Ford Escape 2008–2012
2nd generation · CD2 (revised)
NHTSA data through 12 August 202610,603 complaints, 8,940 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 45,000 and 108,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 174 complaints (1.9%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 29,000
- 25%
- 45,000
- Median
- 68,391
- 75%
- 108,000
- 90%
- 148,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 279 | 3.1% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 75 | 0.8% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 106 | 1.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 133 | 1.5% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 147 | 1.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 192 | 2.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 281 | 3.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 449 | 5.0% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 556 | 6.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 574 | 6.4% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 472 | 5.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 480 | 5.4% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 428 | 4.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 398 | 4.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 367 | 4.1% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 293 | 3.3% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 273 | 3.1% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 310 | 3.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 235 | 2.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 234 | 2.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 260 | 2.9% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 213 | 2.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 206 | 2.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 162 | 1.8% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 221 | 2.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 151 | 1.7% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 172 | 1.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 142 | 1.6% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 163 | 1.8% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 98 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 190 | 2.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 78 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 99 | 1.1% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 71 | 0.8% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 60 | 0.7% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 46 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 53 | 0.6% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 24 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 39 | 0.4% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 36 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 174 | 1.9% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 10,603 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008–2012 Ford Escape, and 8,940 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 45,000 and 108,000 miles. The median is 68,391 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (27.6% of complaints, typically around 115,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (13.9% of complaints, typically around 54,000 miles), throttle and speed control (12.5% of complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Steering115,000median 115,000 miles, middle half 86,000 to 146,000
- Transmission and driveline54,000median 54,000 miles, middle half 39,000 to 76,000
- Throttle and speed control54,000median 54,300 miles, middle half 41,000 to 73,000
- Engine55,000median 55,000 miles, middle half 42,000 to 74,000
- Fuel and propulsion system57,000median 56,895 miles, middle half 42,000 to 78,000
- Electrical system68,000median 68,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 106,000
- Problems owners could not categorise79,000median 79,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 125,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2,929 | 27.6% | 115,000 | 86,000–146,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 1,479 | 13.9% | 54,000 | 39,000–76,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 1,330 | 12.5% | 54,000 | 41,000–73,000 |
| Engine | 1,150 | 10.8% | 55,000 | 42,000–74,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 981 | 9.3% | 57,000 | 42,000–78,000 |
| Electrical system | 654 | 6.2% | 68,000 | 46,000–106,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 303 | 2.9% | 79,000 | 46,000–125,000 |
| Brakes | 297 | 2.8% | 100,000 | 70,000–137,000 |
| Body structure | 277 | 2.6% | 67,000 | 40,000–103,000 |
| Fuel system | 239 | 2.3% | 60,000 | 45,000–85,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 68,391 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 27.6% of complaints (2,929 reports, 2,335 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 115,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 86,456 and 146,266 miles.
A single system taking 27.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 13.9% of complaints (1,479 reports, 1,373 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,110 and 76,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 12.5% of complaints (1,330 reports, 1,273 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,300 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 73,210 miles.
The engine accounts for 10.8% of complaints (1,150 reports, 1,085 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 74,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 9.3% of complaints (981 reports, 727 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,895 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,067 and 78,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.2% of complaints (654 reports, 551 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,895 and 106,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2010 model year drew the most — 3,185 complaints — while 2012 drew the fewest at 792. The median year sits at 2,348.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (2), the fuel system (1), the hybrid propulsion system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 10,603 complaints filed against this generation, 287 reported a crash; 30 reported a fire; 241 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 2.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 45,000 and 108,000 miles, with a median of 68,391. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 54,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 2009–2012
6F35 6-speed automatic: torque converter shudder, and left-hand halfshaft seal leaks that drain fluid and burn the clutches.
Engine Management
Electronic throttle body failures put the vehicle into reduced-power limp mode without warning.
Steering
Electric power steering assist can be lost intermittently, requiring steering gear replacement.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2,404 | 2,065 |
| 2009 | 2,348 | 1,976 |
| 2010 | 3,185 | 2,778 |
| 2011 | 1,874 | 1,560 |
| 2012 | 792 | 561 |
Recalls (5)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 16V777000 | 2017-11-06 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 15V606000 | 2015-10-23 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever and Linkage:floor Shift |
| 14V526000 | 2014-10-30 | Hybrid Propulsion System |
| 14V284000 | 2014-07-18 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 10V222000 | 2010-05-28 | Power Train:automatic Transmission |
What owners reported
Approximately 2 to 3 weeks ago i was sitting in a parking lot after shopping, went to start my car and it would not start. After about 10 minutes and several attempts the car finally turned over and started. I drove the car home and did not go out the rest of the day. This has happened several times. I called a…
2008 · Electrical system
In 2016 november my gas pedal stuck to the floor and i freaked out and ran into my neighbors garage and i had 10 fired fighters and sherriff look at my turned off Escape and the accelerated pedel was completely sitting on the floor of the vehicle and it also was towed to Ford and said the accelerator pedal link was…
2008 · 2 miles · Throttle and speed control
I was driving when i noticed a loud bumping noise... My back passenger wheel well is completely rusted away, which has affected my shock mounting bracket. Every little bump causes it to shake . The bracket actually went through the plastic and there is a hole inside the back of the vehicle. I see so many identical…
2008 · 2 miles · Body structure
I was driving the car out of nowhere my passenger break decided to lock up and started burning break pad so i took it to the dealer only to find out that i needed to replace my calipers break pads rotors and my ABS hcu which it run to 5 thousand dollars i also been reading about this problem from Ford Escape hybrids…
2008 · 5 miles · Brakes
Built from 8,940 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page