YearToAvoid

2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

57/100

#7 most-complained of 15 Escape Hybrid years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid has 178 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 57 out of 100 — #7 highest of 15 Escape Hybrid model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is brakes (65 complaints, 37% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 1 injury.

Complaints
178
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
29 city / 27 hwy

Top 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes65 (37%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires34 (19%)
  3. Engine31 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body24 (13%)
  5. Steering21 (12%)
  6. Electrical System17 (10%)
  7. Fuel System12 (7%)
  8. Other11 (6%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain8 (4%)
  10. Airbags2 (1%)
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter162005 Q22008 Q32011 Q12012 Q42014 Q32016 Q32018 Q3
228 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q2 to 2020 Q3; peak 2014 Q2 (16).

2005 Ford Escape Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 Ford Escape Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Escape Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution57178028
2006Caution71219028
2007Caution50124028.5

All Ford Escape Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid ranks #7 of 15 among Escape Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 57/100, verdict: Caution). It has 178 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (65 complaints), suspension, wheels & tires (34 complaints), and engine (31 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 101,548 miles.
Does the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid at 28 MPG combined (29 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,325. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.