2009 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,693 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 34 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, wheel bearingJun 3, 2015
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Campaign 15E045000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMay 29, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
Campaign 14V284000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentSep 3, 2010
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Campaign 10E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
143 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 2, 2020
MY VEHICLE IS COMING ALIVE AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS AND RADIO COMING ON THAT I HAVEN'T BE ABLE TO PARK IT IN MY GARAGE AS O FEEL LIKE IT MAY END UP CATCHING FIRE. WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE TURN SIGNALS, BREAK LIGHTS, AND CLIMATE CONTROLS AND SHUT OFF THE RADIO. I'VE NARROWLY AVOIDED MANY COLLISIONS DUE TO HAVING NO TURN SIGNALS AND BREAK LIGHTS AT NIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I'VE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE MODEL YEARS IN QUESTION AND ALL SEEM TO SHARE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES SOME ENDING IN ACCIDENTS AND OTHERS PAYING THOUSANDS OUT OF POCKET FOR FAULTY PCM'S OR ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE IGNITION. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING OR WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND IN PARK I FEEL AS IF THIS IS AN ISSUE FORD IS AWARE OF AS I'VE TALKED TO ALMOST 1,000 PEOPLE ALL SHARING SIMILAR ISSUES AND UPON TAKING THEM TO THE DEALER IT'S COSTED $500-$2,000 DEPENDING WHAT THE DEALERS CAME UP WITH SOME BEING THE PCM OTHERS BEING THE WIRING TO THE IGNITION, SOME BEING A BAD FUSE BOX AND THE DEALERS JUST THROW PARTS AT IT TO JUST HAVE THE ISSUE COME BACK 6 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN TRY TO SAY NOW IT'S SOMETHING ELSE AND IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER $500-$2,000 IN PARTS OR TRY AND PUSH THE OWNER TO A NEW VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HE SAID THEY AREN'T EQUIPPED TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK THAT I'LL NEED TO GO TO A HUB DEALERSHIP AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT $400 JUST TO DIAGNOSE WITH HAVING TO PULL THE DASH, STEERING COLUMN AND CHECK THE PCM. THEN IT'D BE PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX THE ISSUE IF THE FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT I WOULDN'T BE NOTIFIED TILL AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED.
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 18, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND THEN THE CAR LOSE POWER AND SHUTS OFF
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 31, 2020
WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS AND DEFAULTS TO MANUAL STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON CITY ROADS, HIGHWAYS, AND STATIONARY. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ACTUALLY SNAP BACK WHILE HOLDING IT STEERING. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENS AS WELL. THIS HAS PERIODICALLY BEEN HAPPENING EVEN THOUGH THE DATE LISTED IS TODAY. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED MY VEHICLE WASN'T MANUFACTURED AT THE SPECIFIC PLANT SO IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES (EVEN THOUGH IT'S EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUES AS THE RECALL) AND RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND PAY $1500+ OUT OF POCKET TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.
Steering, Electrical system, May 13, 2020
POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 5, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHEEHY FORD LINCOLN OF RICHMOND LOCATED AT (10601 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) REPAIR WAS PERFORMED IN 2014. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,687.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 9, 2020
I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY, TURNING LEFT WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN. I BARELY GOT MYSELF TO A SAFE PLACE TO PARK MY CAR AND WAS LUCKY TO NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP/ REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THEY HAD TO FIX THE STEERING COLUMN TOO. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2008-20011 FORD ESCAPES FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE!! HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED FORD TO SET THINGS RIGHT THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE PREVIOUS OWNER GOT A SOFTWARE UPDATE THOUGH THIS WAS ONLY 1 OF 3 FIXES THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE DONE. FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE UNSAFE CARS ON THE ROAD AND YET THEY TELL THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THEIR IMPROPER AND FAULTY PRODUCT. I DON'T SEE WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED; AN ISSUE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. FORD IS CHOOSING TO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND THOSE ON THE ROAD. HOW CAN YOU GET AROUND NOT FIXING YOUR RECALL? HOW IS THAT LEGAL?
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Jan 5, 2020
TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND AND DOME LIGHT BLINKS WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING ALL OF THE TIME.
Electrical system, Nov 4, 2019
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT RECALL
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Oct 7, 2019
HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER/THROTTLE RESPONSE. PULL OFF ROAD, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, RESTART AND COMPUTER SEEMS TO RESET. HAD BEEN 1-2 TIMES PER YEAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND STRUGGLED TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. HAPPENED 8 TIMES IN 150 MILE TRIP TODAY.
