96 of the
2,267 complaints filed about the Ford Escape Hybrid
are about the throttle and cruise control —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
96
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
11
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was parked on the side of the road and was later towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was serviced by the dealer. No further information was available. The contact stated that after retrieving the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and erroneously accelerated into an intersection. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #11753719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE INFORMATION Year/Make/Model: 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Titanium Component: Electrical / Instrument Cluster / Digital Display Unit (IPC) Hazard: Critical Visual Hazard & Operational Safety Defect STATEMENT OF SAFETY CONCERN The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the 2020 Ford Escape Titanium is experiencing severe pixelation and flickering, indicating imminent screen failure. Because this trim lacks mechanical gauges, screen failure blinds the driver to vital real-time operating metrics: Speedometer: Prevents real-time speed monitoring, increasing collision risk. Engine Temperature: Hides thermal warnings, risking sudden engine breakdown or overheating. Fuel Gauge: Obscures fuel levels, risking sudden loss of propulsion in active traffic. Warning Lights: Hides critical alerts for Brake System, Airbags, Tire Pressure, and High-Voltage Hybrid System faults. OPERATIONAL HAZARD ANALYSIS Driving with a malfunctioning instrument panel creates immediate hazards: Driver Distraction: Constant screen flickering directly in the driver's line of sight creates a dangerous visual distraction, especially at night. Power Loss Risk: Lack of fuel/hybrid monitoring increases the likelihood of stalling on highways or busy intersections. Loss of Safety Warnings: The vehicle cannot communicate critical restraint or braking system failures to the driver. REQUESTED ACTION / RESOLUTION This condition represents an active safety defect. I request: Immediate diagnostic and replacement of the digital instrument cluster unit (IPC) or control module under applicable technical/safety service guidelines. Formal documentation of this defect with Ford Motor Company and reporting to federal regulators (NHTSA).
NHTSA complaint #11751650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While vehicle is set on cruise control , set at 70 MPH , ( or set to any other speed) , anytime the speed limit changes to 80 MPH (or other change) Car accelerates and cruise control is set to 100 MPH . It also accelerates and resets to 90 -100 MPH at random . It is frightening and dangerous to have my car randomly accelerate. I have attempted to pass a vehicle, when my car randomly accelerates to 100 MPH . This is very dangerous and can happen at any random time . The lane assist is also dangerous when car can not see lines separating lanes . I have had my car jerk the wheel when I was detoured through construction. I am very concerned with my car accelerating. Not only does it leave me vulnerable to receiving a speeding ticket , it also increases the likelihood of hitting an object or having an accident.
NHTSA complaint #11744318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On June 16, 2024, My car lost power completely, I stepped on the gas pump and nothing. First I was parked and I tried to start and it would not give me acceleration. Later on, it re started normally, later on when in the freeway, it completely lost the acceleration capability. My speed went to 7 miles per hour. It was scary as other cars were driving at an average of 60 miles per hour. My mechanic reviewed the car. He found that the timing chains have to be replaced. I asked him if I could avoid the issue, he explained to me that is basically a faulty design by Ford. Repair will cost me more than 1800 dollars. Do not have the invoice yet as the vehicle still in the shop, but will be happy to provide it.
NHTSA complaint #11595484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle incorrectly read highway number signs as though they were speed limit signs. This occurred eight times on state highway [XXX] in Florida; and once on state highway [XXX]. The speed limit was actually 55 mph on highway [XXX]. If I would have had “Predictive Speed Assist” turned on, and was using adaptive cruise control, it would have automatically decelerated to 40, +/- whatever “tolerance” I had set. What would happen if this occurs on highway 80, or highway 100? Acceleration to 100 mph, and possibly to 120 mph if I had the tolerance set to +20? This error, which happened while I was a passenger, could significantly exacerbate problem #1. See details in the attached 5 page pdf. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11573696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
METAL-TO-METAL CLANK TO ENGINE. This is the last incident that occurred while traveling to my job in Richmond, Virginia and back home to Fredericksburg, Virginia on 12/20/23. I traveled a total of 100 miles that day. I have reported this same issue previously 4 times to Sheehy Ford of Ashland in Ashland, Virginia to the Service Shop Associates where I purchase my vehicle. They told me to continue to drive my vehicle but I explain to them that Ford was suppose to have a remedy by October of 2023 but nothing happened. My car continues to get worse and my 3 year warranty to my vehicle is up in March of 2024. As a consumer I should not have to be put in this position. This is not only unfair but dangerous to travel on the highway. I should of been given a new vehicle and Ford Motor Company should be responsible to not allowing for this to continue. I am respectfully asking you have Ford Motor Company to furnish me a new vehicle or give me an additional 3 year warranty on my vehicle with no additional costs. This burden should not be put onto the consumer and even if they find a remedy there is no guarantee this will resolve the problem. I will be contacting legal counsel and patiently awaiting your response. Thank you.
