RoadVitals

2006 Ford Escape Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Jun 2, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 464 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 2, 2025

Sunroof on the vehicle just shattered. No impact related cause. Maybe heat.

NHTSA ID
11664348
Incident
Jun 2, 2025
Visibility
Filed Dec 7, 2018

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED COMPLETELY. NO OTHER CARS WERE AROUND ME AND THE CAR HAD BEEN WARMED UP FOR QUITE A WHILE AND THERE WAS NO WAY SOMEONE COULD HAVE SHOT OR THROWN SOMETHING TO HAVE REACHED ME AS WELL AS GOING 70MPH. ALSO THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A BULLET OR ROCK.

NHTSA ID
11156698
Incident
Nov 30, 2018
Mileage
170,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 16, 2016

REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD ONTO THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID
10820637
Incident
Jan 16, 2016
Mileage
106,753 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 30, 2014

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY, NO ONE WAS IN OR AROUND IT. I WAS LOOKING OUT THE FRONT WINDOW WATCHING IT SNOW OUTSIDE WHEN I SAW THE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODE AND GLASS FLEW ALL OVER THE DRIVE WAY. THE BROKEN GLASS WAS VERY EASY TO SEE BECAUSE OF THE FRESH SNOW ON THE DRIVE WAY. ONCE AGAIN NO ONE WAS NEAR OR IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10562285
Incident
Jan 30, 2014
Mileage
124,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 30, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BEING UTILIZED DURING RAINY WEATHER WHEN THEY SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID
10468289
Incident
Jul 28, 2012
Mileage
76,000 mi
BrakesVisibility
Filed Nov 21, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR WINDSHIELD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HINGES FOR THE WINDSHIELD WERE BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, HE APPLIED TO BRAKES AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10436537
Incident
Dec 1, 2010
Mileage
45,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 11, 2011

REAR WINDOW EXPLODED PROCEEDING AT GREEN LIGHT, IN TRAFFIC, AT 10 MPH. DEFROSTERS AND WIPERS WERE ON DUE TO LIGHT RAIN. LOUD BANG AND GLASS FILLED THE VEHICLE. STOPPED VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS FOUND TO RULE OUT FOUL PLAY. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10435241
Incident
Nov 10, 2011
Mileage
145,600 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 27, 2011

I DROVE 7 MILES TO WORK. IT WAS A LITTLE FOGGY/DEWEY OUT SO I TURNED ON MY REAR DEFROST. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE LOW 60'S, SO COOL, BUT NOT COLD BY ANY MEANS. I PARKED MY CAR AND ROLLED THE WINDOWS (ALL 4) DOWN @ 3 INCHES. WHEN I PARKED MY CAR @ 8:00AM IT WAS FINE. BY 9:10AM, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BACK WINDSHIELD OF MY CAR WAS "BROKEN". WHEN I WENT TO CHECK MY CAR, THE BACK WINDSHIELD HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT. THERE WAS BARELY ANY GLASS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AS IT HAD ALL BLOWN OUT 3-4 FEET INTO THE PARKING LOT. I DID HAVE THE LOCAL POLICE RESPOND JUST IN CASE AND THE OFFICER SHRUGGED AND QUESTIONED/STATED "FREAK ACCIDENT". I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON THESE VEHICLES, YET NO PUBLIC AWARENESS HAS BEEN MADE. I AM JUST GLAD THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING LIKE WITH SOME REPORTS I'VE READ. MY INSURANCE WOULD COVER A "RECYCLED" REAR WINDSHIELD/WIPER AND I AM TERRIFIED TO USE THE REAR DEFROST ON THE NEW ONE KNOWING THAT IT CAME FROM THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE OF VEHICLE FOR FEAR IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TT

NHTSA ID
10427622
Incident
Sep 12, 2011
Mileage
41,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 4, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. SHE STATED THAT THE WINDOW EXPLODED INTO THE VEHICLE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HINGES BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOW TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

NHTSA ID
10374627
Incident
Dec 21, 2010
Mileage
32,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 4, 2011

THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE REAR WINDOW WASHER WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON AN EXPRESSWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THEREFORE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY IMPAIRED. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND REPORTS OF THE WASHER FLUID LINE BECOMING DISCONNECTED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP. THE ON LINE REPORTS SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, TOLD WHERE THE FAULT WAS AND THAT THE RIGHT SIDE INNER FENDER HAD TO BE REMOVED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THE FAULTY CONNECTION, AND ADDED PLASTIC WIRE WRAPS TO SECURE FOUR CONNECTIONS IN THE AREA FROM COMING LOOSE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10374069
Incident
Jan 31, 2010
Mileage
52,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 28, 2010

