2005 Ford Escape HEV Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Escape HEV, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes861.5%
- Engine215.4%
- Body & structure17.7%
- Other / unspecified17.7%
- Transmission17.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS LIGHT ON, VERY WEAK AND DIMINISHED BRAKING POWER, ALMOST NOT STOPPING, VEHICLE WAS OFF, THEN NOTICED UPON STARTUP, 123K MILES ON VEHICLE, FORD STATES IT COULD BE UP TO A $5K REPAIR WHICH FAR EXCEEDES THE VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE, SUSPECT PART IS THE HCU HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WHICH PRESSURIZES THE BREAK SYSTEM BEFORE START UP, ALSO NOTICED THIS PUMP ISN'T COMING ON ANYMORE, FORD SAYS THEY WON'T COVER ANYTHING OF REPAIR, NO MORE FORDS OR CHEVY'S FOR ME!, YOU HAVE TO KILL AT LEAST 125 PEOPLE BEFORE THEY WILL RECALL ANYTHING JUST LIKE THE $2.25 IGNITION KEY RECALL, WHAT ABOUT THE 180+ PEOPLE FORDS PINTO EXPLODING FUEL TANKS, BECAUSE OF BREAK AWAY FUEL NECKS, LIVES AREN'T WORTH $8EA, TO INSTALL THE RUBBER BLADDER ARE THEY?, THANKS FOR MAKING ANOTHER THROW AWAY CAR JUST LIKE THE CHEVY VEGA, NOW FORD HAS ANOTHER TO ADD TO PINTO, EDSEL, MAVERICK? WHERE DID THEY GO? WHICH ONE'S NEXT? DON'T BUY HYBRID, NOT GOOD TECHNOLGY, DOESNT EVEN GET VERY GOOD MILEAGE , 26? IS ALL I GOT!, THANKS AGAIN FORD MOTORS, HOPE HENRY IS ROLLING OVER IN HEAVEN FOR YOUR IDIOT ENGINEERS THAT WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT IS BEYOND ECONOMICAL SENSE TO REPAIR.!!!
I WAS ON LADSON ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HYWAY AND NO BRAKES. THE LIGHT CAME ON JUST BEFORE MY BRAKES WENT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK TAKE ME HOME. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. TEN YEARS I HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE. I HAVE TO HAVE MY SON TAKE ME ANYWHERE I HAVE TO GO. IT IS NOT VERY GOOD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPORTED TO YOU ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THE NUMBER YOU GAVE ME #14V526000. REPORT #7695006-V3DOZ3.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE OVERHEATING CHANGED THERMOSTAT,HOSES, AND RADIATOR. STILL OVERHEATING. HAD TO TWO GARAGES STILL OVERHEATING
ENGINE GOES DEAD (WILL NOT IDLE) WHEN IN GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE)... NO ACCIDENT YET, BUT AM AFRAID I WILL GET "REARENDED" WHEN IT GOES DEAD IN TRAFFIC... *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WINDOW JUST EXPLODED. CAR WAS PARKED AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. CAMPUS SECURITY CALLED HER OUT OF CLASS THINKING SOMEONE HIT HER CAR. SECURITY CAMERAS SHOWED NOTHING. SHE HAD USED REAR DEFROSTER ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL. CAR WAS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES BEFORE WINDOW EXPLODED. TEMPERATURE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
2005 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT PUMP RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. RECALL # 14V526000. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE GOES DEAD (WILL NOT IDLE) WHEN IN GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE)... NO ACCIDENT YET, BUT AM AFRAID I WILL GET "REARENDED" WHEN IT GOES DEAD IN TRAFFIC... *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .