Problems · by component
2005 Ford Escape engine and engine cooling problems
103 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Escape cite engine and engine cooling, 7% of all 1,584 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
103
7% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DISPLAYED "STOP SAFELY NOW" WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. RESTARTED AND DROVE A FEW MILES AND RECEIVED NOTICE AGAIN. REPEATED THIS CYCLE ABOUT 10 TIMES BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. HAD DEALER SERVICE CAR AND DO A BATTERY FAN RECALL. DROVE OKAY FOR A MONTH BUT NOW I AM GETTING THE SAME ERROR AND HAVING TO SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTART. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE REAR WHEEL WELLS AND THE FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO RUST PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, THE FRAME AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE MASTER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD WARNING AND THE ENGINE ELECTRIC COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
“I WAS GOING TO WORK ENTERING INTERSTATE 80 NEAR VALLEJO, CA WHEN AS I WAS ABOUT TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE BECAME GRADUALLY UNRESPONSIVE. I HAD TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WHERE THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. I THEN PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
“I WAS COMING BACK TO HOME FROM WORK DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55-60 MPH AND SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTS DECELERATING ITSELF AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL IT OVER ON THE SHOULDER, I WAS LUCKY THAT NOT ONE HIT ME. I COMPLETELY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN I TRIED TO START AGAIN, IT STARTED MAKING CRANKING SOUND BUT DID NOT START COMPLETELY, SO I HAD TO CALL THE TOWING TRUCK TO TOW THE CAR TO MY HOME. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE, I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, I AM NOT SURE HOW CAN THE VEHICLE CAN STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVING. IT WAS SCARY. *TR”
“WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO OVER 20 MPH BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, IT'S NOT HIGH IDLING OR OVER HEATING. A WEEK PRIOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND WAS TOLD I HAD A MIS FIRE ON A CYLINDER AND I REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AND IGNITION COIL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. *TR”
Showing 6 of 103 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.