2005 Ford Escape Hybrid engine problems

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO LITHIA FORD LINCOLN OF ROSEBURG (1650 NE STEPHENS ST, ROSEBURG, OR 97470, (541) 537-4643) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO HYBRID FANS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, UPON INVESTIGATION, NO RECALLS COULD BE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WERE CURRENTLY ORDERING THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11244931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OF 'STOP SAFELY NOW' ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THESE ISSUES DIDN'T START UNTIL THE MEC PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. AFTER THAT MY 2005 ESCAPE HYBRID WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING OR NOT START OR CUT OUT THE HYBRID POWER AND RUN ON ENGINE ONLY. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL OTHER SERVICE DONE THREE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING, STATING ONLY THAT THERE ARE NO CODES, SO NO IDEA WHERE TO LOOK. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE COMPUTER CAN KNOW TO TELL ME TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR, YET NOT RECORD A DTC. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FIRST WARM DAY OF THE SUMMER - DROVE ACROSS TOWN, PARKED IT, CAME BACK 20 MINUTES LATER AND IT WOULDN'T START, SHOWING 'STOP SAFELY NOW'. I LEFT IT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I DROVE IT HOME. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT SCANXL AND USED MY LAPTOP TO SCAN THE CAR. I FOUND P1A10, P1A14, P0A0A, AND P0A95. IF I CAN BUY SOME CONSUMER PROGRAM AND FIND THIS INFO, WAY IS FORD TELLING THERE ARE NO CODES? FORD ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY FANS TWO YEARS AGO, STATING THEY WERE COVERED UNDER SOME RECALL OR WARRANTY. SEARCHING THE INTERNET GETS ME 100'S OF COMMENTS ON THIS STOP SAFELY ISSUE WITH DOZENS OF POSSIBLE CAUSES DEPENDING ON THE YEAR AND MODEL. MY SCAN TOOL SHOWS A BATTERY VOLTAGE OF 665 VOLTS, THOUGH IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A 300 VOLT BATTERY. THE HYBRID EVAPORATOR TEMP CAN RANGE BETWEEN 220 AND 310 DEGREES F WHEN IT'S RUNNING OK. THAT CAN'T BE NORMAL. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON AND CAN'T GET ANY HELP FROM THE FORD DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #11231782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE "STOP SAFELY" WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. MANTECA FORD (555 N MAIN ST, MANTECA, CA 95336, (209) 239-3561) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED IN ORDER TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #11192458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS ABOUT 115 MILES INTO A 130 MILE TRIP, DOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY VEHICLE JERKED VERY HARD AND THEN STARTED MAKING LOUD SOUNDS LIKE PARTS FALLING OUT. ALL OF THE CARS BEHIDE ME HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS AND AVOID HITTING ME. NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS HAD COME ON UNTIL AFTER THIS HAPPENED. I STEERED THE CAR OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND DOWN THE RAMP INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND OIL WAS COMING OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND. A MAN LOOKED AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE COOLANT SYSTEM MESSED UP AND IT THROUGH A ROD IN THE MOTOR BLOCK. I GOT THE CAR ONE MONTH AGO AND IT WAS DOING GREAT. BY LOOKING UP ON TYPE CAR THERE IS OTHERS HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND RECALLS ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM. BUT NO ONE ON MY VIN. RECALL 14V526000

NHTSA complaint #11016016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DISPLAYED "STOP SAFELY NOW" WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. RESTARTED AND DROVE A FEW MILES AND RECEIVED NOTICE AGAIN. REPEATED THIS CYCLE ABOUT 10 TIMES BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. HAD DEALER SERVICE CAR AND DO A BATTERY FAN RECALL. DROVE OKAY FOR A MONTH BUT NOW I AM GETTING THE SAME ERROR AND HAVING TO SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTART.

NHTSA complaint #10917686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ITS DRIVING OK AND THEN IT STARTS LOSING POWER TO 20 MPH AND IT WONT SPEED MORE FROM THERE UNTIL ITS TURN OFF FOR HOURS THEN IM DRIVING AGAIN AND IT KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING.

