2006 Ford Escape Hev: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 37 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (25% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2006
1
recalls
37
owner complaints
0
fire reports
69,292
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No fire reportsWeak spot: service brakes, hydraulic (25%)
Common problems
Computed from 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)25% · 9 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)19% · 7 complaints
Service Brakes (brakes)17% · 6 complaints
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)8% · 3 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)6% · 2 complaints
Suspension (shocks, springs, ride quality)6% · 2 complaints
“Driving on city street when "service brake system" message was displayed as well as ABS and brake lights on dash. Vehicle had no brakes and emergency brake had to be used to stop vehicle.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2016
“I was driving my ford escape and I started to hear a banging noise come from my right rear tire. To later find out that it is my strut tower is rusted out. It is ridiculous that so many people have the same problem and that ford has not done anything to fix the matter, it is irresponsible.I believe that ford should take responsibility for their vehicle's and fix them or figure out how to solve the problem. *js”Owner report · Suspension · Feb 2015
“Right rear wheel housing rusts completely through allowing the shock to detach from the vehicle. After an online search this is a very common incident. After contacting the local ford dealer, there is a back-order on the right rear wheel housing with no expected date of delivery. This is the only wheel housing on the vehicle that is rusting out and causing issues. The only time you start to realize that there is an issue is if you start the hear a "clunk" coming from the car, however; there is a rubberized undercoat that prevents you from seeing the damage until it is too late or a knowledgeable mechanic with the issue looks specifically at the wheel housing. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2013
Show 7 more owner reports
“While driving home from work on the highway this afternoon my car suddenly jolted to a stop while traveling at 65 mph on a major us highway. The car flashed a "stop safely now" message on my dash and I had to coast to the end of the exit as I get off on a left handed exit. I believe this is a safety issue and from reading several posts online I have learned I am not the first. Ford should be held liable for fixing/diagnosing this issue as it is a safety concern for the general public. *tr”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · May 2013
“1/25/13 pulled out of driveway taking daughter to school ~ as I approached stop sign I had no brakes. Pedal to floor ... Thankfully no cars were coming ~ yanked wheel to the right and pulled up emergency brake to stop. Dropped car off at 5 star ford nrh, tx and now have been quoted over 4600.00 to replace hcu ABS module on a car with less than 60k miles?! The part alone is 4100.00 .... Are you serious?! I am disgusted that I have now seen and read so many instances of other consumers with exact same issue and with no recalls or liability on ford's behalf! This should not be tolerated and is a huge safety issue, to say the very least. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2013
“"stop safely now" appears on screen with red triangle: car goes dead, coast to the side of the road. I caused a bit of a mess of the traffic but no accidents: no warning for a cooling pump to keep the batteries cool. I found the problem online in 5 minutes and it was confirmed the next day at ford. "technical service bulletin for this overheating problem. Tsb 08-24-5 states that some 2005-2008 escape hybrid and 2006-2008 mariner hybrid vehicles may exhibit a red triangle light and codes indicating a transaxle overtemp. This condition may result in reduced power as the system activates fail safe operation. Codes p1a0e, p1a0f, p0a3c, p0a3e, p0a7a, p0a7c and p1a0d may also be set." *tr”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2012
“While driving, the ABS comes on and the brakes basically are unresponsive. I had to slam on the brakes just to get the car to slow down. Luckily I wasn't going any faster or there might have been a very serious accident. I took the car to midas, and they fixed a few things related to braking and said that the car would be fine now, but just a few days later the same issue happened again. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2012
“"ABS" warning light illuminated and "service brake system" appeared on display. Applied brake pedal and anti-lock engaged causing a "chattering" sound from brakes and severe vibration. Extra pressure on brake pedal needed to bring vehicle to a safe stop. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Oct 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 2006 ford escape hev. The contact stated while driving 20 mph or coming to a stop, it would usually shift to battery mode; however, it did not shift as it was supposed to. The mileage also decreased as a result. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the electrical cooling system was the cause of failure and a kit needed to be installed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The current mileage was approximately 60,100. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2011
“No special circumstances. Under daily driving the tone ring a part the ABS braking system relies on frequently fails. Previously this required the replacement of the front axle. Currently just the tone ring is replaced. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · May 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
Driveline (power train)06V382000 · Oct 2006
ON CERTAIN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HYBRID VEHICLES, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND MAY FRACTURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVETRAIN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Check your exact Escape Hev by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Ford Escape Hev reliable?
NHTSA has 37 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2006 Ford Escape Hev. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (25% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Escape Hev problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 69,292 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Ford Escape Hev have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning power train. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.