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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,323 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.

2008 Ford Escape electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 4 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #59

Aug 262015

Escape 4-cyl

  • 1 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Approximately 2 to 3 weeks ago I was sitting in a parking lot after shopping, went to start my car and it would not start. After about 10 minutes and several attempts the car finally turned over and started. I drove the car home and did not go out the rest of the day. This has happened several times. I called a mechanic and they said that it sounded like it was the starter. I did not think so, but took it to mechanic and they did the work and replaced the starter costing me money that I do not have as I am on a fixed income. Got the car back last week and yesterday was sitting in a car dealer lot and it happened again. This time it would not start and had to call for a ride after sitting in the hot 90 plus degree heat. My car is in the shop again today and they are going to try and see if they can figure out why it will not start. To me and my granddaughter it sounds like there is something faulty in the steering column. Either way, I am terrified that it will start a fire, or worse leave me stranded where no one can come and get me. I am an elderly woman and can not have these issues with my car. If this could be looked into and taken care of as soon as possible I would greatly appreciate it. I have the invoices from the work that has been done on this particular part of the car. Thank you for your time and prompt resolution of this matter.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #58

Mar 022015

Escape 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
I think my vehicle has some kind of electrical short. After I take the key out sometimes the car will start by itself and today the locks started locking unlocking by themselves. I was in the vehicle and it was running. Also the back windshield motor cover fell off and no longer works. I can no longer lock my back window and it opens and shuts the whole time I am driving. Such a disappointment. My last Ford Escape I had 10 years and racked up over 250,000 miles - that car was a dream. This used 2008 I bought seems to be a lemon :

- Yamhill, OR, USA

problem #57

May 012013

Escape

  • 1,575 miles
This problem started about 2013 my car ignition was not starting the car I have to press in then turn so that my car can start this was getting so aggravating so I took it to a shop and they switched out the ignition switch and that did not last long. I am now dealing with this issue again and it is expensive. I am so tired of my car not starting when I turn the key. I had to get my car towed because of it and I sometimes get stuck after shopping or at work and I have to keep turning the key until it start. I believe this has something to do with the recall I had last year on my car I hope that Ford look into this issue I believe it is something going on deeper than the switch and Ford need to fix it. I need help with this issue.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #56

Jan 152015

Escape

  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:14V284000 (steering); however, the dealer diagnosed that there was nothing was wrong with the vehicle and stated that the recall was closed. The contact stated that after the recall was closed, the vehicle had to be jumpstarted and the steering wheel seized. The failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery would fail after three days and that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

- El Dorado Springs, MO, USA

problem #55

Feb 022014

Escape

  • 78,000 miles
Key is difficult to turn in ignition. You have to push and turn really hard. Been ongoing for over a year. Every time I have my car serviced, I have to help the mechanics and I'm a woman. Ford dealership said the ignition switch and lock need replacing. $220 for parts with $734 as the total estimate with labor. It's getting harder to start which can be scary if I get stranded. I've never had this problem with a car. I've read at least 30 of the same complaints on the internet. Where is the recall, ?

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #54

Jan 292015

Escape

  • 124,000 miles
2008 Ford Escape faulty ignition in order to start the car the key must be pressed hard into the ignition while turning otherwise the car won't start.it has been getting worse and I feel there should be a recall so it can be fixed.

- Covington, KY, USA

problem #53

Oct 232014

Escape 6-cyl

  • 142,359 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle will not start, had to be towed to dealer to be fixed costing over $300 and on 12/01/2014 it happened again and was towed in to be fixed again costing over $700 and the service manager just laughed and said that happens alot and at leased the Ford won't shut off like GM, they just don't start. There should be a recall on Ford's ignitions too.

- Leonard, MI, USA

problem #52

Nov 202013

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles
My wrench light came on, feels like I have no power. It will only go about 20 mph, RPM's go high and then all of a sudden it will kick in and start driving normal.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #51

Nov 132014

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
Throttle body actuator system failure. Surging, unnecessary revving at low speeds. Inconsistent acceleration and gear change. Trouble code "P2112 throttle actuator system stuck".

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #50

Nov 112014

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 155,900 miles
Driving down the road the power cut out to the vehicle, and the throttle stopped responding, the engine continued to run but very labored. At the same time the wrench light lit up on the dash. Using the forward momentum I was able to pull the vehicle over, where it stalled. I was able to re-tart the engine where it ran labored again, and stalled out, the throttle was not responsive during this time at all. After approximately 10 re-starts with the last coming after the vehicle sat awhile, I was able to re-start it and drive it normal. Throttle response returned, and the wrench light was off. This issue occurred for my wife again on 11/12 with a similar result.

