2008 Ford Escape Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle and driving from a parking lot at 5 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the transmission skipped second and forth gear, and remained in third gear. The vehicle hesitated and stalled. An Independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed a bolt failure and that the transmission bands needed to be replaced. The transmission band was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 116,000.

NHTSA ID

11745583

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

Mileage

116,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the powertrain malfunction warning light and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The driver was able to pull over, the battery was disconnected and reconnected, and the contact was able to continue driving. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard when the ABS light was illuminated. While reversing, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted and stated that the repairs would be at the owner's expense. Another local dealer, Bob Davidson Ford Lincoln, located at 1845 E Joppa Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234, was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11731174

Incident

Apr 13, 2026

Mileage

136,000 mi

Hazard flashers turn on by themselves any rime night or day even while driving. Transmission oil cooler leaks. Transmission shift lever bushing in shift cable broke [ Thankfully while not on the road ] This car only has 25,000 miles on it

NHTSA ID

11676907

Incident

Jul 28, 2025

While the person was driving the wheel suddenly became stiff and very difficult to turn but luckily was in his neighborhood to park it. This could have been a very deadly crash if it happened anywhere else or suddenly on the main road. The person could have been seriously injured due to this malfunction or other people as well. This problem has been confirmed by ford and they issued a recall in 2014 for this exact same issue. The issue with the recall is my vehicle was manufactured during this 3 year period time of faulty manufacturing but is still not included in the recall list and so many other Americans are dealing with the same issue and no repairs. I would like ford to be held accountable and extend the vin list of cars needing repairs. No the vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps prior until the incident which it now says power steering assist fault.

NHTSA ID

11645830

Incident

Jan 8, 2025

The vehicle frequently shuts down with a stop safely now light displaying on the dash. Gives maybe a 5-10 second warning before the vehicle is immobile. Has not caused an accident for us but has occurred abruptly on busy roads increasing the risk of one. However, it usually occurs when idling in a drive through or light etc. The vehicle also frequently does something that causes the clock and date to reset to 2004. This seems to always occur between drives overnight.

NHTSA ID

11637731

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked and attempting to shift into drive(D), the contact had to shift into 2nd gear prior to shifting into drive(D) to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel was sized and became difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11587835

Incident

Dec 12, 2023

Mileage

130,000 mi

Car was parked on street with a slight downward slope behind it. It was turned off and placed in "Park". It rolled backwards down the street and hit a utility pole which caused it to stop. After seeing that it had "moved on its own" the shift handle was checked and still indicated the car was in "Park". Suspect some issue with the car actually being in park related to transmission, shift lever, or Ignition. The ignition has periodically displayed a reluctance to allow the car to start when the key is turned. The car will go to Ford dealer since I understand there was a large recall for this issue.

NHTSA ID

11538871

Incident

Jun 30, 2023

Vehicle rolled backwards due to defective trans shifter bushing on transaxle end. In the process of replacing bushing if available from Ford

NHTSA ID

11530546

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

The power steering torque sensor failed while driving today. As a result the vehicle lost all power steering and became difficult to steer and posed a serious risk to my safety while driving a distance over an hour from home on back country roads in Kentucky which were winding and made making curves and staying on the road very difficult to manage. There was no warning, no engine check light to come on. About 5 minutes before the power steering failed to function, the steering wheel began to have a very slight movement while at a stop light. This was not a sufficient warning to give me enough time to determine that my vehicle was about to become unsafe and there was no noise coming from the car or affected components. As a result of the malfunction/ equipment failure, I had to make wide turns that made the vehicle leave the roadway slightly at times with the tires going off the side of the road before the wide turn was completed. Steering became very difficult and the vehicle did not respond to my steering attempts. I could not make sharp turns and had a long distance to suffer through the hazard this caused. When I finally arrived home I had to drive through my yard to park because I could not get the vehicle to turn sharp enough to make it into the driveway. While driving there wasn't any shake or noticeable issue with the steering wheel itself other than the loss of power steering that felt as if the entire steering column was locked up. I have contacted the nearest Ford dealership to inquire about getting the recall repair completed tomorrow. I will have it inspected at that time. As of now, the failed component is available for inspection upon request. I am sure the problem will be reproduced as it has not regained steering function hours later and is in need of repair. I never received any notice prior to the equipment failure that there in fact was a safety recall on my vehicle. I would like to know how I was missed on being notified.

