2nd generation · CD2 (revised) · 10,603 complaints, 8,940 with mileage
Owners filed 10,603 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008–2012 Ford Escape, and 8,940 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 45,000 and 108,000 miles. The median is 68,391 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (27.6% of complaints, typically around 115,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (13.9% of complaints, typically around 54,000 miles), throttle and speed control (12.5% of complaints, typically around 54,300 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2,929 | 27.6% | 115,000 | 86,456–146,266 |
| Power Train | 1,479 | 13.9% | 54,000 | 39,110–76,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1,330 | 12.5% | 54,300 | 41,000–73,210 |
| Engine | 1,150 | 10.8% | 55,000 | 42,000–74,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 981 | 9.3% | 56,895 | 42,067–78,000 |
| Electrical System | 654 | 6.2% | 68,000 | 45,895–106,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 303 | 2.9% | 79,000 | 46,000–125,000 |
| Service Brakes | 297 | 2.8% | 100,000 | 70,000–137,000 |
| Structure | 277 | 2.6% | 67,000 | 40,000–103,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 239 | 2.3% | 60,000 | 45,000–85,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2,404 | 2,065 |
| 2009 | 2,348 | 1,976 |
| 2010 | 3,185 | 2,778 |
| 2011 | 1,874 | 1,560 |
| 2012 | 792 | 561 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 68,391 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 27.6% of complaints (2,929 reports, 2,335 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 115,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 86,456 and 146,266 miles.
A single system taking 27.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 13.9% of complaints (1,479 reports, 1,373 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,110 and 76,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 12.5% of complaints (1,330 reports, 1,273 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,300 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 73,210 miles.
The engine accounts for 10.8% of complaints (1,150 reports, 1,085 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 74,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 9.3% of complaints (981 reports, 727 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,895 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,067 and 78,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.2% of complaints (654 reports, 551 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,895 and 106,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2010 model year drew the most — 3,185 complaints — while 2012 drew the fewest at 792. The median year sits at 2,348.
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (2), the fuel system (1), the hybrid propulsion system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 10,603 complaints filed against this generation, 287 reported a crash; 30 reported a fire; 241 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 2.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 45,000 and 108,000 miles, with a median of 68,391. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 54,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
6F35 6-speed automatic: torque converter shudder, and left-hand halfshaft seal leaks that drain fluid and burn the clutches.
Electronic throttle body failures put the vehicle into reduced-power limp mode without warning.
Electric power steering assist can be lost intermittently, requiring steering gear replacement.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 16V777000 | 2017-11-06 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump |
| 15V606000 | 2015-10-23 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift |
| 14V526000 | 2014-10-30 | Hybrid Propulsion System |
| 14V284000 | 2014-07-18 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System |
| 10V222000 | 2010-05-28 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission |