Most common 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid problems
Share of the 59 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 3 possible defects involving the 2010 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.
Loss of power steering while driving
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05).
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 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid owners say
Steering
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that she was able to continue driving by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked at the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer and to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started and was still in park(P) in the driveway, the steering wheel failed to turn and seemed to be seized. The contact stated that the "Power Steering Assist" warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) recall repair had been completed in 2014 and that he had to pay to for Electronic Power Steering Assist repair out of pocket. The contact stated that he was the second owner of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 207,000.
Brakes
While driving at 30 MPH on a city street, the power brake system failed. My wife was able to eventually stop the car by pressing down as hard as possible on the brake. Luckily the car stopped just before entering the intersection against a red light. She parked the car and had it towed to the dealer. We were informed that the problem was a faulty electronic brake control module (ebcm.) we were also informed that an employee at the dealer had the same problem. Both failures were without warning while the vehicle was being operated. Our car has approximately 95,000 miles on it. This is a serious failure of an essential safety system within the vehicle, and appears to not be an isolated incident. I therefore believe that Ford should be required to recall all vehicles subject to this catastrophic failure and repair and/or replace the defective parts at their expense.
While in motion, on two separate occasions (3 weeks apart) my brake system went out and resorted to the default emergency brake functions where I was able to engage my brakes slowly after pressing the pedal all the way down. Had I been on a highway or going fast, I think I could have died. The first occasion, the mechanics told me that my brakes were fine because they went to diagnose my car and it was acting normal, but that they saw the computer error codes. I also had a picture of all my warning lights that came on the dashboard. The second time, the Ford dealership once again says that nothing is wrong. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed because I have learned I am not the first person to experience this in a Ford Hybrid. This isn't a small problem. This could definitely kill somebody.
Engine & cooling
While driving on interstate at highway speeds lost acceleration going uphill and wrench light came on. Pulled to side of road and stopped. Stopped engine for a few minutes and restarted. Engine started normally and check engine light came on. Acceleration erratic and RPM on acceleration high but not in the redline. Once on level highway could get to highway speeds and leveled out at a constant speed and RPM was near normal. Drove to dealership. Dealership reported no codes but electronic throttle body shorting internally. Replaced electronic throttle body. Dealership stated the electronic throttle body was not covered under warranty. Vehicle had 90, 232 miles at dealership.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the service engine sensor light illuminated and the speed suddenly reduced. The vehicle would not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. After stopping the vehicle and restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.
2010 Ford Escape Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 34 / 31 / 32 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD | 30 / 27 / 29 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid a good car?
Based on 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Escape Hybrid rates better than average: 46% fewer complaints than 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 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid?
The steering — 18 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (13) and engine & cooling (13).
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2010 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 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 24% 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.