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 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
This problem started about 2013 my car ignition was not starting the car i have to press in then turn so that my car can start this was getting so aggravating so i took it to a shop and they switched out the ignition switch and that did not last long. I am now dealing with this issue again and it is expensive. I am so tired of my car not starting when i turn the key. I had to get my car towed because of it and i…
ODI 10712983
Electrical System · Engine
This is my second complaint, same issue. Again, yesterday driving at about 30 mph the car just shut off. No problems immediately before, no sounds, nothing. It just stalled. Started up right away. No problems driving after except it did feel like it jerked a bit (almost unnoticeable except now i am very aware of this) on two occasions within 5 minutes after the stall. This car was purchases as a used vehicle back in…
ODI 10503874
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Vehicle Speed Control
This is an update to previous incident. $10486901 having spent the previous ($900) to find the problem, customer took the vehicle to a ford dealership repair shop. They agreed with the other mechanics that the instrument cluster was defective, but said that they could not give anything in writing till i paid their diagnostic fee ($135) and saw for themselves. I agreed. Now i have spent another ($1120) to replace the…
ODI 10503061
Electrical System · Steering
Power steering goes out for no reason. It clicks in the housing under the steering wheel, in the steering column. Needed to add that we have had several injuries and more than one accident where a vehicle sustained damage as a result of this defect. *tr
Crash reported · 2 injuries
ODI 10501968
Electrical System · Seats
I turned on my seat warmer on driver's seat and heater, within a minute or so smoke started coming out bottom part of control panel where it meets the console. The smoke got worse. I was in the middle lane of heavy traffic and had a difficult time getting over to turn off and get stopped. By this time the smoke was quite bad (had electrical smell) i had all windows down & sun roof open. The car alarm went off, the…
Fire reported
ODI 10501034
Electrical System · Steering
While backing out of a parking space the steering locked on my wife's 2008 ford escape. She called me to come help her as she was not able to move her escape. Upon arrival i inspected the vehicle for obvious signs of problems, none were noted. I tried to move the steering wheel; i was quite shocked that the steering wheel could not be moved. Since i am 6'4" and 300lbs most things that i grab move?the steering wheel…
ODI 10494639
Electrical System · Steering · Wheels
My ford escape is my family and work vehicle. One morning i started it after it was parked in cold overnight, engine started but the steering was stuck, thought battery was bad. Restarted several times until steering loosened up. Drove car and every stop light or while idling, the steering wheel vibrated so hard and have to hold it steady, thought, time to have my control arm replaced again. Took it to a friend's…
ODI 10493596
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving down the 5 freeway. I had been driving for about 45 minuets. I changed lanes to the right and the steering got extremely hard to move. I pulled of the freeway at the next off ramp. The entire time the wheel was very hard to maneuver. I came to a stop turned off the car, checked all my fluids, and googled the issue on my phone. All results lead to electrical power steering. I turned the car back on and…
ODI 10496722
Electrical System · Steering
The car involved was a 2008 ford escape. I was driving at about 45 and i lost complete control of my power steering. I was unable to turn steering wheel. I used all my force to get to the side of the road. I then turned the car off and turned it back on my steering was then fine. I got back on the road and i lost all of my power steering again. This steering problem is very dangerous and recall must be enforced!! *tr
ODI 10493266
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
While driving at 65 mph on i-10, toward armstrong international airport, the vehicle, with no pre-warning began to decelerate (slow down). The vehicles speed did not respond to depressing throttle pedal; the vehicle would not maintain speed. Fortunately, there were no vehicle in the right lane and i was able to get to the shoulder of the road. There, by turning off the ignition and restarting the vehicle i was able…
ODI 10487730
Electrical System · Steering
As i was backing up, i lost power steering. I was unable to turn the wheel without great force, and backed into the porch. After turning the car off and turning it back on, this resolved. It happened again the next day going forward at 40 mph. I could hear something in the steering column click and then lost power steering. Now the power steering has completely gone out. When i start the car, i can turn the steering…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10501966
Electrical System · Steering
Issue happened four times in last couple months--two times with my wife-two with me-was once on highways with each of us -and once in just going into a parking lot while turning at 5 mph or less-have a witness on last occasion a couple days back at work lot. Have also experience a battery dead-took to advance auto of hammonton, nj and advised on sunday passed that battery tested fine. The ignition has been loose-and…
ODI 10477179
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Vehicle Speed Control
