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

2007 vs 2008 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 227 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 516.2% more reports in the equal exposure window

2007 389 complaints 2008 2,397 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 2007 share 2008 share Share change
STEERING 5.9% 48.6% ▲ 42.7 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 21.3% 10.1% ▼ 11.3 pts smaller share
ENGINE 12.1% 5.8% ▼ 6.2 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9.5% 4.6% ▼ 4.9 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 5.4% 2.3% ▼ 3.2 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9.0% 6.4% ▼ 2.6 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 3.3% 0.9% ▼ 2.4 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 3.1% 1.2% ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 3.1% 1.2% ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 2.6% 0.9% ▼ 1.7 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.8% 0.2% ▼ 1.6 pts smaller share
WHEELS 1.8% 0.4% ▼ 1.4 pts smaller share
TIRES 1.5% 0.3% ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 11.3% 12.5% ▲ 1.2 pts larger share
PARKING BRAKE 0.3% 0.1% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE not reported 0.1% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.3% 0.3% ▼ 0.0 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 31.6% 14.8% ▼ 16.8 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2007 4

Campaign components: POWER TRAIN and SUSPENSION

2008 5

Campaign components: POWER TRAIN, STEERING, and SUSPENSION

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
3 → 7
◆ Injuries
9 → 45