Model year guide

2008 Ford Escape

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Ford Escape is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 493 on record.

2008 Ford Escape — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Ford Escape at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints2,415
Combined24 mpg
Typical price$6,083

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

2008 Ford Escape recalls 5

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.

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…

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…

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #14V284000 · 29/05/2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for th…

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.

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.

2008 Ford Escape common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 2,415 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

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.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

2008 Ford Escape safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2008 Ford Escape 4-DR. w/SAB (Later release). Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2008 Ford Escape MPG & running costs

Combined24 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,679

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

What's a 2008 Ford Escape worth?

Low
$3,400
Typical price
$6,083
High
$8,800

From 489 comparable 2008 Ford Escape listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Ford Escape costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,395
Depreciation (5 yrs)$3,900
Total$17,295
Per mile$0.23

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 ($6,083) with the same model 5 model-years older ($2,182), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Ford Escape trims & engines on record

Trims
XLT · Limited · XLS · HEV
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 200 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 153 hp · 2.3L 4-cyl 133 hp

2008 Ford Escape vehicles on record

Other Ford Escape model years

2008 Ford Escape — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Ford Escape have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2008 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 2008 Ford Escape?

Based on 2,415 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, engine, power train.

What is the 2008 Ford Escape safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2008 Ford Escape crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2008 Ford Escape get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2008 Ford Escape at about 24 mpg combined (23 city / 26 highway).

How much is a 2008 Ford Escape worth?

Comparable 2008 Ford Escape listings run roughly $3,400–$8,800, typically around $6,083 (from 489 vehicles).

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