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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:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
88,389 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.

2006 Ford Escape engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #24

May 292014

Escape

  • 52,000 miles

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

I have one question. Why are 06 Ford Escapes still on the road" what bugs me more is the fact Ford and everyone is turning their heads to the issue. Not only have I read hundreds of complaints of engine failure, I have not seen one person say Ford made any effort to fix the problem instead I only see continuous problem dating up to now involving this same issue. My grandfather who purchased this vehicle new in 06 is now on disability and now without a car after only 52,000 miles. The cause. Engine failure like the rest. No warning, no nothing. Instead a $6,000 quote for a new engine. A month before that we realized the vehicle was burning oil faster then normal but when checked there was no leak. Following that the engine blew one morning after being started and hearing a loud banging. The vehicle was turned off and would not turn back on. After having it checked they said the engine was fired and oil started leaking into the engine. Lucky we were parked but unlike most complaints iv read people were driving or on the highway when the same thing occurred. I don't think I have to tell you have extremely dangerous that is and could be. Its a problem to many Ford owners are experiencing and no one has taking action. That vehicle is a death waiting to happen. How many more people need to loss money or possible their life for someone to stop this"

- Newport, RI, USA

problem #23

Oct 142009

Escape 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
I was driving approximately 45-50 mph & could no longer accelerate. Gas pedal was stuck. I realized I was able to release it by stepping on brakes or hitting the gas pedal really hard. This was under warranty in Oct 2009 & the throttle body was replaced (supposedly) then again in Nov 2011 I had to have it replaced but it was not under warranty & had to pay for it. It was icy out & it's pretty dangerous to slam on your brakes to release the gas pedal. Luckily there were no cars behind me. I wrote a letter to Ford but they would not refund me nor was there a recall. I just had the same problem July 2014 & the dealer (supposedly) cleaned the throttle body but charged me & I called Ford but again they said there's no recall. I also spent 7K in Feb 2013 for a new engine.....beginning to wonder if that was a wise decision.

- Yorkville, IL, USA

problem #22

Jun 172014

Escape

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the water pump was needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Spring Grove, PA, USA

problem #21

Jun 042014

Escape 6-cyl

  • 78,043 miles

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

2006 Ford Escape. Consumer writes in regards to unexpected engine failure. The consumer stated the timing chain broke with no warning, while driving on a busy highway. Updated 08/20/14.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #20

Apr 032014

Escape

  • 78,000 miles
A total and complete loss of power regardless of travel speed. This is accompanied with vehicle shaking and lurching just before the engine dies. Sometimes it will start again - sometimes not. There have multiple incidents and their frequency is increasing I.e. almost daily.this vehicle has spent time in the shop ( not cheap) where the mechanics find no trouble/diagnostic codes and report not knowing what the problem is nor having ever encountered a similar problem before.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #19

Jun 042012

Escape 4WD 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side shocks were corroded. Additionally, the contact mentioned the vehicle was burning oil excessively. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic however, the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 120,000. Updated 08/27/2014 updated 09/4/2014

- Superior, WI, USA

problem #18

Jan 012014

Escape

  • 85,000 miles

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

I always kept the scheduled maintenance on my 2006 Ford Escape (85,000 miles). On christmas day 2013 my husband and I checked all of the car's fluids. Everything was fine. One week later as we exited the freeway, the car suddenly started to shake, loose power and make a very loud clattering noise. The oil sensor never went off and the engine light did not turn on until a few blocks later. Thankfully, we were able to make it home. I took the car in to our regular mechanics. The damage was so bad that they had to call in another mechanic in order to try and figure what the best solution could be. They said that the car needed 4 quarts of oil even though only a week before we had checked the oil. According to the mechanics the engine needs to be replaced and other parts in the car have also been effected.

