Home · 2011 Ford Escape Hev · Complaints

What 1,334 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Escape Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,334)Crash / fire / injury (56)Steering (408)Fuel system (287)Transmission & drivetrain (273)Speed control (253)Engine (251)Electrical system (112)Visibility & wipers (46)Body & structure (42)Brakes (31)Suspension (31)

5 of 1,334 complaints match · Visibility & wipers · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Feb 12, 2013Body & structureVisibility & wipers1 injury

CLOSING REAR LIFT GATE AFTER THE CAR REMAINED STATIONARY OVERNIGHT, THE WINDOW SHATTERED ONTO THE GROUND AND INTO THE TRUNK. LOW TEMPERATURE FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS 19 DEG F. SUBSEQUENT CLEAN-UP EFFORTS REVEALED SCRATCHES TO CAR BODY AND RESULTED IN PERSONAL INJURY (LACERATIONS). FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST BASED ON VEHICLE MILEAGE, DESPITE EXPLICIT REFERENCE TO PE 11-016 AND TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICES BULLETIN 10-22-10. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10497896

Jan 7, 2013Body & structureVisibility & wipers1 injury

AFTER UNLOADING ITEMS FROM REAR CARGO AREA, TAILGATE WAS CLOSED, AND THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY FACE SPONTANEOUSLY. IT SEEMED AS IF THE RECIPROCATING ARMS PERHAPS DID NOT COLLAPSE COMPLETELY AND WENT THROUGH THE WINDOW. AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ASSISTED IN CLEANING UP THE DEBRIS WAS CUT BY THE GLASS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10491692

Dec 6, 2011Visibility & wipers1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON CLOSING THE REAR HATCH DOOR, THE GLASS SHATTERED AND CUT THE CONTACT'S FINGER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK AT A LATER DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

NHTSA ODI 10438723

Jan 21, 2011Visibility & wipers1 injury

THIS IS A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE OCCURRENCE: I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WORK, TEMPERATURE AT 27 F. I LOADED GEAR IN MY TRUNK OF THE VEHICLES NOT USING THE RAISED GLASS OPTION, BUT THE FULL DOOR. UPON CLOSING THE DOOR, THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND THE GLASS FELL ON MY HAND ON THE WAY DOWN, CUTTING IT UP. THE PISTON RODS ON EITHER SIDE BOTH BROKE OUT...LOOKS LIKE THE PLASTIC CRACKED ON BOTH. PRIOR TO SHATTERING, THE WINDOW APPEARED TO HAVE BUBBLES IN IT. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND COSMETIC. FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT HAVE SAID THAT THEIR GLASS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY...SO MILE 1, IF IT SHATTERS LIKE THIS, THE CONSUMER IS HELD LIABLE. FILING WITH INSURANCE COMPANY AND LOOKING FOR A COMPANY THAT WILL COVER A WINDOW FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10378106

Jan 16, 2011Visibility & wipers1 injury

I CLOSED THE REAR HATCH OF THE ESCAPE AND THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED. THE CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE AND THE GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE, COVERING THE CARGO AREA OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS NOTHING EVEN CLOSE TO TOUCHING THE GLASS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN IT SHATTERED. I RECEIVED A SMALL CUT ON MY HAND FROM THE GLASS THAT I WAS ABLE TO TREAT MYSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT A WEEK OLD AT THAT TIME AND WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10377749

Working with the data? Download all 1,334 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Ford Escape Hev verdict →