2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated he depressed the brake to the floorboard to stop the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the HECU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

NHTSA ID

11447324

Incident

Jan 12, 2022

Mileage

139,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake was applied however, was spongy and slow to respond. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The Regan brakes disable failure message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to a local dealer. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 165,931.

NHTSA ID

11424786

Incident

Jun 5, 2021

Mileage

165,931 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED JORDAN FORD (609 E JEFFERSON BLVD, MISHAWAKA, IN 46545) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,540.

NHTSA ID

11407294

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

Mileage

133,540 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED A MONTH AGO AND THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AND ONLY OPERATED AT 40% CAPACITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AND THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11269216

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOORBOARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT CALLED PREFERRED FORD (LOCATED AT 1401 S BEACON BLVD, GRAND HAVEN, MI 49417, (616) 842-0600) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. EACH TIME THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID

11232787

Incident

Apr 3, 2019

Mileage

57,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH IN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, THE ASB AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES WEREN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WAS ABLE TO CAREFULLY DRIVE IT HOME, 5 MILES. AFTER THE CAR SAT FOR A SHORT TIME IT WAS STARTED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AND IT DROVE NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO FORD GARAGE WHERE THEY SAID THE HCU MALFUNCTION AND IT NEEDED REPLACED. THE HCU PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYBRIDS AND VARY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND DANGEROUS IF NOT FIXED. IT'S BEEN AT THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE FOR OVER 7 WEEKS AND THEY CAN'T BLEED THE BRAKES TO FINISH THE REPAIR. ALSO, WHEN THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T BLEED THE BRAKES, I NEED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OF BLEEDING THE BRAKES. AT LEAST IT'S SAFE SITTING AT THE FORD GARAGE AND NOT BEING DRIVEN. FORD SHOULD RECALL THEIR HCUS

NHTSA ID

11229873

Incident

May 17, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

REGEN BRAKES DISABLED MALFUNCTION, LEADS TO LOSS OF BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING. MANY MANY OTHER ESCAPE HYBRID OWNERS HAVE FILED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS . PLEASE DO A GOOGLE SEARCH TO VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED PROMPTLY BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

11219703

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

118,000 mi

DRIVING AT 35MPH ABS LIGHT CAME ON THEN CHECK BRAKES FOLLOWED BY BRAKE REGEN DISENGAGED. THIS CREATED NO STOPPING OF VEHICLE AND RUNNING THROUGH STOP LIGHT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES COMING FROM OTHER DIRECTIONS. STILL NO BRAKES AND APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE BY PUBLIC AND FORD.

NHTSA ID

11218584

Incident

Jun 5, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

-VEHICLE ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) LIGHT CAME ON AND DASH SAID 'CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM' AND 'REGEN BRAKES DISABLED'. THANK GOODNESS I WAS PARKED WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED AND WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE AWAY, I WAS ABLE TO TEST THE BRAKING ABILITY AND QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR BACK OFF. -GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOUND CAME FROM FRONT OF CAR AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF -WAS ABLE TO START CAR PROPERLY AFTER 4+ ATTEMPTS AND WAITING 15-20 MINUTES -THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE REOCCURRED AT ANY TIME (EXTREMELY DANGEROUS) -CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (FORD) TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE AND HOW (AT THE TIME) THERE WERE 80+ SIMILAR ISSUES REPORTED TO NHTSA. -COST QUOTES RANGED FROM $4,800-$7,000 TO REPLACE HCU (HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT), MASTER CYLINDER, ABS MODULE REPLACEMENT -THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM (DTC C1478) AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED -WHEN CONTACTED, FORD DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND SEEMED TO NOT CARE ABOUT THE ISSUE -- I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN -FORD WAS AWARE OF ISSUE (SSM 45870) AND CHOSE TO DO NOTHING ("SOME 2005-2008 ESCAPE/MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) C1478, C1479, C1480 OR C1481. REFER TO WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM), SECTION 206-09 INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION PROCEDURE UNDER DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING. IF NO FAULTS ARE IDENTIFIED WHILE PERFORMING THE INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION PROCEDURE AND BEFORE REPLACING THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) VERIFY THE CALIPER FLEX HOSES ARE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE, INTERNAL RESTRICTIONS OR SWELLING. DAMAGED CALIPER FLEX HOSES CAN GENERATE THESE PRESSURE CONTROL PLAUSIBILITY DTCS.")

NHTSA ID

11218409

Incident

May 23, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

DRIVING MY CAR AND THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. PAUL MILLER FORD OF LEXINGTON KY.SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE NCU AND MASTER CYLINDER AT A COST OF $9000. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I'VE DISCOVERED AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER SO I DON'T HAVE PAPER WORK YET.

NHTSA ID

11209778

Incident

May 17, 2019

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES DISABLED WARNING MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED NEWINS BAY SHORE FORD (219 W MAIN ST, BAY SHORE, NY 11706, (631) 665-1300) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,500. *AS CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID

11208126

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

90,500 mi

112,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING, VIBRATION FROM RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. ABLE TO STOP. CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. REGENERATIVE BRAKE DISABLED. VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WITH DTC - C1480. INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ABS. COST OF REPAIR OVER $5000 FOR HYBRID SPECIFIC REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER 2C286. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE PART FAILING ON INTERNET AND THIS SITE. WITH THE PRICE THE HCU QUOTED TO BE $4700, I JUST THE REST OF THE PARTS IN THIS VEHICLE MUST BE REALLY INEXPENSIVE (CHEAP) GIVEN THE ORIGINAL $28,000 PRICE TAG.

