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: fuel/propulsion system
116 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 18, 2013
THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. IT STARTED AND THEN STALLED AGAIN. WHEN TESTED BY MY MECHANIC THE CODE CAME UP AS A BAD THROTTLE BODY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I HAD HIM REPLACE THE PARTS AND HAD TO PAY $300.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 18, 2013
CAR STALLED WHILE MOVING FORWARD AFTER BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. CAR HAD OPERATED FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE PULLING INTO SPACE, THEN IMMEDIATELY BACKING OUT WITHOUT STOPPING ENGINE. FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND ONE HALF YELLOW SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON THEN GOES OFF AFTER FEW DRIVING CYCLES. CAR ALSO HESITATES AND JERKS DURING ACCELERATION RANDOMLY AND FREQUENTLY. SERVICE DEPT OF USED CAR DEALER WHERE PURCHASED CAR HAS DETECTED NO DEFECTS AND HAS NOT REPLICATED PROBLEM WHEN CAR LEFT AT SHOP. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 2, 2013
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AND ENGINE DID ACCELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE BEFORE REPEATING THE FAILURE. PULLED OVER ONCE AGAIN AND REPEATED THE PROCESS AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME (ABOUT 3 MORE MILES). TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP NEXT MORNING AND DIAGNOSIS IS A BAD THROTTLE BODY. REPAIR COST NORTH OF $400. THIS ALSO HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT REPEATABLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT / DIAGNOSTIC CODES APPARENTLY DIDN'T FIRE. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 2, 2013
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM SUPPER AT A RESTAURANT. WE WERE ON A BUSY CITY STREET DOING ABOUT 30 MPH,WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED TO AROUND 1 TO 2 MPH. WE MANAGED TO EASE THE CAR HOME(AROUND 2BLOCKS) AMID HORNS BLOWING AND LIGHTS FLASHING FROM OTHER DRIVERS.THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND SHOWED A PICTURE OF A WRENCH. WHEN I EXPLAINED TO THE LADY AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY,SHE SEEMED TO KNOW RIGHT AWAY THAT IT WOULD BE A WRENCH SHOWING ,WHICH MADE ME ASSUME THAT THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.....BILL FOR REPAIRS WAS $545.00. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 1, 2013
I RECENTLY READ IN A NEWSPAPER ABOUT AN ENGINE PROBE FOR FORD VEHICLES AND WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH STALLING AND/OR SURGING ENGINE IN MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. I BELIEVE MY CAR HAD EXPERIENCED THIS "LIMP HOME MODE" ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD. ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT AS THOUGH I COULD NOT ACCELERATE THE CAR AT ALL. THE REST OF MY TRIP HOME (APPROX. 25 MILES) THE CAR WOULDN'T LET ME SURPASS ABOUT 20MPH. I WAS VERY SCARED BUT WANTED TO AT LEAST GET THE CAR CLOSER TO MY HOME. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS DONE FOR. YET, AFTER LETTING THE CAR REST FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AT HOME, I STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT DROVE FINE. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE OF YET ANOTHER PERSON WHO COULD CONTRIBUTE TO EXPERIENCING A MALFUNCTIONING CIRCUIT BOARD. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 27, 2013
ON 3/29/12 I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED WORKING, ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND I HAD NO POWER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS NEAR ME, AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME OVER AND WHEN HE ARRIVED, HE TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I DROVE IT TO THE FORD DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY. IN DECEMBER 2012 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND AFTER SEVERAL TIMES I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY (THEY ARE NEVER SURE) THE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE. I PAID FOR A REPLACEMENT AGAIN. IN FEBRUARY 2013 AFTER 2 REPLACEMENTS IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. OF COURSE THEY CANNOT TELL FOR SURE IF IT IS A BAD THROTTLE BODY SO I NOW HAVE A RECORDING DEVICE ATTACHED TO MY CAR SO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN I CAN PRESS THE BUTTON AND IT WILL RECORD WHAT THE ENGINE WAS DOING. MAYBE THEY WON'T HAVE TO GUESS AGAIN?? MY LIFE IS ON THE LINE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, NOT THEIRS, NOT FORD'S. IS FORD WAITING FOR A FATALITY BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 26, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR LOST POWER AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND REPLACED THE "DRIVE-BY-WIRE" PART; THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 14, 2013
WHILE DRIVING IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE DIED AND THE CHECK-ENGINE-LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RE-START THE CAR. ONCE BACK ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE LATER. I STARTED THE CAR A SECOND TIME AND THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN DIED. BY THIS TIME, TRAFFIC WAS BEGINNING TO BACK UP BEHIND ME AND I WAS ENTERING AN AREA WHERE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO ESCAPE TO IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED FOR A TOW. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER SAID THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED, THEY HAD RECENTLY REPLACE A COUPLE OF OTHERS. COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $400. FORD SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I RETAINED THE FAILED PART AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 19, 2012
DRIVING AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THIS HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY ON 11/25/12 AND THE DEALER REPAIR WAS REPLACING BOTH VCT SOLENOIDS AND VALVE COVER GASKETS. BOTH TIMES WHEN THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED AFTER 3-5 MINUTES. I WAS ABLE TO GO ANOTHER 6-8 MILES AND THEN THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE SECOND TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN SECONDS LATER 8 OTHER LIGHTS WERE LIT ON THE DASH. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AFTER COASTING TO THE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY (WAS IN LEFT LANE WITH TRAFFIC AT 55MPH) AND WAITED FOR A TOW FROM THE DEALER. NOW THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THIS REPAIR (REPLACEMENT OF THROTTLE BODY) IS NOT COVERED AS THE VEHICLE IS MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD (ACTUALLY, I'VE HAD IT FOR 44 MONTHS). I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AS IT SEEMS RATHER COMMON FROM WHAT I'M SEEING ON-LINE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 24, 2012
