Complaints
583
Crashes
18
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1129 complaints
Brakes
Avg mileage:126,557 mi
Crash-related:7
#2107 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:146,669 mi
Crash-related:2
#373 complaints
Engine Problems
Avg mileage:89,133 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 129 | 7 | — | 126,557 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 107 | 2 | — | 146,669 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 73 | 2 | — | 89,133 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 63 | — | — | 92,342 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 42 | — | 1 | 84,799 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 29 | — | — | 72,397 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 25 | 2 | — | 76,427 mi | |
| Fuel System | 21 | 1 | — | 81,583 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 18 | — | — | 56,874 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 9 | — | — | 120,364 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 | — | — | 55,359 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Diesel Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 1 | — | — | — |
Brakes
129
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
126,557
Steering Defects
107
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
146,669
Engine Problems
73
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,133
Electrical Faults
63
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,342
Transmission / Drivetrain
42
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
84,799
Engine & Cooling
29
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,397
Unintended Acceleration
25
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,427
Fuel System
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
81,583
Hydraulic Brakes
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,874
Electronic Stability Control
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,364
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,359
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hybrid Propulsion System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Diesel Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Escape Hybrid Years
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid has 583 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Brakes with 129 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid?
Top reported problems: Brakes (129 complaints, avg 126,557 mi); Steering Defects (107 complaints, avg 146,669 mi); Engine Problems (73 complaints, avg 89,133 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 107,310 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid include 18 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape Hybrid reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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