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

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, while attempting to stop the vehicle the brake pedal extended to the floorboard, causing the stopping distance to be extended. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11678552

The contact's husband owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test determined that the wheel sensors needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the wheel sensors were replaced by the mechanic; however, the warning lights remained illuminated. The contact was informed that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the ABS module for the vehicle was no longer in production. The contact stated that several dealers where contacted; however, it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact suggested using an aftermarket part to replace the module; however, the dealers would not program the aftermarket part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered several recommendations, but none of the recommendations were able to assist the contact with repairing the vehicle. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11663653

The contact owned a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, as the contact was approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, it failed to stop as intended. The contact moved to the other lane when the vehicle came to a stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone and the contact was informed that three sensors needed to be replaced. Two sensors were replaced; however, the ABS sensor was not replaced due to cost. The contact stated that on the drive home, an abnormal odor was coming from the vehicle. While the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was consumed by fire and destroyed. The Fire and Police departments were called. A fire report was filed; the Fire Department stated the cause of the fire was due to faulty wiring. The contact notified her insurance company and the vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ODI 11645090

The brakes completely failed and I was unable to stop the car except by turning up hill and applying the emergency brake. I had it repaired by Ford in Bangor and it turned out that the ABS module had failed. It seems unreasonable that there was no mechanical backup to a failure of an electronic part.

NHTSA ODI 11607855

Loss of brake assist. Pedal hard and unresponsive.

NHTSA ODI 11534567

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the brake pads needed to be replaced. The brake pads were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The brake rotors and calipers were replaced but the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the flex brake line needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The flex brake lines were replaced by the contact's husband. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 11532268

My 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid lost all braking when the brake peddle went to the floor while in the electronic mode on the battery not with the motor running. The internet has hundreds of ford escape with the same problem. My Ford dealer is not sure what is wrong. Can you please start an investigation to figure out how to fix this problem. I hit my own fence on the driveway after starting the car. Thank You [XXX] VIN: [XXX] 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid 4 door INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11432524

2011 Ford Escape AWD- passenger side brake issue- after driving and brake/rotor getting hot making the rim even feel hot. My car vibrates when driving down the street because of this problem. It also has very poor stopping and after stop vehicle doesn’t like to move until I hit the gas pedal. I have very poor gas mileage because something is hanging up ( passenger side only ) THIS IS DANGEROUS and no one wants to do a recall- I’ve been having problems since 2020 we have replaced caliper/rotor/brake pads and the rubber brake hose fixes the problem for about 3-4 months then comes back getting where I don’t feel safe in my own vehicle and FORD doesn’t want to do NOTHING about it. Guess when someone gets hurt/death they will have a law suit on their hands because they know about the problem with the brakes

NHTSA ODI 11419682

2011 Ford Escape AWD- passenger side brake issue- after driving and brake/rotor getting hot making the rim even feel hot. My car vibrates when driving down the street because of this problem. It also has very poor stopping and after stop vehicle doesn’t like to move until I hit the gas pedal. I have very poor gas mileage because something is hanging up ( passenger side only ) THIS IS DANGEROUS and no one wants to do a recall- I’ve been having problems since 2020 we have replaced caliper/rotor/brake pads and the rubber brake hose fixes the problem for about 3-4 months then comes back ( I called a FORD DEALER and they no about the issues I’m getting where I don’t feel safe in my own vehicle and FORD doesn’t want to do NOTHING about it. Guess when someone gets hurt/death they will have a law suit on their hands because they know about the problem with the brakes

NHTSA ODI 11419685

ALL BRAKE/ABS WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR ON STARTUP BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, AND REPEATEDLY AT ONLY 50K MILES. RESTARTING THE CAR RESULTS IN SOME BRAKE FUNCTION WITH ABS AND CHECK BRAKE WARNINGS. MECHANIC HAS READ THE CODES WHICH INCLUDE EVERY PART OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. EVERY. SINGLE. PART.

NHTSA ODI 11414190

THE PROBLEM IS BRAKE LOSS IN REVERSE. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND INFREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS. USUALLY WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND CANNOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE PEDAL WILL BE ROCK HARD WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS WILL DEPRESS AND BRAKES BACK TO NORMAL. SUMMER OR WINTER OR IN THE GARAGE THIS HAPPENS. I BROUGHT IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS BUT THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM AS IT IS SO INTERMITTENT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE POWER ASSIST IS COMPLETELY GONE.