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2019
BOUGHT MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4WD IN 2016.HAD NO PROBLEMS UP UNTIL AROUND MARCH, 2017 WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE.TURNED THE KEY TO START AND IT WOULDN'T. THINKING MAYBE THERE WAS A LITTLE MOISTURE ON IGNITION KEY SEEING HOW IT HAD RAINED EARLER AND KEYS WERE EXPOSED BUT NOPE.PULLED KEY OUT AND FLIPPED IT OVER THEN RETRIED. IT DID START AND DIDN'T THINK ANYMORE ABOUT IT. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN TILL ABOUT 4 MOS LATER AND HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. NOW HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS...UP TO 5-6 TIMES OTHER DAY BEFORE IT STARTED. JUST BY CHANCE I HAD PUSHED THE IGNITION KEY FURTHER IN THE START POSITION AND FELT KEY SLIP INTO IGNITION A "HAIR" MORE. IT STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY. THOUGHT THAT MAYBE ORIGINAL KEY WAS GETTING WORN AND THAT WAS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT AFTER READING MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXACT SAME ISSUE IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS. I HAVE TO TRAVEL ALONE WHEN OUT OF STATE FOR DR VISITS OR FAMILY MATTERS. WOULD SAY THIS CAN BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY FOR A FAMILY.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 2, 2019
STEERING HAS COMPLETELY FROZEN DURING OPERATION MAKING CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. I'M ABSOLUTELY PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY IRRESPONSIBLE ON FORDS BEHALF. ON A STRAIGHT ROAD TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. NEXT I HAD A LEFT TURN COMING AND MY STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN, AND ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. TO SAY I'M PETRIFIED OF MY VEHICLE AT THIS POINT IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 29, 2019
VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Jul 27, 2019
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN HER ESCAPE JUST KEPT SHUTTING DOWN TO THE POINT SHE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AT 65-70MPH. FORD HAD A FIELD SERVICE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE IS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION THAT NEVER MADE IT AS A RECALL. I TRIED TO GET FORD TO RESTART THIS FIELD SERVICE AS THEY SAID MY WIFE'S CAR WAS PAST THE WARRANTY. NEEDS TO BE AS A RECALL NOT A FIELD SERVICE COMPLAINT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR DIED FROM THIS I AM OUT $150 AND HALF DAY OF WORK TO FIX THIS BECAUSE FORD WON'T DO A RECALL TO SAVE THEIR ASS.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 29, 2019
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING ANY POINT IN DRIVING.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2019
KEY IGNITION SWITCH IS DIFFICULT TO WORK. AFTER TURNING TO THE START POSITION YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THIS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOT WORST TO THE POINT THAT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 10 TRIES AND 3 OR 4 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED .YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUNCH THE KEY IN HARD (ESPECIALLY US WITH ARTHRITIS) THEN TURN TO GET STARTED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TRY TO START THE CAR AND EXTREMELY STRESSFUL WHEN AWAY FROM HOME. THIS IS A COMMON FLAW OF THIS CAR AND MUST BE FIXED BY FORD.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 22, 2019
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING SO THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME BUT NOT ALL ESCAPES ON A CITY STREET WHILE I WAS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 12, 2019
POWER STEERING FAILURE. EXACT FAILURE AS REPORTED UNDER FORD RECALL # 14S05 BUT THIS SPECIFIC VIN# IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 8, 2019
THE VEHICLE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES . THE FOR DEALER SAYS ITS A SENSOR BUT IT HAS THROWN OUT MY POWER STEERING
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 4, 2019
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35MPH ON A CITY STREET AN ALERT SOUNDED ON THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE STATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAME HARD TO STEER AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLUSION. MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AND MESSAGE CONTINUED TO BE DISPLAYED AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE. CONTACTED TOW SERVICE TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 22, 2019
I HAPPEN TO SEE IT'S A LOT OF RECALLS ON THE FORD ESCAPES I TYPED MY VINLAND IT SHOWS ZERO RECALLS BUT I'M ACTUALLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE RECALLS HAVE MY FORD ESCAPE POWERSTEERING ASIST FAULT SCREEN CAN'T UP NOW IT'S HARD TO TURN AND WHAT NOT BEFORE THIS SCREEN POPPED UP I HADD ANOTHER SCREEN TELLING ME TIRE SENSOR FAULT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL COMMON I ACTUALLY THINK THEY NEED TO RECALL MORE VEHICLES
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Feb 9, 2019
TAKATA RECALL SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICS ISSUE SENSORS, POWER STEERING, IGNITION, SPEEDING SENSORS, (ALL ELECTRICS) THE WORST ONE IS POWER STEERING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON LINE FOR THIS MODEL BUT NOT FOR MY CAR. (WHY NOT MY CAR?) THERE ARE IN RECALL ALL 2008 - 2011 FORD ESCAPES
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 30, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,602.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 25, 2019
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND GAUGES WENT OUT AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING AND TURN SIGNALS DIDN'T WORK. THIS HAPPENED 3 OR TIMES ON A 30 MINUTE DRIVE WITH A DURATION OF ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS EACH
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Nov 24, 2018
THE CAR STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO LOCK UP WHILE IT WAS PARKED WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN AFTER AWHILE IT WOULD YOU WERE ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR IN THE STEERING WHEEL WERE FUNCTION AFTER A WHILE THE CAR WOULD DO IT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WAS BROUGHT OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED A FEW MONTHS LATER SAME ISSUES STEERING WHEEL COLUMN OR STEERING WHEEL WOULD HIT WHEN TURNED BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS REPLACED THE SECOND TIME NOW ALL ELECTRONICS RELATING TO THE BRAKES ARE HAVING ISSUES LIKE BRAKE SWITCH STARTS TO MALFUNCTION OR BRAKES GET LOCKED UP. THE CAR WOULD HAVE TROUBLES EITHER PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS CAR HAD PRIOR ISSUES TO THAT NOTHING WAS DISCLOSED WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I AM AWARE OF OTHER FORD ESCAPE 2009 MODELS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED
Electrical system, Nov 2, 2018
THE IGNITION SWITCH ISNT ALWAYS STARTING THE CAR WHEN TURNED. SOMETIMES IT HAS TO BE TURNED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT WILL FINALLY START THE CAR. THIS HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE THE LAST FEW MONTHS.