2008 Ford Escape reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2008 Ford Escape — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,403
- 205 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 1,107 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 80 reported crashes · 74 injuries · 9 fires
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
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
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. Data as of 2026. 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?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.