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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2006 Ford EscapeRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 720 owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Escape. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (119) and service brakes (105). The EPA rates it 19–23 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–23mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Sep 2015
Owner complaints
720
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Power train: floor shift

Free remedy

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 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

Power trainReported Sep 29, 2015NHTSA 15V606000

Suspension: wheel bearing

Free remedy

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.

SuspensionReported Jun 3, 2015NHTSA 15E045000

Hybrid propulsion system

Free remedy

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. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Hybrid propulsion systemReported Sep 3, 2014NHTSA 14V526000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

720 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2005 – Apr 2026
  1. Vehicle speed control119
  2. Service brakes105
  3. Power train100
  4. Engine92
  5. Electrical system79
  6. Suspension75
  7. Structure72
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic58
  9. Steering48

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Escape model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20011,027
20021,070
2003598
2004499
20051,584
2006720
2007393
20082,417
20091,693
20102,130
20111,318
2012604
20132,757
20142,089
20151,135
20161,178
20172,701
20181,823
2019599
20201,548
2021353
2022238
2023102
202477
202526
20263
Crashes reported
23
Fires reported
10
Injuries reported
30
Deaths reported
2
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

119 reports2 crashes3 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2023Vehicle speed controlODI 11523503

Service brakes

105 reports5 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2023Suspension, Power train, Service brakesODI 11499721

Power train

100 reports2 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2021Power train, EngineODI 11418514
All 2006 Escape problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.3L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 7, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Escape FWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212723$2,700386
Escape 4WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192421$2,950423
Escape FWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202321$2,950423
Escape 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182220$3,100444
Escape FWD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182320$3,100444
Escape 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172119$3,300468
  • Escape FWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    21 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Escape 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    19 city · 24 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Escape FWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    20 city · 23 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Escape 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    18 city · 22 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Escape FWD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    18 city · 23 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Escape 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 7, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Ford Escape as of Nov 7, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 7, 2026Vehicle 1718
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Escape questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Escape have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 7, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Ford Escape problems?

Owners filed 720 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (119), service brakes (105), power train (100). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Ford Escape get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Ford Escape at 19–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 7, 2026