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9.6

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
155,800 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (9 reports)
  2. check power brake booster (1 reports)
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Owner Comments

problem #10

Apr 292017

Escape Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,000 miles

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

When I touch the brake pedal before I start the engine, I used to hear horny sound that apparently can be heard from 10m away. When I turn the engine on, ABS light came on and dash said regen brakes disabled. There was no power brakes and car had a very hard time stopping and I narrowly missed hitting the car in front of me. The wheel will slam to the road and it causes a nasty sound. I am really scared to drive the car when the ABS light on and no one knows how to help out.

I share others idea that it costs sometimes more than the book value of the car. It is really annoying for Ford company not fixing the issue and got and got a lot of complaints. I buy the car from the dealer and it is the 2nd day that I face the problem. I have spent around $600 to fix but the problem persists. It is really annoying and disgusting that huge tech car manufacturer can't fix the problem that it creates.

Shibiru, Arlington VA

- Yomiyu S., ARLINGTON, VA, US

problem #9

Apr 252019

Escape Hybrid V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 185,000 miles

I have had this vehicle for 6 yrs now. Love it. The brakes have been going to the floor recently and have had two diagnostic test tell me nothing was wrong as well. Googling problems others have been having trouble as well. Well yesterday while going to work, they did it again. This time this regen light came on before we stopped and we couldn't brake. Pulled ER brake too late and rear-ended the person in front of us. Couldn't move to left or right due to other traffic beside us as well. Come to find out later that afternoon the HCU went out and is going to cost us more than 4,000 dollars to fix. I'm a waitress and working at laundry cleaner.. I don't have that kind of money and insurance is not covering to be replaced. If this is that serious of problem please recall and fix.

- Amanda S., Sumter, US

problem #8

Dec 072018

Escape Hybrid 4BY4 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 175,000 miles

Everybody including a Ford dealer said it would cost over 5k to fix it. Nope! I fixed it by accident.

The ABS light was on the red brake light lower right corner was on, the dash said check brakes as well as "regen brake disconnected" and auto parts store OBD test gave me 8 different codes all to do with brakes and hydraulic pressure. I seen a youtube video how to weld a tone ring without tearing it down. I brazed the ring and then ground it down to look like the rest of the ring. That didn't help.

I was reading Haynes repair book# 36022 on how to check the power brake booster, chapter 9 section 11 Operating check, # 2 of 2. Depress the brake pedal and start the engine. If the pedal goes down slightly, operation is normal. Why I did this next thing i don't know, but i held my foot down hard without letting off and started the engine again and the pedal went down just a pinch more. I never let up the pedal and i kept starting the engine about 15 time this way never letting up the pedal until the pedal touched the floor. Then i let loose of the pedal and started it again. Every warning message disappeared and every warning light went off.

Now the brakes work better than they have in the 3 years i have been driving it and my gas mileage improved over 1 mile per gallon and is daily getting better. It has been a week and no problems. I forgot to mention that after i fixed that tone ring i bled all 4 brakes but i didn't get any air out. Experts are telling me there was likely a hard air lock in the hydraulic system and my fooling around pushed the air pocket out. That is all i have heard so far. One person said the reason the brakes work better than before is that likely the tone ring may have broken for along time and for no reason it didn't trigger a code.Till recently when all went bad.

So before you scrape it, do what i did, never know? Hope this helps someone, sure made me happy.

- Charles R., Hickory Corners, MI, US

problem #7

Feb 102018

Escape Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200,953 miles

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

It is frightening driving when you discover you don't have control of your brakes. I can't even allow my kids or anyone to ride in my vehicle. I am afraid for my own self. I called Ford and explained my problem to them and was told that they had no recalls for this problem. There should be a recall or maybe we all should file a class action suit against Ford because it don't make sense that you have to pay thousands of dollars for a vehicle and then have to pay more for repairs. That is a danger to your life and others. My vehicle is only 11 yrs old, something need to done ASAP.

- Christine T., Kansas City, MO, US

problem #6

Oct 172017

Escape Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

I wanted to report this problem because I have seen this problem way too much with other people! I am having the same problem as thousands of others with a Ford Escape Hybrid and Ford should have had a recall for this problem. I am at the point now where I cannot drive this car at all because it is TOTALLY UNSAFE! It is way too expensive to put out the money for a car this old and that would be if I even had the money to fix it! As a matter of fact I am stuck right now because I still owe $5,000 on this car so there is NO way I can do it! And, Ford should definitely be ashamed of themselves knowing full well that they have created a vehicle with a SERIOUS problem and the ethical and moral thing to do would be to do a recall and fix these inoperable vehicles!

- khicksroseview, Columbus, US

problem #5

Feb 202018

Escape Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 240,763 miles

I ordered my 2008 Hybrid from Ford in early 2007 and took ownership in June of 2007. I get it that it's 11 years old, and has over 240,000 miles. This car has been awesome, zero work, zero complaints. Everything is great, interior, exterior etc. I am absolutely faithful on my service by a Ford dealer, from the day I bought it. Then out of the blue, a very dangerous and come to find out, expensive issue now has made my car unable to be driven.

I could easily get another 5-10 years out of this car based on the appearance, but JHC I can't knowingly let my kids or family ride with me now. The car is spotless inside and out and now is going to sit. $5,000+ to fix this and with this mileage, what is going to go next on a hybrid that will break the bank? You try to do the right thing and go green as much as you can, and Ford sticks it to you on parts and labor. This is not an European import folks.

I have been a faithful Ford guy all my life with over 11 new cars in my lifetime, and every one of them has been great from Ford... but I think I will try someone new.

You blew it FORD! When you put my life and my families life in danger?

Flip off!!!!!

- douglas14, Massillon, US

problem #4

Feb 212017

Escape Hybrid Hybrid 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 120,000 miles

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

I was driving the car and the regen brakes disabled warning showed up and the brakes began to operate poorly. I turned off the car and tried to reset it only to have it reappear again. I am thinking after reading the many posts about the car it will result in the HCU unit needing to be replaced. Which at $5000 will render the car disposable.

- Duane J., Commerce, MI, US

problem #3

Feb 122017

Escape Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Was driving and the brake lights came on suddenly. Garage said it would be 4700 + labor to repair.

- Jc S., Columbia, MO, US

problem #2

Jul 242016

Escape Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 139,800 miles

"Regen Brake Failure" status message, ABS and Brake Lights flash. Brakes only work when fully depressed, almost pulled into active traffic. Take the car into dealership for service to which they report a $7,000 repair fee for the HCU and Master Cylinder. Multiple cases of this same situation have been reported, Investigation should be initiated, or a recall by manufacturer, this is an incredibly dangerous fault and outlandish repair cost. Especially considering the amount of care and upkeep upheld to maintain car performance.

- Aj S., Long Beach, CA, US

problem #1

Sep 162015

Escape Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

My dashboard says: "Regen Braek Failure" I'm reading a lot of people with my same make and model are having this same issue. I think it needs to be recalled. I haven't taken the car into the dealer yet to get a quote to fix it, but I am worried. My family can't afford to be in an unsafe vehicle and I don't have the cash to afford an expensive fix. I'll update this when I find out more.

- Jessica B., Santee, CA, US

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