Last week I purchased a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD, it was a dealer demo model with 30k km (19k miles).

I've noticed a very clear vibration, both in feel and audibly, between 2000 and 2200 rpm. I can feel it in the steering wheel and pedals. Speed seems irrelevant, I can be accelerating from a stop or cruising on the highway. And that rpm seems to be the most common when not running on battery, so it happens often. It almost seems like that rpm hits a resonance frequency with the body.

Before I start to push the dealer to find a fix (given it's under full warranty), I wanted to check this isn't just a characteristic of the model. I'm quite happy to accept it if it is, I'd feel better knowing it's normal. I don't know anyone else with one to compare. I may try and find the same model somewhere else I can test drive.

Thanks for any input!

 

That's not normal and I have an '09 FWD FEH and a '05 FWD FEH to compare. Take it to the dealer because something is wrong and you don't need to damage anything else.

GaryG

 

Thanks for the feedback, I'll talk to the dealer about it.

 

Sean,

Is it more of a drone than a vibration? With just a slight feel In the wheel?
If so, my 09 has had it since the day I picked it up new. It's been in several times for it, they say it's normal design. I asked why my 08 never did it and was told it's a characteristic of the 2.5 engine. Go figure.

 

How about this TSB: tsb09-22-19.pdf

 

Bill,

I REALLY want to thank you for this info.
I'm out of warranty, but I don't care. I despise driving the truck.
I'm gonna take it back to the dealer that gave me this bad info.

Thank you again.

 

Do you have anything on:

Premature 12v battery failure (1 1/2 years 37k)

Extremely harsh brakes on first apply (almost locks up at the end of the driveway every morning)

Key insert into ignition (some days the key will not go into the ignition cylinder without great force) this has been replaced under warranty once already but same problem.

The infamous clicking under the dash ( the blend motors have already been replaced under warranty for the hot/cold vent problem , but the clicking persists.

Back window creaks and grinds when going over bumps.

Anything on these problems would be helpful.

We have been trying two different dealers, but each is more interested in excuses than in really looking for the problem.

Thanks again,
Sean

 

TSB's for '08 FE/FEH. Some are from current model year that go back to at least '08 maybe further. Although the TSB numbers appear as hyperlinks, they just error out for you.


10-13-3

• FM RADIO RECEPTION/SOUND QUALITY CHANGES WHILE DRIVING OR SATELLITE RADIO SIGNAL BLEED THROUGH WHEN USING AUDIO SYSTEM IN AUX MODE

10-13-2

• STEERING COLUMN POP/CLUNK NOISE ON TURNS - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 6/11/2010

10-13-1

• WASHER NOZZLES LEAKING FLUID ONTO HOOD WHILE DRIVING

10-12-7

• VIBRATION/STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE - COLD TEMPERATURES

10-8-6

• CLIMATE CONTROL TEMPERATURE VARIATION FROM SIDE TO SIDE - BUILT BEFORE 12/17/2008

10-5-3

• EXTERIOR HEATED REAR VIEW MIRROR GLASS CRACK WHEN MIRROR DEFROST IS POWERED ON - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 03/31/2009

10-5-1

• LIFTGATE OPENING UN-COMMANDED OR NOT OPENING WHEN COMMANDED WHEN PARKED - INTERMITTENT

10-2-8

• SYNC SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO OR STAYS IN PRIVACY MODE, MULTIPLE VEHICLE LINES

10-1-9

• FRONT AND/OR REAR CREAK/SQUEAK NOISE

09-26-12

• FRONT GRILLE - CHROME PEEL

09-25-4

• CD4E TRANSMISSION FAILURE - REPLACE OR INSTALL TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER COLD WEATHER BYPASS KIT

09-24-7

• EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DIFFICULT TO OPEN/HANDLE NOT SITTING FLUSH WHEN RELEASED/HANDLE STICKING WHEN OPENING DOOR - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 9/1/2009

09-24-2

• CLICK/POP NOISE FROM FRONT STABILIZER BAR END LINK AREA WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 10/9/2009

09-23-3

• CLOTH SEAT STAINS WITH WHITE RING OUTLINE - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 5/14/2009 - (EXCLUDES XLS)

09-22-17

• WINDOW TRIM MOULDING - PAINT PEEL - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 3/31/2007

09-21-9

• NEW SERVICE KIT AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATOR CABLE TO PEDAL CONNECTION

09-21-6

• WHITE FLAKES COMING FROM A/C VENTS

09-21-2

• 3.0L FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE RIGHT HAND IDLER PULLEY BEARING NOISE