- El Monte, CA, USA

problem #17

Sep 102013

Escape

  • 74,500 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, she heard a loud noise as grey smoke started to emit from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the engine was defective. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 74,500.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #16

Aug 302013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
The first incident occurred while I was driving 65 mph on the expressway. I went to change lanes and hit the accelerator and the car would not accelerate and was shuddering. I had pull off the expressway and turn the car off. I tried restarting and it just shuddered again. I waited five minutes and tried again and finally it started and was able to shift. Two days ago I was getting off the expressway and making a left turn when the car died and I lost steering power. I was able to fortunately get to the side of the road and put it into park. I tried restarting the car and it would not start. I waited 3 mins and was able to finally get it going. Both times there was no check engine light. I had the Escape read by a code reader device multiple times and there are no error codes displayed from the computer. This is a very serious and potentially life threatening issue, and would like Ford to act upon it for its customers immediately. I am filing this because I have read that the issue is with a defective throttle body, and there is already an investigation into Ford on this issue (PE13-003). I would like my vehicle to be added to this investigation for my families safety and all others experiencing the problem.

- Midlothian, IL, USA

problem #15

Oct 272010

Escape 4-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
This mostly happens in cooler weather, I had started experiencing my accelerator pedal sticking with the throttle closed. It was mainly a nuisance at first but it started to get to the point where I could put my entire weight on the pedal without it budging. At my soonest convenience and mostly because I had a warranty on the vehicle since it was still relatively new to me, I drove to the dealer I purchased it from and they told me it was the throttle body and that it had to do with the differing metals of the throttle body and the ambient temperature, so they ended up replacing it... it only cost me $100 at the time due to the warranty. Here I am about three years later and I am experiencing the exact same problem. I don't have a warranty so I investigated the issue myself and discovered the throttle body is mostly plastic with an aluminum butterfly... I also discovered a tar-like residue on the edges of the butterfly. I proceeded to clean the assembly, then reinstalled it and there was a major improvement... my accelerator feels very different, in a very good way. I'm tired of large companies hiding issues like this. It gets old and causes good products to continue to get cheaper. My money could be put to better use than replacing a part that obviously needed more engineering attention before becoming production.

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #14

Sep 202013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles

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

Problems with gas pedal sticking/ locking up. While driving and sometimes when idle dash lights, A/C and radio turn on and off, then there was a clicking sound before the actual engine shuts off.

- Ruskin, FL, USA

problem #13

Aug 242013

Escape

  • 78,000 miles
I have taken very good care of my 2006 Ford Escape with frequent oil changes every 2K. I have also had a transmission rebuild that was completed during warranty in 2010. No my car is in a shop with diagnosis that the engine is burned out and needs to be replaced. $4500 for a used engine replacement. I was driving on a highway with a car filled with children and with no indication lights coming on the motor completely died while I was moving 65 mph. I was very fortunate to pull over to the side of the road without a crash. The indication lights only came on as the motor was dying. I tried to restart the engine and it would start but then started to smoke immediately. When I have the car towed to a mechanic he said that there was very little oil in the engine. I had just added 2 quarts of oil about 400 miles before this incident and saw no leakage.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #12

Apr 192013

Escape

  • 64,000 miles
Driving down the interstate I found that the vehicle was losing power. There were no service engine lights or any indicator warning lights of any kind that were on previous to the incident or that lit up during or after the episode. I had to pull over to the side of the road. The accelerator seemed to stop working and there was no power to the engine. I restarted with no issue and continued to drive. The vehicle did this a second time. There were additional incidents at lower speeds driving around town.

- Elkhorn, NE, USA

problem #11

Jun 272013

Escape

  • 103,000 miles
My vehicle dies when the truck is warmed up and I put it in gear with my foot on the brake. It dies at stop lights and stop signs and in reverse. Another technician told me I would have to ride around with that problem because it was not throwing a code. After a week, I took it back to the Ford dealer in cleveland, ms, and the service department manager told me it was probably the throttle body actuator. But, that it was on national back order. I left the car with the Ford dealer, and they said they replaced the throttle valve at a cost of $900. The truck died on the way home from the dealer with the same problem.

- Cleveland, MS, USA

problem #10

Jul 032013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 154,000 miles
My car gas pedal keeps sticking like there is rock under it. I almost wrecked tonite because of it!!!! it needs to be fixed and there are a lot of other people with the same issue.