NHTSA complaint #10895113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING AND THE ENGINE ELECTRIC COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #10764063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, RECEIVED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING LIGHT AND THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. SECOND TIME IN THREE WEEKS SUCH INCIDENT OCCURRED AND THIS IS AFTER SUPPOSED "SAFETY RECALL" WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS BACK. PREVIOUS TO THE RECALL, THE CAR ACTUALLY SHUTDOWN NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. AFTER THE LIGHT COMES ON, THE GAS PEDAL IS NO LONGER RESPONSIVE AND YOU HAVE TO HOPE YOU CAN COAST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE YOU STOP SAFELY AND TURN OFF THE CAR, AFTER WAITING 5-10 MINUTES, THE CAR USUALLY COMES BACK ON, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO SOME SORT OF OVERTEMP CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10761414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN ENGINE STALL AND RED TRIANGLE LIT UP ON DASH. MESSAGE ON LCD SAID TO STOP SAFELY NOW. PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF, RESTARTED A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10717515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE RED TRIANGLE CAME ON AND THE LCD READ HIGH TEMPERATURE WARNING. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WASN'T HOT AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF COOLANT FOR THE RADIATOR IN THE RESERVOIR. STARTED VEHICLE AFTER 5 MIN AND DROVE HOME.

NHTSA complaint #10717517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY HOT, THE ENGINE STALLED, AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JOLTED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V256000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,418.

NHTSA complaint #10715216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

RIGHT REAR WELL CORRODED EXTENSIVELY. 4 INCH HOLE EXPOSING HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY IN TRUNK TO WATER, SALT, SNOW. DEALER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO RISK OF COLLAPSE OF STRUTS AND RISK OF EXPLOSION/FIRE FROM HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY EXPOSURE. QUOTES MORE THAN $4000 TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 59,510 MILES. REAR BUMPER AND REAR SUSPENSION BOTH COMPROMISED. REAR BUMPER HAS NO SUPPORT ON RIGHT SIDE RISKING PASSENGER INJURY IN ACCIDENT. REAR SHOCK STRUT COLLAPSING. REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND RECALL ACTION.

NHTSA complaint #10637075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP AND DECELERATING BELOW 40MPH THEY GASOLINE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF AS THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING CHARGES THE HYBRID HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY. ON A RARE OCCASION DURING THIS BRAKING, THE GASOLINE ENGINE WILL TURN BACK ON GIVING A BRIEF SURGE WHICH REQUIRES PRESSING THE BRAKE HARDER. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10633774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP FOR THE HYBRID BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10594930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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NHTSA complaint #10586342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A RED TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED WITH A MESSAGE TO STOP SAFETY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERVICE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN, THE PROGRAM INVOLVED INSTALLING A SERVICE HARNESS IN THE HIGH-VOLTAGE TRACTION BATTERY AND REPROGRAMMING THE BATTERY CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 11/06/13 UPDATED 11/29/13

NHTSA complaint #10543050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, HE NOTICED A TICKING AND BANGING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE PISTON WAS HITTING THE VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,939.

NHTSA complaint #10486007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

DRIVING AT NIGHT ON FOUR-LANE US HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. WARNING LAMP CAME ON WITH STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE. SCARY IN TRAFFIC BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AAA TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH DIAGNOSED STUCK OPEN CIRCUIT IN THROTTLE BODY. REPLACED PART 5M6Z*9E926*CA THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASY. PART $376.70 LABOR $262.50 SHOP FEE $2.50 SALES TAX $48.13 TOTAL $ 689.83 VERY EXPENSIVE BUT LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HURT.

