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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,278 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 3 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #128

Feb 092015

Escape 6-cyl

  • 123,000 miles

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

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

problem #127

Mar 022015

Escape 4-cyl

  • 124,485 miles
We have had throttle body problems since 2008. Ford dealer replaced it once in 2008. Throttle body sticks and you can't push the gas pedal down. This happens the first 5-15 min of starting the car.. it happened on 3-2-2015 while trying to cross a highway, could not push gas pedal down. We just about got T boned ! also we have had the transmission replaced at 114000 miles. Dealer says we have transmission problem again and the throttle problem again.

- Smithfield, NC, USA

problem #126

Feb 042015

Escape

  • miles
2008 Ford Escape had the recall done for the power steering in September then in November I had everything checked because my gas pedal got stuck. Then I got the readout they gave me a list of all of the problems that were wrong with my vehicle which nothing appeared when they did the recall the torque sensor was one of them something that they should have replaced but told me since it didn't read at the time the software was the only thing that they could do and I had to pay for it now.now in February the power steering went back in to manual they will not fix it at the dealership they tell me to call Ford. Ford tells me that there's nothing that they can do that there's an independent company that handles recalls the dealership tells me to call Ford so from September till now I put about 5000 miles on the vehicle I don't think I should have to pay for this the only thing I can think of is to take them to court along with Ford Motor Company I don't understand how they can find so many things wrong with my vehicle now when they had to do a diagnostic check and check the entire vehicle and did not find anything wrong at that time.all they did was software update I dropped it off and had it back in one hour and two months later they want me to pay for all these things wrong with my vehicle when I definitely suspect that everything was wrong with it at the time they just don't want to pay for anything and I definitely feel like the government should go after them.

- Hamilton, NJ, USA

problem #125

Jan 102015

Escape

  • 106,619 miles

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

I was driving on the freeway with cruise control on and the safety issue occurred when I tried to slow down/turn off the cruise control. The cruise control would not turn off and the brakes did not work. I was stomping on the brake with both feet and the car was not slowing down. After riding the brakes the car slowed down and I was able to pull into the scales on the side of the freeway. Ford replaced the cruise control cable for $235 and said there was no recall for this safety issue. This was a very dangerous issue and I believe it should be free to fix.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #124

Jan 122015

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 123,290 miles
While driving the vehicle it stopped accelerating & lost rpms. The SUV jolted forward & back & did not have enough power to accelerate. It made a revving sound each time the gas pedal was pressed. At moments the SUV would accelerate slowly but then repeat the process over.

- Templeton, MA, USA

problem #123

Jan 212015

Escape

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal became stuck. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

- Severna Park , MD, USA

problem #122

Jan 142015

Escape

  • 70,000 miles

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

Approximately in March of 2014, we had an issue with the ABS light coming on and traction control coming on for no reason at all. This made driving/steering extremely difficult. We took it to the shop where the tone ring and speed sensor were replaced. In December 2014, we had similar issues and we took it to the Ford dealership. We were told it was a speed sensor issue again. The work was done at the independent shop though since they did the original work. Yet again, in January 2015 we were experiencing the same issues again and had the car towed to the shop. The left front speed sensor was diagnosed as the problem. There is obviously some sort of failure that is occurring to trigger this issue. If you do a google search, there are several complaints similar to mine. I believe this should be investigated for a possible recall. This is crating a safety issue that can lead to accidents.

- Coatesville, PA, USA

problem #121

Apr 232014

Escape

  • 120,000 miles
TL-the contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal required excessive force in order for the vehicle to accelerate. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 120,000. Djr

- Palmyra, PA, USA

problem #120

Nov 122014

Escape 4-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
Gas pedal sticks when air temp is below 20 degrees. Can't press pedal to get gas to engine.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #119

Aug 282010

Escape

  • 95,200 miles
I own a 2008 Ford Escape, in August 28th, 2014 as I was coming off the highway and stopped at a light my vehicles wrench symbol came on and as I tried accelerating my vehicle went up to 45 RPM before changing gear into second. Since this day, I tried taking my car into repair services but I am very limited, as a full time student and a father at the moment I was not working and relying on my school income which was not a lot to repair my car. The car has gotten worse since then, instant of going up to 45 RPM in order to change into second gear it sometimes goes up to 60 RPM before changing, not only that but as I slowly break my car suddenly speeds up forward, like a boost which I need to firmly apply my breaks again. I've tried taking it to Ford, but so much for help or willing to work with me, it is disappointing when we purchase our favorite vehicles and get turned down by the company knowing we are in need of help. My car consumes gas, every other day I have to fill up it to keep it from completely running low, in a day it consumes half the tank, with the second day my gas is nearly done. I went from spending 120-30 biweekly on gas to 120 every two days, add it up especially as a full time student. I am a father of two in which I freak out when I have them in my car. I've came to realize I am not the only one that has this issue, I've seen a serious amount of complaints about 05 to 13 Ford Escape models. There is no recall for fixing the problem which leaves many of us helpless. Ford does not treat their customers well. Ford is the definition of poor customer service. The transmission is going out, if that is the case how the hell do I and others come up with $4200 to replace my transmission having two children. I am pinned against the wall and there isn't anything I can do, if this isn't a cry for help, then I don't know what to do, please help.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #118

