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2006 Ford Escape

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

405 reports with mileage · 59 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports9 fire reports18 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

99 reports
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83,800 miles · May 21, 2015
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, YET THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,800.

NHTSA ODI #10717848

75,000 miles · May 1, 2015
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10713962

62,000 miles · Feb 15, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AND THE CAR DRIFTS ABOVE THE SET SPEED THE CRUISE SUDDENLY GIVES THE CAR A SUDDEN BURST OF SPEED. IT HAS DONE THIS MANY TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683557

90,000 miles · Dec 18, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE GAS PEDAL STICKS AND COULD NOT BE PUSHED DOWN UNLESS YOU SLAMMED ON IT. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, AND EVENTUALLY STUCK COMPLETELY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN LYNCHBURG, VA, REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667028

134,000 miles · Nov 17, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE GAS PEDAL IS STICKING DOWN WHEN TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS VERY COLD. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10658711

87,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE'S GAS PEDAL CONSTANTLY LOCKS WHEN DRIVING NO MATTER THE CLIMATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654972

140,000 miles · Nov 1, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHEN IT GETS BELOW 40 DEGREES OR SO MY GAS PEDAL WILL STICK IN A CLOSED POSITION. YOU HAVE TO PRESS VERY HARD ON THE PEDAL FOR IT TO ALLOW THE CAR TO MOVE HOWEVER THERE IS A LARGE THRUST FORWARD/BACKWARD DUE TO OPENING THE THROTTLE SO QUICKLY. I HAVE NEARLY HIT 2 CARS AND ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT GO…

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WHEN IT GETS BELOW 40 DEGREES OR SO MY GAS PEDAL WILL STICK IN A CLOSED POSITION. YOU HAVE TO PRESS VERY HARD ON THE PEDAL FOR IT TO ALLOW THE CAR TO MOVE HOWEVER THERE IS A LARGE THRUST FORWARD/BACKWARD DUE TO OPENING THE THROTTLE SO QUICKLY. I HAVE NEARLY HIT 2 CARS AND ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT GO. I HAVE SPOKE. WITH FORD AND THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NO RECALLS REGARDING THE ISSUE AND THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO ASSIST. I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2001-2004 AND 2007 MODEL OF THE ESCAPE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FEW OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS HAZARD AND COULD COST SOMEONE A LIFE IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T CORRECTED. IT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MODEL ITSELF. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR THIS PAST SPRING FROM MY MOTHER, WHO ALSO SAID SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651765

75,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH & COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. I REALIZED I WAS ABLE TO RELEASE IT BY STEPPING ON BRAKES OR HITTING THE GAS PEDAL REALLY HARD. THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY IN OCT 2009 & THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED (SUPPOSEDLY) THEN AGAIN IN NOV 2011 I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED BUT IT WAS NOT…

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I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH & COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. I REALIZED I WAS ABLE TO RELEASE IT BY STEPPING ON BRAKES OR HITTING THE GAS PEDAL REALLY HARD. THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY IN OCT 2009 & THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED (SUPPOSEDLY) THEN AGAIN IN NOV 2011 I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED BUT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY & HAD TO PAY FOR IT. IT WAS ICY OUT & IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS TO SLAM ON YOUR BRAKES TO RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD BUT THEY WOULD NOT REFUND ME NOR WAS THERE A RECALL. I JUST HAD THE SAME PROBLEM JULY 2014 & THE DEALER (SUPPOSEDLY) CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY BUT CHARGED ME & I CALLED FORD BUT AGAIN THEY SAID THERE'S NO RECALL. I ALSO SPENT 7K IN FEB 2013 FOR A NEW ENGINE.....BEGINNING TO WONDER IF THAT WAS A WISE DECISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617982

110,000 miles · May 18, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

STARTED TO WORK ONE MORNING, HAVE A MANUAL TRANS AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 13 MILES WENT TO SHIFT INTO 4TH THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY BROKE FREE AND I CONTINUED TO WORK W/O INCIDENT. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND DIFF TEMPS NO RHYME OR REASON. RESEARCHED A…

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STARTED TO WORK ONE MORNING, HAVE A MANUAL TRANS AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 13 MILES WENT TO SHIFT INTO 4TH THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY BROKE FREE AND I CONTINUED TO WORK W/O INCIDENT. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND DIFF TEMPS NO RHYME OR REASON. RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY OTHER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS MORNING WAS DIFFERENT. I WAS ONLY 4 MILES FROM HOME AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AGAIN. I WAS ONLY IN 2ND GEAR, I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR HARD IT BROKE LOOSE BUT THIS TIME IT GOT STUCK WHILE ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR TOOK OFF SPINNING TIRES. THERE WAS NOT MUCH I COULD DO BUT PUT THE CLUTCH IN SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AGAIN SO THAT I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND NOW MY CLUTCH WAS GONE. IT IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE. SO VERY VERY DANGEROUS. DOES THERE NEED TO BE A FATALITY FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE? *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592289

95,000 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

UPON PUTTING CAR INTO GEAR, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT CAUSE THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. CAR HAD NO PROPULSION. IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE GAS PEDAL HAD SEEMED TO STICK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT FO…

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UPON PUTTING CAR INTO GEAR, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT CAUSE THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. CAR HAD NO PROPULSION. IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE GAS PEDAL HAD SEEMED TO STICK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT FOR MY 17 YR OLD DAUGHTER. SHE DID NOT HAPPEN TO BE DRIVING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THANKFULLY BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572819

Official recalls

3

15V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 29, 2015

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 could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

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 could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence: 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 vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: 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.

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 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 could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Consequence: 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 vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: 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.

14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

Sep 3, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

05V520000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.

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