2005 Ford Escape: engine stalls while driving

Filed Dec 3, 2025 · Brakes · CA

I had just started up my 05 Ford hybrid Escape reversed out of a parking space, applied my brakes and a loud warning noise went off, the ABS light & the Brake light went on, then I tried to brake while backing out of the parking stall. I had no brakes, petal went all the way to the floor. I shifted into drive to pull forward. The car wouldn’t stop petal just went right to the floor, had very little resistance. I almost drove through the front glass doors of the P/T office across from the pharmacy in Cool, CA. The roads are mountainous windy and steep. I was definitely scared for my safety. I had to coast very slowly on the way home. I was on my way to work but instead I dropped it off at home and called ride share to take me to work! I had to use my emergency brake to make the turn up my dirt road. I still had little to no brakes to stop the car. I parked it and haven’t driven it since. Much to dangerous to drive this car. I could have easily been killed not having brakes. It Showed no codes, had no warning at all. I just bought the car about 6 months prior. The next day it was as if it never happened.

Filed May 14, 2023 · Fuel system, Transmission · MN

Stalled out while driving down hwy. At 70 mph. Cars swirved and I almost got hit from behind due to my vehicle just cutting out. No warning lights came on it just shut off battery light n engine light then came on after vehicle lost power and I had to get off road without causing an accident which almost occurred due to the speed and area I was driving at time vehicle cut out I still have not figured out why it just cut out. Very dangerous all around.

Filed Oct 29, 2022 · Electrical, Fuel system · CA

Drove vehicle to drop off dog at sitters, started vehicle began to make u-turn and vehicle stalled. Attempted to restart, cranks but won't run. Recently purchased from used car dealer, new battery was installed, no trouble up to this point. Began checking usual problems, fuel delivery, crank pos.sensor, cam pos sensor, have no spark. Upon further research this appears to be faulty coils, spark plugs and pcm from factory but no recall has been employed. Possibility of collision during u-turn very likely. Loss of power to all systems could cause extreme risk to life at higher speeds. Ford Motor Company is aware of this problem, with the high number of similar problems in the federal safety agency data base it is impossible for them not to know. the federal safety agency should force Ford to fix this. If you make a product that can be dangerous if faulty, you are responsible to the public to do the right thing. I think that if the governmental agency responsible for traffic safety won't do their job then a class action lawsuit should be started. I bet I could find a good lawyer in the SF Bay area.

Filed Apr 29, 2022 · FL

This is 2nd time this week car gives no warning, stalls, shuts down while driving for no reason. Happened to a friend about 1 mile from our home. Just totally shuts down. After about up to 10 minutes, able to restart and return home, was mid morning. Last night at 9pm we were driving down about 1 mile from home, no warning and stalled and shut down. We were terrified, was pitch black, no lights and almost ran off into a ditch! Had to used the light on my phone to shine in case traffic was coming. After about 10 terrifying minutes, car restarted and we were able to turn around and return home. This 2005 Ford Escape is unsafe to be on the road or driven. Its unknown what the problem is and in frar for my life and others if its out on the roads.

Filed Jul 14, 2021 · 137,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, there was an unknown warning light with a red triangle displayed. The contact turned off the vehicle and waited for approximately 15-30 minutes before the vehicle would restart and function correctly. The contact replaced the battery however, the failure persisted. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the shift lever would disengage and that the hybrid battery needed to be replaced or the vehicle would no longer be operable. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

Filed May 13, 2021 · Acceleration · 172,586 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into drive, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The failure also occurred after stopping at a stop sign and then attempting to drive off, where the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond and stalled without warning. The vehicle was pushed out of the roadway and restarted after waiting for five minutes. The vehicle was then driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,586.

Filed Jan 12, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 237,000 miles · GA

My 2005 ford escape v6 stalls out skips sputters and my truck jerks really bad then anti theft symbol on dashboard comes on and truck switches off and back on in the middle of highway with traffic while driving down the road .very dangerous.also making a thumping noise from in the air intake.gas pedal cable wire broke .so many problems with this vehicle.I believe there are several recalls.please let me know so the ford company can fix whatever it is that may be under recall. Thanks!

Filed Nov 11, 2020 · Engine · 118,000 miles · OH

I have a 2005 escape I bought for my 19year old daughter. The car keeps stalling out putting her at risk driving to and from work. We changed the gas filter and make sure the fluids are checked on a regular basis but it doesn't seem to have helped. The car keeps stalling out. She will be driving and it just cuts off. Doesn't matter what road she's on, city or highway it has done the same thing repeatedly.

Filed Apr 28, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 105,000 miles · AK

2005 ford escape. Purchased with a car loan in 2012. @ 40,000 miles.$$ kept all regular maintenance up. $$replaced battery & had $$all brakes done front & back in 2014. $$paid off loan in 2015, & 2016 rolled over to 95,000 miles.. $$had to replace alternator & battery & $$redo the brakes in 2016. $$in 2018 had to replace alternator again..(note: during all these years the check engine light was constantly coming on & showing 'check emissions system'.. Bringing up all sorts of fuel & emissions codes. $$replaced 4 different fuel related parts as well). In 2019 all brakes failed! & had a near crash! $$having to replace the brake lines. Then in april 2019 driving an alaska mountain pass in a spring winter storm! Major breakdown!! Lost all power with no control of steering or braking.. Panel was lighting up on & off like a christmas tree! Engine chugging & sputtering like getting no fuel but also not getting the power to keep running.. $$left stranded 500 miles from home. $$had to get towed back home! To have a PCM burn up! $$new/remanufactured PCM, $$new alternator, $$new battery, $$new coils!! Still did not run right! Check engine light still coming on only showing check emissions system, but all parts replaced! Engine sputtering but no code on diagnostic machine to give right correct problem or how to fix!$$$!! 6 months later, replacing alternator yet again!! $$4 alternators one in 3 years!! $$3 coils replaced. & engine is still not running right!! Seems once this PCM goes out.. It's all over for this vehicle!! Nothing is keeping it going anymore, $$just a moneypit of endless fixing & breaking down on the road! Not to mention how it stalls out in mid driving at high speeds! Leaving you with no steering or brakes or power to stop! And then crash!?! I'm feeling left in the dust by ford company with no compensation on over $20,000 spent on a ford escape that can't run!

Filed Feb 5, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 152,000 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled when traveling on an incline. Also, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehiicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive, but the failure recurred after a few miles. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power train cable caused an electrical failure and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.

Filed Jan 23, 2019 · Engine · 170,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power while traveling 55 MPH on the highway. The vehicle slowed down to 5 MPH. The contact was able to pull over and turn off the vehicle. Once it was restarted, the vehicle jerked forward and stalled less than a mile down the road. The contact completed the same process until she was able to slowly arrive home. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact planned to have the vehicle towed to an unknown dealer. The manufacturer and dealer had not been contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Dec 2, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 170,000 miles · AL

Driving 65 MPH on the interstate my 05 escape began to skip,stall & died, anti theft light came on. I drive for 20 miles slow with it skipping and stalling. When I left off on gas it would continue to run until I made it to safe place. Attempted to drive for repair on state hwy it stalled and went dead. Ford dealership reprog keys- repaired drive off, barely off the lot and it quit again. Now I see this is a manufactures issue with 05 escapes after an online search. New ford diagnosis- new plugs & coil pack, intake gasket. 170,000 miles. My alarm randomly goes off too which could be related to electrical issues. Ford motor is liable if someone's vehicle stalls and is killed due to this problem they know about but have not corrected or recalled.