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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,470 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 2 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #62

Dec 142017

Escape

  • 72,000 miles

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

Engine stopped dead while driving.stated stop safely now.well as car stopped dead with no warning is was not safe..service says needs new throttle body. Thats fine but I could have been killed

- Wallingford, PA, USA

problem #61

Oct 292017

Escape

  • 170,000 miles
While driving my steering became really hard to turn still was able to go down the road but it was very difficult to turn. Took my Escape to a repair shop and was told my electronic steering sensor is bad. I do not have the time nor the money to deal with this issue and this is definitely a safety issue. I also have an issue with my exhaust manifold leaking three exhaust manifold bolts are broken off causing a hissing noise. I can smell the exhaust in my vehicle when parked.

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #60

Jun 012016

Escape

  • 110,000 miles
Takata recall - vehicle transmission slips, engine revs and decelerates while driving, ignition switch will not start car each time. Sometimes it takes twenty tries. I have read hundreds of these complaints on the internet.ev

- Earlysville, VA, USA

problem #59

Dec 222015

Escape 4-cyl

  • 46,608 miles

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

I received a recall notification 14S05 from Ford about my 2008 Ford Escape. The recall was for a faulty torque sensor that would either be reprogrammed or replaced. Instead of replacing the torque sensor, Ford service decided to just reprogram it because it had not failed or produced a service code. Just recently the torque sensor failed and my steering lost power while driving through a parking lot. I did not have the strength to turn the wheel and had to just stop and leave the car in the lot until someone could come help me. I brought my car back to the same dealership that performed the original recall repair and am being told that the recall has been performed and now I must pay them to replace the torque sensor. After spending time researching the issue online I discovered that this is a widespread problem. It is apparent that Ford is only replacing the sensors if they have already failed when you bring your car in for the recall. If it has not failed then Ford only does a reprogramming that doesn't prevent them from failing but allows Ford to close out the recall on your vehicle and save money on a replacement part. I don't understand how this is legal for them to do. I talked to several of Ford's service managers and customer service representatives and they all give the standard rehearsed answer.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #58

Sep 152016

Escape

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was very difficult to turn without warning. In addition, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed but not repaired. The parts that needed to be replaced were unknown. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #57

Sep 012016

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
When sitting idle at red light or stop sign, it rumbles roughly, I hit the accelerator it hesitates to go then all of a sudden gets a burst of speed. This mainly happens in city street.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #56

May 012016

Escape

  • 140,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off. After restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Eagle, MI, USA

problem #55

Jul 252016

Escape

  • 9,213 miles
I was traveling on the autobahn in germany and the car for no apparent reason shut off and displayed the 'stop safely now' message. There was no where to pull over so I had to stop in the middle of the road. Luckily there was hardly no traffic. This happened 5 times in 1 hour.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #54

Jun 042016

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. After stalling, the emergency warning light illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electrical coolant pump motor for the hybrid battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 14V526000 (hybrid propulsion system), but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Spring Grove, VA, USA

problem #53

Mar 012016

Escape

  • 44,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the ignition switch failed to turn correctly to start the engine. The engine was able to start after several attempts, but eventually failed permanently. The vehicle was taken to the manufacturer where it was diagnosed and repaired. The failure reccured after the repair. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 44,000.

- Elizabethon, TN, USA

problem #52

Jun 152015

Escape

  • 165,400 miles

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

While driving down the road at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle all of a sudden lost power and the vehicle started slowing down, and the wrench light became visible on the instrument cluster. I pulled the vehicle to the side of the road to figure out what the issue was. I realized it was the electronic throttle body failing. I drove it home as I was only a mile from my house. Once I started in forward motion, the transmission would have a hard time shifting from first to second gear, when it did shift, there was a forceful lunge forward. I have seen a lot of complaints in regards to this and many other issues that are going wrong with Ford's Escape model. I am very disappointed, with the amount of issues that SUV has.

- Mt. Vernon, ME, USA

problem #51

Mar 102016

Escape

  • miles
My car all of a sudden shuts down due to a "motor electronics coolant (mec) pump" failure, I read on the internet that Ford Motor Co has a recall for this problem, however when I called fmc they told me over the phone that "according to my VIN my car does not fall under the recall program, my car has been doing this for at least once a week and I'm getting worried about causing an accident

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #50

Feb 272016

Escape

  • 135,000 miles
While driving my car it lunge forward, which it have never done before. After coming to a complete stop at a red light, when I push on the gas peddle to continue on my way the car stalled, then lunge forward again. I was scared that the car behind me was going to hit me. Please help all the Ford Escape owners with this problem. My car is currently at the Ford dealer, hoping they can rectify the problem. I haven't had my vehicle for a year yet, just brought it last year.

- Leonardtown, MD, USA

problem #49

Feb 122015

Escape

  • miles
Transmission is constantly leaking.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #48

Jan 172016

Escape

  • 70,000 miles
The gas pedal is very hard to push down when attempting to take off from a stop. It is considerably worse in cold weather. It makes it very hard to control acceleration when pulling away from a stop.

- Lacon, IL, USA

problem #47

Nov 252015

Escape

  • 134,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated while driving 70 mph and the wrench indicator illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle onto the road shoulder. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer performed a diagnostic test, which located a failure code at the throttle body unit. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 134,000.

- Plainfield, IN, USA

problem #46

Jul 052015

Escape

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 60 mph, a ding noise was heard and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle stalled and the braking and steering ability seized. The vehicle came to a complete stop. After approximately five minutes, the vehicle started. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired under warranty. The contact also stated that the vehicle had a mechanical pump issue. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #45

Jun 262015

Escape

  • 159,000 miles
Was diving down the road with my two kids in the car when I heard a pop I looked in my rearview and watched as a small part went bouncing down the road than it slowed down immediately and I couldn't accelerate or drive it stopped dead in the middle of the road I got out and my transmission fluid had gushed out all over the bottom and back rear windshield took it to a garage it is the transmission it needs to totally be replaced I'm guessing the trans cooler was leaking fluid and after the fluid was to low that it literally blew up I don't understand why there has not been a recall the 2008 Ford Escape has the most complaints than any other year it's insaine my car died in the middle of the road on a hill in the middle of no where with two little kids N the car we are so lucky that we didn't get smashed into by someone they better fix this problem I should sue Ford for selling faulty transmissions and not fixing them and I don't understand after all of the complaints you have had why the safety comics ion or the government has not done a recall on this year especially I've read over 800 complaints and R stone has been the. Same thing with my year and moe it doesn't matter how many times the transmission is replaced you get about 24K to 40K before you need to replace them again

- Waterville , ME, USA

problem #44

Nov 262014

Escape

  • 89,000 miles
Was driving home after class let out, was going about 30 mph when all of a sudden my car stalled and I had to apply more pressure to the gas pedal. I looked into it, turn out my second & fourth gear went out on my transmission. Turns out I am not the only person with this problem. I have had it for 2 years & not even at 100,000 miles! Ford needs to recall this model, because it should not happen this frequently to all the 08' models.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #43

Mar 012013

Escape

  • 55,000 miles
Leaking noted. Brought to dealership. Told me cooler leaking, needed replacement. Asked if would be covered under powertrain warranty. Was told no, that cooler not part of powertrain, so would have to pay full price.

- Rossville, GA, USA

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