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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,734 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 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #147

Oct 132016

Escape

  • 81,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. There was a total loss of power and the wrench indicator illuminated. The vehicle was driven home. The dealer was notified, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.

- Clinton Township, MI, USA

problem #146

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 #145

Aug 232016

Escape

  • 136,000 miles
Purchased vehicle a month ago with 135,000 miles. It has stalled 3 times at low speeds, once while in the middle of a turn on a city street causing me to lose steering and almost hit another vehicle, no lights pop on when this happens it just dies with no warning. I am able to put the vehicle in park and restart it. It has also, on numerous occasions lurched forward from a stop or rolling stop when I hit the gas. From reading other owners complaints it sounds identical to the throttle body control issue so many seem to be having. I can't afford to have it checked out at this point, and don't feel safe driving it but I have no other vehicle. I did call Ford but they don't recognize my VIN under the "customer satisfaction program" they have for so many other of their vehicles having this same issue! again, I don't feel safe driving it but have no choice, so I wanted public record of the issue in case it shuts off on me at highway speeds and I die in an accident, so my spouse and children have a record that I brought the known issue to Ford but they did nothing.

- Big Lake, MN, USA

problem #144

Aug 152016

Escape

  • miles

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

I purchased my 2008?Ford Escape last year 2015. I have replaced both cv axils on each side and I had my steering column replaced. I purchased the car with 95,000 miles on it at a great deal of $8,900. I then found out why it was so cheap from such a trusted dealership. The dealership was closing in the next 2 weeks. It closed shortly after my purchase and a new Ford dealership opened in its place. Through out the last few weeks my car has not been driving correctly, especially on the highway. I took a closer look and noticed that no matter my speed my car will not go above 3rd gear. My power tran light came on today. I have read on other sights that there were recalls on this issue. I do not think these issues were fixed while being recalled. The related I've done so far have not been cheap by any means. After a year (even less 2 of the above cases) I should not be having these issues. M.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Escape/2008/recalls/ the above sight was my reference tara

- Minerva, OH, USA

problem #143

Jul 122016

Escape

  • 122,000 miles
Vehicle power train light came on. Vehicle began to shutter then lose power on the highway without a shoulder. Vehicle reduced speed to max 20mph.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #142

Jul 102016

Escape

  • 92,000 miles
ABS and traction control lights came on. When braking, it took longer to stop and was like you were stopping on ice. When starting out again, it took awhile for my vehicle to accelerate again and I had to pull off the road until it could start again. I had my daughter and granddaughter in vehicle. This presented a dangerous situation as it impeded braking ability plus the hesitation with the acceleration could cause an accident

- Dagus Mines, PA, USA

problem #141

Jun 152016

Escape

  • miles

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

My gas pedal completely broke and dropped down while driving on the freeway, and I could not move once the car came to a stop. I have google this particular issue with other Ford Escapes 2008, and many other folks have the same issue or are complaining about a sticky or loose gas pedal. This is a very serious and dangerous issue. I could have been involved in a very horrible accident, and other folks are at similar risk.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #140

May 312016

Escape

  • 160,000 miles
Truck is accelerating and switching gears on its own. While at a traffic light, a wrench light pops on and the truck begins to switch gears. Once the truck is turned off, the wrench light goes away but returns after driving begins again. Truck is not getting enough power when driving as if it is going to shut off. There are also jerking motions while driving.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #139

May 192016

Escape 4-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving 5 mph, the contact lost control of the steering wheel and the steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing a new steering column. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. Updated 08/02/16 the consumer stated after the steering column was replaced, she had to purchase a throttle control at a cost of $800, because the vehicle was accelerating on its own.

- Greenehill, TN, USA

problem #138

Jan 202016

Escape

  • 114,000 miles
Accelerator pedal sticking, intermittently not working

- Chapin, SC, USA

problem #137

Dec 222015

Escape 4-cyl

  • 116,000 miles

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

Purchased a 2008 Ford Escape new in 2008 and have had it worked on 3 different times for the accelerator sticking caused by the throttle body. It was never replaced. Now because I have 116000 miles on it I just got taken advantage of. Once again the accelerator stuck and luckily I was able to pull over and hold the brake and shut it off. I paid $110 to tow it to a Ford dealership. Well now it is going to cost me $1000 to replace the throttle body. This should have been done previously and now it seems to be on me or risk being killed due to this safety issue. Even if it was never issued as a recall item I have had issues with this since purchasing it new in 2008. I want something done. I did call Ford mtr co and was told they could not help me because the vehicle has over 100000 miles on it. Well if it had been handled even once in the past 3 times it could have gotten me killed then it would not be an issue now.

