WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO PUSH ON BRAKES AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS IT VEHICLE WOULD STOP. SO I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY BRAKES WENT W CALIBER OR WHEEL BEARING. A FEW WEEKS LATER SAME THING HAPPEN ALL NEEDED REPLACED NOW AGAIN ITS HAPPENED. THIS IS TO…

12/31/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11292302.0

2008 Escape · steering

MY FORD ESCAPE'S POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT IN MY WHILE DRIVING, IT MADE THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME FROM WORK EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE. I DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS IN FACT A FORD RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL CAR, HOWEVER MY VIN WAS NOT…

12/31/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938892.0

2008 Escape · steering

TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE 14S05 RECALL, WHICH IS INTENDED TO CORRECT A STEERING ISSUE. THIS OCCURRED ON 12/10/2014. THE REPAIR SUPPOSEDLY REPROGRAMMED THE POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR TO PREVENT THE POWER STEERING FROM TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. ON 12/28/2014 THE POWER…

12/31/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10669417.0

2008 Escape · cruise control

WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP TO BELOW 25 DEGREES - THE ACCELERATOR / GAS PEDAL WILL OFTEN "FREEZE" AND NOT ALLOW ACCELERATION AND/OR WILL STAY DEPRESSED EVEN WITH APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE (CAR STILL STOPS) AND IDLES VERY HIGH WHEN IN NEUTRAL. WHEN STARTING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT…

12/31/2013 · NHTSA ODI #10557960.0

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Active recalls showing 2 of 2

severe NHTSA 15V606000 29/09/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009

If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.

severe NHTSA 14V526000 03/09/2014

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

If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.

Common questions

Is the 2008 Ford Escape reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 2,413 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Ford Escape has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2008 Ford Escape?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 1,233 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Ford Escape has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2008 Ford Escape?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 2,413 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 9 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.