YearToAvoid

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 15 Escape Hybrid years

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

The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid has 443 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 93 out of 100 — #2 highest of 15 Escape Hybrid model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is brakes (161 complaints, 36% of the total). Complaints report 13 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury.

Complaints
443
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
13 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
31.5 city / 28.5 hwy

Top 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid problems

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

  1. Brakes161 (36%)
  2. Engine123 (28%)
  3. Steering110 (25%)
  4. Electrical System64 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain43 (10%)
  6. Fuel System31 (7%)
  7. Other17 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (1%)
  9. Airbags3 (1%)
  10. Structure & Body3 (1%)
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter282009 Q22011 Q12012 Q42014 Q32016 Q22018 Q12019 Q42022 Q1
564 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2012 Q2 (28).

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
31.5 MPG
Highway
28.5 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,175
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.

2008 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
2006Caution71219028
2007Caution50124028.5
2008Avoid93443030
2009Avoid79153030
2010Good3659030.5

All Ford Escape Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid ranks #2 of 15 among Escape Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 93/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 443 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 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (161 complaints), engine (123 complaints), and steering (110 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 95,568 miles.
Does the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid at 30 MPG combined (31.5 city / 28.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,175. 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.