Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
I SHUT MY BACK HATCH LIGHTLY BEING IT IS NOT HARD TO SHUT WENT TO WALK AWAY AND MY GLASS EXPLODED. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE IN THE CAR AND AS FAR AS 3 FEET BEHIND THE CAR. I HAD GLASS IN MY HAIR. I'M JUST GLAD IT HAPPENED AFTER I TURNED AROUND. IT WAS RAINING AND A LITTLE CHILLY BUT NOT COLD.
HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. AT 24,000 MILES THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE. AT 28,000 MILES THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE LEFT REAR WINDOW BROKE. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR BOTH THESE REPAIRS. AT 45,000 THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE. AT 59,000 MILES THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BROKE AGAIN. I PAID FOR BOTH THESE REPAIRS AT MY LOCAL BIG O TIRES, SINCE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 65,000 MILES THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BROKEN. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN AND ASK THEM TO HELP PAY FOR REPAIR SINCE THIS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART. I WAS INFORMED IT WOULD TAKE 4 DAYS TO RENDER A DECISION. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS UNREASONABLE, THAT I WOULD BE UNABLE TO GO ANY WHERE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LOCK MY CAR. THEY RETURNED TO THE PHONE A FEW MINUTES LATER AND TOLD ME I AM RESPONSIBLE AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY COSTS BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THIS WINDOW REGULATOR IS A DEFECTIVE PART. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE PART PLACED IN MY CAR. I LIVE IN ARIZONA WHERE IT IS 115 DEGREES...I NEVER EVEN ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS, SO IT'S NOT BREAKING DUE TO OVERUSE! I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW SLID DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND COULD NOT BE RAISED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, SIX TIMES ON THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW, TWICE ON THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, AND ONCE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EACH TIME TO HAVE THE FAILURES REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED TOWN EAST FORD (LOCATED AT 18411 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, MESQUITE, TX 75150,(972) 584-9140) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
THREE OUT OF FOUR WINDOWS HAVE FAILED DUE TO REGULATERS. WHEN AUTO SHOPS WERE ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THE REPLY WAS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REPAIRS RANGE FROM TWO HUNDRED TO SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE FACTORY WOULD ADDRESS A PROBLEM AS COMMON AS THIS.TWO WINDOWS CAME DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND ONE WHILE PARKED
CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. REAR TAILGATE GLASS WAS OPEN, TAILGATE ITSELF WAS CLOSED. I WAS LOADING GROCERIES INTO THE CAR WHEN THE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED. I WASN'T IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING THE GLASS. I DID NOT SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE WINDOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FRONTIER FORD IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, IT SOUNDED LIKE A HUGE POP OR LIKE A GUN SHOT SOUND AND WHEN WE STOPPED, WE FOUND THAT THE SUNROOF HAD "EXPLODED". THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT OUR CAR. LUCKILY THE SLIDER WAS CLOSED SO THE GLASS THAT SHATTERED DID NOT FALL ALL OVER US. WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER VEHICLES TO WHERE THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE. WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM MY SON' GRADUATING COLLEGE, SO WE STILL HAD TO DRIVE WITH IT LIKE THIS ANOTHER 2 1/2 HOURS. *TR
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS 3 OF THE 4 ELECTRIC WINDOWS IN MY WIFE'S FORD ESCAPE HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DOOR DUE TO THE REGULATORS FAILING. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A RECALL FOR THIS EQUIPMENT PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. IN 2 OF THE INCIDENTS, THE WINDOWS FELL WHILE BEING PARKED IN A BUSINESS PARKING LOT WHICH COULD'VE MADE THE VEHICLE OPEN TO THEFT. *TR
BOTH OF THE HINGES ON THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS WERE CRACKED AND SPLITTING. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THAT THIS COULD ALLOW THE REAR GLASS TO FALL OFF IN TRAFFIC CAUSING BOTH DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND TO OTHER MOTORIST. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS AN INFERIOR PART FOR FORD TO BE USING ON THEIR VEHICLES. *TR
REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLOSIVELY SHATTERED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE PROBLEM AND HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WITH THIS KIND OF VEHICLE AND THIS VEHICLE YEAR. SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS NEARBY WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR
