2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT FOUND NO DEFECTS UPON INVESTIGATION. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED TOM MASANO FORD LINCOLN (1600 LANCASTER AVE, READING, PA 19607) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL HIM BACK. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V526000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA ID

11341164

Incident

Jul 17, 2020

Mileage

121,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED CORROSION ALL AROUND THE FRAME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11279674

Incident

Sep 18, 2019

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO LITHIA FORD LINCOLN OF ROSEBURG (1650 NE STEPHENS ST, ROSEBURG, OR 97470, (541) 537-4643) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO HYBRID FANS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, UPON INVESTIGATION, NO RECALLS COULD BE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WERE CURRENTLY ORDERING THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11244931

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OF 'STOP SAFELY NOW' ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THESE ISSUES DIDN'T START UNTIL THE MEC PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. AFTER THAT MY 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING OR NOT START OR CUT OUT THE HYBRID POWER AND RUN ON ENGINE ONLY. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL OTHER SERVICE DONE THREE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING, STATING ONLY THAT THERE ARE NO CODES, SO NO IDEA WHERE TO LOOK. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE COMPUTER CAN KNOW TO TELL ME TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR, YET NOT RECORD A DTC. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FIRST WARM DAY OF THE SUMMER - DROVE ACROSS TOWN, PARKED IT, CAME BACK 20 MINUTES LATER AND IT WOULDN'T START, SHOWING 'STOP SAFELY NOW'. I LEFT IT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I DROVE IT HOME. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT SCANXL AND USED MY LAPTOP TO SCAN THE CAR. I FOUND P1A10, P1A14, P0A0A, AND P0A95. IF I CAN BUY SOME CONSUMER PROGRAM AND FIND THIS INFO, WAY IS FORD TELLING THERE ARE NO CODES? FORD ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY FANS TWO YEARS AGO, STATING THEY WERE COVERED UNDER SOME RECALL OR WARRANTY. SEARCHING THE INTERNET GETS ME 100'S OF COMMENTS ON THIS STOP SAFELY ISSUE WITH DOZENS OF POSSIBLE CAUSES DEPENDING ON THE YEAR AND MODEL. MY SCAN TOOL SHOWS A BATTERY VOLTAGE OF 665 VOLTS, THOUGH IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A 300 VOLT BATTERY. THE HYBRID EVAPORATOR TEMP CAN RANGE BETWEEN 220 AND 310 DEGREES F WHEN IT'S RUNNING OK. THAT CAN'T BE NORMAL. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON AND CAN'T GET ANY HELP FROM THE FORD DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11231782

Incident

Jul 13, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JERRY'S FORD ALEXANDRIA (6510 LITTLE RIVER TURNPIKE, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312, (703) 256-5000), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11217159

Incident

May 27, 2019

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE "STOP SAFELY" WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. MANTECA FORD (555 N MAIN ST, MANTECA, CA 95336, (209) 239-3561) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED IN ORDER TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11192458

Incident

Mar 29, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING MESSAGE ON DASH SAYS TO STOP SAFELY NOW CAR WILL START UP AGAIN AFTER WAITING A WHILE. CAR STOPPED WHILE ON FREEWAY BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER.

NHTSA ID

11191931

Incident

Mar 24, 2019

Mileage

1,200,000 mi

WHILE COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL PASS THE STOP SIGN. FLOORING THE BRAKES CAUSED THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN SLOWLY. I ENDED UP PULLING OVER IMMEDIATELY, TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. I SAW NO CLEAR INDICATION OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG. WHEN I TURNED BACK ON THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS FINE, UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FEW CAR SHOPS BUT NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CAR WAS EVEN TAKEN FOR A TEST DRIVE BY THE MECHANIC BUT PERFORMED WITH NO PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE SHOPS RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER OR THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD NEVER OCCUR AGAIN. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE PAYING SO MUCH FOR A NON GUARANTEED JOB SO UNFORTUNATELY I AM STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES CONTINUES TO STOP WORKING AT RANDOM TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11172703

Incident

Jan 26, 2019

The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer to historical DTCs and the PC/ED, Section 3 No DTCs Present Index chart for further information.

Some 2005-2012 Escape Hybrid and 2006-2011 Mariner Hybrid vehicles may set DTCs P0A81 (battery pack cooling fan 1 control circuit) and/or P0A96 (battery pack cooling fan 2 control circuit) in the traction battery control module (TBCM). These codes by themselves normally do not result in any symptoms that are noticeable to the customer. DTCs P0A81/P0A96 are typically found when diagnosing other drivability concerns. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.

2005-2008 ESCAPE/MARINER HYBRID - ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH DTC(S) C1478, C1479, C1480 AND/OR C1481

FORD/MERCURY: SOME HYBRID VEHICLES MAY REQUIRE A UNIQUE BLEED PROCEDURE AFTER A REPLACEMENT FOR ONE OR MORE OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. *PE

FORD/MERCURY: SOME VEHICLES MAY SET DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0A81 (BATTERY PACK COOLING FAN 1 CONTROL CIRCUIT) AND/OR P0A96 (BATTERY PACK COOLING FAN 2 CONTROL CIRCUIT) IN THE TRACTION BATTERY CONTROL MODULE (TBCM). THESE CODES BY THEMSELVES NORMALLY DO NOT RESULT IN ANY SYMPTOMS THAT ARE NOTICEABLE TO THE CUSTOMER. REPLACE BOTH HIGH VOLTAGE TRACTION BATTERY (HVTB) COOLING FANS. *PE

FORD/MERCURY: VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND CODES INDICATING A TRANSAXLE OVERTEMP. CONDITION MAY RESULT IN REDUCED POWER AS SYSTEM ACTIVATES FAIL SAFE OPERATION. *PE