NHTSA ID

11498329

Incident

Dec 20, 2022

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE SHORT DISTANCE HOME. WAS LEAVING A GROCERY STORE ONTO THE STREET

NHTSA ID

11389662

Incident

Jan 18, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT, WAS WORKING JUST FINE THEN JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN QUIT WORKING. DRIVING WENT TO TURN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS JUST EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN ALMOST WRECKED. PRIOR TO THIS I WAS DRIVING AND TURNED WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK, THE SHOP SAID THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. BUT NO ISSUES BEFORE THIS, JUST WENT OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN LIKE THE POWER STEERING NOW.

NHTSA ID

11366743

Incident

Oct 27, 2020

Mileage

135,000 mi

MULTIPLE SERVICE LIGHTS TURN ON, ALL GAUGES GO TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING, SEEMINGLY RANDOM. I HAVE HAD THE CLUSTER REPLACED AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A NEW CLUSTER. LOOKS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN 10024328/ FORD TSB 08-3-6. INFORMATION ON THE ISSUE IS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11361663

Incident

Jul 16, 2020

MY CAR HAS DISPLAYED THE ISSUES THIS MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW WILL NOT START AGAIN. IT STOPPED DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON BOTH FREEWAYS AND RESIDENTIAL STREETS. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, GAS AND BRAKE HAVE NO EFFECT, AND FLASHES A MESAGE THAT SAYS TO STOP SAFELY NOW (EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT ANYWAY). IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF RECALLS I'VE READ ABOUT FOR THIS CAR, YET MY VIN NUMBER SAYS THERE ARE NONE ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE REEXAMINED.

NHTSA ID

11350143

Incident

Aug 16, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION- AFTER STARTING TORQUE GROWLS, WHEN I PUT IT IN ANY GEAR IT HESITATES THEN LURCHES SO MUCH THE TIRES SQUEAL, & SOUNDS,FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IN THE REAR OF SUV IS GOING TO FALL APART . ALSO WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT'S SCARING OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. SHAKES ME SO HARD IT HURTS MY NECK AND BACK. HAS ACTUALLY THROWN MY PURSE TO THE FLOOR BOARD WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE SEATS. ALL THESE MALFUNCTIONS HAPPEN WHEN I PUT IN GEAR WHEN STARTING OR AT RED LIGHTS & STOP SIGNS. DANGEROUS!!! PLUS TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID. I'VE QUIT DRIVING IT 08/08/2020 AFTER ONLY DRIVING IT OCCASIONALLY FOR 2 MONTHS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 06/11/2020. I DID/DO KEEP TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE SUV

NHTSA ID

11344106

Incident

Jun 11, 2020

Mileage

163,000 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOME WHERE UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LINKED TO A TRANSMISSION CABLE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN LINKED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11321387

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

TRANSMISSION LOSING SHIFT IN ALL GEARS AFTER WARMUP

NHTSA ID

11311138

Incident

Oct 5, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE IF I LET GO OF STEERING WHEEL WHICH LASTED ABOUT A WEEK THEN ON MY WAY TO WORK AGAIN IT WOULDNT GO OVER 40 MPH AND WONT COME OUT OF GEAR. ON THE WAY HOME IT WOULDNT GO OVER 30MPH AND STILL WONT COME OUT OF GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11309764

