. Forcing more pressure onto the pedal will make the pedal depress slightly, however, the vehicle does not accelerate/move. The only way to get the vehicle to accelerate/move is to repeatedly tap or stomp on the pedal to "break it free". tapping or stomping the pedal often produces a surge of acceleration and is dangerous in close traffic. This issue occurs after initially entering the vehicle and will continue to occur until the vehicle cabin temperature has been raised significantly using the vehicle's heater. The vehicle was out of manufacturer warranty due to mileage and I have not been able to have the vehicle looked at when this issue occurs due to it being weather/temperature related.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not accelerate and the pedal would intermittently become stuck in the idle position. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted and stated that there was no recall for the failure and would not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 80,000.
2006 Ford Escape 4door. Gas pedal sticking when car is cold, sometimes even after car is warmed up, will be at stop sign or light and gas pedal stuck to floor not coming up to accelerate. My sister had same problem with her 2006 Ford Focus.
The gas pedal on our 2006 Ford Escape locks up at random times, causing an inability to press on the gas pedal. The vehicle becomes instantly inoperable. The only way to get the pedal to unlock, is to get to the side of the road and turn the vehicle off and on a few times. The consequences of such actions are obviously dangerous to say the list. We have taken the car to the Ford dealer and they found nothing wrong. Please go on the web and you will see numerous same case scenarios. This is disaster waiting to happen. We have to think of this each time we drive this car. Help.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Knoxville, TN, USA