2008 Ford Escape Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (125) · Steering (101) · Engine (39)
🧭 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
412 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (6)
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.
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
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: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
What owners report
2026-07-13 · Engine“while driving over 60 mph the car will begin to say the engine is hot and sometimes without warning going to stop safely now however when you open the hood nothing is hot to touch and there's an extreme amount of coolant gone from the engine coolant tank have replaced coolant tank itself still having issue begin happening in march and is still cont…”
2025-03-04 · Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems · 290,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving at approximately 25 mph and making a left turn, the steering wheel became stiff and made a hard right and the vehicle jumped the curb. the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle came to a stop. the contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speed…”
2024-12-18 · Steering · 143,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. the contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn with the power steering warning light illuminated. the vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. the dealer was contacted. the veh…”
2024-02-21 · Steering · 185,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving 50-55 mph, the message "power steering assist fault" was displayed. the contact stated while starting the vehicle later that day, the power steering was no longer functional, and the message was displayed. the dealer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was not dia…”
2023-11-27 · Steering“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping between gears, and there was a significant delay while shifting into third gear. additionally, the contact stated that when turning the steering wheel while driving, the vehicle failed to respond immediately and responded wi…”
2022-08-05 · Engine · 154,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled, but restarted after 45 minutes. the vehicle stability assists system warning light was illuminated. the local dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was contacte…”
2022-03-21 · Steering“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel seized. the power steering failure warning message was displayed. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with power steering assist failure. the mechanic informed …”
2022-01-13 · Service Brakes · 139,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the contact stated he depressed the brake to the floorboard to stop the vehicle. the contact took the vehicle to an …”
2021-12-08 · Steering · 265,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message “power assist error” had displayed and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. the cause of the failure was not determined. the local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. the failure mileage was…”
2021-11-29 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid · 250,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while pulling out of a parking space, the vehicle lost power steering assist. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was driven to the residence in manual steering mode. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure m…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.