Incident

Feb 10, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

I OWN A 2008 FORD ESCAPE THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A KNOWN RECALLED ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE SENSOR. ERROR CODE B2278. IT HAS CAUSED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST TO TURN OFF. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS NO POWER STEERING DUE TO THIS ISSUE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE MODEL AND YEAR THAT FORD RECALLED THE PART ON, HOWEVER THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS CLAIMING THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PART. LUCKILY I WAS AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11306952

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

99,777 mi

SUSPENSION AXLE TRANSMISSION FRONT END WHILE IN MOTION LOUD CLANK METAL SOUND. TOOK TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD DRIVE IT UNTIL IT DIES. TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR ENTIREREPAIR OF FROM AXEL SUSPENSION AND TRANSMISSION. I STILL HAVE 15 MONTHS ON MY LOAN. NO EXCESSIVE DRIVING AND NO HARD USE.

NHTSA ID

11280249

Incident

Oct 16, 2019

Mileage

147,550 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT AND MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. IT THEN JUST STOPPED AND WOULDN'T SHIFT. THE ENGINE WOULD REV REALLY HIGH, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHICH MADE IT UNSAFE. I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, IT STARTED TO SHIFT REALLY SLOW WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE LIMP MODE. IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A VACUUM LINK AND REPLACED THE PART. I WENT BACK TO AMP REPAIR SHOP IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, IT DID THE SAME THING WITH THE ENGINE REVVING HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING IN THE MIDDLE OF GRATIOT AVE, A MAIN STREET IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP. I HAD IT TOWED TO USA TRANSMISSION IN MADUSON HEIGHTS, MI. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AND TOLD ME IT WAS IN FACT THE CD4E TRANSMISSION AND STATED THEY REBUILT A LOT OF THESE. HE ALSO SAID THE INTERNAL PARTS WERE WORN OUT BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANNY PAN. HE STATED THE COST TO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION WILL BE $3075. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY FORD ESCAPE HAS ONLY 120,000 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER. I WANT FORD TO ADMIT THAT THE CD4E TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO PAY %100 OF THE REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE IT UNSAFE, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS WELL AS OTHERS..

NHTSA ID

11279582

Incident

Oct 17, 2019

Mileage

120,000 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

I BOUGHT THIS USED ESCAPE ABOUT 2 YRS AGO, FIRST YR OVER $400 INTO STABILIZER BAR SWAY BARS FRONT END REPAIRS,,OK, SECOND YR, GUESS WHAT? YES TRANSMISSION 3RD GEAR OUT...AFTER DOING REVIEWS ON HERE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. WHEN ONE LIVES ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU LIVE ON $100 A WEEK DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH FOR REPAIRS,, YES I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO SOME MAINTANCE BUT HOLLY COW THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS NOT CHEAP. I HAVE ONLY PUT 9,223 MILES ON THIS SUV SINCE I HAD IT. WITH AS MANY PROBLEMS AS THERE IS WITH THE ESCAPE TRANSMISSION ONE WOULD THINK FORDS WOULD GET IT RIGHT, WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS NOT EVEN A RECALL. EVERY PLACE I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO I'T LIKE HERE COMES A OLE LADY WE'LL TELL HER ANYTHING AND EMPTY HER WALLET, CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE CRAP I WAS TOLD WITH DIFF $$ MAKING MY HEAD SPIN, WHO DO YOU BELIVE WHEN FORDS LET YOU DOWN AND DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD PERSON BUT NOT ANYMORE!! I CAN'T MAKE PAYMENTS AND REPLACE TRANYS ON A FIXED INCOME. I AM DOING MY HOMEWORK NOW AND IT LOOKS LIKE CHEVY HERE I COME. FORD GET IT TOGETHER

NHTSA ID

11193881

Incident

Mar 6, 2019

THE FRONT WHEEL HUB STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS AROUND 10 THREE 2018. THEN ON 12 20 2018 THE HOOD CAME UNDONE AND SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD. EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE 2015 IT HAD POWER ASSIST PROBLEMS IN THE STEERING.

NHTSA ID

11163242

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

Mileage

13,360 mi