NHTSA ID

11193126

Incident

Mar 28, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

I HAD ALL THE BRAKES STUCK WHILE DRIVING. ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LAMP WENT OFF ALONG WITH REGEN BRAKES DISABLED. MECHANIC`S DIAGNOSIS WAS ABS PUMP AND CONTROL MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST ABOUT 4500$ TOTAL.

NHTSA ID

11187510

Incident

Mar 6, 2019

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING, THE ANTILOCK AND SERVICE BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED RAY SKILLMAN FORD AT (317) 884-7164 (LOCATED AT 1250 US-31, GREENWOOD, IN) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11186867

Incident

Mar 13, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

ABS LIGHT ON - BRAKES WORK MOST OF THE TIME, BUT NOT RELIABLE. REGEN LIGHT ALSO ON. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, ALMOST ALWAYS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. ON 2 OCCASIONS IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND FORCED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW TO 20MPH.

NHTSA ID

11186586

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND SYSTEM REGEN BRAKE DISABLE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

NHTSA ID

11184184

Incident

Mar 4, 2019

Mileage

211,000 mi

CHECK BRAKES LIGHT COMES ON WHEN REACHING 40 MPH, AND STAYS ON. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THAT. FORD DEALER INDICATES ENTIRE FRONT LEFT AXLE SHAFT NEEDS REPLACING DUE TO BROKEN TONE RINGS. VERY EXPENSIVE. OTHER REPAIR PROFESSIONALS SUGGEST THAT TONE RINGS CAN BE REPLACED SEPARATELY; MUCH LESS EXPENSE. FORD DEALER WON'T DO WITHOUT ENTIRE AXLE BEING REPLACED. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES AND IS DIFFICULT TO APPLY BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11173016

Incident

Nov 15, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

ABS LIGHT / BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON WITH A MESSAGE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM - REGEN BRAKES DISABLED - REPLACED BROKEN TONE RING, NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON - SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS UNSAFE ISSUE WITH THE 08 HYBRID - FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

11166397

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

102,000 mi

BREAKS PERIODICALLY JUST WON'T WORK...GO OUT...THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS LISTED ON THE INTERNET. ITS SAYS YOU CAN REPLACE A 4000 PART...HOWEVER THE CAR REALLY ISN'T WORTH THAT MUCH. NOW IT WILL SAY REGEN BREAKS DISABLED

NHTSA ID

11166295

Incident

Jul 16, 2018

Mileage

165,000 mi

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 LIGHTS ARE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AND I AM BEING TOLD IT IS LIKELY A FAILED HYDRAULIC BRAKE CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND VERY EXPENSIVE. HOW HAS FORD NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND KNOWN PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID

11163965

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, OR SOMETIMES WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THE MESSAGE READS "BRAKE REGEN FAIL". THE BRAKES GET MUSHY AND BECOME MANUAL BRAKES. THE MECHANIC SAID I NEED A HYDRAULIC ABS BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHAUL. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN IT IS VERY HOT OUTSIDE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I COULD "FIX" IT BY TURNING THE CAR OFF, ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE, AND THEN RESTARTING. NOW, WHEN IT IS HOT, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED PROBABLY TWO DOZEN TIMES SINCE JULY.

NHTSA ID

11142570

Incident

Jul 17, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

THE ABS BRAKES HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS QUOTED OVER $5,000 TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. I HAVE READ MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL ON A VEHICLE WITH A PROBLEM AS SERIOUS AS THIS?

NHTSA ID

11140634

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT THE TRANSMISSION AND APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN DROVE HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DOAN FORD, INC. (LOCATED AT 66870 BELMONT MORRISTOWN RD, BELMONT, OH 43718, (740) 782-1965) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11139697

Incident

Jun 12, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

APPROX. A YEAR AGO THE BRAKES STARTED FAILING. SUDDENLY YOU HAD TO PUMP THEM EXTRA HARD TO STOP. WARNING LIGHT APPEARED THAT TIRES NEED INFLATING. THEY DID NOT. THEN AN ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN, NO EXTRA PUMPING NEEDED. THEN AT HIGH SPEEDS THE WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AND STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND YOU COULDN'T GO ABOUT 60 MPH. AHHH! WHEN YOU HIT BRAKES THEY DIDN'T RESPOND OR A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE HAPPENED. LOOKED IT UP, COMMON IN THIS YEAR'S HYBRID THAT ABS BRAKES FAIL. ONLY HAD 150K ON IT. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY WANTED $7400 TO FIX. WHAT? "PROPRIETARY ABS BRAKES MUST BE REPLACED." THEY WOULDN'T TURN WARNING MESSAGE OFF COMPUTER OR DO ANYTHING LESS. WOULDN'T CHECK HOSES, CIRCUITS, OR PADS. JUST A FLAT "$7400" WITH NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN ABS SYSTEM. WE FOUND OUT THROUGH COMPLAINT SITES ONLINE THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT'S EXTREMELY HARROWING TO BE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND HAVE THE CAR SUDDENLY START SHAKING AND THE BRAKES NOT WORK!!

NHTSA ID

11139294

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND DISPLAY READ "REGEN BRAKES DISABLED." THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER EFFECTIVELY BRAKING AND ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

11132950

Incident

Oct 2, 2018

Mileage

230,000 mi