- North Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #49

Oct 042014

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

As I was exiting a ramp, the car stopped accelerating completely..forcing me to pull over, as I continue on it does not accelerate when gas is pushed completely down. Wrench light came on but leaves when car is off. Driving aprox. 3 blocks before wrench light comes on again...

- Scranton, PA, USA

problem #48

Sep 082014

Escape

  • 99,812 miles
I was driving my car when a light came on the dashboard. It stated power steering assist default. My steering was ok at the time. The power steering stopped working by the time I got to my street. I struggled to turn the wheel onto my street and into my driveway. I took my car to a Ford dealership and they replaced the torque sensor. I checked on the internet and found that this was a recall in may, 2014. The recall was stopped. I did not receive a notice about this. The recall stated that the power steering will go out around 100,000 miles and the torque sensor would have to be replaced. I was lucky that I was not on the freeway or going very fast when the power steering went out.

- Bedfprd, OH, USA

problem #47

Jul 042013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 165,000 miles
For almost a year, to start my car I had to push key in very firmly, then turn. For about one month now, I have to push in, then jiggle in and out until it connects and starts car. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes to find the connection. I don't know if this is related to the problem of having no power steering (power steering comes and goes - usually none) which I understand is also an electrical problem.

- Stuart, FL, USA

problem #46

Apr 282014

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 106,000 miles
While turning the wheels the ABS light blinks on and off and the car seemed to be slowly losing power. When wheels were straightened again it ran as normal. This happened three times on the drive home from the grocery store, each time when I was turning, the electrical panel was dimming and the gas pedal lost ability to propel car.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #45

Mar 172014

Escape

  • 152,100 miles
At first the power steering didnot work upon starting car, restarted and it worked. As time went on this got worse, having to restart several times and now once power steering works it will go off anytime even just driving straight on the highway. Also when power steering is working the steering wheel shakes. This should be a recall as there have been so many complaints that Ford has offered a torque sensor kit instead of having to replace the whole steering column.

- Embden, ME, USA

problem #44

Mar 102011

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 49,000 miles
I own a 2008 Ford Escape XLT, V6 3.0 engine. At about 49,000 miles, it started having acceleration issues. This has been an on going problem, but never trips any service lights. I go down the drive way pretty good, but when I get on the highway, I have to hammer on the gas pedal to get it to go and the rpms go way up. The Ford dealers can't find anything wrong with it. We know that it's fuel related and have cleaned the throttle body and several sensors. It helped for a short time, several thousand dollars later. But its right back to stalling out. I've never received any recall notices at all. This vehicle is a coffin on wheels ! P.S. this is in regard to the electrical throttle body.

- Clayton, WI, USA

problem #43

Feb 072014

Escape 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
I was driving down the street and my power steering stopped working for the third time in a month causing me to run off the road because I couldn't make the next turn. If I pull over, turn off the car, and restart then it works fine. If I was going any faster, this could have been fatal.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #42

Mar 242014

Escape

  • 108,000 miles
For the last couple of days, whenever I put my car in reverse and begin to back up, I lose my steering ability. The only way I can get my steering wheel to work again is if I turn my car off and then turn it back on again. Well, today, it happened again, but this time I tried multiple times to turn my car off and turn it back on and my power steering would not kick back in. I have read through many complaints on here as well as other sites and see that a lot of people are having the same issue with their 2008 Escape. I have seen that it can cost over $1400 to get it fixed!! I do not have that kind of money right now!! the fact that there was no warning light to tell me that something in the power steering was going is ridiculous!! in the past 2 years I have had to replace the transmission, get a new battery, get brakes, tires, new gas tank, new sensor for the heating control, and the list continues. This car is only 6 years old and just past 100,000 miles!!! I should not have had to replace all these things already!! I am not about to put another $1400+ in this vehicle especially since it seems to be an ongoing problem with many other Escapes. Time to do a recall people or you can gladly take this car back!!

- Franklin, PA, USA

problem #41

Feb 252014

Escape 4-cyl

  • 166,395 miles
When I was driving and then going to make a turn the car gas and steering shut down and the car would not move any longer. The steering wheel also got stuck in the process of turning and. The gas peddle also have been getting stuck before this incident it has been going on for at least 3yrs 2011 until 2014 the present we have gone to check it put no diagnosis was done to let us know the steering column system was out until this year when the car went out completely. This is not an acceptable problem and I should not have to pay to get it repaired.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #40

Mar 132014

Escape 4-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
The fan switch and relay box has a electrical melt down according to the service advisor at the Ford dealer. The fan switch was replaced once before. The last time it cost me about $250 with extended warranty. Now the warranty has expired and will cost me about $1000 to replace. I feel Ford did a patch job during the extended warranty and it was never correctly fixed. I checked one website and there was 923 complaints about the faulty fan switch. This is a potential fire hazard and Ford needs to recall and replace the defective fan switch and relay box on the 2008 Ford Escape.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

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