2007 Ford Escape Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a sticky accelerator pedal that is hard to press in cold weather, and repeated ABS warning lights traced to cracked tone rings on the front hubs. Transmission complaints are also common, ranging from harsh or delayed shifting to complete loss of drive, and on hybrid versions several owners describe brake system and cooling pump failures. Many reports come in between roughly 50,000 and 120,000 miles, and some problems (pedal sticking, alarm sounding on its own) are described as intermittent and gradual rather than sudden.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Hybrid brake system and cooling pump warnings

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Hybrid owners describe the brake, ABS and service-brake warnings appearing while the pedal becomes hard or travels to the floor and stopping distance increases. Dealers quoted in the complaints diagnosed failed hydraulic brake components with repair estimates in the thousands, and one recall covers the hybrid coolant pump failing and causing electronics to overheat. A separate group of complaints, not hybrid-specific, describes the alarm sounding on its own at all hours, traced in some cases to a door latch or door switch. Brake complaints mostly between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles; alarm complaints spread from about 50,000 to 140,000 miles.

   Recall 14V5260001 related service bulletin

   What to check: On hybrid versions, confirm no brake or ABS warnings appear and that the pedal feels firm; ask about the coolant pump recall 14V526000 being completed. For alarm issues, ask whether door latches or switches have been replaced and check that the horn still works.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hello, I have a 2007 Ford Escape hybrid. The car is in excellent condition inside and out except for the braking system. The braking system has been systematically hard to press the pedal since I have owned it due to being a hybrid, however, the braking system is failing as of 2 days ago. Consistent with many, many other Ford Escape hybrids, the braking system warning lights, ABS warning lights and brake system service warning will sporadically engage on the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395498, filed 2021-02, 142,000 miles

   “Pulled away after a stop sign and reach a speed of about 35 - 40 miles an hour when the engine just shut down. There was no warning and I was fortunate that I was able to pull off the road safely. After the engine cooled down I was able to limp home. The next day I took it into the local Ford dealer and was told the mecs cooling pump and fans had failed. I cannot image what would have happened if I had been on a freeway when this happened. This is a very dangerous defect with the Ford hybrid model. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10462281, filed 2012-06, 100,400 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Cracked ABS tone rings and ABS/4WD lights

   • 44 complaints (17%)
   • median 57,851 mi at 6.5 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2022

   Owners describe the ABS and 4WD warning lights coming on, sometimes right after driving or washing the vehicle, with brakes that feel less responsive or a pedal that goes to the floor. Shops and dealers in the complaints identify a cracked front tone ring (exciter ring) as the cause and replace it, and several owners report the same ring failing again later. A few complaints describe ruptured or corroded brake lines, which dealers or mechanics replaced. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles, with some repeat failures a year or two later.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the ABS and 4WD lights come on only briefly at startup, and ask for service records of tone ring replacements. Have a shop inspect the front brake hoses and lines for cracking or corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2007 Ford Escape. I took it to the car was and my ABS lights and 4wd lights came on. I looked online and found several complaints of tone rings (ABS rings) being cracked. Sure enough my front left tone ring is cracked. I believe it happen on the conveyor at the car was. Still this is a common problem, even Ford dealers (two of them) agree. Why isn't this a recall? Ford is fixing it for $300.”

   NHTSA complaint #10349359, filed 2010-08, 53,456 miles

   “I have a 2007 Ford Escape with 33,000 miles. Both ABS tone rings on the front axle have cracked and are affecting the ABS system. I called Ford and asked if this was a covered warranty claim. Ford gave me a run around. When I google this problem, I located numerous pages of complaints about the same problem (cracked tone rings). This appears to be a safety issue and NHTSA needs to investigate why there are so many failures of this ABS part.”

   NHTSA complaint #10348171, filed 2010-08, 33,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rear shock mount and subframe rust

   • 18 complaints (7%)
   • median 124,500 mi at 12.8 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners describe a thumping or clunking noise from the rear over bumps, and inspections finding heavy corrosion where the rear shock absorber mounts to the body, in some cases with the shock detached or puncturing the wheel well. Complaints also describe rusted subframes and a detached control arm found during state inspections or routine service. Shops in the complaints often advised the vehicle was not safe to drive until repaired. Mostly reported above 70,000 miles, often on older vehicles in states that use road salt.

