Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Ford Escape
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Ford Escape has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,974 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V606000 Rebuilt Transmission Shift Lever May Disengage NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15E045000 Front Wheel Bearing has Wrong Dimensions NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V526000 Motor Electronics Coolant Pump Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V284000 Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E043000 AFTERMARKET SEAT COVER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 1,127 complaints
- Power Train 329 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 175 complaints
- Electrical System 136 complaints
- Service Brakes 120 complaints
- Engine 83 complaints
Of the 1,974 complaints on file, 59 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 1,974 complaints, owners report 44 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Ford Escape has a below-average reliability rating, with 1,974 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns. The high number of steering-related complaints is notable, indicating recurring issues. Other notable complaints involve the power train and vehicle speed control. The recall data suggests unresolved issues, but specifics are limited, making it difficult to predict some failure rates or costs accurately.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| transmission | Unknown | $1,200–$3,500 | common |
| vehicle speed control | Unknown | $300–$800 | occasional |
| electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Timing belt inspection
- Tire rotations and alignment
- Battery replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel tightness
- Transmission slipping
- Unexpected acceleration
- Electrical system malfunctions
- Check engine light illumination
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Ford Escape at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.