2006 Ford Escape Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Escape. Part of Generation 1 — 2001–2007.

20052007
Complaints
627
per 10K Sold
39.8
US Sales
157,395
Crashes
26
Fires
10
Injuries
38
Fatalities
3
Recalls
2

Worst 2006 Ford Escape Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#192 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:78,785 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:3
#260 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:109,098 mi
Crash-related:2
#355 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:92,505 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Ford Escape.

Unintended Acceleration
92
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Avg Miles
78,785
Suspension Failures
60
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
109,098
Transmission / Drivetrain
55
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,505
Engine Problems
47
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
103,926
Body Structure
45
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
133,563
Brakes
41
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
103,091
Electrical Faults
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
108,713
Automatic Transmission
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,009
Steering Defects
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
83,984
Fuel System
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
103,765
Gasoline Fuel System
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
74,911
Wheel Issues
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
96,501
Hydraulic Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,718
Engine & Cooling
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
77,792
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
85,150
Visibility
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
74,229
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
42,790
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
26,111
Service Brakes, Electric
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
47,935
Side/Rear Glass
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,595
Structural Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,554
Structure:Frame And Members
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
109,600
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2006 Ford Escape

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~70,266 vehicles.

15V606000Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
~57 affected

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 transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.

14V526000Hybrid Propulsion System
~70,209 affected

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 coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.

Other Ford Escape Years

2006 Ford Escape — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2006 Ford Escape reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2006 Ford Escape has 627 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 92 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2006 Ford Escape?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (92 complaints, avg 78,785 mi); Suspension Failures (60 complaints, avg 109,098 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (55 complaints, avg 92,505 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 2006 Ford Escape?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 92,752 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2006 Ford Escape?
NHTSA complaints for the 2006 Ford Escape include 26 crash-related reports, 10 fire reports, 38 injuries, and 3 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 2006 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 70,266 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2006 Ford Escape?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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