2006 FORD ESCAPE Complaints and Recall Information
The 2006 FORD ESCAPE has 5 complaints and 5 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues with the idler pulley failing, causing the serpentine belt to dislodge and resulting in loss of power steering and vehicle shutdown. Other common complaints include steering system malfunctions and sunroofs breaking without impact.
Common Issues- Idler pulley failure. The mounting bolt shears, causing the serpentine belt to fail or dislodge, which stops the steering, alternator, and water pump. This results in difficult handling and potential vehicle shutdown. Replacement pulleys fail after 4000-5000 miles.
- Steering system malfunction. The electronic rack and pinion assembly electrical harness connector corrodes, triggering steering warnings and requiring costly repairs to resolve the electrical issue.
- Sunroof shattering. The sunroof glass has shattered multiple times with no impact, possibly due to heat exposure.
There are 5 recalls addressing various defects in equipment, hybrid propulsion, transmission, and suspension systems. These recalls affect safety, drivability, and component proper function.
Recalls- Seat covers (Recall 10E043000). Aftermarket seat covers sold as Marathon Superhides may interfere with side airbag deployment. About 294 vehicles affected. The defect risks serious injury in a crash. Owners are notified for free seat cover replacement.
- Hybrid cooling pump (Recall 14V526000). The coolant pump in the hybrid system may fail, causing hybrid electronics to overheat and shut down the powertrain. 70,209 vehicles affected. This can cause stalling and increase crash risk. Ford will replace the pump free of charge.
- Transmission shift lever bolt (Recall 15V606000). The shift lever bolt might be loose on remanufactured CD4E transmissions, leading to shift lever disengagement. 57 vehicles affected. The gear indicator may falsely show "PARK" while the transmission is not engaged, risking vehicle rollaway. Dealers will inspect and repair free of charge.
- Transmission gear position indication (Recall 15V606000). Same as above recall affecting the PRNDL gear position display and shift lever disengagement risk. Repair and inspection provided at no cost.
- Front wheel bearing (Recall 15E045000). Incorrectly sized aftermarket front wheel bearings sold as service parts can impair braking and steering stability. 576 vehicles affected. Timken will replace affected bearings free of charge.
Owners facing repeated repairs related to the pulley, steering defects, or unresolved recall issues may want to review their rights under state lemon laws. These laws provide potential remedies for consumers with ongoing safety or mechanical problems.
2006 FORD ESCAPE Summary
2006
Model Year
5
Total Complaints
4
Total Recalls
71136
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2006 FORD ESCAPE
57 vehicles affected
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
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 position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
2006 FORD ESCAPE
576 vehicles affected
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
2006 FORD ESCAPE
70209 vehicles affected
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
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.
2006 FORD ESCAPE
294 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Risk: AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
Complaints
2006 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2096353VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Sunroof on the vehicle just shattered. No impact related cause. Maybe heat.
2006 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2096352UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sunroof on the vehicle just shattered. No impact related cause. Maybe heat.
2006 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2096351STRUCTURE:BODY
Sunroof on the vehicle just shattered. No impact related cause. Maybe heat.
2006 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2093422STEERING
I was driving on the highway, when the car steering started to pull to the left, and an alarm chime was heard from the dash, and a wrench light on the dash came on, as well as a service steering system soon message appeared on the message display. This happened multiple times. I contacted the local Midland Ford Dealer about this issue, as they had replaced the Electronic Rack & Pinion Assembly previously. The same dealer diagnosed the problem as a corroded electrical connection in the harness connector, to the Electronic Rack & Pinion Assembly. I was hoping that they would have covered this issue under a warranty, seeing as they replaced the Rack & Pinion, and that did not fix the original problem. I was charged $624.00 to have the problem diagnosed and the Electronic Rack & Pinion electrical harness connector replaced. The problem has not reoccurred since this repair was done. I am wondering if other 2006 or after Ford Escape vehicles have experienced this same dangerous condition?.
2006 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2059158ENGINE
The idler pulley on the subject vehicle has failed numerous times, with the mounting bolt shearing at the connection to the timing cover. Upon failure of the pulley the serpentine belt will either fail or become dislodged; when this occurs the steering, alternator, and water pump all stop operating. The vehicle becomes difficult to handle due to the loss of power steering, and is subject to shutting off due to the lack of an alternator and water pump. This particular issue has happened to me on four separate occasions in the last two years; the first time occurred while operating in traffic; the subsequent occasions were noted during startup and were detected before driving. New replacement pulleys will only last approximately 4000-5000 miles before they fail. The power steering pump and air conditioning compressor have been replaced due to concerns that they could be placing extra strain on the serpentine belt, however the issue has occurred even after replacing these components. Internet research notes that this is a common problem of the 2.3L engine in the Escape and other Ford/Mercury models of the same time frame. Nobody has reported a permanent solution; later model vehicles using the same or similar issue came equipped with electric power steering, which likely reduced the load on the pulley and its undersized mounting bolt. The idler pulley on this vehicle has proven to be an Achilles heel and should have been addressed by Ford via a recall and redesigned pulley.