2010 Ford Escape Hybrid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report sudden loss of power steering assist, and a second cluster of complaints describes loss of power braking with a pedal that goes to the floor. Many sampled complaints also describe stalling or loss of acceleration associated with the throttle body. Reports span a wide mileage range, from roughly 25,000 to over 200,000 miles, and some owners note that a steering recall did not cover their vehicle.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out

   • 17 complaints (29%)
   • median 120,012 mi at 8.3 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2024

   Owners describe the power steering assist fault message appearing and the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn, sometimes while driving and sometimes right after startup. Several say turning the vehicle off and restarting restored assist temporarily, and some report the problem returning repeatedly. Complaints describe dealers replacing the steering column or power steering control module, and some owners state their vehicle was not included in a steering recall despite a similar symptom. Reported from about 23,000 miles up to over 200,000 miles, with many reports above 90,000 miles and some occurring in cold weather.

   What to check: On a test drive, confirm the steering assist warning does not appear at startup and that steering effort feels normal at low speed. Ask whether the steering column or power steering control module has been replaced and whether any steering recall repair was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering stops with no warning. It first happened in 2011 with 27,259 miles and the dealership replaced the power steering column/module assy. It is happening again. There is a recall, but the dealership said our car was not part of that recall and they couldn't get the code to come up so they did nothing! This last time, my young daughter was driving!”

   NHTSA complaint #10605638, filed 2014-06, 89,656 miles

   “The steering wheel became hard to operate when I started it up and began to drive. This now happens on occasion when the vehicle is started. There is no way to know when it may get worse and fail during a turn or at high speed. I have seen many complaints of this same problem from this same make and model online.”

   NHTSA complaint #10508785, filed 2013-04, 120,012 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Stalling and loss of acceleration (throttle body)

   • 22 complaints (37%)
   • median 61,750 mi at 4.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners describe the wrench or service engine light appearing along with sudden loss of power or acceleration, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes when pulling away from a stop. Many say restarting the vehicle restored normal operation, at least temporarily. Complaints frequently state that a dealer diagnosed and replaced the electronic throttle body, and several mention the part being on back order. Mostly reported between about 26,000 and 110,000 miles, with several reports under 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the electronic throttle body has been replaced and whether any stored codes were found. Note during a test drive whether the wrench light appears or the engine hesitates under acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving 40 MPH and my car just stalled. Car stuttered, quit and wrench light came on. Luckily it was a sunday morning and roads weren't to busy. I coasted to a side road, pulled over, waited a couple minutes and restarted. I just bought this used 2010 Ford escape limited a week ago. I guess I should have googled the vehicle sooner. :(”

   NHTSA complaint #10544827, filed 2013-09, 139,000 miles

   “On sunday, april 22, 2018, while ascending a grade on the pacific coast highway in newport beach, ca, the 'yellow wrench' warning light on my 2010 Ford escape suddenly illuminated and the vehicle rapidly deaccelerated and did not respond to the throttle. At that moment I was in the left lane of a 3-lane highway with other vehicles approaching from behind and passing at 50 MPH. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11090788, filed 2018-04, 68,630 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor, reduced braking

   • 14 complaints (24%)
   • median 56,750 mi at 6.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2022

   Complaints describe warning chimes and a check brake system message, followed by the brake pedal traveling nearly to the floor and requiring heavy pressure to slow the vehicle. Owners report the condition appearing while driving at ordinary speeds and sometimes clearing after a restart before returning. Dealers according to the complaints replaced the ABS module, brake booster assembly, or hydraulic control unit, and some owners report repeat occurrences. Mostly reported between about 27,000 and 110,000 miles, with several repeat failures within months of a repair.

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS module, brake booster, or hydraulic control unit has been replaced and request service records. During the test drive, check that the pedal feels firm and that no brake warning lights or chimes appear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was turning a corner when the car chimed three times. I thought perhaps my wife had failed to buckle her seat belt. I asked her and she said no, she had. I looked down and the dashboard had a red indicator of a brake failure and instead of the mileage it said check brakes . When I did there was a brake failure - only by pumping really hard could I stop the car. I drove about a mile home carefully. This is the fourth brake failure. I will never drive the car again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10616571, filed 2014-07, 38,800 miles

   “In heavy, slow traffic northbound in right lane on I-93 south expressway in boston first saw check braking systems message, then engine quit and I had no brakes. Was able to pull over to shoulder and stopped car with the emergency brake. Aaa towed us to hotel, sentry Ford in medford, ma took car from there to dealership service department. They informed me that the brake booster assembly was not covered, since car was about 4 mos. Past warranty. Total bill $1617.33. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10497743, filed 2013-02, 30,963 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Lunging or hesitation at low speed

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2016

   A smaller group of complaints describes the vehicle lunging forward unexpectedly, including while parking and while braking in a driveway. Others describe the engine revving without the vehicle moving, or hesitation and jerking when accelerating from a stop. Some owners link these episodes to a throttle body diagnosis, while others report the dealer could not reproduce the condition. Reported between about 27,000 and 90,000 miles, often during low-speed maneuvering or parking.

   What to check: Test low-speed maneuvering and parking in a safe area and note any unexpected surge, hesitation, or revving. Ask whether throttle body or pedal sensor work has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just finished a right turn and accelerated to continue down the street when my vehicle began to shake and then suddenly stalled. Then engine continued to rev up/down as I tried to get my vehicle to move out of the traffic lane but it would not go in reverse or drive. When I put my vehicle in park, then engine continued to rev up/down for almost half an hour before being shut off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10524458, filed 2013-07, 75,256 miles

   “I was at a red light and I went to excel forward, I got to about 5 or 10 MPH the car jerked forward then stopped getting gas. I pushed the pedal and it just kept jerking. It was pouring rain out and I was not near a shoulder to pull over. I had to put my hazards on and call a tow truck. It was horrifying, cars were whizzing by and I had my 6 month old son in the car with me, I was trembling. Once it was towed to the Ford store they called me and told me it was my throttle body. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10523197, filed 2013-07, 43,130 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the power steering and brake systems, including a scan for stored codes, since both are described in complaints as intermittent. Ask for service records showing whether the throttle body, steering column, or brake control module has already been replaced.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.