2005 Ford Escape Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (37) · Suspension (24) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (18)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Escape Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
166 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (25)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2016-09-21 · SSM 46085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the powertrain control/emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (etbs). the etc_act and etc_dsd pids should not used to diagnose possible etb concerns. the ids has a limited refresh rate when reading these pids and cannot display quickly enough to
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2016-09-08 · TSB 16-0118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005-2012 escape hybrid and 2006-2011 mariner hybrid vehicles may set dtcs p0a81 (battery pack cooling fan 1 control circuit) and/or p0a96 (battery pack cooling fan 2 control circuit) in the traction battery control module (tbcm). these codes by themselves normally do not result in any symptoms
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:abs Warning Light 2016-06-08 · SSM-45870 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
2005-2008 escape/mariner hybrid - anti-lock brake system (abs) warning indicator illuminated with dtc(s) c1478, c1479, c1480 and/or c1481
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2012-03-01 · ASI-22242 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: some hybrid vehicles may require a unique bleed procedure after a replacement for one or more of hydraulic brake system components. *pe
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan 2009-12-01 · TSB-09-15-3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: some vehicles may set diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0a81 (battery pack cooling fan 1 control circuit) and/or p0a96 (battery pack cooling fan 2 control circuit) in the traction battery control module (tbcm). these codes by themselves normally do not result in any symptoms that are
Unknown Or Other 2009-06-01 · TSB-08-24-5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: vehicles may exhibit a red triangle light and codes indicating a transaxle overtemp. condition may result in reduced power as system activates fail safe operation. *pe
Showing the 6 most recent of 25 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-07-23 · Hybrid Propulsion System · 121,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle started to overheat. the contact pulled over the shoulder of the highway and checked under the hood. the contact found no defects upon investigation. due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to his residence. the contact called …”
2019-11-12 · Structure:body · 169,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape hybrid. while the vehicle was undergoing a routine oil change, the independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and noticed corrosion all around the frame. the dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 169,000. the vin was not av…”
2019-08-19 · Engine · 100,000 mi“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, ma…”
2019-07-14 · Unknown Or Other · 200,000 mi“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 al…”
2019-05-31 · Service Brakes · 116,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape hybrid. while driving 35 mph, the brakes failed. the contact had to engage the parking brake to stop the vehicle. also, the abs warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was taken to jerry's ford alexandria (6510 little river turnpike, alexandria, va 22312, (703) 256-5000), but the cause of the failure was n…”
2019-03-29 · Engine · 130,000 mi“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 diag…”
2019-03-27 · Unknown Or Other · 1,200,000 mi“car turns off while driving message on dash says to stop safely now car will start up again after waiting a while. car stopped while on freeway barely made it to the shoulder.…”
2019-01-29 · Service Brakes“while coming up to a stop sign the brakes stopped working. luckily there were no cars in front of me as the car continued to roll pass the stop sign. flooring the brakes caused the car to slow down slowly. i ended up pulling over immediately, turning off the vehicle and inspecting the vehicle. i saw no clear indication of anything being wrong. …”
2019-01-03 · Service Brakes · 45 mi“the abs control module. noticed many complaints. had 1700 dollars of work to fix the issue and the brakes went out on me yesterday. three weeks after the work. the abs and brake light came on again and the brakes failed on hwy 19 fl. pulled over ,turned the car off like what i read online about this type a vehicle, started up and the brakes were b…”
2018-11-22 · Service Brakes · 122,000 mi“abs light is on constantly my brakes arent working properly times when it didnt stop had to shift into low gear and pull off to safe spiot i was trying to stop…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.