Most common 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid problems
Share of the 190 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Escape Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Escape Hybrid years: 2013, 2012, 2011. Years to avoid: 2020, 2008, 2021, 2022, 2009. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles.
What 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid owners say
Brakes all 71 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid. While driving 30 MPH, the "pull over safely now" warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the braking system failed to operate as intended. The crash occurred while the contact was en route to coccia Ford Lincoln inc (located at 577 e main st, wilkes-barre, pa 18702, [phone]) to have the vehicle repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V526000 (Hybrid propulsion system). The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and issued case number: cas-14733790. The approximate failure mileage was 174,109.
When brake pedal is applied with constant pressure, brakes would engage then fail to engage for short seconds, then engage again, symptoms are intermittent. Some times it would trigger a brake related DTC. Technician determined it was a failed hydraulic control unit in the brake system and was told it was common and occurred on a number of the same model vehicles from 2005 to 2012.
Engine & cooling all 31 →
Over the past 3 years I have had the issue of 'stop safely now' on multiple occasions. These issues didn't start until the mec pump was replaced under a recall. After that my 2005 Escape Hybrid will shut down while driving or not start or cut out the Hybrid power and run on engine only. I took it to the local Ford dealership where we have gotten all other service done three times for these issues. They haven't been able to tell me anything, stating only that there are no codes, so no idea where to look. I couldn't understand how the computer can know to tell me to stop driving the car, yet not record a DTC. It happened again on the first warm day of the summer - drove across town, parked it, came back 20 minutes later and it wouldn't start, showing 'stop safely now'. I left it until the next morning and it started right up and I drove it home. …
I was about 115 miles into a 130 mile trip, doing 70 MPH on the interstate, when out of no where my vehicle jerked very hard and then started making loud sounds like parts falling out. All of the cars behide me had to slam on breaks and avoid hitting me. No lights or warnings had come on until after this happened. I steered the car off of the interstate and down the ramp into a store parking lot. The car was not running hot. Looked under car and oil was coming out all over the ground. A man looked and said it looked like the coolant system messed up and it through a rod in the motor block. I got the car one month ago and it was doing great. By looking up on type car there is others having problems like this and recalls on the coolant system. But no one on my VIN. Recall 14V526000
Suspension all 30 →
Over a few days I heard a banging sound in the car that I could not identify. My daughter looked under the rear passenger wheel well and noticed the shock was knocking against the rusted wheel well. The next day I went to a funeral and the shock pierced through the trunk. I called my body shop/mechanic and told him what the issue was. He said he had another Ford Escape 2005 in his shop with the same exact issue. He said it was a manufacturer defect. Ford didn't do a recall on the 2005 models even though they recalled prior years. I had tried to contact rizza Ford about the issue but received no response. In searching the internet I realized there are at least 300+ complaints written about this exact issue and Ford's handling of it. My mechanic had to practically rebuild/weld the wheel well. …
My well maintained 2005 Escape Hybrid developed a rattling sound on July 26, 2016. At first the rattle in the right rear happened only on bumps in the road. I thought it was my car jack coming loose in its compartment. I checked that and the jack was all secured, not rattling. I continued driving home and the rattle became a banging sound, and the right rear inside wheel area started to rattle and move towards the interior as I drove. When I got home I looked around the right rear wheel well area and was shocked to see how extremely rusted it is. The other wheel wells show very little rust. I looked up the problem on a Ford owners website and found that many many other people have had this same problem. It is a safety issue because some people report that the rusted out shock absorber mount breaks loose and the vehicle body collapses onto the wheel, sending the car out of control. …
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 30 / 28 / 29 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD/AWD | 28 / 26 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid a good car?
Based on 190 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Escape Hybrid rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Escape Hybrid at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid?
The brakes — 71 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › abs warning light. Next are the engine & cooling (31) and suspension (30).
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Escape Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2012 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2008, 2021, 2022 and 2009. See the full Ford Escape Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 103,000 miles; 17% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.