2008 Ford Escape Electrical System Problems
- 106
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 106 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 4 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 45 records
- steering wheel · 28 records
- ignition switch · 18 records
- steering column · 9 records
- failure mileage · 7 records
- lost power · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 36 |
| 60–100k mi | 25 |
| 150–400k mi | 14 |
| 1–30k mi | 12 |
| 30–60k mi | 10 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). After the vehicle was repaired under the recall, the vehicle experienced several failures. The failures included the loss of anti-lock braking system, stability control, and the brake warning light was constantly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the…
ODI 10850818
Electrical System
Vehicle will not start ,had to be towed to dealer to be fixed costing over $300.00 and on 12/01/2014 it happened again and was towed in to be fixed again costing over $700.00 and the service manager just laughed and said that happens alot and at leased the fords won't shut off like gm ,they just don't start. There should be a recall on ford's ignitions too. *tr
ODI 10662481
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
As i was exiting a ramp, the car stopped accelerating completely. .forcing me to pull over, as i continue on it does not accelerate when gas is pushed completely down. Wrench light came on but leaves when car is off. Driving aprox. 3 blocks before wrench light comes on again... *tr
ODI 10648468
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving my car when a light came on the dashboard. It stated power steering assist default. My steering was ok at the time. The power steering stopped working by the time i got to my street. I struggled to turn the wheel onto my street and into my driveway. I took my car to a ford dealership and they replaced the torque sensor. I checked on the internet and found that this was a recall in may, 2014. The recall…
ODI 10638425
Electrical System · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
While turning the wheels the abs light blinks on and off and the car seemed to be slowly losing power. When wheels were straightened again it ran as normal. This happened three times on the drive home from the grocery store, each time when i was turning, the electrical panel was dimming and the gas pedal lost ability to propel car. *js
ODI 10585380
Electrical System · Fuel System, Gasoline · Power Train · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Steering
For the last couple of days, whenever i put my car in reverse and begin to back up, i lose my steering ability. The only way i can get my steering wheel to work again is if i turn my car off and then turn it back on again. Well, today, it happened again, but this time i tried multiple times to turn my car off and turn it back on and my power steering would not kick back in. I have read through many complaints on…
ODI 10574612
Electrical System · Steering
At first the power steering didnot work upon starting car, restarted and it worked. As time went on this got worse, having to restart several times and now once power steering works it will go off anytime even just driving straight on the highway. Also when power steering is working the steering wheel shakes. This should be a recall as there have been so many complaints that ford has offered a torque sensor kit…
ODI 10579058
Electrical System
The fan switch and relay box has a electrical melt down according to the service advisor at the ford dealer. The fan switch was replaced once before. The last time it cost me about $250.00 with extended warranty. Now the warranty has expired and will cost me about $1000.00 to replace. I feel ford did a patch job during the extended warranty and it was never correctly fixed. I checked one website and there was 923…
ODI 10569115
Electrical System · Steering
I was heading to work one morning, and i started the car up and didn't have power steering. I shut the car off, and the steering came back. (at the beginning, shutting the car off would fix the problem right way.) i pulled out of my driveway and drove down the road with the steering wheel shaking. There was also a quiet grinding noise coming from the steering column. As the car slowed down (at stop lights etc.), the…
ODI 10568891
Electrical System · Steering
Steering wheel started to shake from side to side then lost power to steering wheel like it went from easy to very hard to steer. Turned car off the restarted and it was ok. Now it happens all the time. When i start car up no power, while i'm driving and i loss power. *tr
ODI 10568070
Electrical System · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · Steering
Power steering works intermittently steering wheel has a slight twitch most definitely a safety hazard when it just randomly stops seems to be a common issue among ford escapes. *tr
ODI 10566053
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
When i was driving and then going to make a turn the car gas and steering shut down and the car would not move any longer. The steering wheel also got stuck in the process of turning and. The gas peddle also have been getting stuck before this incident it has been going on for at least 3yrs 2011 until 2014 the present we have gone to check it put no diagnosis was done to let us know the steering column system was…
