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: engine
289 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 23, 2012
THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE ON 2/16/2012, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY, AND THE DASH BOARD LIT UP (ENGINE, OIL AND OTHER LIGHTS). I PUT THE CAR AND PARK AND RESTARTED IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A RANDOM EVENT. A WEEK LATER IT STALLED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 60 MILES PER HOUR ON A HIGHWAY. I HAD SLOWED BECAUSE THE SPEED LIMIT HAD DECREASED IN THAT AREA. THE DASH LIT UP AGAIN AND THE CAR STALLED. I AGAIN, PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE APPROVED MECHANIC FOR THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MECH STATED A CODE INDICATED PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS CAP BUT NO REASON FOR THE STALLING. THE FUEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CAR HAS STALLED APPROX THREE TIMES SINCE THEN. TODAY, 4/23/12, I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 40 MPH AND IT STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. I WAS GLAD THE PERSON BEHIND ME STOPPED WITHOUT REAR ENDING ME. APPROX 5 MINUTES LATER, AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK, IT STALLED AGAIN. I REPEATED THE USUAL ...SHIFT TO PARK AND RESTART. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Apr 10, 2012
2009 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A WRENCH SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY CODES AND THE VEHICLE PASSED ALL THEIR TESTS. THE DEALER DID FIX A TRANSMISSION LEAK AND AN AIR SENSOR. ON JANUARY 5, 2012, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND THE WRENCH SYMBOL APPEARED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY CODES. ON MARCH 5, 2012, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, AND THE BATTERY SYMBOL ILLUMINATED. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Mar 23, 2012
THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT; I WAS DRIVING ON RT. 173 GOING EAST BETWEEN HUNT CLUB RD AND 41. AS I PASSED OVER THE BRIDGE COVERING I-94, I LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO CRUISE WHICH ALLOWED TRAFFIC TO MERGE AND CLEAR. THE ROAD CHANGES FROM TWO LANES TO ONE LANE AT THIS POINT. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40-45 MPH AND I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 30-35 MPH. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN THE LEFT LANE. AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME CLEARED, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I REPEATED AND LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT ALL THE GAUGE LIGHTS WERE ON. THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY AND REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO NOISES. THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN. THE AC WAS OFF. I SHIFTED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND STARTED THE ENGINE AS THE CAR COASTED IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE ENGINE RE-STARTED AND I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO RT. 41. THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN 2/4/12 WITH MILEAGE AT 33,866. BOTH TIMES I INFORMED THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES FOUND. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 6, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Oct 17, 2011
THIS IS TO REPORT A RECENT ISSUE WITH MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE. I WAS DRIVING 65 - 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY ACCELERATOR DIED. IT IS LIKE LOSING THE BRAKES BUT THE OPPOSITE. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOT DO ANYTHING AND YOU HAVE TO GO ON THE SIDE FOR EMERGENCY STOP. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN GIVEN THAT IT IS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF A CRASH WITH ANY VEHICLE AROUND YOU AT THE TIME OF SUDDENLY LOSING YOUR SPEED IN A HIGHWAY. THE DASH SHOWED A WRENCH LIGHT, WHICH TELLS ME TO BRING THE CAR TO DEALER. THE DEALER ON THE OTHER HAND WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND A SERVICE CODE FROM COMPUTER. IT HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND I HAVE TO BRING THE CAR THE 2ND TIME, THEN THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY EVEN WITHOUT GETTING A SERVICE CODE. SO FAR NO REPEAT OF THE PROBLEM. BUT I THINK FORD SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS FOR RECALL ISSUE AND FOR SAFETY REASON SINCE I SEE SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS IN THE WEB. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Jun 21, 2011
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH HER 2009 FORD ESCAPE; SHE HAS AN ARBITRATION DATE ON JUNE 28 IN COLUMBUS, OHIO; PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE CLEVELAND OFFICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP/LUNGE WHILE ENGAGING IT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNG/JUMP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR A REAR LEAKING WINDOW. THE WEATHER STRIPING WAS REPLACED, BUT THE LEAK CONTINUED. RECENTLY, WHEN THE CONSUMER FILLED THE GAS TANK, IT ONLY REGISTERED A HALF TANK. ALSO, THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 8, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN COVER CRACKED CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME LOOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WHO REPLACED THE TIMING COVER. FIVE MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING OIL AND WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN COVER HAD CRACKED AGAIN. THE DEALER HAD NOT DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN COVER TO CRACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Nov 8, 2010
