2008 Ford Escape Engine Problems

Check engine light keeps flashing, car vibration, bad head gasket, oil and fluid leak

NHTSA ID

11721440

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Power Steering Assist Fault," message displayed; after which, the driver became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11609380

Incident

Aug 17, 2024

The contact called on behalf of his girlfriend who owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was firm and difficult to maneuver. After coming to a stop, the failure progressed, and the steering wheel became extremely firm. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a steering sensor rotation failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recently occurred and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the recent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 161,432.

NHTSA ID

11589075

Incident

Nov 6, 2023

Mileage

161,432 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the oil cap had loosened. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the oil cap and the valve cover were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11511245

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

Having issue with throttle body and or controller. Break takes time to respond and is stiff. When on an incline road, the car rolls backwards before accelerating forward. The rolled back at stop signs on inclined roads and inclined parking lots. The car shows no warming lights. The car has issues accelerating and decelerating. The car has rolled back while another car was behind it. The car at some instances has come to almost a halt while driving at 70 mph on the highway. While displaying no warming signals. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? This type of issue has been confirmed by the dealership and has been recalled for some ford escapes but not all. The car has been inspected by a technician. The transmission has been rebuild but that did not work so a new transmission was placed inside yet this did not resolve anything. The car has been having these issues for some years.

NHTSA ID

11448986

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

THE CAR SHOW A MESSAGE SAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND STARTS STALLING AND THEN SUDDENLY TURN OFF BY ITSELF. IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY OR THE STREET

NHTSA ID

11415124

Incident

Apr 14, 2021

Mileage

15 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HAD INITIALLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE HOSE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKE HOSE AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE USED CAR DEALER WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR A FEW DAYS, THE CONTACT CALLED THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. HOLMAN FORD TURNERSVILLE (3641 ROUTE 42 SOUTH, TURNERSVILLE, NJ 08012) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HER FAILURES TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 15E045000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11364490

Incident

Jul 28, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK BRAKES TOOK TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AND MODULE THAT WAS GOING OUT. THEY WAITED ME A PRICE OF 2400 DOLLARS TO GET A NEW MODULE AND 1200 TO INSTALL. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE IT HOME THE TWO LIGHTS CAME ON AND ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT. I CALLED A WEAKER AND HAD IT DROPPED OFF AT MY HOUSE.

NHTSA ID

11355678

Incident

May 22, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE CAR BROKE DOWN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT A FEW MILES FROM THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE AND WOULD NOT RUN. BATTERY LIGHT, WRENCH LIGHT AND STOP SAFELY CAME ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, DIAGNOSED WITH P0A7A AND P0A78 CODES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD HAVE COST MORE THAN THE CARS TRADE IN VALUE IF IF GOOD RUNNING CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

11339395

Incident

Jul 6, 2020

Mileage

129,100 mi

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE MY CAR WOULD SUDDENLY STALL OR FREEZE UP WHEN MAKING TURNS OR PRESSING THE GAS AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. BY STALLING I MEAN TAKING A SECOND OR TWO TO ACCELERATE THEN JERKING KINDA HARD ONCE I HIT THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN THE CAR WOULD FREEZE UP, THE TRACTION AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHES AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY STUCK IN PLACE AND I'D HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. IT DOESNT FREEZE OR STALL ON THE HIGHWAY BUT IT ALWAYS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ID

11338994

Incident

Jul 11, 2020

Mileage

210,850 mi

VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS, SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BOTH SIDES CRACKING, AC CONDENSER LEAKING

NHTSA ID

11338044

Incident

Jul 7, 2020

I FOUND MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2008. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. IT SHOT DOWN AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I HAVE RESEARCH INTERNET AND FOUND THAT SAME FORD ESCAPE MODEL FROM 2003- 2008 ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHEN I RUN MY VIN DOES NOT APPEAR IT HAS RECALL. ITS SUPPOSE TO HAVE FORD RECALL 14S19. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329798

Incident

Jun 19, 2020

Mileage

10 mi

RANDOMLY THE CAR WILL 'STALL' TO TO SPEAK EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN AUTOMATIC AND NOT A 5-SPEED. WHEN I SAY STALL I AM REFERRING TO WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT, YIELDING TO TURN, ETC - WHEN I GO TO HIT THE GAS THE RPM'S REV UP HIGH AND THE CAR SPEED IS VERY LOW AND AT A ROLLING SPEED - EVEN THOUGH I PUSH DOWN ALL OF THE WAY IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO SPEED UP TO AVOID BEING STRUCK MY OTHER VEHICLES WHEN TURNING. THE CAR WILL THEN REGAIN ALL SPEED AT ONCE - INSTEAD OF GRADUALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE I AM TRYING TO MERGE ONTO AN ONCOMING INTERSTATE RAMP OR AM AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. I HAVE MISSED BEING HIT THUS FAR BUT HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS. I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND AUTO MECHANIC SHOPS THAT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. THEY HAVE READ THE CHECK ENGINE CODE AND HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11306945

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

JUST DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOUD METAL NOISE. THEN INTERMITTENT METAL SCRAPING SOUND. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT'S AN AXEL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT WILL COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. I STILL OWE 2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS. TERRIBLE ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. ON A CITY STREET COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING JUST DRIVING SLOW COMING TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID

11278828

Incident

Oct 7, 2019

Mileage

147,250 mi

THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING EXHAUST PARTS TO BREAK. THE FORD OEM PARTS ONLY LAST ONE YEAR BEFORE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. RECENTLY, THE BAD MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MOVE SO MUCH IT CAUSED THE FRONT FLEX PIPE TO BREAK WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CLOGGED ONE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTORS TO CLOG.