NHTSA ODI 11387262

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ROLLING, THE RIGHT TIRE LOCKS UP AND STARTS SMOKING, THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND IT TO FIX IT IF FIXABLE AND NOT A RECALL? I AM DRIVING CITY STREETS (IN VIRGINIA-SUBURBIA.

NHTSA ODI 11386052

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED BY FLASHING ALL LIGHTS TO STAYING ON. THEN THE SPEED CONTROLS, SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAUGE, AND HEAT SENSOR WOULD NOT WORK. ON TOP OF ALL THIS. THE BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THIS ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN AND THE BRAKES WOULD ACT ROUGH. NO MECHANIC COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE. THIS NEEDS TO BE BETTER KNOWN AND BETTER MANAGED.

NHTSA ODI 11377241

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING AT ONLY 60K MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE AND THE SYSTEM READ "CHECK BRAKES." THE BRAKES FELT LOOSE, AND I TOOK IT A MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. THEY THOUGHT THAT PRESSURE WAS GETTING SENT UNEVENLY TO BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, SO THEY FLUSHED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THEY DISCOVERED TOTAL ABS FAILURE, AND A $3000 FIX ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THERE ARE FACEBOOK GROUPS ADVOCATING FOR A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T CRASH INTO SOMEONE. THE BRAKES ONLY WORK IF YOU APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THEM, AND EVEN THEN THEY GET LOOSE AND THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL AWAY. THESE ISSUES ARE BECOMING EXTREMELY PREVALENT NOW IN 2020 THAT THE 2008-2011 ERA OF THIS HYBRID IS GETTING A BIT OLDER. THAT BEING SAID, THIS MODEL ONLY HAS 60K MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD BRAKE FAILURE. HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/ESCAPEHYBRID/BRAKE-ABS-WARNING-LIGHT-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTPS://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/5850/FORD/ESCAPE-HYBRID/FORD-ESCAPE-HYBRID-BRAKE-PROBLEMS/P4

NHTSA ODI 11308785

WHEN TRUCK HAS A FULL OR EVEN HALF TANK , ALWAYS SMELL A LOUD GAS SMELL COMING FROM TRUCK. GAS SMELL SO LOUD CAN NOT HAVE TRUCK PARKED IN GARAGE DUE TO FUMES. ALSO WITH BRAKES, WHEN FORCED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY THE BRAKES MAKE A WEIRD SOUND AND WONT LOCK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI 11269178

FRONT-RIGHT BRAKE DISC LOCKED UP ON AUGUST 21ST, 2019. IT ALSO MADE SMOKE. AFTER ONE HOUR, IT CAN DRIVE AGAIN. NOW IT ALWAYS MAKES BIG NOISE WHEN I PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11254174

THE PROBLEM IS BRAKE LOSS IN REVERSE. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES ONCE A MONTH OR MAYBE 6 MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEM BUT SCARY WHEN BACKING OUT AND CANNOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE PEDAL WILL BE ROCK HARD WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS WILL DEPRESS AND BRAKES BACK TO NORMAL. IF IN A TIGHT SPOT OR PEDESTRIAN WALKS BEHIND THERE COULD BE BAD CONSEQUENCES AND GOOD LUCK PROVING IT IN COURT THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. SUMMER OR WINTER DOESNT MATTER. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ON ANOTHER FORUM BUT DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM AS IT IS SO INTERMITTENT. IT SEEMS LIKE A VALVE IN THE SYSTEM STICKS. I HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES BUT MY WIFE DIDNT BELIEVE ME. WELL IT HAPPENED TO HER LAST WEEK AND SHE WAS SCARED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WITHOUT RESOLUTION AND IF NOTHING ELSE WILL PUT THIS CONCERN ON THE RECORD OR HOPEFULLY FORD TAKES THIS MORE SERIOUSLY. I WILL BE CONTACTING DEALER AGAIN AS THIS MUST BE FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. ANY IDEAS WELCOME.