STARTING AT AROUND 15,000 MILES MY WINDOW REGULATOR/MOTOR BROKE IN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE. CURRENTLY IN OCTOBER OF 2013 I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE WINDOW REGULATORS/MOTORS (4 TOTAL) IN MY CAR. THE WINDOWS BROKE AT AROUND 15,000 MILES, 30,000 MILES, 60,000 MILES AND NOW AT 85,000 MILES. WHEN SPEAKING WITH MY FORD SERVICE ADVISOR HE HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPES AND CONTINUES TO SAY THAT IS REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL. THE LAST WINDOW BROKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WAS FIRED AT ME AND MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DROPPED, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. AS STATED ALL 4 OF MY WINDOWS HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED AND THEY COST ABOUT $380 PER WINDOW TO REPLACE. FORD CUSTOMER CARE HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO THIS ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LACK OF SAFETY OF THE WINDOW MOTORS/REGULATORS WHICH CREATES AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS IN THIS FORD MODEL. I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS CLAIM SERIOUSLY AND RECALL THIS PART, AS FORD IS CREATING AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR
THE WINDOW JUST FELL DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. I WASN'T IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND SEVERAL OTHER ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME MALFUNCTION. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE HAD BROKE INTO MY VEHICLE. IF FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, WHY HAVEN'T THEY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM? IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN, FOR INSTANCE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR
AC STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR. CALLED DEALERSHIP. WHEN I TOOK IT THERE, STARTED BLOWING COLD AGAIN. HAS BLOWN HOT AIR FOR 30-40 MINUTES 2 MORE TIMES THEN BLOW COLD AND ACT FINE. MONDAY, DROPPED OFF AT DEALERSHIP, THEY KEPT OVERNIGHT, FIXED MOISTURE PACKS OR SOMETHING THEY CALLED THEM. PICKED UP CAR DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY. YESTERDAY, BLEW HOT AIR AGAIN. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, IT WAS BLOWING COLD AGAIN. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AND THEY ARE A FORD DEALERSHIP!!! *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON I 40 IN GARNER, NC, AND HEARD VERY LOUD NOISE, IT WAS MY MOON ROOF, EXPLODED, SHATTERED. I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND NO RECALLS ON THIS. DID FIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM WITH THEIR ESCAPES AND FORD NOT GOING GOOD FOR IT, WHAT DOES IT TAKE? INJURY? *TR
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A OPEN HIGHWAY, THE SUNROOF GLASS ON THE ABOVE VEHICLE (2008 FORD ESCAPE) EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE GLASS BUCKLED UPWARD WHEN IT BROKE. THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS @60 DEGREES AND CLOUDY. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ANYWHERE NEAR. THE ABOVE MILES ARE APPX.. I WILL BE TAKING PICTURES FOR RECORD. *TR
OUT OF NOWHERE IN SEPT AND OCT OF 2011 MY SUN ROOF, RIGHT PASSENGER AND RIGHT BACK PASSENGER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. THEY FELL STRAIGHT DOWN.. THE MOTOR AND THE BAND QUIT AND NOW COME AUGUST AND OCTOBER OF .2012 THE SAME THING ON THE LEFT. I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW ON 2008 OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME AND MONEY FOR A DEFECTIVE AUTO. *TR
11/01/2011: WHILE DRIVING THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLS AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH PAVED STREET, THE REAR WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE REAR WINDOW AND TAILGATE WERE CLOSED AT THE TIME. NO INJURIES OR OTHER DAMAGE REPORTED. THE REAR DEFROSTER HAD BEEN ON FOR 5-10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND WAS TURNED OFF ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. NOTE: THE GLASS HAD AN AFTERMARKET TINT FILM APPLIED APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE WINDOWS ON THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON TWO OF THE WINDOWS. THE THIRD WINDOW NEEDED TO BE FULLY REPLACED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING THROUGH A MCDONALD'S DRIVE THRU WITH OUR 2008 ESCAPE WHEN SHE HEARD WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A EXPLOSION AND GLASS APPEARED EVERYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. IT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF HER! I REVIEWED OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM. I AM WONDERING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF OUR GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN HER INFANT SEAT FACING BACKWARDS AS SHE DOES! I FEEL THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT FORD THINKS, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUED. AS IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH, THE COST OF THIS SIMPLE PIECE OF GLASS IS IN EXCESS OF $600.00 ! ALL BUT $250 OF THAT WAS COVERED BY THAT, HOWEVER TO ME THAT IS $250.00 TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DESIGN PROBLEM! THE REPAIR COMPANY (SAFELITE GLASS - NATIONAL COMPANY) SAYS JUST IN THE JOLIET IL OFFICE THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ALMOST DAILY! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT HER REAR WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED. SHE INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD HERSELF AND SAW THAT PIECES OF THE GLASS WERE STAINED BROWN AND SHE BELIEVED THAT THE DEFROSTER HAD OVERHEATED. NO POLICE WERE CALLED AND NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.
I PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY KEY TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOW HATCH, THEN PUT MY GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. MY SON THEN PUT HIS HAND UP TO CLOSE THE WINDOW DOWN AND THE ENTIRE GLASS JUST EXPLODED, CUTTING US BOTH. WE BOTH IMMEDIATELY FREAKED OUT THINKING SOMEONE MUST HAVE SHOT AT US. I CALLED THE POLICE AND WENT BACK INTO THE GROCERY STORE TO GET THE STORE MANAGER. GLASS SPREAD OVER 4 PARKING SPACES AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT SERIOUSLY. THE RIGHT REAR LIFTGATE STRUT HAD BLEW OFF DENTING MY VEHICLE AND SHATTERING THE GLASS INTO MORE THAN A THOUSAND PIECES, THEN LANDING ON THE GROUND SEVERAL FEET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR
THE PASSAGE SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OF THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE. FORD DEALER SAID THE MOTOR THAT THE MIRROR SNAPS INTO IS BROKEN AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MOTOR IS NOT BROKEN AND IN FACT THE MOTOR AND MIRROR WERE REDESIGNED TO CORRECT THE SAFETY DEFECT. FORD CONTENDS THAT THE MIRROR AND MOTOR THAT HOLDS THE MIRROR ARE NOT DEFECTIVE. *TR
11/09/09 7:20 A.M. I PROCEEDED TO GO OUT TO MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT TO START IT WHEN I DID I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE ABOVE ME , I THOUGHT IT WAS BIRDS OR SOMETHING, I PROCEEDED TO SLOWLY OPEN THE COVER ON MY SUNROOF ABOUT 1 INCH AND NOTICED IT LOOKED SHATTERED. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE IT LOOKED LIKE IT EXPLODED. THE GLASS WAS LIKE A VOLCANO ERUPTED. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. I CALLED RUB FORD IN GARDNER IL THEY SAID IT POSSIBLE COULD OF GOT HIT BY A ROCK, I STATED THE ROAD WAS CLOSED ON EACH END DUE TO ROAD WORK ON THE SPILLWAY AND NO TRAFFIC WAS GOING BY AT THE TIME DUE TO THE ROAD WAS BLOCKED OFF. I WENT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER IN EL PASO IL HELLER AND THEY SAID IT COULD POSSIBLE A ROCK, OR FROZEN ICE. BUT THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS IN THE 50'S AND I FOUND NO ROCK. AND I DO HAVE A RATHER LONG CONCRETE DRIVEWAY FROM THE ROAD. I ASKED FOR COPIES OF THE PAPERWORK THE DEALERSHIP HAD FOR FORD BUT THEY REFUSED TO GIVE IT TO ME SAYING IT WAS PRIVATE. IRONICALLY THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $660.00 TO REPLACE THE WINDOW WHEN I HAVE A 3 YR 30,000 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IF THEY GET IT FROM FORD IT WOULD TAKE 2 WKS BUT THEY COULD IT FROM ANOTHER SOURCE QUICKER FOR AN ADDITIONAL $25 AND GET IT IN 1 DAY. SO IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE THEY KNEW IT WAS A FAULTY GLASS. THEY DID NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. WE HAVE DONE A INTERNET SEARCH AND IRONICALLY THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SUNROOFS SHATTER BUT TO NO AVAIL FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE MATTER. I WAS JUST LUCKY I WASN'T DRIVING AT THE TIME. LIKE THE OTHER CONSUMERS ON THE FORUM PAGES. *TR
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED WITHIN A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD. WHEN I REPLACE THIS WINDSHIELD IT WILL BE THE THIRD WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER OWING IT FOR 16 MONTHS AND TRAVELING 20,000 MILES. THE CRACKS HAVE APPEARED IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION AND THE CRACK PATTERN IS THE SAME. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE PROBLEM CONCERNS THE WIPERS. EACH TIME IT HAS SNOWED AND WE HAVE NEEDED TO DRIVE IN IT, SNOW AND ICE BUILDS UP ON THE MIDDLE 2/3RDS OF THE BLADE LIFTING IT ENOUGH SO THE BLADE DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT AND CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND ASKED FOR "WINTER BLADES", I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE, I THEN ASKED IF THEY COULD PUT DIFFERENT ARMS ON OUR VEHICLE SO IT COULD ACCEPT "REGULAR" WIPERS, I WAS AGAIN TOLD NO. THE WIPER IS CALLED A CONTOUR WIPER AND WHAT BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR CONSUMER LINE HAVE TOLD ME, THERE IS NO OTHER WIPER ARM OR BLADE THAT WILL FIT THIS VEHICLE. OK, NOW THE DANGER FACTOR ARISES WHEN DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE BLADE LOOSES CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD, HENCE THE WINDSHIELD BUILDS UP SNOW AND ICE AND VISIBILITY IS NEAR ZERO. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAN IT IS TO STOP, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AND CLEAN IT, AND THIS IS NOT EASY ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, PROBLEM IS, WHEN YOU LOSE VISIBILITY, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP WHEREVER YOU ARE. THE DESIGN IS SO POOR AND I CAN NOT BELIEVE IN ANY TESTING THAT THIS DID NOT ARISE. AND TO DESIGN AND PUT SUCH A LIMITED AVAILABILITY PRODUCT ON A VEHICLE THAT CAUSES SUCH A DANGEROUS CONDITION IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THEY DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE OPTION FOR A CONSUMER TO REPLACE THESE WIPERS EXCEPT WITH THE EXACT SAME DANGEROUS PRODUCT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I MAY GET FORD TO TAKE A RETURN ON THIS VEHICLE OR TO REPLACE THIS WIPER. THANKS. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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