I have 2008 Ford Escape and it's been great....up until 2 years ago. I had trouble starting the car. Took it to my mechanic and he replaced the ignition. Worked fine for about a year then started having the same problem. Took it back to the mechanic and he replaced the ignition again! After that, it worked most of the time but recently it started happening more frequently so.....back to the mechanic again! This time he replaced both components of the ignition. Still not working properly!!

I typically have to jam the key in 4 to 20 times before it will connect and start the car. I actually have it back at the mechanics now trying to find out what, if anything, can be done to fix the problem. If nothing can be done, I may have to get rid of the car and buy a new one. Which, since this problem keeps occurring, with no lasting correction, a new car will not be a Ford.

Update from Jan 22, 2019: Picked up my 2008 Ford Escape yesterday from the mechanic. After he spoke with Ford, they told him that the ignition problem could be fixed by installing a new Steering Lock Housing. The part was approximately $160.00. I hope this helps anyone looking for information.

I have given everything to this damn piece of sh*t. I even rebuilt the transmission. I can't get this thing to STOP being a pain in the ass. Now the ignition is completely gone out and I have to change it. I'm pissed that this is such a common problem and ford still wont issue a recall. This is ridiculous. I had an 07 freestyle before this, and never had any issues at all even at 280k miles. Ran fantastic until I accidentally destroyed the engine myself.

But this damn escape has made me never ever want a ford again. especially after the transmission went out 2 days after I bought it and the freaking exhaust bolts broke and the f*cking ignition just went completely out.

I'm trying to just replace the lock cylinder and not the entire ignition, we will see if that offers a decent enough temp fix.

I love my Escape but this is complete bullshit. The ignition switch is DEFECTIVE, and Ford, aware of this problem, never did a damn thing about it. It's a terrible design that will eventually require you to have to jam the key into the ignition while twisting in order to get it to start. Otherwise, the cylinder will not make contact with the electrical components in the steering column to trigger a full circuit and crank the starter. This is a problem that develops gradually over time. Eventually, no matter how much you twist and push and curse, the Escape absolutely will not start and you'll need a tow truck. That's exactly what happened to me. I was not pleased.

My mechanic had to open up the steering column, remove the airbag, and replace the entire F** ignition switch and housing at a cost of over $500, which is the low end cost of of this repair. My mechanic is highly competent and he told me that although he is not a Ford expert he could tell the system was just a bad design that will loosen up over time and cause an expansion behind the key cylinder, which explains why you have to push the key in hard. In my case it finally failed completely and needed a total replacement. There is no quick fix to this.

My mechanic also told me there is no guarantee it won't happen again. He remarked that this should be a recall and that he rarely sees this kind of problem. And finally he said something interesting, he had to get the new housing directly from Ford and that apparently they had "plenty of them in stock." Really? Wonder why that is?

Ford needs to issue a recall and FIX this horseshit ignition system. If I got stranded what happens if a young mother with little kids get stranded? I also want my $500 back for having to repair a chronic problem with these Escapes because these corporate knuckleheads chose to simply ignore it. I filed a complaint with the NHTSA and if you have the same problem I suggest you do the same.

My 2008 Ford Escape has been having ignition problems for quite some time now. The key turns perfectly fine, all controls come on, steering unlocks but the engine won't start. I have to use BOTH hands (my right hand is in bad shape as it is and this isn't helping), wiggle the key as I turn it and put tremendous weight into it as I'm turning the key just to get the engine started. There have been several times, though, when the engine just wouldn't turn over. I've had to walk away, wait a while and give it a few more tries. This happens every single time I have to start my car. It's a huge inconvenience and I know the day is coming where it will just fail altogether.

I haven't had the extra few hundred bucks to get it fixed and have just been holding my breath everyday. But today I realized I desperately need to do something about this. I went to pick my daughter up from school and as I was putting all my weight on the key to turn it the key bent! I knew it was only a matter of time. Luckily, I had the spare. But I know the same will happen with the spare as well soon enough. I've been researching online to see if this is a common occurrence with Ford Escapes and it appears so.

One woman wrote that when she contacted Ford about the problem they told her there weren't enough complaints filed to issue a recall. But they are absolutely aware of the problem. My brother owns a 2010 Ford Fusion and has had nothing but problems, mainly his "electrical" power steering cutting out on him randomly and the car "turning itself off" and dying out of nowhere. He has been in a battle with Ford over the last year and Ford simply refuses to rectify the situation for him.

I will NEVER buy another Ford ever again, as long as I live!!! They have THE WORST customer service and do NOT put the safety of their customers first and foremost. They wouldn't even offer to pay for service on my brother's car, KNOWING it is due to faulty wiring on their part, AND with a recall being issued. They were rude, short and of NO assistance whatsoever.

I've had this problem for about 8 months but now its gotten to the point if I didn't have my remote start the would not be going anywhere. i'm about to go to ford to find out what to do about this problem and the cost i'll let you all know what happens it should be on recall

Update from Nov 26, 2016: I went to auto zone and picked up a ignition switch for the escape, Watched a video on how to remove and install it. Went out and removed the old one and installed the new one it took about 45 min,, and the car started up the first time and five straight time after that. For the $50 it wasn't to bad.

Update from May 22, 2017: Replaced the wiring part of the key switch worked for a couple of weeks then it was back to the same problem sometimes it would start other times it could take longer luckily I have remote start that seems to always work but I don't like to use it all the time. I also think this should be a recall issue

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY SUV. FIRST TIME WAS MAY 2014. IT COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK IT TO GARY GROSSLEY FORD IN LIBERTY MO AND NOW 2 YEARS LATER IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN!!!! I AM FURIOUS WITH FORDS NOW! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. YOU WOULD THINK AFTER HAVING IT SO CALLED FIXED AT AROUND 70,000 MILES IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT I COULD TURN MY IGNITION 3 TIMES OR MORE AND IT NEVER EVEN SOUNDS LIKE IT CONNECTS TO STARTER AT ALL.

Update from Aug 27, 2016: I took it elsewhere and they said it was the lock module in the steering wheel

I have the 2008 Ford Escape, I noticed about a couple of months ago that the only way I could start the car was to push the key in hard. At first, it would start after one hard push but gradually it got worse. It got to the point to where I would have to push harder and harder. I would be somewhere trying to start the car and it would take me 15 or more minutes to get the car to start.

About a week ago I tried to start it and it wouldn't turn over no matter how hard I pushed the key in or how many times I tried, it would not start. I finally asked my son to try it and he was able to push the key in and turn it really, really, really hard and it finally started.. He stated that he had to turn it so hard that he thought the key was going to break off in the ignition. So now if I decide to drive the car I have to leave it running because I am scared to cut it off because I will not be able to get the car started again unless I find and ask some one with a strong to help me. This is not acceptable. I went to the dealer and they said they it could cost up to $700 to fix the Cylinder Ignition. Any suggestions out there???

ford escape 2008 will not start due to bad ignition switch

My Ford Escape 2008 would not start one morning. It would only make a clicking sound. I had my mechanic check it. The battery was dead and starter was not working. Under further inspections, the ignition switch is faulty (common in Ford Escape). So, I went on the internet and found this is a common issue.Even after removing the key, the power keeps pulling from the battery over night and killing the starter. That is why the car won't start. So, now I have a dead battery, starter and ignition switch to replace due to no fault of my own. I have already had several recalls on this vehicle dealing with steering, which was hard on my tires and I had to have those replaced too. I will never ever buy another Ford vehicle. They did nothing to assist me, a single mom and I am beyond pissed.