UsedScore

2008 Ford Escape: Use caution

Owners filed 459 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Escape in its first five years on the road, about 289 for every 100,000 sold: 1.4× the rate of a typical Escape year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (32% of complaints, median 41,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.4×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Escape year
Rank
12th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
459
first five years; 289 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
3
campaigns
2nd generation, 2008–2012 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2010 Ford Escape XLT

Photo: 2010 Ford Escape XLT · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain32% · 147 complaints · median 41,000 miles
  2. Steering19% · 85 complaints · median 72,000 miles
  3. Engine15% · 71 complaints · median 53,000 miles
  4. Brakes10% · 45 complaints · median 46,000 miles
  5. Air bags3% · 13 complaints · median 37,000 miles
  6. Speed control12% · 56 complaints · median 46,000 miles
  7. Electrical8% · 35 complaints · median 50,000 miles
  8. Fuel and propulsion4% · 18 complaints · median 40,000 miles
  9. Wheels and tires5% · 24 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  10. Visibility3% · 14 complaints · median 28,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Engine

Many 2008 Escape owners describe transmission fluid leaking through the A/C condenser and, especially in Hybrid models, sudden engine shutdowns with a 'stop safely now' warning while driving at highway speed. Repairs often involved replacing the cooler, condenser, throttle body, or coolant pump, sometimes repeatedly.

Warning signs:
Owners report sluggish or jerky acceleration, transmission fluid puddles under the vehicle, a 'stop safely now' warning message, a chime, and sudden loss of power at highway speeds.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced the transmission cooler, A/C condenser, throttle body, or electronic/coolant water pump, sometimes under warranty and sometimes at owner expense; some dealers could not find the cause.
Mileage:
most between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, among 219 complaints that give it

“Vehicle "springs" forward or stalls after coming to a stop (daily). Vehicle loses a quart or more of fluid monthly.”

“The gasoline engine shut down and gave me a "stop safely now" message on the instrument cluster.”

Powertrain

Many owners of the 2008 Ford Escape describe a transmission cooler that leaks fluid, causing rough shifting, slipping, stalling, or lurching, often discovered as a fluid puddle under the car. Dealers frequently point to a service bulletin and replace the cooler or transmission, but many owners say they had to pay for the repair once out of warranty.

Warning signs:
Many report a red or oily fluid puddle under the front passenger side, low transmission fluid, hesitation, jerking, vibration, or stalling when accelerating or shifting into reverse.
What shops did:
Dealers commonly replaced the transmission cooler, condenser, or entire transmission, often citing a service bulletin, with many owners paying out of pocket once the warranty had expired.
Mileage:
most between 40,000 and 105,000 miles, among 338 complaints that give it

“Vehicle now quit moving in middle of traffic requiring it be towed. Dealer now replaced entire transmission due to complete internal failure”

“Engine rev-ed for no reason at < 10 MPH. Vehicle stalled while coming to stop. Vehicle leaked large puddle of transmission fluid”

Steering

Owners describe the power steering suddenly failing or locking up while driving, sometimes making the wheel very hard or impossible to turn until the car was restarted. Many say dealers replaced the steering column at high cost, and some report the issue returned afterward.

Warning signs:
Many report steering wheel vibration, shaking, clunking noises, or stiffness shortly before the power steering failed or locked up.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently replaced the electric power steering column or module, though some owners say the problem recurred or parts were on backorder.
Mileage:
most between 90,000 and 145,000 miles, among 1,062 complaints that give it

“When the vehicle was started it would lose power steering. The contact had to turn the vehicle off and back on so that the power steering would reset.”

“The steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stopped the vehicle on the side of the road and shut off the engine.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 15V606000September 201557 vehicles

    Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift · 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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: 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.

  • NHTSA 14V526000September 201470,209 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system

    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.

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

    Fix: 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.

  • NHTSA 14V284000May 2014740,878 vehicles

    Steering: electric power assist system

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.

    Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Ford sent NHTSA 46 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2008 Escape. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SSM 46085 · September 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs).
  • 44986 · March 20152008-2012 ford escape/mariner: service information involving the power steering control module with dtc b2278- steering column replacement is not required.
  • 45006 · March 2015Ford 2008-2012 escape/mariner: bulletin information regarding steering control module with dtc b2278, not required to have steering column replaced.
  • TSB-14-0016 · February 2014Ford/mercury: if diagnostic code b2278 is stored in power steering control module (pscm), it needs replacing with torque sensor service kit that is available and if not, does not apply.
  • TSB-12-4-8 · April 2012Ford: some model vehicles would lose 2nd and 4th gear on a cd4e transmission.
  • AS-21769 · March 2011Ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration.
  • AS-21534 · October 2010Ford: there is excessive engine or exhaust noise, or an exhaust odor due to an exhaust leak.
  • CSP-09B10-2 · August 2010Ford service campaign: see document search button for owner letter.

All 2008 Escape bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2008 Ford Escape reliable?
Owners filed 459 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Escape in its first five years on the road, about 289 for every 100,000 sold: 1.4× the rate of a typical Escape year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Escape years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2008 Escape problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (32%), the steering (19%) and the engine (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2008 Ford Escape been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford Escape, the most recent in September 2015 (power train). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. The 2008 Ford Escape on NHTSA.gov · How we rate