   What to check: Look underneath at the rear shock towers, wheel wells and subframe for flaking rust or soft metal, and bounce the rear of the vehicle to listen for clunks. Have an independent inspection done before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this car from a 2nd hand dealer and after 2 months I noticed a strange noise from the rear right side. Come to find out, the rust on the under pending of this car was hazardous. The whole body underneath was corroded. One of the shocks was barely holding on. If it has completely snapped, it could have cause a sever accident to me and my 2 year great niece, and injured someone else. First notice of this, I took to the dealer. They took pictures and was going to find a welder. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11230697, filed 2019-07, 170,000 miles

   “At 75,000 miles this vehicle recently failed nh state safety inspection due to excessive rust on the unibody and subframe/ control arm passenger side. The inspection was performed at our local Ford dealership. Otherwise vehicle looks dated but new, taken care of well. Even the original step bars are in good shape with little to no rust.Ford has a recall on the 2001-2004 model years for what appear to be the same issue and will remedy by installing an additional brace. This does not sound like a good/ safe idea to me”

   NHTSA complaint #11374092, filed 2020-11, 75,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Sticky accelerator pedal in cold weather

   • 37 complaints (15%)
   • median 69,075 mi at 4.2 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $383 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2021

   Complaints describe the gas pedal being hard to depress or hanging when outside temperatures drop, typically below about 40-50 degrees F. Owners say the pedal needs extra force, after which the vehicle lurches forward, and some describe the pedal staying down until it is worked loose. Dealers quoted in the complaints commonly cleaned or replaced the throttle body after finding carbon buildup, and one bulletin covers a service clip for the accelerator cable-to-pedal connection. Reported across a wide mileage range, often from under 50,000 to about 130,000 miles, and repeatedly tied to cold-weather starts.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a cold morning, press the pedal slowly from a stop and feel for binding or a hard first inch. Ask whether the throttle body was ever cleaned or replaced and whether the accelerator cable clip bulletin was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 Ford Escape gas pedal sticks when temperature is below 40 degrees or so. Pedal requires extra force to engage, then vehicle will leap forward from the extra gas. Safety is compromised by this. Accelerator sticks every time the pedal is pressed when temperature is cold.”

   NHTSA complaint #10375245, filed 2011-01, 35,000 miles

   “The gas pedal sticks often, and feels as if something is under the pedal, stopping it from being depressed. This causes sudden reduction of speed and then sudden acceleration when pressing hard to get the pedal to go down. Ford previously recalled throttle body's in escapes from 2009-2012. I believe the 2007 Ford Escape model should be added to that recall! This is a true safety problem! Mine has being doing this for about a month and has gotten way worse so it will need to be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11045124, filed 2017-11, 125,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, harsh shifting and loss of drive

   • 30 complaints (12%)
   • median 78,805 mi at 8.5 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2023

   Complaints describe shuddering, grinding or vibration while slowing to a stop, delayed or harsh shifts, a whining noise at highway speed, and in some cases the vehicle dropping to a low speed or losing drive entirely. Owners report codes for the torque converter clutch being read, and shops diagnosed the transmission as needing replacement or rebuild. A service bulletin for this transmission notes some vehicles lose 2nd and 4th gear. Typically reported from about 60,000 to 130,000 miles, often appearing first as vibration when coming to a stop.

   Recall 15V6060001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive at steady highway speed and listen for whining, then slow to a stop and feel for shudder or a clunk. Ask whether the transmission has been rebuilt or replaced, and whether any diagnostic codes were cleared.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I'm driving my vehicle & making left turns it makes a loud noise. To me it sounds like the transmission just fell out. I'm enclosing some documents of recalls that I've found. My truck is also rusting out so bad that when I put my grandson in his car seat, the legs of my pants get caught on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11291899, filed 2019-12, 140,000 miles

   “Was driving on interstate without any issues as I was exiting interstate and stationary at red light vehicle begain to shake and vibrate making a grinding nose and vehicle stalled. Restarted vehicle and in motion was fine as I begin to slow down and stop to make left turn on to my road vehicle again begain to shake and vibrate and almost stalled again. Problem as been be diagnosed as bad transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #10851319, filed 2016-03, 87,900 miles

Buying note. These reports cluster around the accelerator pedal in cold weather, ABS tone rings, transmission behavior and rear-body rust, so a pre-purchase inspection that covers the brakes, rear underbody and transmission is worthwhile. Ask for service records covering throttle body work, tone ring replacement and any transmission repair, and confirm whether open recalls apply to the specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.