Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2005 Ford Escape HEV with NHTSA between 2007 and 2018.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 24
Against the median year of the Ford Escape HEV. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2005 compares with every other Ford Escape HEV
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2005 Ford Escape HEV
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
861.5%
Median failure at 102,525 miles
Engine & Cooling
215.4%
Median failure at 152,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
17.7%
Body & Structure
17.7%
Median failure at 155,000 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
17.7%
Median failure at 105,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
19.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
19.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
763.6%
150,000+ miles
218.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Sep 2007peak 2Aug 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2005 Ford Escape HEV
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP22005Opened 27 Jan 2023Closed 7 Aug 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...
DP12006Opened 2 Oct 2012Closed 21 Feb 2013ENGINE
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 199,000 milesBlythewood, SC
ENGINE
VEHICLE OVERHEATING CHANGED THERMOSTAT,HOSES, AND RADIATOR. STILL OVERHEATING. HAD TO TWO GARAGES STILL OVERHEATING
NHTSA complaint #11119463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 123,000 milesSalinas, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT ON, VERY WEAK AND DIMINISHED BRAKING POWER, ALMOST NOT STOPPING, VEHICLE WAS OFF, THEN NOTICED UPON STARTUP, 123K MILES ON VEHICLE, FORD STATES IT COULD BE UP TO A $5K REPAIR WHICH FAR EXCEEDES THE VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE, SUSPECT PART IS THE HCU HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WHICH PRESSURIZES THE BREAK SYSTEM BEFORE START UP, ALSO NOTICED THIS PUMP ISN'T COMING ON ANYMORE, FORD SAYS THEY WON'T COVER ANYTHING OF REPAIR, NO MORE FORDS OR CHEVY'S FOR ME!, YOU HAVE TO KILL AT LEAST 125 PEOPLE BEFORE THEY WILL RECALL ANYTHING JUST LIKE THE $2.25 IGNITION KEY RECALL, WHAT ABOUT THE 180+ PEOPLE FORDS PINTO EXPLODING FUEL TANKS, BECAUSE OF BREAK AWAY FUEL NECKS, LIVES AREN'T WORTH $8EA, TO INSTALL THE RUBBER BLADDER ARE THEY?, THANKS FOR MAKING ANOTHER THROW AWAY CAR JUST LIKE THE CHEVY VEGA, NOW FORD HAS ANOTHER TO ADD TO PINTO, EDSEL, MAVERICK? WHERE DID THEY GO? WHICH ONE'S NEXT? DON'T BUY HYBRID, NOT GOOD TECHNOLGY, DOESNT EVEN GET VERY GOOD MILEAGE , 26? IS ALL I GOT!, THANKS AGAIN FORD MOTORS, HOPE HENRY IS ROLLING OVER IN HEAVEN FOR YOUR IDIOT ENGINEERS THAT WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT IS BEYOND ECONOMICAL SENSE TO REPAIR.!!!
NHTSA complaint #10906771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,580 milesLadson, SC
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS ON LADSON ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HYWAY AND NO BRAKES. THE LIGHT CAME ON JUST BEFORE MY BRAKES WENT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK TAKE ME HOME. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. TEN YEARS I HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE. I HAVE TO HAVE MY SON TAKE ME ANYWHERE I HAVE TO GO. IT IS NOT VERY GOOD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPORTED TO YOU ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THE NUMBER YOU GAVE ME #14V526000. REPORT #7695006-V3DOZ3.
NHTSA complaint #10840043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 155,000 milesPennsburg, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR WINDOW JUST EXPLODED. CAR WAS PARKED AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. CAMPUS SECURITY CALLED HER OUT OF CLASS THINKING SOMEONE HIT HER CAR. SECURITY CAMERAS SHOWED NOTHING. SHE HAD USED REAR DEFROSTER ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL. CAR WAS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES BEFORE WINDOW EXPLODED. TEMPERATURE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING.
NHTSA complaint #10825710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cottonwood, AZ
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
2005 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT PUMP RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. RECALL # 14V526000.
NHTSA complaint #10704697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,000 milesSaint Louis, MO
SERVICE BRAKES
I GOT AN 'ABS' LIGHT ON, AND THE PANEL TOLD ME 'SERVICES BRAKE SYSTEM'.
NHTSA complaint #10648710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesGrosse Pointe Park, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT STOPPING DISTANCE ALSO INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #10496382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesMenlo Park, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES BECAME VERY "SOFT" AND BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" LIGHT APPEARED. PARKED CAR FOR 5 HOURS, AND WHEN I RESTARTED, THE BRAKES SEEMED FINE AND THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. TOWED CAR TO SHOP AND HAD BRAKES REPLACED (@ 5%, SO THOUGHT THIS WAS THE "ONLY" PROBLEM). 2 WEEKS LATER, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR SHOP DID MORE DIAGNOSTICS AND RESEARCH, AND DISCOVERED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER / HCU ISSUE THAT IS FREQUENTLY REPORTED ON-LINE.
NHTSA complaint #10477072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,525 milesBrooklyn Park, MN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. A FEW MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS AND SERVICE BRAKES LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL TWO DAYS LATER. I WAS TOLD THE BRAKE HOSES NEEDED REPLACING. I REPLACED THEM. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE WORKING. A FEW DAYS LATER, I GOT THE SERVICE BRAKES WARNING, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE 4X4 WARNING IN THE INFO SCREEN. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE WORKING. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL SENSOR AT THE DEALER. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD WHEN INITIALLY PRESSED AND SOFTENED WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE SERVICE BREAKS AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKES ONLY WORKED IF I PRESSED REALLY HARD TO THE FLOOR AND THEN IT WAS JERKY. I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO RETURN FROM WHERE I STARTED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED IT ON AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF AND I HAD BRAKING POWER AGAIN. I DROVE A FEW MILES TO THE DEALER AND WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT TO PARK, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS WAS A SUNDAY. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON MONDAY AND NOTICED THE HARD BRAKE PEDAL, BUT HE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. THEY LOOKED AT THE COMPUTER SERVICE CODES AND INFORMED ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT/ABS MODULE AND POSSIBLE THE MASTER CYLINDER AT A PRICE TAG OF $4300 - $5500+. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A 2005 HYBRID THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR CONSUMER DOES NOT OWN THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. IT WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO SHE HAD A BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. UPDATED 6/8/18
NHTSA complaint #10448561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesByer, IN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HEV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE HCU ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND PERFORMED THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10393646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesJackson, MS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE GOES DEAD (WILL NOT IDLE) WHEN IN GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE)... NO ACCIDENT YET, BUT AM AFRAID I WILL GET "REARENDED" WHEN IT GOES DEAD IN TRAFFIC...
NHTSA complaint #10227495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesJackson, MS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE GOES DEAD (WILL NOT IDLE) WHEN IN GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE)... NO ACCIDENT YET, BUT AM AFRAID I WILL GET "REARENDED" WHEN IT GOES DEAD IN TRAFFIC...
NHTSA complaint #10227495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING (EXCEPT FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE) 3 TIMES IN ONE MONTH, 4 TIMES IN TWO YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10204195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.