MY CAR WAS SITTING AND I WENT TO START IT AND THE "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED" AND "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" CAME ACROSS MY DASH. ITS A LONG STORY BUT I TOOK IT TO COURTESY FORD IN OKEMOS, MI AND THEY SAID THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNTIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THIS PART WOULD COST ME $4,620.20 TO REPLACE. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS FOR JUST OVER A YEAR.I OWE $10,080.00 ON THIS VEHICLE, I CANNOT GET A LOAN TO F…
2008 ford Escape brakes problems
severe 248 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450
Complaints
248
Recalls
0
Crashes
12
Avg fix
$450
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I JUST BOUGHT A USED 2008 FORD ESCAPE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH 113,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT FROM A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST ALL BRAKE POWER. I WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST INTO A DITCH TO PREVENT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE DASH READ "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" AND "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED". THE ABS AND BRAKE …
HE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS ARISEN WITH A GREAT DEAL OF OWNERS OF FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE HCU SYSTEM REPLACED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AS IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, NOR CONSIDERED BY THE COMPANY TO BE AN ISSUE DESERVING OF A RECALL, I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE ENTIRE…
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2008 ford Escape?
It's a meaningful issue. 248 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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