2007 Ford Escape problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (34) · Service Brakes (26) · Power Train (24)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Escape model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
211 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift 2015-09-29 · campaign 15V606000 · 57 vehicles
Defect: 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 with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever
Risk: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the v
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Suspension:front:wheel Bearing 2015-06-03 · campaign 15E045000 · 576 vehicles
Defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Hybrid Propulsion System 2014-09-03 · campaign 14V526000 · 70,209 vehicles
Defect: 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 the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Risk: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
Equipment 2010-09-03 · campaign 10E043000 · 294 vehicles
Defect: MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Risk: AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
Fix: MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Service bulletins (20)
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
Equipment 2014-07-01 · ASI-44649 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: a job aid was developed and now available for the ptu internal or external fluid leakage for all wheel drive vehicles. *pe
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2012-04-16 · TSB-12-4-8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: some model vehicles would lose 2nd and 4th gear on a cd4e transmission. model escape 2007-2008. *pe
Service Brakes, Air:antilock 2011-03-01 · AS-21769 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration. *rm
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor 2010-10-01 · AS-21534 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: there is excessive engine or exhaust noise, or an exhaust odor due to an exhaust leak. there will be no warning codes or lights. 2007-2008 escape/mariner. *rm
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal 2010-09-01 · TSB-09-21-9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: new service kit available for accelerator cable to pedal connection. some vehicles may require the accelerator cable to accelerator pedal connection repaired. a new service clip has been released for use, in lieu of replacing the cable and/or pedal assemblies. *pe
Showing the 6 most recent of 20 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-28 · Unknown Or Other“my 2007 ford escape hybrid (mileage currently 180,000 but the issue started around 150,000 miles) will occasionally (varies from once a week to once every 3 months) not respond properly when i'm accelerating from a stop. when this happens, i can push the accelerator all the way to the floor, but the car will accelerate very slowly for the first 5 s…”
2024-12-07 · Power Train“while driving, a red triangle to safely stop came up and the vehicle engine shut down. i could not accelerate since the engine was shut down, i could only coast and brake. after the vehicle has been cooling down for 20 min, i’m able to restart the vehicle and drive again until the same issue occurs again. no light on dashboard. very dangerous issue…”
2024-08-23 · Unknown Or Other“rear frame rails rotting thru from the inside out, causing potential suspension issues …”
2023-12-06 · Structure:frame And Members · 105,000 mi“the contact owns a 2007 ford escape. the contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for an inspection, the contact was informed that the subframe was severely corroded and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the…”
2023-09-08 · Power Train“when accelerating on the vehicle it would run fine till about a couple minutes driving then it would jerk and the rpm gauge would go to 0 and then back up the the right rpm …”
2023-05-09 · Steering · 152,000 mi“the contact owns a 2007 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. the transmission warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the power steering module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaire…”
2023-03-17 · Service Brakes, Air:supply:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · 170,000 mi“the contact owns a 2007 ford escape. the contact stated that while his wife was driving 10 mph, the brakes failed with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact stated that his wife was able to coast the vehicle off the roadway. the contact arrived at the scene and drove the vehicle to an indep…”
2023-02-05 · Power Train“the torque converter was failing in my 07 escape. when i switched gears from park to drive or reverse the car would shake and sometimes stall out. or if i had to stop at a stop sign or traffic signal while in drive the same issues would happen. the old torque converter is not available for inspection unfortunately because i gave it back to autozone…”
2022-09-09 · Structure · 109,000 mi“the contact owns a 2007 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds a clunking noise was present coming from the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who discovered that the rear passenger’s side wheel well was severely rusted causing the rear passenger’s side shock absorber to p…”
2022-06-27 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“abs service system warning came up on my dash along with the brake light and the abs light, immediately after the lights came on the ability to stop and stay stopped vanished. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.