Table 1 shows one common structure related problems of the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Body problems |
Pre mature rust on hatchback door and rear quareter panel almost every owner of same car have same issue.
Both rear quarter panels are prematurely rusting and I have seen the same exact problem with multiple Ford Escape Hybrids.
Since the first time I experienced a braking failure incident I have done a lot of research&visits to mechanics to retrieve codes thrown from the car off diagnostic machines. Replacing the hcu carries a premium price tag of $5k-7k. Prior to the first accident,there is no obvious way that I could have damaged the hcu with my very normal driving habits (I. E. No history of towing, no long downhill braking)&the hcu is not a component susceptible to wear to the point of early failure. I believe that the Escape Hybrids braking system is defective by design (hence the TSB)&fault lies with Ford. I consider this brake failure very serious&a problem that Ford had never bothered to notify me about or recall. My attempts to get Ford's attention on this matter have been fruitless. To summarize NHTSA is not concerned b/c nobody has gotten killed by these defective brakes. Ford claims no responsibility for this very serious&significantly dangerous design flaw. After several episodes of brake failure I found TSB 05-8-5 (8/5/05 NHTSA id#10017553:escape hybrid vehicles exhibit the yellow abs&red e- brake warning lamps illuminating after the engine is started,&an increase in brake pedal effort)Ford claims no responsibility to deal w/the problem. Its not safe to drive w/o the repair,it had no value being broken,&I did not have the conscience to sell the vehicle w/a dangerous problem. Fords failure to proactively address this safety issue is rather appalling. Ford abandoned me w/a$7,000 bill to repair a problem that is solely related to their poor design. First accident description:abs warning light&service engine light illuminated on cluster. "service brake system"&"regenerative braking disabled" illuminated on message board. On the highway in rush hour traffic,upon extreme braking, brakes failed to stop the vehicle in time to avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle stopped in front of me.