NHTSA complaint #11562931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the car on a busy fast-flowing road the message "Stop Safely Now" appeared on the dashboard. The car lost power and could only be driven at 20 mph and would not speed up. I pulled over and when I stopped but did not power off, the car would not start moving again. After turning the car off for five minutes it drove again properly with no issue. This is the second time this has happened in two months.
NHTSA complaint #11562689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is an issue with the instrument gauge cluster upon ignition start-up. The digital gauge cluster screen suddenly turns off and restarts after a full minute of turning on the car's ignition. After an automatic software restart of the gauge cluster and driving on the highway through Northbound Mopac Loop 1 in Austin, the cluster shows a frozen black background with the blue normal drive mode. The gauge cluster works fine but intermittently goes blank after starting the car.
NHTSA complaint #11555283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving on the NYS Thruway with lane assist and cruise control enabled. This is after already having an issue with my computer where the car a couple of months ago just stopped in the middle of the road. This morning I was driving on the Thruway when suddenly, if felt like the collision impact system was engaged and the car shifted to the right slamming into the car next to me. No airbag deployment but extensive damage and collision system was completely engaged. The car issued no warnings or other issues afterwards. NYSPD arrived and completed report. Another car was involved. Only side damage.
NHTSA complaint #11485690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When driving with the automatic cruise control engaged it sometimes reads country road signs as speed limit signs. When I turn onto Dakota County road 85,as an example, it reads it as 85mph and accelerates to 85mph. I have to cancel the cruise to stop it. The speed limit that is shown on the instrument panel also changes to 85mph. The actual speed limit is 55mph. This has happened several times and on other roads.
NHTSA complaint #11456805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH A WARNING APPEARED "STOP SAFELY NOW" WITH A HAZARD SIGN. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED TO APPX 5MPH. WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN SPEED AND ACCELERATOR DID NOT RESPOND. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER AN ONCOMING AMBULANCE APPEARED OVER THE HILL IN THE OPPOSITE LANE AND PROCEEDED PAST. POWER STILL WAS NOT RESTORED. CONTINUED SHORT DISTANCE UNTIL ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. UNABLE TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE. ARRANGED FOR VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO DEALER FRIENDLY FORD POUGHKEEPSIE NY. VEHICLE HAD RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED DUE TO COMPLAINT THAT BACKUP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY FAILED AND BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE NOTICE INDICATING A SERVICE UPDATE WAS NEEDED AS VEHICLE COULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED.
NHTSA complaint #11331444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORD ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB) ISSUE MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCING ISSUES RELATED TO AN ILL-DESIGNED ETB SINCE 2010 (WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE). IN THE PAST 5 YEARS, THE FREQUENCY OF ISSUE OCCURRENCE HAS PROGRESSIVELY INCREASED. CURRENT RATE OF OCCURRENCE IS 3 - 6 TIMES PER WEEK. RANDOMLY THE VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP MODE" WHILE DRIVING, WHERE THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN TO NEARLY ZERO POWER. DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "PULL OVER SAFELY". IF THIS OCCURS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC (WHICH IS MANY TIMES THE CASE ON OUR LOS ANGELES FREEWAYS), THERE IS NO WAY TO PULL OVER SAFELY WITH NEARLY ZERO ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE IS LITERALLY STRANDED IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC UNTIL THE ETB IS RESET. THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION MUST BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET THE ETB. THIS FAULTY ETB PART ACROSS MANY FORD MODELS FOR 10+ YEARS IS PUTTING VEHICLE OWNERS' SAFETY AT HIGH RISK. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES WITH THESE ILL-DESIGNED, FAULTY ETBS. VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF A PART WHICH IS CLEARLY FAULTY IN ITS DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #11174800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE, USED, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. I ASKED FOR THE CARFAX AND IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SALESMAN LET ME GLANCE AT HIS SCREEN AND SCROLLED THROUGH TO HUMOR ME AND PROMISED THERE WERE NO ISSUES. A FEW DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE CC KICKED OFF AND MY CAR JERKED. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF MY CAR. A LITTEL ORANGE WRENCH CAME ON. THIS MORNING AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I FELT LIKE I ALMOST GOT INTO 3 ACCIDENTS FOR LACK OF CONTROL OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SPEED CONTROL. NOW I'M STUCK PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, MAYBE THOUSANDS, FOR LACK OF PROPER DISCLOSURE AND FAULTY MANUFACTURING. FORD ISSUES A LIFETIME WARRANTY RATHER THAN A RECALL, WHICH IS A DISGRACE AS THEY'RE WAITING FOR CUSTOMERS TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS AND GET HURT BEFORE THEY FIX ANYTHING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE!