NHTSA ID

11257133

Incident

Sep 12, 2019

Mileage

113,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WILL BE IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY HAVE A SHIFTING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE AND STUTTER AND LOOSES POWER NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PRESS YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDDLE. MY ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF A COUPLE TIMES AND THEN ONCE MY VEHICLE SHIFTED, IT WOULD IDLE ROUGH AND ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE WHEN I WOULD STOP AT A LIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON SINCE. I TOOK IT TO HAVE THE ERROR CODE READ FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON BUT IT WAS ONLY A GENERIC CODE. ONE OF THE CODES WAS FOR AN AIRBAG SENSOR. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

11228511

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE BEFORE CRASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARMAX OF ARLINGTON (8400 ANDERSON BLVD, FORT WORTH, TX 76120, (817) 801-1501), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE TEST COULD NOT BE READ. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *JS

NHTSA ID

11206295

Incident

Mar 2, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED IN REVERSE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11173057

Incident

Jan 23, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11110416

Incident

Jul 10, 2018

Mileage

155,000 mi

WE BOUGHT OUR CAR USED IN 2008/2009. WE TOOK OUR CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF EXHAUST FUMES. WE OFTEN ARE SMELLING EXHAUST BUT SINCE THE DEALERSHIP DISMISSED OUR PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IT ALL THESE YEARS AS 'NORMAL'. I RECENTLY WAS HEARING OF POLICE OFFICERS WITH FORD VEHICLES PASSING OUT OR HAVING DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE FUMES IN THEIR FORD SUV. I TOOK MY DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR A FEW YEARS AGO AFTER BEING ON A TRIP IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE WAS THROWING UP ON THE WAY THERE AND BACK. THE DOCTORS GAVE HER BACK X-RAYS AND SAID THAT IT WAS JUST MOTION SICKNESS.. SHE OFTEN COMPLAINS OF BEING SICK IN THE CAR. I ALSO DON'T LIKE THE FUMES, BUT JUST DRIVE IT. NOW I REALIZE IT MAY BE A PROBLEM THAT WAS IGNORED BY FORD TO BEGIN WITH. THE MORE I DRIVE IT THE MORE DIZZY SPELLS I HAVE DURING THE DAY. THE FUMES ARE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE RUN THE VEHICLE AND WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS BEEN RE-ACCURING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH AROUND 50K, NOW IT HAS 212K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11097968

Incident

May 16, 2018

Mileage

60 mi

WHEN DRIVING CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WITH A WARNING PULL OVER AND TURN VEHICLE OFF VERY DANGEROUS NO TIME TO FIND EXITS DOES NOT MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT!!

NHTSA ID

11094119

Incident

May 4, 2018

Mileage

56,000 mi

ENGINE STOPPED DEAD WHILE DRIVING.STATED STOP SAFELY NOW.WELL AS CAR STOPPED DEAD WITH NO WARNING IS WAS NOT SAFE..SERVICE SAYS NEEDS NEW THROTTLE BODY. THATS FINE BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED

NHTSA ID

11055200

Incident

Dec 14, 2017

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING BECAME REALLY HARD TO TURN STILL WAS ABLE TO GO DOWN THE ROAD BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. TOOK MY ESCAPE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD MY ELECTRONIC STEERING SENSOR IS BAD. I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME NOR THE MONEY TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKING THREE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN OFF CAUSING A HISSING NOISE. I CAN SMELL THE EXHAUST IN MY VEHICLE WHEN PARKED.

NHTSA ID

11041832

Incident

Oct 29, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, ENGINE REVS AND DECELERATES WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT START CAR EACH TIME. SOMETIMES IT TAKES TWENTY TRIES. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET.EV

NHTSA ID

10950056

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION 14S05 FROM FORD ABOUT MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE RECALL WAS FOR A FAULTY TORQUE SENSOR THAT WOULD EITHER BE REPROGRAMMED OR REPLACED. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE TORQUE SENSOR, FORD SERVICE DECIDED TO JUST REPROGRAM IT BECAUSE IT HAD NOT FAILED OR PRODUCED A SERVICE CODE. JUST RECENTLY THE TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND MY STEERING LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. I DID NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND HAD TO JUST STOP AND LEAVE THE CAR IN THE LOT UNTIL SOMEONE COULD COME HELP ME. I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR AND AM BEING TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED AND NOW I MUST PAY THEM TO REPLACE THE TORQUE SENSOR. AFTER SPENDING TIME RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD IS ONLY REPLACING THE SENSORS IF THEY HAVE ALREADY FAILED WHEN YOU BRING YOUR CAR IN FOR THE RECALL. IF IT HAS NOT FAILED THEN FORD ONLY DOES A REPROGRAMMING THAT DOESN'T PREVENT THEM FROM FAILING BUT ALLOWS FORD TO CLOSE OUT THE RECALL ON YOUR VEHICLE AND SAVE MONEY ON A REPLACEMENT PART. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS LEGAL FOR THEM TO DO. I TALKED TO SEVERAL OF FORD'S SERVICE MANAGERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY ALL GIVE THE STANDARD REHEARSED ANSWER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10937303

Incident

Dec 22, 2015

Mileage

46,608 mi