Model year guide

2006 Ford Escape

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2006 Ford Escape is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 209 on record.

2006 Ford Escape — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2006 Ford Escape at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints720
Combined23 mpg
Typical price$4,198

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2006 Ford Escape recalls 5

Hybrid Propulsion System NHTSA Campaign #14V526000 · 03/09/2014

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.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

Suspension:front:wheel Bearing NHTSA Campaign #15E045000 · 03/06/2015

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 dimensio…

Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift NHTSA Campaign #15V606000 · 29/09/2015

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 lev…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-4…

Equipment NHTSA Campaign #10E043000 · 03/09/2010

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.

Fix: MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor NHTSA Campaign #05V520000 · 09/11/2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2006 Ford Escape common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 720 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2006 Ford Escape MPG & running costs

Combined23 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway24 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2006 Ford Escape worth?

Low
$1,900
Typical price
$4,198
High
$6,450

From 207 comparable 2006 Ford Escape listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2006 Ford Escape costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,000
Depreciation (5 yrs)$2,350
Total$16,350
Per mile$0.22

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($4,198) with the same model 5 model-years older ($1,839), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2006 Ford Escape trims & engines on record

Trims
XLT · XLS · Limited · XLT Sport · 4x4 4c hybrid
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 200 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 153 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 133 hp · 3.0L 6-cyl 240 hp · 3.0L 6-cyl 215 hp

2006 Ford Escape vehicles on record

Other Ford Escape model years

2006 Ford Escape — frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Ford Escape have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2006 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Escape?

Based on 720 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are structure, suspension, steering.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Ford Escape get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2006 Ford Escape at about 23 mpg combined (21 city / 24 highway).

How much is a 2006 Ford Escape worth?

Comparable 2006 Ford Escape listings run roughly $1,900–$6,450, typically around $4,198 (from 207 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.