09-20-16

• ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH MULTIPLE CODES

09-20-15

• WINDOW SQUEAK - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 8/6/2009

09-19-15

• IGNITION KEY BINDING IN IGNITION CYLINDER WHEN TURNING TO START POSITION ONLY - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 8/3/2009

09-19-12

• RED TRIANGLE ON AND STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE - DTC P1A0C

09-17-7

• DTC P0A81 AND/OR P0A96

09-8-9

• RED TRIANGLE ON AND STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE - DTC P1A0C

09-8-8

• WINDSHIELD WIPER PERFORMANCE - BUILT BEFORE 4/1/2008

09-6-5

• NOISE - FRONT STRUT AREA

09-5-8

• ROTATIONAL CLICKING NOISE FROM 17 INCH CHROME WHEEL CLADDING - BUILT BEFORE 2/1/2009 - EXCLUDES HYBRID

09-5-1

• LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING INSPECTION PROCEDURE

09-4-4

• PTU VENT BOLT LEAK - MISDIAGNOSED AS PTU SHAFT SEAL LEAK

09-3-7

• 2.3L - FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE (FEAD) BELT SQUEAL - MANUAL TRANSMISSION ONLY

09-2-8

• KEY-IN-IGNITION WARNING CHIME - KEY REMOVED - STEERING WHEEL NOT LOCKING

09-2-4

• REAR BRAKE NOISE

09-1-4

• ECVT TRANSAXLE - HIGH PITCH SINGLE TONE ELECTRICAL NOISE

08-24-5

• OVERHEATING - ALL HYBRID APPLICATIONS

08-24-2

• VIBRATION DIAGNOSTICS - STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE - TIRE WHEEL RUNOUT AND BALANCE

08-23-12

• FRONT DISPLAY INTERFACE MODULE (FDIM) - OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY TOGGLES BETWEEN FAHRENHEIT/CELSIUS

08-20-11

• REAR BRAKE NOISE-ROTATIONAL CHIRP - (EXCLUDES HYBRID)

08-19-2

• INSTRUMENT CLUSTER / MESSAGE CENTER - AUTOLOCK / AUTOUNLOCK / AUTOLAMP DISPLAY INCORRECT STATUS / MISSING

08-12-12

• 2.3L ENGINE/CD4E TRANSMISSION ONLY - INTERMITTENT NO START, HARD START (EXCLUDES HYBRID)

08-12-7

• NO CRANK / NO TCM COMMUNICATION / THEFT LIGHT ON / MULTIPLE DTCS - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 3/8/2008

08-11-10

• INTEGRATED KEYHEAD TRANSMITTER KEY (IKT) - INCOMPLETE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) PROGRAMMING AND/OR DTC B1139

08-5-5

• SLOW FUEL FILL AND/OR DTC P0451

08-5-4

• SLOW FUEL FILL BUILT BEFORE 11/26/2007

08-5-1

• SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RECEIVER SYSTEM (SDARS), MAY NOT SEEK ALL SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO CHANNELS

08-4-19

• BRAKE GRAB - DAMP CONDITIONS

08-3-10

• CAMSHAFT TICK NOISE - 3.0L 4V ENGINE ONLY WITH EXHAUST CAMSHAFT DRIVEN WATER PUMPS

08-3-1

• MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) U2062

08-2-2

• 3.0L DURATEC ENGINE - OIL LEAK (LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE) - DIPSTICK OR CRANKSHAFT SEAL

07-26-5

• BLOWER MOTOR INOPERATIVE OR STUCK ON HIGH

07-25-12

• WRENCH LIGHT ON - DTC B1239

07-25-11

• WRENCH LIGHT/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON-DTCS P2110, P2111, P2112, AND/OR P2135-WITH/WITHOUT DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS

07-23-16

• WINDSHIELD WIPER CHATTER/NOISE - BUILT ONLY ON 4/14/2007

07-14-9

• ENGINE NOISE-GRINDING/RATTLE MOST NOTICEABLE AT IDLE-VEHICLES BUILT FROM 4/27/2007-4/30/2007.

07-8-5

• WIND NOISE/WHISTLE - GRILLE

07-6-13

• CD4E TRANSAXLE FLUID WEEP - TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE

07-6-11

• DTC B2572/BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK WILL NOT RELEASE - BUILT 01/19/2007-02/12/2007

07-5-6

• CD4E - ENGINE STALLING ON ENGAGEMENT/STOPPING

07-4-3

• LEATHER-WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL - LEATHER COMING LOOSE

07-2-5

• HYBRID - SPILL IN CARGO AREA

 

That TSB describes exactly what I'm experiencing. Its really the only issue I'm having, thanks so much for the info!

 

You are the man, but it's an 09.
We sold our 08 to buy it, and we are reminded of that mistake every single day.