NHTSA complaint #10486140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 2 AM, THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AS THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE POWER WAS REDUCED TO MINIMAL POWER GIVEN BY THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. THIS CAUSED AN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED ON A VERY DANGEROUS OVERPASS CURVE OF THE FREEWAY AND NEARLY CAUSED TWO VEHICLES IN THE IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY TO COLLIDE WITH MY VEHICLE AS SPEED RAPIDLY DROPPED AND THE VEHICLE SAID TO "PULL OVER ANDS SHUT OFF VEHICLE SAFELY". THIS PART OF THE FREEWAY HAD NO PULL OVER SPOT NOR DID IT HAVE AN AREA TO REALLY SAFELY PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS DONE THIS AT HIGH SPEED WITHIN TWO WEEKS. IT HAS DONE THIS APPROXIMATELY 1-0 TIMES AT LOW SPEEDS ON CITY STREETS. THE CAR IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE POWER, LETTING IT SIT, AND THEN RESTARTING THE SYSTEM. THERE IS AN ACCOMPANYING OVERHEATING THAT OCCURTS AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE UNABLE TO BE EASILY RESTARTED AT THAT POINT. THIS EVENT GIVES NO WARNING OR INDICATION IT WILL HAPPEN AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER TO BE THRUST INTO. IF IT HAD BEEN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I AM CERTAIN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS AND VEHICLE COLLISIONS AS A RESULT.

NHTSA complaint #10464035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

GOING 65 MPH ON FREEWAY AND THE "STOP SAFELY NOW' ERROR COME UP ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY. 2 MIN. LATER THE ENGINE STOPS AND I COAST TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER AND SHUT EVERYTHING OFF. 5 MIN LATER I RESTART THE CAR AND EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND THE CAR DRIVES PERFECTLY FOR THE NEXT 2000 MILES (PRESENT TIME). DEALER FINDS THE ERROR CODES BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO REPLACE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10455046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT ITSELF OFF. AT THE SAME TIME, A DASHBOARD READOUT DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW." IN ORDER TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD I WAS FORCED TO CUT ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT POWER. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS DISPLAYED. HAD THERE BEEN NO SHOULDER, I COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A HIGH-SPEED CRASH. THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN AS SOON I TURNED THE KEY AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, BUT STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS OR EXPLANATIONS DISPLAYED. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES DURING A 3-HOUR TRIP ACROSS MARYLAND, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ONCE ON THE RETURN TRIP TWO DAYS LATER. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD HYBRIDS, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO REMEDY THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10447970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HIGHWAY DRIVEING 55 MPH JUST SHUT DOWN IN CENTER LANE PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER WARNING LIGHTS ON NO POWER RE STARTED IT WAS OK THIS WAS THE 2 TIME THIS HAS HAPENED IN 3 MO..

NHTSA complaint #10405148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AFTER AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING ON THE BATTERY POWER AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE EXACT FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10397994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON 3/17/2009, AFTER WASHING THE VEHICLE AT A CAR WASH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE LATER STOPPED RUNNING AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE WERE CHARGED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION. ON 9/01/2010, THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP. ON THE WAY HOME, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. IT STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ON 9/07/2010 TO BE LOOKED AT AT THE ADVICE OF FORD. THEY FOUND A FAULTY WATER PUMP, REPLACED IT AND A FILTER, AND WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ON 9/09/2010, THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN OVERHEATED, STRANDING US AGAIN. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND AGAIN TOLD US IT WAS FIXED. ON 11/23/2010, IT WAS RAINING AND AGAIN THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO RETURN HOME. ON 12/17/2010, THE REPAIR ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE.

NHTSA complaint #10372800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED. I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AND WHEN I BEGAN MAKING A LEFT TURN, AN ALARM SOUNDED, A RED WRENCH SYMBOL, AND RED EXCLAMATION MARK LIT UP ON THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE CURB AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CAR RESTARTED AND I TOOK IT TO FORD. THE SERVICE REP SAID THE CAR WENT INTO A "FAIL SAFE MODE" WHICH IT DOES TO PROTECT THE HYBRID BATTERY FROM OVERHEATING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ALARM AND SYMBOLS OCCUR TO GIVE YOU ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. THE CAR JUST LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT A COOLANT PUMP FOR THE HYBRID BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE. FIVE WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND WHEN I BEGAN TURNING RIGHT, THE ALARM SOUNDED, THE RED WRENCH AND EXCLAMATION LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER IMMEDIATELY. AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE SO I TOOK IT BACK TO FORD TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY REPLACED A "SUSPECT" COOLING PUMP RELAY AND ROAD TESTED THE CAR. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS VEHICLE'S "FAIL SAFE MODE" MAKES THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO AN EMERGENCY LANE, BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON A FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED? I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN THE BACKSEAT AND I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. AFTER HAVING THE FORD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND REPLACE THE COOLING PUMP RELAY I TRADED IN THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED IN CASE THERE IS A PATTERN WITH THESE CARS OR OTHER HYBRIDS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ONE AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10356905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED WITHIN SECONDS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GENERATE ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITHOUT KNOWING THE EXACT FAILURE BASED UPON THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,837.

