Most common 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid problems
Share of the 256 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 →
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid recalls (1)
Power train › Driveline
On certain front wheel drive hybrid vehicles, the intermediate shaft May not have been properly heat treated and May fracture while the vehicle is being driven.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the drivetrain intermediate shaft and replace it if necessary. The recall began on October 23, 2006. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2006 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 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid owners say
Brakes all 105 →
I was driving along the highway coming up to an intersection, preparing to stop at a red light in the left turn lane, when my breaks completely failed. The break pedal was stiff, and would not budge. We hit two cars that were sitting at the intersection, totaling my Ford Escape as well as one of the other cars. In the past, the "service breaks" light would go on occasionally in the summer during the hot months, giving the car slightly less break pressure. This was never a serious problem, and has always corrected itself anytime I turned the car off for a while. In addition, whenever having the breaks checked, they could never detect a problem. In addition, my car had routine inspections done during an oil change a month before the accident, and a full service inspection before this. This car is unsafe for the road, and the accident was out of my control. …
Driving down the road I had a complete loss of normal and effective braking. The ABS and brake service lights both came on in the dash and in order to bring the vehicle to a stop it, it became necessary to depress the brake pedal as hard as possible all the way to the floor. Whenever attempting to brake the vehicle would lunge to the right, clearly indicating that (at least) the front brake on the passenger side was completely useless/ineffective. Needless to say, this was a very traumatic experience as it took all of my skill as a motorist to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front of me and to protect my wife and two children who were also with me. …
Engine & cooling all 59 →
I was driving on the 495 beltway (approx 55mph) in the right lane when suddenly my car lost power and the fail safe message appeared saying stop the car immediately. Fortunately, I was able to take a nearby exit off the beltway without injuring myself or someone behind me and causing a multiple car collision. A red triangle icon appeared on the dashboard including other lights and messages since the car had no power. I did have the car heater on due to winter temperatures. I immediately turned the car off and rested it and did not put my heat back on suspecting the electronic motor coolant pump as the problem after recently reading a nyt article. The car started about 10 minutes later. I made an appt w my Ford dealer to inspect the car for this problem.I had a similar problem last summer and was told by Ford that my VIN didn't have any recalls. I had the A/C on that day. …
The vehicle hesitates when accelerating after coming from a stop, it is not transmission, it is like it is not getting fuel. The vehicle suddenly without warning or reason shuts off all power while driving. The red triangle with exclamation light comes on with a warning to stop safely now on the dashboard and you are stranded. This has happened both while accelerating from a stop and while driving both freeway and surface street speeds, suddenly. I am afraid not only to not only drive the vehicle but having anyone in the car with me, especially making a left turn. It is not a safe vehicle. It has left me stranded on a dark street around 9 pm, cutting off on the freeway leaving me no choice but to coast off the side of the freeway. …
Electrical system all 45 →
I was driving on the 495 beltway (approx 55mph) in the right lane when suddenly my car lost power and the fail safe message appeared saying stop the car immediately. Fortunately, I was able to take a nearby exit off the beltway without injuring myself or someone behind me and causing a multiple car collision. A red triangle icon appeared on the dashboard including other lights and messages since the car had no power. I did have the car heater on due to winter temperatures. I immediately turned the car off and rested it and did not put my heat back on suspecting the electronic motor coolant pump as the problem after recently reading a nyt article. The car started about 10 minutes later. I made an appt w my Ford dealer to inspect the car for this problem.I had a similar problem last summer and was told by Ford that my VIN didn't have any recalls. I had the A/C on that day. …
I was driving in the fast lane on the highway at 70 MPH when my car basically shut down and told me to "pull over safely". A red triangle (with the exclamation point in the center) appeared on the message board along with the "pull over safely" message and a chiming/alert sound. This was on labor day, so the highway was incredibly busy and it was very difficult to cross over lanes and "pull over safely". Additionally, when this message appears, it pretty much shuts down your car, not allowing you to accelerate at all which also made it more difficult to get over. I managed to pull over, turned off my car and then restarted it. That was all it took. No additional messages or problems...yet. I probably had to drive an additional 30 miles or so home without any additional messages showing up. This seriously frustrated me as I have yet to be able to find much more information on the issue. …
2006 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 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid a good car?
Based on 256 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Escape Hybrid rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Escape Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the Escape Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. 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 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid?
The brakes — 105 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (59) and electrical system (45).
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid have?
There is 1 recall for the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, the most recent from October 5, 2006 (driveline). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 93,000 miles; 15% 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.