2008 Ford Escape Engine Problems
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2008 Ford Escape, 4% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 85,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “throttle body” (13% of reports).
- 83engine complaints
- 85,500median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Throttle body: mentioned in 11 of 83 complaints (13%)
- Stop safely: mentioned in 5 of 83 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 76 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 83 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Ford Escape engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape | 2 | 67% | — |
| 2025 Escape | 5 | 19% | — |
| 2024 Escape | 13 | 17% | 4,092 |
| 2023 Escape | 28 | 28% | 6,200 |
| 2022 Escape | 33 | 14% | 39,200 |
| 2021 Escape | 44 | 13% | 79,000 |
| 2020 Escape | 121 | 8% | 65,500 |
| 2019 Escape | 316 | 53% | 61,194 |
| 2018 Escape | 1,164 | 64% | 78,667 |
| 2017 Escape | 1,578 | 59% | 70,000 |
| 2016 Escape | 200 | 17% | 64,000 |
| 2015 Escape | 239 | 21% | 74,000 |
| 2014 Escape | 727 | 35% | 74,000 |
| 2013 Escape | 1,265 | 46% | 75,000 |
| 2012 Escape | 73 | 12% | 40,500 |
| 2011 Escape | 248 | 19% | 47,102 |
| 2010 Escape | 493 | 24% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Escape | 254 | 15% | 70,167 |
| 2008 Escape | 83 | 4% | 85,500 |
| 2007 Escape | 25 | 10% | 100,400 |
| 2006 Escape | 47 | 10% | 93,000 |
| 2005 Escape | 130 | 9% | 113,000 |
| 2004 Escape | 31 | 6% | 109,748 |
| 2003 Escape | 24 | 4% | 127,413 |
| 2002 Escape | 36 | 4% | 150,000 |
| 2001 Escape | 27 | 3% | 125,436 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2008 Ford Escape. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Check engine light keeps flashing, car vibration, bad head gasket, oil and fluid leak
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Power Steering Assist Fault," message displayed; after which, the driver became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased…
The contact called on behalf of his girlfriend who owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was firm and difficult to maneuver. After coming to a stop, the failure progressed, and the steering wheel became extremely firm. The check engine…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Ford Escapes have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 83 owner complaints about engine for the 2008 Ford Escape (4% of the 1,974 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Ford Escape engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 85,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2008 Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “throttle body”, in 11 of 83 complaints, followed by “stop safely” (5).
Other 2008 Ford Escape problems
- Steering problems (1,127)
- Power Train problems (329)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (175)
- Electrical System problems (136)
- Service Brakes problems (120)
See all 2008 Ford Escape problems or engine problems across all Escape years.