- Waleska, GA, USA

problem #9

Jul 012012

Escape 4-cyl

  • 48,544 miles
I was driving at approximately 40 mph ( 40-65 mph intervals between highways) for about 20 minutes when all of a sudden my car is loosing power, so I stepped on the gasoline pedal a little more to keep the speed. The sad part is that there wasn't any light that came on to tell or warn me that something is seriously wrong and that my car needed to be checked. I drove a total of one hour that day at 40-65 mph intervals. When I started the car the next day, after about 3 minutes of the engine running, it started making this really loud noise and my car will not go faster than 2 mph.

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #8

Nov 132012

Escape 4-cyl

  • 161,487 miles
Wife was driving her 2003 Ford Escape 2.3L XLS (fwd, 5-spd manual) at 65mph, practically coasting down a hill. 26 minutes after engine start she heard a loud bang and subsequent popping sounds. This was followed immediately by severe power loss from the engine. She drove it to the next best off-ramp, an additional 2 miles. When she got off the freeway she says she had to rev it up quite a bit to make an intersection to get to the gas station where the car rolled to a stop. That loud bang turned up to be the nbr 3 cylinder blowing its spark plug clean off the spark plug bore. The spark plug bore was completely threadless. The subsequent popping sounds were due to the spark plug not being on the nbr 3 cylinder as the fuel that continued to spray into the cylinder was burning off. The immediate power loss is a direct result of the engine loosing 25% of its chugga-chugga and the loss of the cht sensor signal which both then caused the PCM (powertrain control module) to go into limp mode and further reduce engine power. First thing I did was plug in my obdii scanner and check for codes. I found the following three: P0303 - cylinder 3 three misfire. P0353 - ignition coil 'C' primary/secondary circuit. P1289 - cylinder head temp sensor high input. I then performed a koeo (key-on/engine-off) check with my obdii scanner and found the following two codes: P0119 - engine coolant temperature circuit intermittent/erratic. P1289 - cylinder head temp sensor high input. The cht probe (cylinder head temperature) cover/boot was popped off the engine camshaft cover and the wires were broken off the cht probe electrical connector. The spark plug terminal broke off. The ignition coil pack was severely damaged (looked like an exploded cigar, cartoon style).

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #7

Nov 122012

Escape 4-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
2006 Ford Escape, 52000 miles on it, no prior problems. Driving on expressway at 55mph with sudden noise and smoke coming from under hood and vehicle. Pulled to side of expressway and notice trail of oil. Towed to local Ford dealership and informed that engine had a hole in it. Given quote of $8,000 to repair.

- Homer Glen, IL, USA

problem #6

Oct 172012

Escape

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns 2006 Ford Escape hybrid. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle continuously stalled within five miles of travel. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 125,000.

- Banning, CA, USA

problem #5

Sep 152006

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
In approximately September 2006 I bought a Ford Escape not long after I bought it I stated having trouble with it. When I pressed the gas pedal the car would not go. By the time I would get it to a Ford dealership the car had warmed up and they could not get it to do it. During the summer it does not do this but as soon as the weather cools off it will start. I have had to pull over on the side of the road multiple times because when I press the gas pedal the pedal does not move. In order to get it to not stick you have to press it and release it several times then eventually it will take off surging forward. Today was the first cool day we have had and I had to cost over multiple times on the side of the road. When you pull out at stop light you never know whether it is going to be one of the times when the car is not going to go. Today I pulled out several times to find out that it was one of the times the car was not going to go and was almost in several accidents. I was able to get it to a Ford dealership and I explained what the car was doing. They advised me that it was lunch time and they had an appreciation lunch planned for employees and if I could come back in two hours they could have someone look at it but that it sounded like it was the throttle and that it would be around $1000 to repair. This car has always done this in cold weather and I tried multiple times to get this repaired while it was under warranty but when I would take it to the Ford dealership they would tell me that they could not fix it because they could not get the car to do what I was describing.

- Sweetwater, TN, USA

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