NHTSA ODI 11210240

WE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT BRAKING INCIDENTS. SOMETIME THE CAR WOULD PULL SHARPLY, OR NOT AT ALL. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE CAR SEEMED TO NEED EXTRA PETAL PRESSURE TO STOP. WE TOOK IT TO SPENCER CREEK TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. INITIAL DIAGNOSTICS WAS POSSIBLE STICKING OF CALIPERS. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OUTSIDE THE SHOP TO AWAIT PARTS. WHEN THE IT WAS TIME TO BRING THE CAR BACK INSIDE TO PUT ON THE LIFT, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD FROZE UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. SEE ATTACHED WORK ORDER. IF THIS MODULE HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, TI WOULD RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11209554

I WAS DRIVING IN ATLANTA GA ON CITY STREETS, CROSSED RR TRACKS WHILE BREAKING AND ABS AND OTHER LIGHTS FLASHED. AT THE SAME TIME I LOST ALL BREAKING POWER, THE BREAK PEDAL WHEN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE BREAKS WORKED ENOUGH FOR ME TO STOP THE CAR. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES I STARTED THE ESCAPE BACK UP AND DRIVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT, THE BREAKS SEEMED TO BE WORKING AGAIN SO I DROVE HOME. I TOOK THE ESCAPE TO HENNESSY FORD IN ATLANTA GA, THEY REPORTED TWO ERROR CODES REPORTED INDICATING A FAILED HCU (HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT) AND A FAILED ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT). IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE ECU IS THE "BRAIN" FOR THE HCU. AFTER RESETTING THE SYSTEM AND TEST DRIVING THE ESCAPE, THE CODES APPEARED AGAIN QUICKLY. HENNESSY FORD QUOTED $4100.00 TO REPLACE BOTH THE HCU AND ECU.

NHTSA ODI 11164715

I WAS DRIVING IN ATLANTA, CROSSED RR TRACKS WHILE BREAKING AND ABS AND OTHER LIGHTS FLASHED. AT THE SAME TIME I LOST ALL BREAKING POWER IN MY 2011 ESCAPE HYBRID, THE BREAK PEDAL WHEN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE BREAKS WORKED ENOUGH FOR ME TO STOP THE CAR. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES I STARTED THE ESCAPE BACK UP AND DRIVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT, THE BREAKS SEEMED TO BE WORKING AGAIN SO I DROVE HOME. I TOOK THE ESCAPE TO HENNESSY FORD IN ATLANTA GA, THEY REPORTED TWO ERROR CODES REPORTED INDICATING A FAILED HCU (HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT) AND A FAILED ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT). IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE ECU IS THE "BRAIN" FOR THE HCU. AFTER RESETTING THE SYSTEM AND TEST DRIVING THE ESCAPE, THE CODES APPEARED AGAIN QUICKLY. HENNESSY FORD QUOTED $4100.00 TO REPLACE BOTH THE HCU AND ECU.

NHTSA ODI 11164724

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ABS AND STABILITY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANDY SHAW FORD (1231 E MAIN ST, SYLVA, NC 28779, (828) 586-0900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SENSOR AND COLUMN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,349. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11067107

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMULTANEOUS DEPRESSION OF THE VEHICLE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS RESULTING IN THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS UNCONTROLLABLY DEPENDING ON WHETHER TRAVELING FROM STATIONARY IN REVERSE OR GOING FORWARD. MOST RECENTLY, THIS DEFECT HAS RESULTED IN A TOTAL RIGHT -OFF OF OUR VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR REVERSED INTO A BRICK WALL AS WE WERE BACKING UP SLOWLY FROM A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. LUCKILY, NO INJURY WAS SUSTAINED TO PASSENGERS OR OTHER BY STANDERS BUT IT MOST CERTAINLY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A PASSER BY.

NHTSA ODI 10985584

BRAKES FAIL WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE. PEDAL BECOMES VERY HARD, DOES NOT DEPRESS, AND CAR DOES NOT STOP. HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS, DAILY, ON THE FIRST APPLICATION OF BRAKES IN REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 10969857

WHILE TURNING LEFT, FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, IN A SMALL STRIP MALL PARKING LOT, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND KEPT ACCELERATING. ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO STEER, CAR CRASHED INTO SEVERAL HEDGES, OVER HIGH CURBS, TIRE BLEW OUT, FINALLY STOPPED BY CRASHING INTO TREE 8 PARALLEL FEET FROM GAS PUMP. BRAKES DID NOT SLOW CAR DOWN. NO IDEA WHY.

NHTSA ODI 10896633

I WAS PARKING MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID WHILE MOVING BACK AND FORWARD I NOTICE BRAKE PADDLE JERK AND PADDLE LOST BRAKING POWER.

NHTSA ODI 10734918