Model year
2008 Ford Escape
NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 1,974 complaints for the 2008 Ford Escape (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 0 recalls and 443 complaints under ESCAPE HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are STEERING (1,109), POWER TRAIN (223), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (168). NHTSA lists 3 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 19–32 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,100–$3,550, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2001 996 complaints
- 2002 1,027 complaints
- 2003 558 complaints
- 2004 499 complaints
- 2005 1,394 complaints
- 2006 464 complaints
- 2007 254 complaints
- 2008 1,974 complaints
- 2009 1,693 complaints
- 2010 2,070 complaints
- 2011 1,318 complaints
- 2012 604 complaints
- 2013 2,753 complaints
- 2014 2,089 complaints
- 2015 1,130 complaints
- 2016 1,166 complaints
- 2017 2,701 complaints
- 2018 1,821 complaints
- 2019 596 complaints
- 2020 1,612 complaints
- 2021 350 complaints
- 2022 236 complaints
- 2023 101 complaints
- 2024 76 complaints
- 2025 26 complaints
- 2026 3 complaints
Recalls
15V606000 · Sep 29, 2015
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced…
14V526000 · Sep 3, 2014
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for…
14V284000 · May 29, 2014
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering…
Complaints
1,974 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 59, fire flag on 6, injury field 44, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| ESCAPE HYBRID | 0 | 443 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE08060 | TIRE VALVE CRACKING · TIRES:VALVE | Oct 14, 2008 | Apr 9, 2009 |
| DP12006 | Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction · ENGINE | Oct 2, 2012 | Feb 21, 2013 |
| DP15001 | Loss of power steering while driving · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | Apr 1, 2015 | Jun 14, 2018 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape FWD · 2.3L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 | 26 | 22 | — | — | $3,050 |
| Escape FWD · 2.3L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 28 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Escape FWD · 3L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 | 24 | 20 | — | — | $3,350 |
| Escape Hybrid FWD · 2.3L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 34 | 30 | 32 | — | — | $2,100 |
| Escape 4WD · 2.3L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 | 24 | 21 | — | — | $3,200 |
| Escape 4WD · 3L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 17 | 22 | 19 | — | — | $3,550 |
| Escape Hybrid 4WD · 2.3L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 29 | 27 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
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Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2008 Ford Escape at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.