2006 Ford Escape: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed May 9, 2023 · Engine · 164,000 miles · OH · fire

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated and there was smoke coming from under the hood. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed that the smoke had increased. The contact stated that as he exited the vehicle, the smoke became darker. The contact stated that upon looking through the passenger's side wheel well, he saw flames under the engine compartment. The contact then walked away from the vehicle. The contact stated that the entire front end of the vehicle and dash had significantly burned and melted. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle remained at the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

Filed Feb 27, 2015 · Engine · 135,000 miles · TX

I bought a used 2006 ford escape from pasadena auto planet in south houston tx. On 1/31/15. About a week later I thought I saw smoke coming from under my hood but I dismissed it because there was a car in front of me with smoke coming from the muffler. On another day the same thing. I wasn't behind any car and I saw smoke coming from under my hood so I pulled over. I could smell coolant. My car did not indicate overheating because it is cold outside. When I lifted my hood smoke galore came out from the radiator. It was dark so I couldn't see anything. The next morning I took it to a mechanic and we discovered the radiator was crushed from an apparent prior accident and the fans weren't working either. I called the car lot the next morning and spoke with a man named [xxx]. I told him the situation. He told me when he got to the car lot he would pull my file and call me back. 3 hours went by and nothing. So I went to the car lot and there he was. He did not look happy to see me. I went inside and told him again about the damaged radiator. We walked outside and he lifted the top off the coolant system and said to me, "well, you don't have any fluid in here." like he was trying to dance all around it. I finally made him get on his knees and look at the damage and he said, "oh, that's just the condenser." so I asked him what was he going to do about it. He said he would "try" to get approval to fix it at no cost to me. I decided I don't want them fixing it because at this point I do not trust them. I want my money back. After researching, I found out that fire can result from a car overheating so he sold me a safety hazard. My 1st car payment is due this saturday, 2/28/15. I'm not paying it for I just want my money back. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 19, 2014 · Engine · 142,180 miles · MO · fire

On my home from the grocery store driving approximately 55 to 60 MPH in our 2006 ford escape 4 cyl SUV. The vehicle made a loud pop and then caught on fire. Freaked out I pulled off in a driveway. We poured soda pop from 2 litres on the fire to extinguish the flame. The mesh pipe before the last catalytic converter was glowing red. I have read many stories of people with the same problem on all years of ford escape. It is in my opinion the rear converter stopped up causing this damage to our once lovely ride.now I am not even sure if it will run. The heat from things like this causes major stress on internal engine parts as the exhaust has no where to go. Then when the engine explodes as it should fire starts. We are now out of a ride until we can pay an extreme amount for this defective SUV.

Filed Nov 12, 2012 · Engine · 52,000 miles · IL

2006 ford escape, 52000 miles on it, no prior problems. Driving on expressway at 55mph with sudden noise and smoke coming from under hood and vehicle. Pulled to side of expressway and notice trail of oil. Towed to local ford dealership and informed that engine had a hole in it. Given quote of $8,000 to repair.

Filed Jul 25, 2012 · Electrical · MS · fire

I drove my car around the corner to a friend's house. I started to smell something burning. I pulled into my friend's driveway and stopped, but the car was still running and I saw smoke coming from under the floor area and dash of the car. Smoke filled up the inside of the car. I turned off the car and opened all the doors. Had I not turned it off, it would have caught on fire as it was smoking really bad and extremely hot inside the interior of the cab. The fuse box was blown and all the wiring under the dash was destroyed, so the fire was likely due to an electrical malfunction. The car was able to start but nothing in the dash area was working - the speedometer and gauges will no longer function. I am not driving it due to safety issues and am having it checked by a mechanic.

Filed Nov 30, 2010 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · GA · fire

I was driving from work to the bank to make the daily deposits, when I pulled into a parking space in the bank parking lot I noticed a lot of smoke coming out from under my hood, I immediately got the outside security guard to come take a look and when he raised the hood my car was on fire. If you are standing in front of the car looking in it would be the left side, he immediately called the fire department who came and put it out, my car is now sitting at the dealership.

Filed Aug 19, 2009 · Acceleration · 86,000 miles · NJ · fire

I was driving my 2006 ford escape home from a friend's house with the cruise control on when I noticed a strange odor, like something was burning. I came to a stop behind another vehicle. I wasn't sure the smell was coming from my truck until I turned onto my street and noticed smoke. I grabbed some bags out of the truck and popped the hood. White smoke started pouring out. I went into the house and called 911. I went upstairs to let my aunt know to move her car and within a matter of 5-8 minutes, we heard a loud bang. I ran down the stairs to find the front of the truck burning. I started pulling things out of the truck until the flames quickly spread to the inside roof interior. The fire department arrived and put out the fire but the entire front of the truck was destroyed. The dashboard and steering wheel melted completely. I had very recently had the oil changed on my truck at the dealership, as I have done for the almost 2 years of ownership. Their multi-point inspection did not reflect that anything was wrong with the vehicle which would cause this kind of damage. The truck caught fire and was destroyed very quickly. After the fire I researched this truck type and found that ford has recalled several hundred thousand earlier models for fires. I am very concerned because this was a family vehicle. I or my child could have been injured or worse. Please investigate this further.

Filed Dec 22, 2008 · Engine · 59,000 miles · PA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 ford escape. While driving no more than 50 MPH, an explosion was heard. The driver pulled the vehicle over and noticed flames. Another driver pulled over and helped her extinguish the fire with snow. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and then later towed to the dealer from where it was purchased. The dealer stated that the motor was faulty, which caused the explosion due to the piston being blown out of place. A police report was filed. The vehicle is still at the shop and has not been repaired. The contact believes that the manufacturer should issue a recall because the defect should not occur in a two year old vehicle. There were no injuries. The current and failure mileages were 59,000.

Filed Jun 30, 2008 · Acceleration · 86,000 miles · NY · fire

I own a 2002 ford escape. In 2006 it caught on fire after being parked for 18 hours. Ford told me to contact the main office in detroit. I did. They had me contact the dealer in which I purchased both my escapes. The fire was caused by a faulty ABS. West-herr ford of hamburg n. Y. Came and towed my escape to their collision shop. They called me up and said they misplaced my keys, so I gave them my spare set. Days turned to weeks,weeks turned to months. They finally said that my insurance should pay for it. My insurance blamed ford. Ford said that I could pick my truck up but if I did it would be out of their hands, so of course I did not pick it up. Finally 1 year later ford covered the faulty part and "fixed" my truck. I have brought it back 4 to 5 times for problems. While my truck sat at their collision shop for a year, my warranty ran out. I lost a whole year. Now they say we can fix it for an "at cost" price. They called me in to an executive meeting and tried to say they can give me a deal on a new truck. My truck according to them needs $700.00 to be fixed and inspected, but their just trying to sell me a new vehicle. They claim responsibility but they don't want to fix it. I'm not even asking for the year warranty that I lost, I'm just asking to have my truck put back into the condition it was in before their faulty part caused the fire. It hasn't been the same since. I am not rich. My wife and I have two children under the age of three, and I will not stand by and be taken by a billion dollar company. I will do whatever I am legally able to do. I was given a voice and you can bet ill use it. This will not go away until they fix it and make it right. You should have been at the meeting to hear the smoke they tried to blow, it was like they were the victims. Can you please advise me on my rights. Thank you. Leonard j. Hill *tr --------------------------------------------------------------------------------