Most common 2006 Ford Escape problems
Share of the 464 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Escape complaints by model year
Best Escape years: 2025, 2012, 2023. Years to avoid: 2017, 2020, 2013, 2018, 2014. Compare all years →
2006 Ford Escape recalls (3)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
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…
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.
Hybrid propulsion system
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.
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.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor May have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on November 22, 2005.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2006 Ford Escape:
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 owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 99 →
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle started to lose motive power. Additionally, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal remained floored after being depressed. The contact drove to a parking lot and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,199.
06 Ford Escape , 4 cylinder, front wheel drive. The gas pedal sticks and won't accelerate when the vehicle is colder. Today I was on the road in traffic and went to hit the gas and gain some speed as I was still under the speed limit after slowing down behind a car that was turning and the pedal was stuck, couldn't go! People driving behind and at me and I'm just stuck! It took a good 15-20 pumps of the foot to get the thing unstuck and moving again. It's happened and was easier to get going a couple other cold mornings seems to stop once car is warmer and has been moving for a while. Looked online and there are numerous complaints about the same problem all the way back to 2009 with this cars make and model for both 05 and 06. Seems Ford never recalled it and some ppl online are even saying they ended up in accidents and stranded.
Transmission & drivetrain all 80 →
On Sunday May/23/2021 my car shut off suddenly with out warning after 3m of driving, the wrench orange lite came on, i was able to pull aside on the curb, turned off the car and waited a few minutes, i was able to turn the car back on, and the car restarted with out problem but the incident was there. when i got home i start looking on line for an explanation of what went wrong and i encounter that the 2006 Ford scape hybrid has been recall for stalling problems, somehow my car is not part of the recall according with the VIN number, but my car is a 2006 Ford Scape Hybrid, i don't understand why my car its not part of the recall and i hope that it did not fall under the cracks and i hope more that my car will not get stall in the freeway and cause an accident. please let me know if any additional information is need it
Well to put it lightly my rear axial the whole rear end is a mess this did not happen from normal were there is not that many miles I am very confident that if I was mot train on how to control a car if it were to go out of control at a high speed this would be a whole different story just thank how many are still on the road this year 2006 escape is a ticking time
Engine & cooling all 68 →
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated and there was smoke coming from under the hood. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed that the smoke had increased. The contact stated that as he exited the vehicle, the smoke became darker. The contact stated that upon looking through the passenger's side wheel well, he saw flames under the engine compartment. The contact then walked away from the vehicle. The contact stated that the entire front end of the vehicle and dash had significantly burned and melted. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle remained at the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. …
The idler pulley on the subject vehicle has failed numerous times, with the mounting bolt shearing at the connection to the timing cover. Upon failure of the pulley the serpentine belt will either fail or become dislodged; when this occurs the steering, alternator, and water pump all stop operating. The vehicle becomes difficult to handle due to the loss of power steering, and is subject to shutting off due to the lack of an alternator and water pump. This particular issue has happened to me on four separate occasions in the last two years; the first time occurred while operating in traffic; the subsequent occasions were noted during startup and were detected before driving. New replacement pulleys will only last approximately 4000-5000 miles before they fail. …
2006 Ford Escape 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 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 22 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 21 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Ford Escape a good car?
Based on 464 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Escape rates better than average: 57% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Escape 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 2006 Ford Escape?
The speed control & acceleration — 99 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (80) and engine & cooling (68).
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Escape have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2006 Ford Escape, the most recent from September 29, 2015 (floor shift). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2012 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2020, 2013, 2018 and 2014. See the full Ford Escape years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Escape problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 83,000 miles; 22% 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.