2008 Ford Escape reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford Escape from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,403
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 1,107 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 80 reported crashes · 74 injuries · 9 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#48
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
+2,066
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 2006-2010
+2,131
median 272 complaints in 785 records
Top component share
46%
Steering: 1,107 complaints
What owners report fails — 2008 Ford Escape
- STEERING 1,107
- POWER TRAIN 222
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 168
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 127
- SERVICE BRAKES 120
3 recalls on record for the 2008 Ford Escape
- NHTSA 15V606000 · 2015 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated sh
- NHTSA 14V284000 · 2014 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing
- NHTSA 14V526000 · 2014 · HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increa
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 Ford Escape
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2008 Ford Escape units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Ford Escape reliable?
NHTSA has 2,403 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Ford Escape and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (1,107 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Ford Escape units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Escape?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (1,107), power train (222), vehicle speed control (168), electrical system (127). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2008 Ford Escape?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2008 Ford Escape. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.