When driving the instrument cluster fails. All the dashboard lights come on, the speedometer/fuel gauge/etc move to 0 or the far left. Looking online for ford instrument panel failure, there are hundreds of complaints about it. Checked with the mechanic who says it is a common failure with ford. They have a bulletin about it but it will not construe a recall until a death or injury from a crash related to the…
ODI 10462824
Electrical System
The dashboard cluster (instrument panel) failed while driving causing the speedometer and rpm gauges to drop to zero. All the instrument lights turning, car not starting on, ac blowing warm ai, were all side effects of the problem. Searching for the problem has amounted to almost $900 in expenses. Sent in complaints to ford, who promised to escalate the issue and then never contacted me. Took it to the dealer, who…
ODI 10486901
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving with two family members when power steering failed on a freeway off ramp. Steering failed whereas i narrowly avoided a major collision. Vehicle extremely difficult to turn with electric steering failure. *tr
ODI 10447457
Electrical System · Power Train
I had purchased this truck new from the dealer in march of 2008, this truck has had many problems in the past starting with the day i bought the truck. Now a few year's later the "a.c. Condenser" was leaking transmission fluid and the dealer is now telling me that it is not covered under my "drive train warranty". I am not a mechanic but the several mechanic's that i have spoken to said that, that part is vital to…
ODI 10434245
Electrical System · Visibility
Out of nowhere in sept and oct of 2011 my sun roof, right passenger and right back passenger windows stopped working. They fell straight down.. The motor and the band quit and now come august and october of .2012 the same thing on the left. I bought this brand new on 2008 out of the dealership and now i have to spend my time and money for a defective auto. *tr
ODI 10479842
Electrical System · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
I own a 2008 ford escape xlt , v6 3.0 engine. At about 49,000 miles, it started having acceleration issues . This has been an on going problem, but never trips any service lights. I go down the drive way pretty good, but when i get on the highway, i have to hammer on the gas pedal to get it to go and the rpms go way up. The ford dealers can't find anything wrong with it. We know that it's fuel related and have…
ODI 10577701
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling
Car burned down to the frame. Turned the car on it started to smell like something was burning. Smoke and fire started coming out of the a/c vents. The contact left the vehicle immediately and it went up in flames. After speaking with the police and firemen and they had a chance to look at the remains of the car once the fire was put out, the best conclusion they could come up with as to what happened was some sort…
Fire reported
ODI 10368991
Electrical System
The tire pressure monitor light comes on and the message center says "tire pressure monitor fault". At the same time the door ajar light and brake lights came on. The volume on the stereo automatically goes down or stops working or can't change stations when i get the tire pressure message or reboots along with the air conditioner blowing hot air. The doors don't automatically lock, when they do lock, the ac comes…
ODI 10427196
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System · Equipment · Steering · Valve
Tccf transmission cooler condenser failure- july 16,2008 repaired; -leaking -slipping on shifting-had very little transmission oil on dip stick when repaired at dealership under the 36,000 limited warranty--after 4 days july 20, 2008 wife was rear ended by a dwi traveling at estimated more than 75 to 80 mph(my wife traveling on a state highway at normal regulated speed of 50 mph) -damages of over $13,500 to our…
ODI 10314636
Electrical System
Defect in vehicle wiring harness - my car has been at the dealership for repairs since 01/30/2010. The dealership stated my vehicle was not safe to drive due to the wires corroding and causing mechanical failures on this vehicle. The dealership had ordered the new wiring system as an emergency "order" on 01/30/2010 but due to this being such an overwhelming issue ford cant keep up with the demand for the replacement…
ODI 10306371
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Starting in the fall of 2009 when the weather got colder, the throttle became unresponsive and harder to depress, requiring a greater effort to press down the pedal to un-stick and only then would the throttle pedal depress beyond the idle position. Therefore, the vehicle continues to lurch forward creating a sudden, dangerous condition. The problem has been persistent and continues to get worse. *tr
ODI 10479297
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While driving flames erupted from the instrument control panel. The fire department extinguished the flames. The fire inspector concluded that the failure was caused by an electrical failure. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The failure and current mileages were under 10,000.
Fire reported
ODI 10293042
Electrical System
The battery drains while the vehicle is off. It takes about 2 days for the battery to be completely dead. I brought the car to the ford dealership. The mechanics couldn't figure out where the drain was coming from so they flew in an engineer from the ford factory. He had them remove each fuse & put them back in 3 at a time. Then wait 2 days to see if there was a drain on that electrical line. After over 3 months of…
ODI 10311759
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2008 Ford Escape.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.