ODI 10573473
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving down the street and my power steering stopped working for the third time in a month causing me to run off the road because i couldn't make the next turn. If i pull over, turn off the car, and restart then it works fine. If i was going any faster, this could have been fatal. *tr
ODI 10577307
Electrical System
Key is difficult to turn in ignition. You have to push and turn really hard. Been ongoing for over a year. Every time i have my car serviced, i have to help the mechanics and i'm a woman. Ford dealership said the ignition switch and lock need replacing. $220 for parts with $734 as the total estimate with labor. It's getting harder to start which can be scary if i get stranded. I've never had this problem with a car.…
ODI 10680770
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Power Train
When i started my vehicle, a warning light in the shape of a wrench stayed on. I look in the manual and this said powertrain. Upon further checking, i found this is a problem in these escapes. When i stop at the railroad track or at a red light, the vehicle will surge forward when i take off. The shifting is rough at times. I also just had to have the dome light in the vehicle replaced. This, too, i was told was a…
ODI 10564589
Electrical System · Steering
Steering wheel initially started to pulsate at stop light.. Next incident i started the vehicle and there was no power steering, turned vehicle off and restarted and had steering back...next incident steering wheel pulsates while driving and loses power steering while at speed.. Pull vehicle to roadside and restart and regain steering.. Not having this vehicle recalled to fix this issue is the most insane thing i…
ODI 10563522
Electrical System · Steering
After making a left turn and braking at a stop sign, i experienced a sudden loss of power steering. *tr
ODI 10560323
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Car stalled when driving on hwy in snow storm on two different occasions. Also, rpm's climb, just had the steering column replaced 2 months ago. *tr
ODI 10558611
Electrical System · Steering
On dec 27 2013 we were driving escape . When trying go around curve ford lost all power steering which caused us to almost hit wall. My husband drove to side road. Shut it off . Waited few minutes started it power steering was back. Took it to garage was told power steering sensor was going out . Was told it be 1123.00 cost. It happened again on january 3rd 2014. Was told that this is a safety issue and that ford…
ODI 10559498
Electrical System · Power Train
My wrench light came on, feels like i have no power. It will only go about 20 mph, rpm's go high and then all of a sudden it will kick in and start driving normal. *tr
ODI 10658683
Electrical System · Steering
While driving at 45 mph, the electric power steering (eps or epas) failed. The car instantly lost all ability for power steering, without alerting the driver. The problem is intermittent, and may fail at any time. The epas can sometimes be re-instituted by stopping the car (in the middle of the road at times, or freeway), turning off the car completely ... Waiting 10 seconds, and restarting the car. But this does…
ODI 10552127
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
3 years ago my radio no longer lights up, the heat & ac only works on high and inside lights don't work. Then in 2013 replaced the transmission with absolutely no warning with 86,000 miles on the vehicle now in 2015 the power steering has gone out on the vehicle and this was recalled in 2014 and i took it to the dealer and they said that they would have covered it if it was within 12 months. It was a week and half…
ODI 10789331
Electrical System
I was awake sitting at my dinning room table, i smelt something (burnt rubber) so i check all room in the house. I walk outside and saw smoke coming out from my ford escape that was park. I woke my kids, called the fire department and grabbed the water hose. Once the fire fighters were on the scene, they opened the driver door, smoke exited the doors exposing oxygen causing some flickering of the flame to start.…
Fire reported
ODI 10542310
Electrical System · Ignition · Steering
For almost a year, to start my car i had to push key in very firmly, then turn. For about one month now, i have to push in, then jiggle in and out until it connects and starts car. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes to find the connection. I don't know if this is related to the problem of having no power steering (power steering comes and goes - usually none) which i understand is also an electrical problem. *js
ODI 10598018
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
My 2008 ford escape's transmission started slipping while in overdrive. It then went out and revved up to 5,000 rpm's and would not move while in over drive or drive on the interstate causing me to almost get rear ended. I had to shift to second gear and limp it home. *tr
ODI 10515569
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2008 Ford Escape.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.