2008 Ford Escape Reliability
The 2008 Ford Escape has 2,417 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2006–2010), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Escape's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
2,417
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
72
Complaints citing a crash
7
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Ford Escape complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2007 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,237 | 51% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 372 | 15% |
| Service brakes | 292 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 200 | 8% |
| Speed control / throttle | 200 | 8% |
| Engine | 157 | 6% |
| Engine & cooling | 75 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 68 | 3% |
2008 Ford Escape recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| 14V284000 | May 29, 2014 | Steering — electric power assist system | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect… |
| 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 2008 compares with nearby Escape years
Verdicts compare these Escape model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 720 | 5 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2007 | 393 | 4 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2008 (this page) | 2,417 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2009 | 1,846 | 3 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 | 2,130 | 5 | Speed control / throttle | 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 2008 Ford Escape
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- 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.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- 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 2008 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.
2008 Ford Escape reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2008 Ford Escape has 2,417 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2006–2010), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Escape's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2008 Ford Escape problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Escape are steering (1,237), powertrain / transmission (372), service brakes (292), electrical system (200). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Ford Escape have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford Escape, including 10E043000 (equipment) and 14V284000 (steering — electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Ford Escape compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 393 complaints and 4 recalls (solid); the 2009 has 1,846 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2008 has 2,417 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 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 2008 Escape, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.