- Valley Grande, AL, USA

problem #136

Oct 032015

Escape

  • 162,000 miles
Acceleration is labored. The vehicle skips gears when driving at a low speed rate. The vehicle will jerk and make noises as it skipping through 2nd and 4th gear. Unfortunately, this happened in traffic at rush hour.

- Villa Rica, GA, USA

problem #135

Sep 082008

Escape

  • 3,000 miles
All these items have been fixed by capitol city Ford indianapolis and mace Ford terre haute, in. I am still having problems with the throttle thrust and electrical problems. Currently my car will not start. Other mechanics said it was the starter, its not the starter its electrical sensors. The vehicle speeds up sometimes when the car is not being excelerated. Suspension, heater speed control stop working when they worked on the electrical and they refuse to fix it. There is more. I don't have my documentation, but I will submit it later. The car is at the shop - being looked and worked on - its still not starting - so we don't have transportation!! I cant afford another hit from Ford when they are not even fixing the problem.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #134

Aug 262015

Escape

  • 117,700 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while at a stop sign and turning right to merge with oncoming traffic, the dashboard displayed "the traction control kicked in" and there was no acceleration available when the accelerator pedal was engaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the tone ring was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 117,700.

- Clive, IA, USA

problem #133

Nov 032014

Escape

  • 87,000 miles
When I would try to accelerate whether from a stopped position or already in motion my gas pedal sticks. I'm unable to press it down and I lose speed. Each time I press the gas pedal or brake pedal I hear a pop. I was trying to merge onto the highway and it suddenly wouldn't let me accelerate for a few minutes. This is very dangerous and frightening. It also does this if I'm already in motion of if I try to accelerate from a stopped position. I fear for my life and the life of my family. I take my husband to work an hour away, this is terrifying and unacceptable. I also Transport my children to their jobs and schools. Please help before someone gets killed.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #132

Sep 092015

Escape

  • 83,500 miles
I had traveled about 8 miles and was traveling at 40mph when the speed of the vehicle remained at 40mph without my foot being on gas pedal (cruise was not on). I successfully stop at traffic light with engine still excelarating (rpms were at 2K)). While sitting at light the engine reved to about 5K rpms as I held the brake. I pulled over to verify that nothing was under the gas pedal. This happened to more times on 9/9/15. Morning of 9/10 it worked fine until I had traveled 8-10 miles then the same thing happened. I have taken it to a garage and the can not find anything wrong or recreate the problem. Thank god I was not traveling at 75mph when this happened because I doubt the brakes would stopped me. The garage has kept the car tonight to try to recreate the problem. I am afraid to drive the vehicle in fear of hurting someone or myself.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #131

Aug 042015

Escape

  • 115,000 miles
I had my cruise control on and had used the coast button to slow down when approaching a car in front of me, I proceed to accelerate when the gas peddle continued to go down and speed increase. I pressed the off button on cruise control and it would not turn off. With both feet on the brake the vehicle continued forward. As I left the road way I tried turning vehicle off but it kept running at about 40 miles per hour I tried putting it in neutral and the vehicle continued forward at which time I put the vehicle in park. The engine stopped. After 30 seconds I started the vehicle and the engine roared, so I shut it off. In the process of calling for assistant, less than a minute, I heard a sound of something being release and the gas pedal hit my foot. I started the vehicle and the engine/speed was normal. Frick Ford dealership says only an acceleration code showing and there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. They said it probably is the floor mat and I should remove them. They only worried about warranty and recall issue and did not advise any service work I would pay for or did the even recommend this.

- Clintonville, WI, USA

problem #130

Jul 072015

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
Attempted to pull into uncoming traffic in a 45mph zone, but could not get to more than 10mph. The power train light appeared as a wrench bottom left of steering wheel. Glided/steered car immediatly to closest parking lot and called closest Ford dealership.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #129

Mar 312015

Escape

  • 108,000 miles
When I slow down or come to a complete stop the car sounds like it is going to stall & then it feels like I am in neutral. As soon as I press down on gas pedal the car jerks forward. When I was driving home this past Saturday night same thing happened & the traction light & ABS light came on. I was informed by a co worker same thing happened to him & it was throttle body assembly that was on recall. I was never informed of this by the dealer & now they want to charge me $2,000.

- Castleton, NY, USA

problem #128

Feb 092015

Escape 6-cyl

  • 123,000 miles
My car feels like it's jerking into gear. If started off only jerking when I would be at a corner and I needed to make a turn. The car would move very slow and then mum forward. This is very dangerous because any cars coming could possible hit me. After a while it would also jerk when I was stopped at a light and needed to pull off, the car would move forward slowly and then jerk forward. Now the jerking is happening while I'm driving. Is there something going on with this vehicle? I am scared that I'm going to get hit one day.

- Newport News, VA, USA

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