NHTSA complaint #11129597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE BEEN ON A FREEWAY, BRIDGE, REGULAR STREET, TRAFFIC. A RED WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON WITH "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THE CAR WILL QUICKLY SLOW DOWN. IT WILL GO REALLY SLOW REGARDLESS OF STEPPING ON THE GAS. ONCE I PULL OVER I HAVE T STOP THE CAR AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM ON THE FREEWAY OR ON THE BRIDGE (I WORK IN SAN FRANCISCO).
NHTSA complaint #11128821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I START MY CAR I MAINLY COME FROM A RESIDENT AREA OR A PARKING LOT WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 10-15MPH ONCE I HIT THE MAIN STREET WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 35 MPH MY CAR WONT ACCELERATE TO THE PROPER SPEED EVEN THOUGH MY GAUGES ARE SHOWING THE SPEED IM SUPPOSED TO BE AT AFTER 8 SECONDS THE CAR SHOOTS OFF TO 35MPH AND WHEN I BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN IT ROLLS AGAIN AT 5-10MPH. THIS IS VERY SCARY ESPECIALLY IN CONGESTED AREAS AND TRYING TO PULL OVER IN AN EMERGENCY IS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MY CAR GETS STUCK IN A SLOW SPEED. IT IS NOW SO CONSTANT ITS EVERY DAY THE ONLY WAY TO BYPASS IT I HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF THE CAR LOCK AND UNLOCK 2-3 TIMES AND IT WILL START UP NORMALLY
NHTSA complaint #11092710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. LANDMARK FORD IN TIGARD, OREGON WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #11062503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR BASICALLY SHUT DOWN AND TOLD ME TO "PULL OVER SAFELY". A RED TRIANGLE (WITH THE EXCLAMATION POINT IN THE CENTER) APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD ALONG WITH THE "PULL OVER SAFELY" MESSAGE AND A CHIMING/ALERT SOUND. THIS WAS ON LABOR DAY, SO THE HIGHWAY WAS INCREDIBLY BUSY AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CROSS OVER LANES AND "PULL OVER SAFELY". ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THIS MESSAGE APPEARS, IT PRETTY MUCH SHUTS DOWN YOUR CAR, NOT ALLOWING YOU TO ACCELERATE AT ALL WHICH ALSO MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET OVER. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER, TURNED OFF MY CAR AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THAT WAS ALL IT TOOK. NO ADDITIONAL MESSAGES OR PROBLEMS...YET. I PROBABLY HAD TO DRIVE AN ADDITIONAL 30 MILES OR SO HOME WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL MESSAGES SHOWING UP. THIS SERIOUSLY FRUSTRATED ME AS I HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO FIND MUCH MORE INFORMATION ON THE ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED FOR A DIFFERENT REASON FOR EACH PERSON. I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT GENIUS AT FORD THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO INCORPORATE THAT FEATURE INTO THE VEHICLE. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY SITUATION AND PUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF, THOSE IN MY CAR, AND THE CARS AROUND ME AT A SERIOUS RISK FOR OUR SAFETY. IN ADDITION, IT IS VERY HARD TO FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN MY CAR NOW, AS I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN OR WHAT WILL PROMPT IT.
NHTSA complaint #11021392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING YOU LOSE POWER/SPEED NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PUSH THE GAS PEDAL, AN ALERT SYMBOL COMES ON THE DASH ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY. YOU HAVE TO GET OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT WILL WORK FOR A WHILE. THEY TELL ME IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDS REPAIR BUT MY VIN IS NOT ONE OF THE EFFECTED ONES...
NHTSA complaint #11005584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR AT 40 MPH. HAD TO COAST TO BOTTOM OF HILL AND PULL OVER, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. NO RESPONSE WHEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR. VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 40 MIN, WRENCH LIGHT CLEARED AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MODEL NOT COVERED UNDER CONSUMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM EVEN THOUGH MANUFACTURED DURING TIME FRAME AND SAME PLANT AS OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE WITHIN THE PROGRAM.
NHTSA complaint #10995550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.