Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked and stalled. In addition, the contact stated that pull over was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V526000 (Hybrid propulsion system) however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown but the current mileage was 71,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. While driving, the engine failed and the emission cooling system warning indicator illuminated. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but the mechanic was unable to locate a failure code. The dealer also test drove the vehicle, but was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer replaced the battery filter several times; however, the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V526000 (Hybrid propulsion system). The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 87,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. While driving 35-45 MPH, there was an audible warning sound which notified the driver of an issue with the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine temperature gauge showed that the engine was overheating. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated and a fault code could not be produced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a manufacturer's recall. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. While driving at 65 MPH, the electronic coolant system warning indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.
On the night of October 21, 2011 I was driving on rt.66w near gainesville, va in my 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid with approximately 71,500 miles.. An alarm sounded and I got a dash message reading "stop the car safely now". Concurrently, I lost power and was forced to immediately pull over to the shoulder. When I consulted the owner's manual, I was informed it was a problem with the Hybrid system. The manual suggested turning off the car & restarting. When I did this, the warning light went off and the power returned. I was extremely concerned about pulling into 70 MPH traffic and crawled down the shoulder until I could exit. For the next 35 miles (until I got to my destination) this same thing occurred 3 more times on dark, rural roads. …
For the past year my feh '07 has had the triangle light with the explanation point come on. Including the awful "pull over safely now" message. I have children in the back seat, it's texas summer heat & we're on the side of the road with no power except electric! While driving on cruise control of 65mph the engine stops, I have to coast (no acceleration) over 3 lanes of traffic. 18 wheelers, cattle haulers, etc. My children are scared witless, as am I. This has occurred numerous times. Vehicle sent to the dealership (where it was purchased) they did an electrical reset. While driving from texas to tennessee it occurs soooo many times I've given up. Matters worse, the children are with me. I am not safe while driving this new vehicle. I thought this was a matter of safety with Ford!! After looking at others on this site, I agree. I will not buy another Ford. …
After driving approx 20 min on the freeway, my 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid shut off. Warning light came on displaying: motor temp high. Then, stop safely. Considering I was in the middle of the freeway in phoenix az, the 2nd warning statement was quite un-nerving. When I finally made it to the shoulder of the freeway, I opened the hood, nothing was overheating, no steam, coolant levels normal. The vehicle started again without issue. I proceeded approx 5 minutes down the freeway and exited. When attempting to cross the street at the end of the exit ramp, the vehicle shut down again, displaying the same messages. This incident left me in the middle of a busy road. When I finally arrived home, I contacted a friend who is more knowledgeable than I regarding mechanical issues. He said he had heard of this and suggested I look on the internet. …
On June 24,2013 I was coming back from arizona traveling on the two lane freeway at 70 miles an hour with the air conditioning running. With no warning what so ever the engine just quit and fortunately, I was able to coast to the shoulder of the road. Had I been on a four lane freeway in the fast lane at traffic time it would have been a different story. I am very concerned this could have resulted in a rear end collision. After sitting on the shoulder for 10 minutes the engine started and I continued my trip without any additional problems. I didn't drive the car again after I got home until I took it to huntington beach Ford for inspection. The dealer found the electric water pump was faulty and failed their test. The water pump was repaired, the system flushed and it tested OK. A test drive was also performed by the dealer with passing results. …
While traveling on the interstate, a "stop safely now" message appeared on the instrument panel. The message was immediately preceded by a chime, and the vehicle lost engine power as soon as the message appeared. There was no warning that would have allowed a safe movement from the roadway, and this problem has repeatedly put me and my family in the most dangerous situations we have ever experienced in a car. The car is in the dealership for the second time for the same problem, and we had it in a year before the first incident for a replaced coil and plug (at 29,000 miles). I just got a call from the service manager telling me that there is nothing he can do on prices for the repair. I will be calling Ford customer service, directly, after filing this complaint, since this is obviously a recall situation. We purchased an extended warranty for $1300. It was for 5 years or 60,000 miles. …
NHTSA investigations
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.
Engine complaints in other Escape Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid, 28% of the model year's 139 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.