2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

74Engine complaints

16.7%Of all 443 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES129 · 29.1%

STEERING107 · 24.2%

ENGINE74 · 16.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63 · 14.2%

POWER TRAIN42 · 9.5%

Share of the 443 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid overview page.

What owners report

“DRIVING VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY @ HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, EXPERIENCED ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER. AMBER WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MOVED TO…”NHTSA complaint 10496689 — filed 02/07/2013

“CAR STARTED AND AFTER BACKING OUT AND MOVING FORWARD, STOP ENGINE NOW MESSAGE CAME ON WITH A RED TRIANGLE ON DASH. SLOWLY MOVED TO A…”NHTSA complaint 10491521 — filed 01/05/2013

“STOP SAFELY NOW-LIGHTS UP AND ENGINE KILLS/QUITS. WILL RESTART AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING VEHICLE ENGINE KILLS CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.”NHTSA complaint 10490135 — filed 12/26/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid: 74 of 443 complaints on file (16.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid have in total?

443 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 1 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.