NHTSA complaint #10340467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID CAR HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO HISTORY OF BRAKE TROUBLE. COMING DOWNILL THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH AN ALARM AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF THE BRAKES. HAD TO USE MECHANICAL EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP. CALLED DEALERSHIP NEXT MORNING TO TOW IT IN, THEN READ ON LINE TO TRY RESTARTING THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE GONE. CAR STARTED, NO BRAKE ISSUES APPARENT (NO LIGHTS, BRAKES FUNCTIONAL) SO DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REVIEW/REPAIR. TOOK COPIES OF ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWING THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS THE REAR AIR CONDITIONER (HOLE IN THE EVAPORATOR CORE) - THEY HAD REPAIRED THE AC 4 MONTHS PREVIOUSLY, WHICH ONLY LASTED FOR 6 WEEKS. PLANNED TO HAVE THEM REPAIR IT AT THE 65,000 MILE SERVICE ANYWAY. PAID $1033. DROVE CAR HOME THAT NIGHT AND THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON, ALARM SOUNDED BUT THIS TIME NOT A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. INSTEAD WHENEVER PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES AND SHUDDERING THROUGHOUT THE CAR. PLAN IS TO RETURN TO DEALERSHIP AFTER THE WEEKEND AND BRING LATEST RESEARCH SHOWING FAULTY HCU UNITS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE AN UNDERLYING CAUSE, WHICH FORD IS DENYING.

NHTSA complaint #10324854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 60 MPH THE OVERHEAT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK OF A SERIOUS INJURY WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 10/29/09 *CN THE PUMP FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 10/29/09.

NHTSA complaint #10284256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS REPORT IS FOR THE THIRD OCCURRENCE (THERE HAVE BEEN 2 PRIOR OCCURRENCES IN THE PAST 6-8 WEEKS). THIS VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 17,900 MILES AND KEEPS SHUTTING ITSELF DOWN WITHOUT MUCH (IF ANY) WARNING. THIS TIME, I HAD ABOUT 2-4 SECONDS WARNING (WHICH WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON A HIGHWAY OR BUSY ROAD). I WAS IN A PARKING LOT ABOUT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I COULD DO ANYTHING, THE VEHICLE SHUT ITSELF OFF. AT ABOUT 16,000 MILES, THE "HIGH MOTOR TEMPERATURE" WARNING CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GET IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A BAD ELECTRIC WATER PUMP AND REPLACED IT. (I WAS LATER TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE WATER PUMP THAT FAILED WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD - APPARENTLY A TRUCK CARRYING THESE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND BOXES OF THESE PUMPS LITERALLY FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK. FORD SUPPOSEDLY TESTED THEM AND DECIDED TO USE THEM ANYWAYS). ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I COULD TELL THERE WAS STILL SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. (IT HAD BEEN "SURGING" FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD MANY OTHER NOISES/ISSUES THAT WERE A SIGN THAT SOMETHING WAS STILL WRONG). I BROUGHT IT BACK - AND AFTER THEY EXAMINED IT THEY ASSURED ME THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE "HIGH MOTOR TEMPERATURE" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MY HUSBAND GOT OFF AT THE FIRST EXIT AND TRIED TO GET IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT WAS 2 BLOCKS AWAY. UNFORTUNATELY, WITHOUT WARNING, IT POWERED ITSELF DOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF A CITY TRANSIT BUS. THIS TIME, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AND FUSE AGAIN AND REPLACED BOTH. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK, I WAS STILL CONCERNED SINCE THIS SEEMED TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE (HAVING IT POWER DOWN IN FRONT OF A CITY BUS IS ENOUGH TO SCARE THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF YOU). THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10154170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.