2006 Ford Escape Reliability
The 2006 Ford Escape has 720 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and speed control / throttle. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2004–2008), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Escape's typical year, while the 2008 drew 2,417 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
720
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
23
Complaints citing a crash
10
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Ford Escape complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2005 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 172 | 24% |
| Speed control / throttle | 119 | 17% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 100 | 14% |
| Engine | 92 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 79 | 11% |
| Suspension | 75 | 10% |
| Body structure | 72 | 10% |
| Steering | 48 | 7% |
2006 Ford Escape recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05V520000 | Nov 9, 2005 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor | On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear. |
| 10E043000 | Sep 3, 2010 | Equipment | Marathon is recalling certain seat covers, brand superhides with part numbers 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, and 630, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These seat covers are made of heavier thread and… |
| 14V526000 | Sep 3, 2014 | Hybrid propulsion system | 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… |
| 15E045000 | Jun 3, 2015 | Suspension — front / wheel bearing | 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… |
| 15V606000 | Sep 29, 2015 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / floor shift | 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… |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Escape years
Verdicts compare these Escape model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 499 | 8 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2005 | 1,584 | 5 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2006 (this page) | 720 | 5 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2007 | 393 | 4 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2008 | 2,417 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Ford Escape
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Ford Escape can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Ford Escape reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2006 Ford Escape has 720 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and speed control / throttle. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2004–2008), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Escape's typical year, while the 2008 drew 2,417 complaints.
What are the most common 2006 Ford Escape problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Escape are service brakes (172), speed control / throttle (119), powertrain / transmission (100), engine (92). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Ford Escape have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2006 Ford Escape, including 05V520000 (visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor) and 10E043000 (equipment). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Ford Escape compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 1,584 complaints and 5 recalls (caution); the 2007 has 393 complaints and 4 recalls (solid). The 2006 has 720 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Ford Escape?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Escape research
Other Ford Escape model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Escape, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.