Five problems related to engine cooling system have been reported for the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid based on all problems reported for the 2006 Escape Hybrid.
"stop safely now" appears on screen with red triangle: car goes dead, coast to the side of the road. I caused a bit of a mess of the traffic but no accidents: no warning for a cooling pump to keep the batteries cool. I found the problem online in 5 minutes and it was confirmed the next day at Ford. "technical service bulletin for this overheating problem. TSB 08-24-5 states that some 2005-2008 Escape Hybrid and 2006-2008 mariner hybrid vehicles may exhibit a red triangle light and codes indicating a transaxle overtemp. This condition may result in reduced power as the system activates fail safe operation. Codes p1a0e, p1a0f, p0a3c, p0a3e, p0a7a, p0a7c and p1a0d may also be set. ".
My 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid cut off the combustion engine while traveling down a country rd. Was able to pull off with declining power in the electric engine. Display read "pull over safely" and nothing else. I brought it in to both a Ford dealership who referred me to a Toyota dealership because they didn't have anyone who knew about hybrid cars. Since the problem did not occur at the time I brought it in and there were no problems showing on a diagnostic test they could not do anything. The SUV has done this numerous times since and sometimes shuts off both engines in the middle of the highway. I thought speed and hard driving were the problem which it tends to happen more so on 45min or greater drives but has been known to do this at 15mph in residential areas. Very scary, especially on crowded high speed roads as you cannot "pull over safely" with neither motor running. If their excuse is its a safety feature it is not very safe. I contacted Ford via e-mail and they were nice enough to refer me back to the original Ford dealership and send the dealership the e-mail I had sent to their customer support in confidence stating I did not trust the dealership and they should investigate their practices (for previous reasons relating to other car issues). Saw many posts in forums that this problem relates to the cooling pump for the electric motor. Ordering a new coolant pump online as I will not go to the Ford (as I saw a post eliquently put) "stealership".
On my way to work this morning the warning "stop safely now", illuminated on my dash and the vehicle immediately shutdown in the middle of the road. I was very fortunate that I was only going 25 miles per hour and immediately put my emergency lights on which prevented traffic from rear ending me. I had to have the vehicle towed awaiting diagnosis which I am being told by the deal will probably be related to the hybrid battery cooling system. This is a critical safety issues that must be addressed.
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, right after the warning "stop safely now", the car shut down right in the middle of the road, and it happened three times on my way home. After web research, it is quite common for the Ford Escape Hybrid cars. It is very dangerous since there is no time for you to stop safely before the car shut down, not even a 5 or 10 seconds. The dealer check it out, it was a water pump failure caused this, called Ford, but Ford denied any assistance. The repair costs more than $600. 00. This is a safety issue and it is need to be fixed. Who is going to drive a car which will shut down in the middle of the road without any time to respond to?.
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. Driving on hwy 75 south in ohio. I was driving about 68 miles an hour. My car stopped running and slowed abruptly. The info display said main engine over heat slow and continue to safe stop. I pulled over and drove off the highway shut the car down and restarted it. It ran for about a 1/2 mile and shut down again. This time I started up again and dove it about five miles before I shut it down for about 20 minutes. There was no signs or smells of hot over heating engine. I then got in a drove it for about 5 more hours without any problems. My concern is that I all most got rear ended from a semi. I have read other hybrid forums with other people having the same problem.