GOT HOME AT 4PM, PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND TURNED IT OFF. WALKED INSIDE AND WENT TO DINNER AT MY IN LAWS. ABOUT 3AM MY WIFE WOKE UP TO ONE OF OUR BABIES CRYING. SHE WENT DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. AS SHE WAS WALKING THROUGH OUR KITCHEN SHE SMELLED SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT RIGHT. SHE WOKE ME UP AND WE ALL LEFT THE HOUSE AND WENT TO HER PARENTS HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET. WE CALLED THE GAS COMPANY AND THEY CAME TO SEARCH THE HOUSE. THE COULD NOT FIND A GAS LEAK, SO THE GUY FROM THE GAS COMPANY ASKED TO LOOK IN THE GARAGE. WHEN WE OPENED THE GARAGE IT FELT LIKE 100 DEGREES. WE LOOKED IN BOTH CARS AND THERE WERE NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. WE POPPED THE HOODS ON THE CARS ON OUR ESCAPE YOU COULD BARELY TOUCH ANYTHING INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAUSE IT WAS HOT. ON OUR OTHER CAR YOU COULD TOUCH EVERYTHING. WE TRIED TO BACK THE ESCAPE OUT OF THE GARAGE UNTIL WE COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY BUT WERE UNABLE TO. THE NEXT MORNING WE ENDED UP CALLING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER SHIP. THEY CHECKED THE WIRING UNDER THE BATTERY BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS OF THE STARTER SPINNING BUT NEVER STARTING. SINCE THEN THEY AS WELL AS FORD HAVE SAID WE HAVE MADE THIS UP AND ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER HERD OF SUCH OF A THING. SINCE WE ARE THE FIRST THEY DON'T FEEL OBLIGATED TO DO ANYTHING TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Nov 3, 2010
2009 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE RANDOMLY SHUTTING DOWN. *TGW
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 11, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,419. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 8, 2010
CONTINUOUS EMISSION OF VISIBLE PARTICULATE MATTER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN FROM THE INTERIOR HEATING/COOLING AIR DUCTS OF 2009 FORD ESCAPE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. PARTICULATE CAUSES COUGHING AND SNEEZING. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS JUST INSULATION THAT IS NON-TOXIC AND NOT HARMFUL. I DO NOT AGREE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SAMPLES TESTED FOR TOXICITY AND POTENTIAL HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CONTINUOUS INHALATION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 6, 2010
2009 FORD ESCAPE TIMING CHAIN CASE COVER CRACKED. THIS CAUSED MISALIGNMENT OF THE ATTACHED PULLEY AND SUBSEQUENT DETACHMENT OF THE SERPENTINE BELT. THERE WERE 13600 MILES ON THE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AT THE TIME IT OCCURRED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 13, 2010
2009 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED WITH 4WD AND 4 CYLINDER ENGINE HAS CONTINUED TO SPEW FLACKY WHITE MATERIAL FROM THE HEATING/AC DUCTS WHEN THE SYSTEM'S FAN IS OPERATING. UPON RETURN TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN EXISTED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUFACTURER'S BULLETIN.THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THE MATERIAL WAS INSULATION AND NON TOXIC AND NOT A CARCINOGEN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST WITH SMALLER PARTICLES BEING SPEWED FORTH WHENEVER THE SYSTEM IS TURNED ON. I AM CONCERNED THAT CONTINUOUS INHALATION OF THIS MATERIAL WILL HAVE BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. SINCE THERE IS ALREADY A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT, MY SITUATION IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I PLAN TO RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR RESOLUTION BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS MORE AT RISK. HOW DO I DETERMINE THAT INHALATION OF THIS MATERIAL IS NOT TOXIC AND DOES NOT IMPOSE A HEALTH RISK?? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 10, 2008
THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO THE 2009 ESCAPE HYBRID MODEL ONLY. WHILE CHANGING OIL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE OIL FILLER TUBE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD (ONE OF THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE ENGINE BAY). I SPILLED A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL WHILE REFILLING (2 TABLESPOONS) AND NOTICED IT DROPPED ONTO THE MANIFOLD, WHICH HAS SOME CREASES AND FOLDS IN IT THAT CAN CATCH THE OIL AND POOL IT. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT WAS STILL HOT ENOUGH TO START SMOKING SLIGHTLY. AFTER WIPING UP WHAT OIL I COULD WITH A RAG, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT BEGAN SMOKING AGAIN WITHIN 20 SECONDS. NO DOUBT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY WITHIN MINUTES HAD I NOT WIPED UP THE POOLED OIL FROM THE MANIFOLD. *TR