2008 Ford Escape

The 2008 Ford Escape has 3 recalls, the most serious being a hybrid system coolant pump failure that can cause the powertrain to shut down without warning, leaving the driver with a sudden stall-like loss of drive while in traffic.

This recall only affects hybrid models. When the coolant pump stops working, the hybrid electronics overheat and the system cuts power, which can make the vehicle behave as though it has stalled, raising crash risk especially at highway speeds or in heavy traffic. On the transmission side, certain Escapes that had their automatic transmission replaced with a remanufactured unit may have a shift lever that can disengage from the transmission internals. When that happens, moving the gear selector may not actually change gears, and the position shown on the shifter may not match the gear the vehicle is actually in, which can cause unexpected movement or an inability to select the gear needed to control the vehicle. There is also a steering concern: the electric power steering system can lose its assist suddenly and without any warning light or alert, making the steering wheel noticeably heavier and harder to turn, particularly at lower speeds like in parking lots or on tight curves, where the extra effort required can make it difficult to steer accurately.