I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY GOING APPROX 55 MPH. AFTER DRIVING APPROX 6 MILES THE RPM'S STARTED TO REV UP AND DOWN FROM 500 TO THE MAX RPM. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING BUT MY SPEED WAS NOT CHANGING. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, I COULD ONLY BREAK. I QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, REVVED THE ENGINE A FEW TIMES. ALL SEEMED NORMAL. SO I CONTINUED SLOWLY. NOTHING FURTHER HAPPENED FOR 3 WEEKS. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, ALSO ON THE FREEWAY AT THE SAME APPROXIMATE SPEED. I DID THE SAME THING AND HAD NO ISSUES UNTIL RECENTLY. SINCE THEN MY MPG HAS GONE DOWN FROM AVG 28 TO AVG 24 MPG. THE ENGINE/TRANS? ALWAYS HESITATES TO SHIFT AND OCCASIONALLY THE RPM'S GO HIGHER THEN THEY SHOULD BEFORE THE ENGINE SHIFTS BACK DOWN. TWO DAYS AGO ON 11/22/12 I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY (70 MPH). AFTER SITTING THROUGH THE RED LIGHT I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE RPM'S DID NOT MOVE EITHER, THEY WERE STEADY AT IDLE RPM OF ABOUT 1500. I HIT THE GAS PEDDLE AGAIN AND FINALLY MY CAR JERKED INTO GEAR AND REVVED UP TO ABOUT 3000 RPM. I TRIED TO REPLICATE THIS AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT BUT IT HASN'T DONE IT SINCE. I WILL BE TAKING MY CAR IN ON MONDAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BUT FEAR THAT DEALER WILL AGAIN FIND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER MY FIRST INCIDENT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY JUST BECAUSE IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 23, 2012
MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE STALLED (ENGINE RUNNING BUT NO FORWARD MOTION AND NO RESPONSE TO ACCELERATOR) WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY ONCOMING VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY BY DEALER. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. THIS IS KNOWN DEFECT, VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION # DP12006: "...VEHICLES THAT WERE DIAGNOSED AS FAILED THROTTLE BODIES WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P2111, THROTTLE BODY STUCK OPEN, AND P2222, THROTTLE BODY STUCK CLOSED. THE PETITIONER INDICATES THAT THE OWNERS OF BOTH VEHICLES REPORTED EXPERIENCING REPEATED INCIDENTS OF STALLING..." FORD HAS "RELEASED A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THAT COVER A WIDE RANGE OF VEHICLES AND THROTTLE BODY ISSUES RELATED TO HESITATION AND STALLING, INCLUDING 08-18-2 AND 09-23-5." THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD (BOTH CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP) AND THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE UNTIL A RECALL IS INITIATED BY THE NHTSA. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 30, 2012
WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE AT AROUND 40-60 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST ALL ACCELERATION. AT THE SAME TIME THE ORANGE WRENCH CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE ALMOST DIED, BUT NEVER DID. PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN SEEMED TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM - AND THE ORANGE WRENCH WENT AWAY, UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD. THAT MORNING IT HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES WITHIN A HALF HOUR OR SO AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE LAST TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONCE RANDOMLY BEFORE BUT THE MECHANIC COULD FIND NO REASON FOR IT TO BE HAPPENING. SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THIS TIME HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONCLUDED THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DIRTY. AFTER CLEANING IT, THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 2, 2012
WE WERE DRIVING OUR ESCAPE BACK FROM THE STORE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT LOST POWER AND THE THROTTLE DID NOT RESPOND, THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD, THERE IS NO REASON THE THROTTLE BODY SHOULD FAIL AT ALL MUCH LESS IN A NEWER MODEL CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE. HAD WE BEEN PULLING OUT ON TO A ROAD WE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT! I DON'T THINK OURS IS AN ISOLATED INDECENT FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 16, 2012
WHILE TRAVELING AT 70MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE OF A HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NO WARNING SIGNS WERE DISPLAYED. AFTER PULLING TO THE SHOULDER, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND SEEMED TO BE FINE. SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND A FAILURE CODE FOR 'THROTTLE STUCK CLOSED' WITH 'FREEZE DATA' SHOWING IT HAPPENED AT 71MPH. HE INSPECTED THE THROTTLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. AS A PRECAUTION, HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BLADE WITH A CLEANING WIPE. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AS I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING, I THEN NEEDED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE WHILE AT STOPS. RETURN TO MY TECHNICIAN AND HE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. HE SAID THAT THE COMPUTER DATA SHOWED THE THROTTLE OPEN ONLY 52% WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN. VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 15, 2012
WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED THE THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY CAN BECOME STUCK AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE ALL THROTTLE AND SPEED CONTROL. PROBLEM WILL PRESENT ITSELF AS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AS SHIFTING THROUGH ALL THE GEARS WILL NOT CLEAR THE PROBLEM, UNTIL ENGINE IS POWERED DOWN AND RESTARTED. THIS IS A CLEAR AND EVIDENT PROBLEM THAT APPEARS AT OR AROUND 75,000 MILES. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FACTORY MODEL THROTTLE BODY INSTALLED IN MOST ESCAPE MODEL VEHICLES. REGULAR ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS DO NOT DISPLAY AN ERROR CODE UNLESS THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER IS CONNECTED TO THE CAR AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT AND WARNING LIGHT IS ON. *TR
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 19, 2012
I WAS SITTING IN THE BANK LINE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WAITING TO GET TO THE DRIVE-UP ATM WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKE HARDER TO STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO MY SERVICE SPECIALIST HE SAID HE CHECKED THE CAR AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS INDICATED. I HAVE A 2009 FORD ESCAPE XLT V-6. *TR