Feb 142012

Escape 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles

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

While trying to accelerate onto the highway the vehicles gas pedal freezes. I was unable to get the vehicle to accelerate. I continually tapped on the pedal and eventually had to go under the vehicle hood to tug on throttle cable. This freed the stuck pedal. I called the Ford Motor Co. And reported this incident in 2012. They said that it was not an issue and to continue driving the vehicle. Over the past year or so I have had intermittent issues only when the vehicle is first started. It has recently become a bigger issue as of 12/8/14 as my wife was driving the vehicle while merging into highway traffic and the vehicle again would not accelerate. I met her tugged on the throttle cable and the pedal became free again. I drove to the nearest gas station to check again under the hood and as I left the same issue occurred, a stuck pedal. While driving I had to hold one foot on the brake and one on the gas to keep the pedal from locking in the closed position. This is not a safe form of driving and believe there in a design issue with Ford Motor Co. Throttle. The Ford company again said their engineers says this is not an issue and to take the vehicle to the dealer at my expense. This is a safety issue as the vehicle is unable to accelerate in traffic. Does someone have to die before this gets fixed. I do not want it to be me! thank you

- Albemarle, NC, USA

problem #117

Oct 012010

Escape

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximate 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The contact merged over to an emergency lane. The contact stated that on another occasion, the accelerator pedal became stuck downward. The failure recurred multiple times, mainly during cold weather. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for a diagnosis of the failure. The technician diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and they informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the manufacturer's recall. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

- Tinley Park , IL, USA

problem #116

Oct 222014

Escape 4-cyl

  • 60,328 miles
After years (since early on in the ownership of the vehicle purchased new from the dealer) of intermittent problems with my gas pedal sticking (mostly in colder weather), the most recent incident was by far the worst and, like many other 2008 Ford Escape owners with the same issue, I am very lucky that it occurred in an area where I was not in immediate danger from other cars. I was stopped at a stop sign and when I pressed the gas pedal to move forward the pedal started to respond then fell to the floor with no further response. There was no power to move forward and no warning lights came on. I lifted the pedal to make sure that it was not stuck on anything and it just fell limply back to the floor. I manipulated the arm under the pedal with my hand until it loosened up and the pedal was able to engage again. I then drove to my destination without further incident. This is not the first time this has happened and if my car does not become part of the "customer satisfaction program, " I am sure that it will not be the last. The NHTSA investigation of alleged throttle body failures in 2005-2012 Ford Escape vehicles sharing the same or substantially similar part, did not result in enough vehicles being included in the resulting Ford "customer satisfaction program, " which only included cars from 2009-2012, when it should have included many more cars. The complaint forums are filled with many complaints regarding the same issue from at least 2008 Ford Escape owners. To not include everyone from the initial investigation is doing a disservice and it will be sad day when the rest of the car owners are included only because somebody has died!

- Menlo Park, CA, USA

problem #115

Dec 012013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
My vehicle has been exhibiting issues relating to the Ford consumer satisfaction program 13N03 where the accelerator "sticks" or doesn't respond to my pressure. Requiring more pressure then usual, the vehicle will then surge forward for an incredibly jostling acceleration. This issue will happen not only when stopped but also when in motion. This becomes particularly problematic when trying to merge or turn into moving traffic as I am never sure whether or not my accelerator/ throttle body will respond as it should. I have been experiencing this issue for over 2 years, but the issue is intermittent. The issue becomes worse in cold weather, making it even more dangerous when road conditions are slippery. I contacted Ford regarding this issue, citing the above mentioned consumer satisfaction program, but I was told that my VIN number was not included in the program and the repair would not be covered. It seems ludicrous that my vehicle, which has been identified as having this issue, would not be included in the program. Ford should reevaluate the vehicles that are included in this program, because the problem is obviously more wide-spread than there program has identified. I am incredibly disappointed in their customer service and their non-responsiveness in handling this issue.

- Evanvsille, IN, USA

problem #114

Nov 102014

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 104,461 miles
Difficulty shifting from gears. Throttling high before shifting. I have replaced transmission three times in this vehicle.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #113

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 #112

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 #111

Jan 182012

Escape 4-cyl

  • 61,446 miles
My daughter was driving her 2008 Ford Escape and her gas pedal stuck while trying to get it in gear to reverse at least ten different times.. when this occurred in January of 2012 however, she was turning onto a busy street when the gas pedal stuck while the speed went down to zero. Luckily she was not rear ended. She was away at college and I told her to get it to the Ford dealer near her. The problem was diagnosed as the throttle body was sticking and replacement was advised and was subsequently completed at a cost of $486.83. I have just recently learned of recalls for this problem with the throttle on several Escape model years. I want to know if I have any recourse to be reimbursed for this repair.

- Maumee, OH, USA

problem #110

Feb 012013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
During cooler weather the gas pedal becomes "stuck" and can not be pushed. Almost as though something is placed under the gas pedal. You have to literally stomped on it to get it down and sometimes that doesn't even work. When this problem initially started happening, it would happen right after starting. I began to tell my daughter to warm her car and press the pedal a few times before leaving. She just called me and this incident happened while she was driving! it is 54 degrees here and this is the first time it has happened since last winter. I have read several complaints about this and feel that it is a huge safety hazard especially for my 16 year old daughter.

- Arnaudville, LA, USA

problem #109

Oct 042014

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles
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

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