I DROVE MY CAR FROM MY HOME, TO WORK THAT MORNING. IT WAS A LITTLE CHILLY SO I TURNED ON MY REAR DEFROST SO I COULD SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW. I DROVE MY NORMAL COMMUTE, ABOUT 7 MINUTES TO WORK, PARKED MY CAR, AND WENT INSIDE. WITHIN 20 MINUTES I HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND NOTICED THAT MY BACK WINDOW WAS BLOWN OUT AND EXPLODED ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE AND FILE A CLAIM TO HAVE THE WINDOW REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10372714
Incident
Nov 10, 2008
Mileage
87,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 22, 2010

2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT - LIKE MANY OTHERS, MY REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO REASON. HAD GLASS/REAR WIPER REPLACED BUT WAS THEN BLOWING FUSES. SO NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE REAR WIPER MOTOR REPLACED ON TOP OF THE GLASS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF SAME ISSUE BUT STILL NO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10372078
Incident
Dec 9, 2010
Mileage
74,569 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 10, 2010

I PULLED MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE INTO MY GARAGE, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, GOT OUT AND SHUT MY DOOR WHEN THE REAR WINDOW JUST EXPLODED/SHATTERED. I HAD MY 3 YEAR OLD AND 7 MONTH OLD (WHO WAS REAR FACING) IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10365336
Incident
Nov 10, 2010
Visibility
Filed Feb 26, 2010

2006 FORD ESCAPE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314725
Incident
Feb 26, 2010
Mileage
54,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 2010

I HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE AND I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORK AND CAME OUT AFTER I STARTED MY REMOTE STARTER INSIDE TO FIND MY CARS REAR WINDOW BLOWN OUT. MY HUSBAND HAD TURNED ON MY REAR DEFROST THAT MORNING. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ON BEFORE, WHICH I AM SURE IS THE CAUSE BEHIND IT. I CAME HOME AND CALLED POLICE. MY REAR GLASS WINDOW AND THE ARMS FOR IT ARE RUINED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED. THEN I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND THE FORD FORUM AND HEARD EVERYONE ELSE'S INCIDENTS AND IT SOUNDED QUITE FAMILIAR. I AM HAPPY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD, I HAVE A SEVEN YEAR OLD THAT SITS IN A BOOSTER SEAT AND IF IT HURT HIM IN ANY WAY I WOULD FEEL SORRY FOR FORD CAUSE I WOULD BE THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE. OR WHERE I WAS PARKED AT MY WORK (NURSING HOME) THAT IS WHERE THE RESIDENTS GO OUT FOR A CIGARETTE SO IF IT EXPLODED IN THEIR FACE. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LAW SUIT FOR SURE, NOT TO MENTION WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10303552
Incident
Dec 5, 2009
Visibility
Filed Dec 8, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW HAD SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83900. UPDATED 1/14/10 *CN UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10294948
Incident
Dec 7, 2009
Mileage
83,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 8, 2009

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60MPH, 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE, REAR WINDOW DEFROST ON, REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10294866
Incident
Dec 7, 2009
Mileage
92,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 30, 2009

REAR WINDOW "EXPLODES" FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NO ONE INSIDE - REAR DEFROSTER HAD BEEN ON PRIOR TO SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290340
Incident
Oct 30, 2009
Mileage
86,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 19, 2008
2 injuries reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE REARVIEW MIRROR SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD COST $700 TO REPLACE THE REARVIEW GLASS. THE REAR PASSENGER HAD GLASS STUCK IN HIS SKIN AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MINOR CUT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000.

NHTSA ID
10249341
Incident
Nov 15, 2008
Mileage
99,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed May 3, 2007

2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE SEAT COVERS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND JERKING WHILE DRIVING OVER 70 MPH AND REAR WIPER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY**CC THE CONSUMER STATED SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE REST OF THE WAY TO HER DESTINATION, THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH AND JERKING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A INOPERATIVE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, DRIVE ROUGHLY AND JERKED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD SHIFT HARD AND LURCH FORWARD WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10191100
Incident
Aug 3, 2006
Visibility
Filed Dec 14, 2006
1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING ON A ONE-LANE ROAD (OFF RAMP OF HWY 101), THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED SUDDENLY. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS APPEARED TO HAVE STRUCK THE WINDOW. THE SHATTERING OF GLASS RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND SOME DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED AND FORD REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. NOTHING WAS DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10176096
Incident
Jun 30, 2006
Mileage
2,000 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .