2008 Ford Escape problems and complaints

Owners have filed 2417 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Escape. The most-reported areas: Steering (1237), Power Train (372), Service Brakes (292).

Key takeaways

  • 2417 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 72 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 45 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering123751%
Power Train37215%
Service Brakes29212%
Electrical System2008%
Vehicle Speed Control2008%
Engine1576%
Engine And Engine Cooling753%
Unknown Or Other683%
Fuel/Propulsion System572%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)452%
Structure442%
Hydraulic392%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2008 Ford Escape 4-DR. w/SAB (Later release)Not ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5
2008 Ford Escape 4-DR. w/SAB (Early release)Not ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Steering,electrical System - filed 2026-09-02

Electronic power steering went out a couple times on me .

Steering - filed 2026-08-12

Was driving on highway at 55 when the wrench warning light came on drove car to residence and turned it off, when car was cranked again it had no power steering. Vin number was not included in recall on same issue. Has not been fixed.

Engine - filed 2026-07-13

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 happen...

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More for the 2008 Ford Escape

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.