Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2005 vs 2006 FORD ESCAPE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 251 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 54.5% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2005 1,573 complaints 2006 716 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2005 share 2006 share Share change
SUSPENSION 21.2% 7.3% ▼ 13.9 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 7.2% 20.4% ▲ 13.2 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 16.9% 6.2% ▼ 10.8 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 6.3% 11.6% ▲ 5.3 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8.3% 13.1% ▲ 4.9 pts larger share
WHEELS 5.5% 2.2% ▼ 3.2 pts smaller share
STEERING 2.9% 5.5% ▲ 2.6 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 2.9% 4.2% ▲ 1.3 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 2.3% 3.4% ▲ 1.1 pts larger share
ENGINE 11.2% 11.7% ▲ 0.5 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 1.8% 2.1% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
PARKING BRAKE 0.1% 0.3% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 0.4% 0.6% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
TIRES 0.3% 0.4% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.5% 0.6% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6.0% 6.0% ▼ 0.0 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 35.5% 29.6% ▼ 5.9 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2005 5

Campaign components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN, SEATS, and SUSPENSION

2006 6

Campaign components: POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, and VISIBILITY

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
20 → 10
◆ Injuries
28 → 30