2008 Ford Escape electrical system problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 11, 2025CAElectrical System

   driving down the road and out of nowhere all the dash light come on, the speedometer and rpm all go to zero. I am able to still control the car and drive down, the only thing that won’t work besides the dash cluster is the air conditioning. Hitting a bump or smacking the dash normally turns off the dash light and I can see my speed and rpm’s again. I took it to ford for them to diagnose and they said the dash cluster is what’s bad. It’s very scary to drive because the lights…

   NHTSA complaint #11686741 · source
2. Filed Jul 29, 2025GAElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain

   Hazard flashers turn on by themselves any rime night or day even while driving. Transmission oil cooler leaks. Transmission shift lever bushing in shift cable broke [ Thankfully while not on the road ] This car only has 25,000 miles on it

   NHTSA complaint #11676907 · source
3. Filed Jun 25, 2025148,000 miKS1 injuredBody & StructureElectrical System

   The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon arriving to her destination and pulling into a parking lot, after shifting the vehicle into park(P), the vehicle inadvertently lost electrical power and all electrical functionality, and the contact became locked inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to exit the vehicle and suffered heat strokes during a hot summer day. No…

   NHTSA complaint #11669247 · source
4. Filed Mar 2, 2025AZElectrical SystemSteeringTransmission & Drivetrain

   While the person was driving the wheel suddenly became stiff and very difficult to turn but luckily was in his neighborhood to park it. This could have been a very deadly crash if it happened anywhere else or suddenly on the main road. The person could have been seriously injured due to this malfunction or other people as well. This problem has been confirmed by ford and they issued a recall in 2014 for this exact same issue. The issue with the recall is my vehicle was…

   NHTSA complaint #11645830 · source
5. Filed Jan 22, 2025OHElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   The vehicle frequently shuts down with a stop safely now light displaying on the dash. Gives maybe a 5-10 second warning before the vehicle is immobile. Has not caused an accident for us but has occurred abruptly on busy roads increasing the risk of one. However, it usually occurs when idling in a drive through or light etc. The vehicle also frequently does something that causes the clock and date to reset to 2004. This seems to always occur between drives overnight.

   NHTSA complaint #11637731 · source
6. Filed Jan 2, 2024INElectrical SystemSteering

   I’ve bought this 08 escape from a mechanic shop out right as is… had to problems with it at all until a couple of months my steering wheel started to shake, then it got worse to the point where I had to put a firm grip on the wheel, looked it up and did some research on it apparently there was a recall on this a while back due because of the power steering motor,

   NHTSA complaint #11563181 · source
7. Filed Dec 19, 2022CAElectrical SystemSteering

   Electric power steering system not working causing the vehicle to default to manual steering which makes the vehicle extremely hard to drive. My safety is at risk because I do not have sufficient control of the steering of the vehicle. The car has been inspected by the dealership. There were no signs or lamps prior to the problem starting.

   NHTSA complaint #11498001 · source
8. Filed Aug 19, 2022MIElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   I have been having problems with the ignition switch for a few months . At times my car wont start. Everything comes on. It feels very loose and having to push in the key and turn is very difficult and hurts my hand. Plus the alarm button gets pressed when i turn the key.. I have to turn key on and off while pushing key into ignition several times and pray that it will crank. I have had no other issues or repairs that are needed. I now have my car in the shop to replace the…

   NHTSA complaint #11480102 · source
9. Filed Feb 6, 2022ARElectrical SystemSteering

   My 2008 Ford Escape XLT electrical power steering will stop working while driving the vehicle. It is available for an inspection at anytime. The safety issue is the car is next to impossible to steer once it stops working. My wife just missed running into a power pole while driving in a roundabout when it stopped working while she was driving it. It has happened more then this one time. If it happens at low speed it’s even harder to steer. I called a recall number to see if…

   NHTSA complaint #11450704 · source
10. Filed Apr 10, 2021132,500 miKSElectrical SystemSteering

    I started my vehicle and i got a warning beep saw the display saying power steering assist fault. My steering wheel was vibrating and a loud motor type noise was sounding. I would drive and i could feel the steering wheel shimmy while driving. The next day i started my car and display showed right away the power steering assist default. And i had no power steering from then on. Other 2008s had recalls for power steering but my vin was not on the list for recalls

    NHTSA complaint #11407433 · source
11. Filed Mar 8, 202188,611 miCAElectrical SystemOther / UnknownSteering

    Red battery light came on. All accessories went off and the car wouldn't start again. I just replaced my 12v battery the night before. The car had been driven 2 miles, at most. The brand new battery had been in the car less than 24 hours. I had no steering capability as my steering wheel locked up. I couldn't shift. The brake pedal pushed my foot back like it was "pumping" my foot. Put another fully charged battery into my car and started right up. Drove home and as i was…

    NHTSA complaint #11399698 · source
12. Filed Oct 1, 2020120,000 miFLFireElectrical SystemLighting

    Vehicle fire. Fire started in area of driver's side taillight while vehicle was idling in a parking lot. Suspected electrical short.

    NHTSA complaint #11362212 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology