2008 Ford Escape: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Apr 14, 2026 · Brakes, Transmission · 136,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the powertrain malfunction warning light and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The driver was able to pull over, the battery was disconnected and reconnected, and the contact was able to continue driving. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard when the ABS light was illuminated. While reversing, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted and stated that the repairs would be at the owner's expense. Another local dealer, Bob Davidson Ford Lincoln, located at 1845 E Joppa Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234, was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

Filed Mar 21, 2025 · Brakes · CA

In rainy conditions, executed a hard stop activating the ABS. After successfully activating, the brakes go almost to the floor, and ABS function has stopped. No air in brake system, and master cylinder checks out good. Seems dangerous that the one time you really need ABS, it goes out. No warning lights on dash, mechanic has confirmed issue.

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Brakes · TX

ABS brake light goes on and off and regen system disabled appeared. Brake pedal goes between being spongy and going to floor. I took it to an independent service center and the mechanic almost lost control of the car when test driving. There was no braking except to one wheel, which is why he almost lost control. They thought they fixed the problem by bleeding the brakes, but soon after I got it back on April 8, 2024 the ABS and brake lights came back on April 10, 2024. I am afraid that it will cause an accident if the brakes go out. The car is back at the mechanics and they are going to inspect the brake system. Not sure when the car will be fixed and returned back to me.

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · TX

My car was scheduled for the mechanic for ABS brake issues on April 8, 2024. On April 1, 2024 I was driving on the highway at 65 mph when I lost power to the gas pedal. I could have been seriously injured from other motor vehicles. There was no warning lights, no messages, nothing. I got to the side of the road at about 20 mph. I turned off the vehicle and then turned it back on when the engine light came on and the wrench light. I turned it off again and on and no lights lit up. I was towed to my mechanic and they were able to repeat the incident. The mechanic took it off the tow trailer and he said there are no warning lights when he turned the car on. I told him they went off when I turned the car back on on the highway. The throttle body is the part that went bad and was replaced by the mechanic.

Filed Feb 15, 2023 · Brakes · MI · crash

ABS, parking break light and regen breaks disabled. My breaks will go all the way to the floor and have crashed into a vehicle because out of nowhere I was not able to break like normal. Is not safe to drive. Was diagnosed with a bad hydraulic control until like thousands of other people with this car. Ford posted a service bulletin about this issue and recommended replacing the flex hoses before eventually replacing the HCU BUT WONT PAY FOR IT. IT IS FAULTY AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND RECALL THIS HCU ISSUE INSTEAD OF JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THOUSDANDS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Filed Sep 17, 2022 · Brakes · TX

The brakes stopped working correctly and are very unsafe. The Regenerative brakes get disabled, and the ABS light is on, you lose the power brakes stopping power. I have to step on the brake pedal very hard for the vehicle to stop. It feels like the old school pre-power brakes. I took it to the Ford dealer, and they want to charge 5000 + dollar to fix it, they also say parts are no longer available, they instructed me to call my insurance company and have it totaled. I read the escape hybrid forums and I see many people having this same problem

Filed Aug 17, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · VA

ABS light on, vehicle stalling, dragging while driving 40mph or over. Brake petal non functional. *c1313, c1480, c1481 Brake hoses restricted not allowing brake pressure in caliber *HCU damage *Sway bar links damage, excessive noise and play

Filed Mar 26, 2022 · Brakes · OR

When the car was started in a shopping center parking lot, the emergency brake light and the abs warning light were displayed and remained displayed. When driven, the brakes were "spongy" and then "regenerative braking disabled" appeared in the odometer display. I pulled over briefly, turned the car off for a short period and then restarted it. The same messages and odometer display remained, and brakes were still spongy. As I continued to drive (carefully), the situation resolved itself, though the "regenerative braking disabled" continued for another minute or two. Normal braking then resumed. This issue just occurred so it has not yet been taken to a dealer, nor has it been inspected by mfr, police, etc. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES BY OTHERS WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS AT THIS WEBSITE https://www.carproblemzoo.com/ford/escapehybrid/2008/service-brakes-problems.php THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS GONE IGNORED BY FORD FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND DESERVES the federal safety agency's IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

Filed Dec 15, 2021 · Brakes · 104,550 miles · NH

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the pedal went straight to the floor before stopping. The contact veered to the side of the road and waited for a few minutes before restarting the vehicle before driving back to the residence. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate the failure. The mechanic suspected that the ABS brake booster and brake master cylinder had caused of the failure. The failure recurred a few months later. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,550. Consumer had the master cylinder replaced (2/25/22) on the advice of the mechanic who originally suspected it might be a master cylinder issue.

Filed Aug 31, 2021 · Brakes · IN

* The braking system is failing without warning arbitrarily, resulting in pedal doing to floor and not stopping the vehicle and requiring swerving if possible to avoid collision, often needing to drive off the road surface to do so safely. This is a very common and largely reported problem with this vehicle with no assistance from the manufacturer, and a singular resolve that far exceeds the vehicle value; there is not an option to replace failing part/s with used as manufacturer prevented that. * The safety of the family member and others on the roadway are at substantial risk with a vehicle on the roadways that has a failed braking system, especially on highways/byways at increased speeds with no means to stop without warning. * The problem has been inspected and confirmed by the Ford dealership service department, where it's evidently a well-known issue. Many are subjected to leaving their Escape Hybrid with the dealer as they are too dangerous to risk driving, but the excessive cost levied to (temporarily) resolve the problem too much and outside the value of the vehicle. * Illuminated warning lights include: Regen brakes disabled, ABS, Check brake system.

Filed Aug 28, 2021 · IN

Regen Brakes Disabled light came on dash board after starting. ABS light and Check Braking System also. Took to two local mechanics. Checked sensors brake fluid etc. Advised to take to dealership. These lights are not ALWAYS on. However lately they have been. When illuminated the brakes are very weak and if going over 40 mph very difficult to stop. Nearly impossible to drive on the interstate. Ford dealership said it’s a faulty Hydraulic Control Unit codes C1478 and C1479. They advised there is currently only 1 available in the US. It’s used and their cost is $2600. They advised rear brakes and pads being replaced as well and bleeding the brakes after. My truck has 112k miles on it. Dealership estimated repair cost was just under $4000. I rarely have to drive on the interstate but this particular day was very concerning as I could hardly stop and had to swerve to avoid crashing into the truck in front of me. I was lucky that there wasn’t a vehicle beside me. It’s taken awhile to be diagnosed because I was told mechanics need the lights to be on to know exactly what was happening. This is a major safety issue and several owners have had to deal with it. Ford needs to step up and do the right thing with a recall. I love my truck but unfortunately I think it’ll be the last Ford I’ll own.

Filed Jun 10, 2021 · Brakes · CA

MY ABS brake warning and my regular brake light come on and go off occasionally with a warning that says "Regen Brake System Disabled". When this happens, it VERY difficult to brake, the brakes go almost to the floor before they engage and there is some sort of air leak because I can hear a leak in an air system of some kind. And when that started happening, the A/C stopped working and I heard a loud pitched whine coming from the vehicle. On the days there is no brake warning lights, the brakes still are not great and sometimes will start to stop the vehicle, then there is a kind of hiccup that happens where the pedal just goes to the floor WHILE you are stopping, and not just as you begin braking. There are SO many complaints on the web about people experiencing the EXACT same problems, I don't see why this has not been deemed a Recall yet. VERY DANGEROUS!!!!