10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
94,028 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Ford Escape:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #28

Apr 222023

Escape

  • 136,000 miles
While driving the vehicle the power steering, torque suspension stopped working and the vehicle went into manual mode, making the vehicle unsafe and undrivable and uncontrolable for adult senior woman that was driving it.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #27

Sep 072022

Escape

  • miles
Driving in the highway, the back shock absorber felt down crashing against the back right tire.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

problem #26

Mar 152019

Escape

  • 167,000 miles
Took vehicle into Ford dealer for service on front wheel, yesterday 1/ 27/ 2021, which is unrelated. Serviceman told me that, due to excessive rust, the underframe has up to six cracks in it and that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. The vehicle is thirteen years old. He stated that there is no repair for this except to replace the whole unibody underframe, which Ford takes no responsibility for. I had to replace the two rear shock tower housings because one popped through the floor on Sept., 2020. The outer body has some rust but looks good, normal rust for it's age. On the internet I researched the problem and it shows that the 2001 to 2003 Escapes have had a possible recall and shows that one Ford dealer had a 'fix' for the engine cradle, that did not work out well. There are numerous complains online about undercarriage rust and its problems. I've also talked to a body shop owner and he tells me that they get several Escapes a year for this problem. When I took my vehicle in to get the rear wheel house mountings replaced, there was another Escape being repaired for the same thing in from of mine. My vehicle was repaired at iron mike's metal fab shop in flint, mi. 810 234 2996, of course welding any metal to rusted metal has no guarantee.. truck was in motion on a residential street when the shock started breaking through the floor, around March of 2019. Now I am stuck with a vehicle that I have to use, which is unsafe to drive. This vehicle, according to your standard is under fifteen years old.

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #25

Jul 072020

Escape 6-cyl

  • miles
Valve cover gasket leaks, suspension control arm both sides cracking, ac condenser leaking

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #24

Oct 162019

Escape

  • 147,550 miles
Suspension axle transmission front end while in motion loud clank metal sound. Took to shop and was told drive it until it dies. Too expensive to repair entirerepair of from axel suspension and transmission. I still have 15 months on my loan. No excessive driving and no hard use.

- Dumfries, VA, USA

problem #23

Oct 072019

Escape

  • 147,250 miles
Just driving and all of a sudden loud metal noise. Then intermittent metal scraping sound. Took it to the shop and they said it's an axel and transmission problem. It will cost more to repair than the car is worth. I still owe 2 years of payments. Terrible absolutely terrible. On a city street coming to a stop at a light traveling approximately 25mph. No accident or anything just driving slow coming to a stop.

- Dumfries, VA, USA

problem #22

Sep 012019

Escape

  • 367,865 miles
Power steering quit working lost it on the highway while driving, passenger's front window has lost power. Lost it while driving

- Plainville, KS, USA

problem #21

Mar 112019

Escape

  • 122,000 miles
After pulling out of my garage I heard a loud banging noise. I pulled over and checked the area behind and above the right rear tire and saw that the shock and necessary attachments were completely rusted away from the frame.

- Wynantskill, NY, USA

problem #20

Mar 012019

Escape

  • 196,857 miles
Right rear wheel well rusted out and tower holding the shock in place is completely rusted out

- Lawton, MI, USA

problem #19

Sep 192018

Escape

  • 200,000 miles
Rear passenger strut mount rusted thru. Strut only fastened by lower portion. Can see interior of vehicle in hole from outside wheel well.

- Bagley, WI, USA

problem #18

Dec 082018

Escape 4-cyl

  • 172,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While the contact was driving over railroad tracks, the shock bracket on the rear driver side wheel detached from the frame. The dealer and the manufacturer had not been contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 172,000.

- Irasburg, VT, USA

problem #17

Mar 222017

Escape

  • miles
Power steering went out after having truck for only 6 months. I have to get suspension problems fixed every other month. And the muffler every other month.

- Inkster, MI, USA

problem #16

Sep 052018

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
The rear inner fender rusted out and the rear strut broke through its mounting bracket while I was driving on a state highway and the vehicle is now unstable and dangerous to drive. Thankfully I was able to keep relative control of the vehicle and make it home safely. Upon doing a simple google search, this is a known issue with vehicles sold in the bother United States and Canada as stated on numerous websites and forums. Unfortunately this is my primary mode of transportation and I travel 120-125 miles per day round trip to work. This could have been much worse had I not heard the noise and braces myself prior to the vehicle becoming unstable. My biggest fear is that a family could be riding in a this type of vehicle and not have adequate reaction and become a vehicle casualty statistic.

- Grandview, TX, USA

problem #15

Feb 172018

Escape

  • 112,609 miles
The shock tower rusted through and caused the shock to puncture the interior trim of the vehicle. It happened while driving on a city street. It was taken to muffler man G3455 corunna rd flint, mi 48532; they couldn't repair it. Returned it to dave knapp used cars 1949 N lapeer rd lapeer, mi 48446 ph. 810-667-0001 where it was purchased. Because of the 10 year rust warranty dave contacted the Ford dealership which refused to discuss it. He had his body man look at it to no avail. Dave contacted iron mikes welding and fabricating 1535 N dort hwy, flint, mi 48506 (810) 234-2996 after discussion it was determined irreparable. There is still 11/2 years let on the car loan and an irreparable vehicle that is unsafe to drive. The drivers shock tower is deteriorating also.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #14

Sep 022016

Escape

  • miles
I have power steering problems. I had suspension problems since I bought it. The truck ignition went out on 10/31/17.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #13

Sep 082017

Escape

  • miles
Extreme undercarriage / wheel well erosion. The shocks have pushed up into the interior of the vehicle as they are not mounted to anything other than the body. Trunk matt is exposed through wheel well. Suspension is disengaging from the body.

- Port Huron, MI, USA

problem #12

Jun 162017

Escape

  • 112,700 miles
While driving it seems like the front suspension or wheels sound like they are going to fall off. It sounds unstable especially when turning.

- Martin, TN, USA

problem #11

Nov 142016

Escape

  • 2 miles
In 2016 November my gas pedal stuck to the floor and I freaked out and ran into my neighbors garage and I had 10 fired fighters and sherriff look at my turned off Escape and the accelerated pedel was completely sitting on the floor of the vehicle and it also was towed to Ford and said the accelerator pedal link was completely broke and it was not covered under insurance for they said this is a manufacture issue and not insurance and so I had to use the front end damage to pay for the $1500 repair on a part that should not have broke, Ford has now over 100 complaints to this say problem and no fix.....this vehicle accelerated and rammed a neighbors garage door and I could have been killed and all the sheriff and firefighters say they have never seen an accelerator pedal depressed to the floor and I was lucky....Ford fix this....this is going to kill someone and it I had injuries from the whiplash.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #10

Dec 092014

Escape

  • 153,000 miles
Transmission slipping. No 2nd or 4th.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #9

Aug 012014

Escape

  • 91,259 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the ABS and the traction control warning lights illuminated intermittently. In addition, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact also stated that the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the driver and passenger side axle and axle assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 91,259.

- Lapeer, MI, USA

Read the next 8 complaints »