The idler pulley on the subject vehicle has failed numerous times, with the mounting bolt shearing at the connection to the timing cover. Upon failure of the pulley the serpentine belt will either fail or become dislodged; when this occurs the steering, alternator, and water pump all stop operating. The vehicle becomes difficult to handle due to the loss of power steering, and is subject to shutting off due to the lack of an alternator and water pump. This particular issue has happened to me on four separate occasions in the last two years; the first time occurred while operating in traffic; the subsequent occasions were noted during startup and were detected before driving. New replacement pulleys will only last approximately 4000-5000 miles before they fail. The power steering pump and air conditioning compressor have been replaced due to concerns that they could be placing extra strain on the serpentine belt, however the issue has occurred even after replacing these components. Internet research notes that this is a common problem of the 2.3L engine in the Escape and other Ford/Mercury models of the same time frame. Nobody has reported a permanent solution; later model vehicles using the same or similar issue came equipped with electric power steering, which likely reduced the load on the pulley and its undersized mounting bolt. The idler pulley on this vehicle has proven to be an Achilles heel and should have been addressed by Ford via a recall and redesigned pulley.
2006 Ford Escape engine problems
68 complaints (15% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 80,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 68
- of this car's complaints
- 15%
- typical mileage
- 80,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Engine7
- Engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM): software1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Ford Escape engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2006 Ford Escape engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Stalling 40Engine failure 19Check engine light 14Loss of power 9Knocking 6
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the federal safety agency to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.
DP12006
What 2006 Ford Escape owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Transmission Stirring pump Spark plugs
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.
Code P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355, P0356. Vehicle shut down on the interstate on the way home for work, 2½ hours from home. And will not restart. Pcm most likely the problem.
On Sunday May/23/2021 my car shut off suddenly with out warning after 3m of driving, the wrench orange lite came on, i was able to pull aside on the curb, turned off the car and waited a few minutes, i was able to turn the car back on, and the car restarted with out problem but the incident was there. when i got home i start looking on line for an explanation of what went wrong and i encounter that the 2006 Ford scape hybrid has been recall for stalling problems, somehow my car is not part of the recall according with the VIN number, but my car is a 2006 Ford Scape Hybrid, i don't understand why my car its not part of the recall and i hope that it did not fall under the cracks and i hope more that my car will not get stall in the freeway and cause an accident. please let me know if any additional information is need it
Knocking, knocking when accelerating, hesitation.
After about 2 years, 2008, car was dragging took it to ford, was told nothing was wrong, it was some time later, 2016 /2017 that the transmission went out, had it replaced, less than 1 year it went out again, which ford replaced, when the service person asked who did it, he just rolled his eyes. 3 years and 2 months later, more transmission problem, now theyare teling it the ptu unit which is causing oil to leak through the engine and now they want 5,000.00 to replace it. A transmission shop was question and they said that year had lots of issue with the transmissions and when ford replaced the transmission the ptru unit was put in wrong, that they were constantly fixing it, also that the hilltop ford service department is the worse anyone could go to, also when I took my care to ford, the engine light was not on, and when I picked it up and told what was wrong, they had on it the I wanted to find out why my engine was, I did not, it was not on, I was told that he had to put that or the charges would be more, I was already being changed over $200 when I was never told about the charge in the first place.
The vehicle shuts off while driving and idle.after warmed up.the red security light flashes on the dash. It has shut off while driving and almost caused an accident.
Vehicle stalls while running and shakes while stopped/idles.
My 2006 ford escape was purchased in august of 2005. Four months later, november 2005, I was pulling into a parking slot in front of a restaurant, with my foot on the brake, when it surged ahead, went over a concrete block, took down two poles, and hit another vehicle. At the time I thought it was the brakes, but no one could find anything wrong with the brakes. People said I probably stepped on the accelerator, but I was convinced that I did not. I could not prove anything. July 22, 2018, twelve years later, it happened again. I was pulling into a parking slot in the back of my church parking lot. The engine revved up and the car surged forward, with my foot on the brake, and it happened so quickly, there was nothing I could do. I went over a concrete block and smashed into the sanctuary wall. I was injured and had problems for about a month and a half. I read an article on the internet from the federal safety agency on torque news that the north carolina consumers council (nccc) says that these vehicles are equipped with an electronic throttle body system that could fail - causing the engine to either surge or stall. This is only under investigation now, no recall. I am sure this is what happened to my vehicle, but I cannot prove or do anything about it. I have been driving my escape for 13 years and only had 50,000 miles on it, but I had it totaled. It could have been repaired, but I could not take the chance of it happening again. What if I had hurt someone or will someone have to die before they have a recall on the escapes? It is too late for me to do anything about my 2006 escape, but please do something about this problem before someone gets hurt or dies. I did purchase another escape, a 2011. I hope nothing happens to this one. Please have a recall on these vehicles.
Questions about the 2006 Ford Escape engine
Does the 2006 Ford Escape have engine problems?
Owners have filed 68 complaints about the engine of the 2006 Ford Escape, 15% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Escape engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 80,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2006 Ford Escape engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
Other 2006 Ford Escape problems
Acceleration 99Transmission 80Brakes 68Suspension 65Body 63Fuel system 38Electrical 34Visibility 21Steering 20Airbags 17Wheels 15Driver assistance 4Seat belts 4Seats 4Tires 4Lights 3
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