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2008 Ford Escape Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 5 NHTSA recalls and 2,415 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
20/100

Avoid This Year — 2008 Ford Escape

The 2008 Ford Escape is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

5
NHTSA Recalls
5 recalls on record
2,415
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
72
Crashes + Injuries
7 fire reports

Own or buying a 2008 Ford Escape?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2008 Ford Escape (5)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15E045000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V526000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15V606000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V284000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #10E043000
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Most Common Problems — 2008 Ford Escape

Based on 2,415 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Steering
1233
Power Train
316
Service Brakes
248
Vehicle Speed Control
138
Electrical System
102
Engine And Engine Cooling
72
Engine
60
Unknown Or Other
39
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Ford Escape — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2008 model year is highlighted.

2010 2,127 complaints 2011 1,312 complaints 2012 598 complaints

✅ Best model years: 2012 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2008 Ford Escape

Is the 2008 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2008 Ford Escape has 5 recalls and 2,415 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Escape have?
The 2008 Ford Escape has 5 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2008 Ford Escape are: Steering, Power Train, Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2008 Ford Escape safe to buy?
The 2008 Ford Escape has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 5 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Escape should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Escape are: 2012. These show the lowest complaint rates.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.