Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford Escape. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Rebuilt Transmission Shift Lever May Disengage
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Motor Electronics Coolant Pump Failure
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (1,974)
1,974 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 1,974 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,127 | 57.1% |
| Power train | 329 | 16.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 175 | 8.9% |
| Service brakes | 139 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 136 | 6.9% |
| Engine | 83 | 4.2% |
| Unknown or other | 55 | 2.8% |
| Structure | 41 | 2.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 38 | 1.9% |
| Electronic stability control | 36 | 1.8% |
How 2008 compares with other Escape years
Best and worst Escape years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 499 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1,394 | 4 |
| 2006 | 464 | 3 |
| 2007 | 254 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1,974 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1,693 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2,070 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1,316 | 2 |
| 2012 | 602 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2,750 | 18 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2008 Escape for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2008 Ford Escape FAQ
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 15V606000 (power train), 14V526000 (hybrid propulsion system), 14V284000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2008 Ford Escape problems?
Owners filed 1,974 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (1,127), Power train (329), Vehicle speed control (175) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2008 Ford Escape get?
EPA rates the 2.3 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 22 city, 28 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2008 Escape compare with other years?
Among the 2004–2013 Ford Escape model years at least five years old, the 2007 drew the fewest complaints (254) and the 2013 the most (2,750). The 2008 drew 1,974. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.