10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,298 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #8

Sep 092018

Escape Hybrid

  • 114,980 miles
I bought my vehicle, used, a couple of years ago. I asked for the carfax and if there were any issues with the vehicle. The salesman let me glance at his screen and scrolled through to humor me and promised there were no issues. A few days ago while driving on the highway using cruise control, the cc kicked off and my car jerked. Since then, I have had trouble accelerating and controlling the speed of my car. A littel orange wrench came on. This morning as I was driving to work, the check engine light came on. I felt like I almost got into 3 accidents for lack of control of my car. I took it to the shop and they told me I shouldn't even be driving it because of the lack of speed control. Now I'm stuck paying hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands, for lack of proper disclosure and faulty manufacturing. Ford issues a lifetime warranty rather than a recall, which is a disgrace as they're waiting for customers to deal with problems and get hurt before they fix anything. This should not be possible!

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #7

Aug 152016

Escape Hybrid

  • 115,000 miles
While turning left, foot on brake pedal, in a small strip mall parking lot, car suddenly accelerated and kept accelerating. Although I tried to steer, car crashed into several hedges, over high curbs, tire blew out, finally stopped by crashing into tree 8 parallel feet from gas pump. Brakes did not slow car down. No idea why.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

problem #6

Jun 062016

Escape Hybrid

  • 85,500 miles
I bought my Ford escape because they are dependable. But on my way to work a couple of weeks ago, my car slipped out of cruise control causing me to lurch forward at 70+ mph on the highway. I couldn't reengage cruise control and the wrench icon was lit on the dash. The next day my car was fine so I thought it was a fluke. Then it happened again. I thought it was just an issue with cruise control so I stopped using it. But that didn't solve the issue and my car would randomly downshift while I was on the highway (the wrench light coming on). While idling, my rpms would go up without me stepping on the gas. Because of my busy work schedule, I spent almost 2 weeks not knowing if I was going to get stuck on the side of the road in 100 degree heat every time I got in the car. Eventually it was the check engine light, not the wrench light, that came on. I knew I had to get my car in. I was so upset when I learned that the electronic throttle body getting stuck open or stuck shut was an issue that Ford already knew about. I take my car in regularly for maintenance and this is something that could have easily been fixed before it became an issue. Now that I cannot depend on Ford to look out for my best interest above the almighty dollar, I will be widening my search next time I purchase a vehicle.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #5

Jun 282011

Escape Hybrid

  • 13,000 miles
While driving eastbound on I70 through Kansas, my 2011 Escape hybrid lost power to the drive train. Without warning, the engine started racing as if it had shifted into neutral. While coasting, I put the car into neutral and then back to drive. It continued to be unresponsive to my stepping on the accelerator pedal. I coasted to a stop on the shoulder of the highway. I did not notice any indicator warning at the time, although in subsequent similar events, the stop safely hazard warning light came on. I turned the ignition off and restarted. The car showed no sign of any problem. I put the car in gear and drove on without further trouble. The dealer found no problem with the car and suggested that the problem was somehow a random occurrence that was unlikely to happen again. As I discovered, it happened over and over again, but only on long trips, and the service people could not replicate the problem. Most recently the car failed as described no less than 16 times on a 1300 mile trip this summer.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #4

Sep 132014

Escape Hybrid

  • 33,000 miles
While driving my newly purchased Ford escort (bought in May 2014) I lost power, the vehicle did not shut off but I was unable to accelerate & it sputtered & shook until I could safely pull off the road. A lighted wrench came on which I had no idea what it was until I looked in the manual (drivetrain). Once I was safely off the road I shut the vehicle off & waited awhile & started it back up & it had power again & I continued on my way. I was out of town at the time with my grandchildren in the vehicle. I really am confused as to why there has not been a recall on this. I feel my family was in danger as I was on a very busy roadway & lost power immediately. This is my first Ford vehicle & so far not impressed. I really hope there is a recall on this issue soon. Why do we have to wait until there is a catastrophe for something to get done?

- Corry, PA, USA

problem #3

Sep 202013

Escape Hybrid

  • 60,000 miles
I was driving at approximately 45mph when my vehicle lost speed, and would not respond to pressure to the gas. As I coasted to the side of the road, I had to shut the vehicle off and back on to get it to work. I have had it happen a dozen times since then. In a parking garage, at low speeds, on the interstate at 70mph.

- Catawissa, MO, USA

problem #2

May 282013

Escape Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 9,390 miles
Drove 2011 Ford Escape hybrid into parking space and came to a complete stop. Front wheels were turned slightly to the right as a result of turning into the parking space. Car suddenly lunged forward, went up and over curb in front of car, and hit a parked car several feet away before vehicle could be stopped. Incident occurred in daylight and good weather conditions. No previous issues with vehicle. Highly unlikely to be driver error - driver in 50's is very careful and prior to this incident had perfect driving record for decades.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #1

Aug 132012

Escape Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 19,517 miles
I purchased my vehicle from Texas motors Ford, fort worth, tx on or about July 13, 2011. Approximately three months later, I began having trouble with the vehicle when, on October 24, 2011, after coming to a stop in my garage, the vehicle switched from electric power to gas power and lunged forward into the cabinet on the front wall of my garage, despite depressing the brake pedal, which depressed all the way to the floor. I took my (had it towed) vehicle back to the dealer for repairs on the same day. The service manager had advised me over the phone not to drive the vehicle. At that time, the dealership stated that they could find no problem with the car, but had repaired the damage to the vehicle. About ten months later (August 13, 2012), as I was pulling into a parking spot at my surgeon's office at 7257 hawkins view dr. (harris sw), fort worth, tx, the vehicle, after I was stopped, again surged into gas mode, jumped the curb and ran into the doctor's office building, doing structural damage to the building and the window directly in front of the car. We took 35 photos of the vehicle and building at that time.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA