repaired · 2017 Q1
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear…
2006 Ford EscapeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 464 owner complaints about the 2006 Ford Escape, most often about the vehicle speed control. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-606 the manufacturer reports only 21% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 Ford Escape has problems
464 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
99Vehicle speed control5 crash/fire/injury
80Power train1 crash/fire/injury
65Suspension3 crash/fire/injury
63Structure2 crash/fire/injury
47Engine4 crash/fire/injury
41Service brakes4 crash/fire/injury
34Electrical system
21Engine and engine cooling
20Service brakes, hydraulic
14118 other systems20 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 99 | 5 |
| Power train | 80 | 1 |
| Suspension | 65 | 3 |
| Structure | 63 | 2 |
| Engine | 47 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 41 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 34 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 21 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 20 | 0 |
| 18 other systems | 141 | 20 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2006 Ford Escape recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q1
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Windshield wiper/washer: motor
Risk. AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do vehicle speed control problems start?
70kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 89 vehicle speed control complaints. 72% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles64under 100k miles25100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
8 owners mentioned a cost$2,100median
Middle half: $925 – $2,850
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other Escape year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escape median. How we score
9961,0275584991,3944642541,9741,6932,0711,3206042,7532,0911,1481,1922,7101,8336041,62135623810278263
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2006 Ford Escape safety ratings
2006 Ford Escape 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (20.9% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2006 Ford Escape, and the recalls they led to.
- Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionNo recall
In owners' words
What Escape owners report
Recent vehicle speed control complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle started to lose motive power. Additionally, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal remained floored after being depressed. The contact drove…
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was sticking while being depressed. The contact had to continually depress the pedal to release the accelerator pedal. The failure occurred mostly during cold temperatures. There were no warning lights illuminated.…
06 Ford Escape, 4 cylinder, front wheel drive. The gas pedal sticks and won’t accelerate when the vehicle is colder. Today I was on the road in traffic and went to hit the gas and gain some speed as I was still under the speed limit after slowing down behind a car that was turning and the pedal was…
Own a 2006 Escape?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.