I just got off the phone with Ford Motor Co recall 800 number asking if my car falls under recall number 14S19 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the power train, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
They just told me over the phone that according to my VIN my car does not qualify for the recall, I asked the man on the phone, how do you people select which car to fix and which ones not to fix? He gave me a whole bunch of BS excuses over the phone. I think this is BS because my car has done this a few times and it seems that is getting worse and worse!
Note: when the warning light comes on you have less than a minute to pull over because the car shuts down.
My 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid has the problem with the triangular warning light and engine shutting off/stalling--a real problem in traffic on highways! On one trip it happened every 3-4 miles! First one was an actual recall for electronic cooling pump (14S19) but now the same engine stalling was because the throttle body needs to be replaced. The garage charged $674 for the repair, first saying it was under warranty, then saying I had to pay. It seems Ford is recalling 2001-04 cars for this problem, but that leaves newer car owners without a recall but with large bills. This really is a safety problem and Ford should see that all Escapes with this throttle problem are recalled. I only have 64500 miles and less than 6 years of driving. My Escape has too many large bills at this stage, and no one wants to ride with me in the car from h*ll. This is my third Ford, but I think I'll try a Honda next.
I have been dealing with this problem for quite a while. I have changed the electric coolant pump twice and the car still turns off and the dash warning lights say "stop safely now". It seems that heat or hot weather is the thing that sets it off. I once took my daughter to a volleyball tournament in Phoenix, Arizona and the temp was 117 outside. I had to tow the car back to California because it stopped every mile or so. I took it to the dealer in Arizona and they told me it would cost over $1,400 to replace the coolant pump and the fan next to the hybrid battery in the back of the car.
I spoke with an attorney from Capstone Law named Stephen Gamber back in May of 2013. Nothing has happened since... the website was www.FordHybridProblems.com
For all the scary times I have had the car stop, I am surprised that no one has been killed yet. There is nothing that gets your heart pumping like having the car stop when you are in the carpool lane, or when crossing a bridge or in a construction area where there are cement walls so it is impossible to pull over to the side of the freeway.
HAD SAME ISSUE PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE VEHICLE JUST SHUTTING DOWN WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND JUST AFTER COUPLE MILES FROM HOME. HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD, SHUT DOWN VEHICLE, RESTARTED, AFTER COUPLE TRIES THEN OPERATED NORMALLY UNTIL NEXT EPISODE. NOW CAR WILL NOT START. TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL, NO BENEFIT, SAME ISSUE. STOPS USUAL DRIVING OPERATIONS, HAVE TO PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE POWER DROPS OFF SUDDENLY, THEN AFTER SITTING, RE STARTS. HOWEVER, NO IGNITION SYSTEM, WILL NOT RESTART, TOWING TO REPAIR SHOP.
I've seen this issue be reported by other people earlier this year on this website. Heading home at the end of Memorial Day Weekend, driving on the freeway in the very left lane at around 70 MPH and my engine shuts off (power steering still engaged, but no acceleration), red triangle light goes on and a message that says something like "safely pull over now". It was extremely dangerous having to get over to the right lane and get off the freeway to pull over, but made it over safely. I turned the car off, back on, and no problems and no warning lights. Drove it for another hour on the freeway home with no problems.
Have seen other reports that people have had this problem happen multiple times in one drive, fortunately not for me - YET. What's going on??? Anyone figure out the issue?
- Erik K.,
San Diego, CA, US
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This seems to be a common problem with the Ford Escape and was not covered under the warranty. This is a dangerous problem as it stalled while in the carpool lane going 70 MPH. The light on the dash seys to pull off the road as soon as safely possible. Doing that is not safe on the expressway driving at high speeds. I am surprised that there have not been fatalities with this defect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I just got off the phone with Ford Motor Co recall 800 number asking if my car falls under recall number 14S19 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the power train, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
They just told me over the phone that according to my VIN my car does not qualify for the recall, I asked the man on the phone, how do you people select which car to fix and which ones not to fix? He gave me a whole bunch of BS excuses over the phone. I think this is BS because my car has done this a few times and it seems that is getting worse and worse!
Note: when the warning light comes on you have less than a minute to pull over because the car shuts down.
- jdacda57, Roseville, CA, US