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 system
88 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 18, 2013
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. IT CONSTANTLY WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO TO JERK FORWARD AFTER IT IS PUT INTO DRIVE FROM A PARKED POSITION. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO SUNRISE FORD DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER 6 MONTHS. AND EVERY TIME THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AND SAY THAT IT DOES NOT DO THAT WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MORE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIX. I HAVE A TODDLER AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY KNOWING THAT MY CAR COULD STOP AT ANY MOMENT. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Jun 18, 2013
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CIRCUIT BOARD FAILED (FORD MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSIS) WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CAR HAD BEEN HAVING CONSTANT SPEED SURGES WHILE DRIVING IN 3-4 GEAR POWERBAND AND WAS SERVICED. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER WHEN THE THROTTLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. FORD IS REPLACING THE TB ASSEMBLY WITH WHAT I FEAR IS THE EXACT SAME PART; WEEK AND A HALF WAIT FOR THE PART, NO LONER CAR, NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Jun 18, 2013
ON 10/19/2013 AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR FOR THE 3RD TIME AT FORD FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH , VEHICLE LOST POWER, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH TURNED ON INCLUDING A WRENCH SYMBOL. I TOOK IT TO BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE THEY KEPT IT AND STATED IT WAS REPAIRED, THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON 06/10/2013 WHERE I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AT A SPEED OF 55MPH. THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME WHERE NOT AWARE I HAD LOST POWER CAUSING A BACK UP UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORD SAYS ITS A THROTTLE PROBLEM WHICH IS NOW NOT COVERED BECAUSE I AM NOW OVER 60K MILES, THEREFORE I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 16, 2013
WE WERE DRIVING TO BILOXI MI TO THE VA CLINIC FROM PACE FL AND WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE VA CLINIC ON SUNDAY TO GET OUR HOTEL OUR CAR STARTED HESITATING. WHEN WE LEFT TO GO TO THE HOTEL WE WAS GOING ABOUT 40 COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND MY WIFE LOST THE THROTTLE AND A WRENCH SHOWED ON THE DASH. WE HAD NO GAS PEDAL SO I TOLD HER TO LET IT COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN IT OFF. IT CRANKED UP WENT A MILE AND DONE THE SAME THING SO HERE WE ARE STUCK IN MISSISSIPPI WITH NO CAR. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Jun 15, 2013
THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON 8 OCCASIONS IN RAPID SUCCESSION. IN ALL INSTANCES, I AM DRIVING ALONG AS USUAL, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY ACCELERATOR BECOMES NON-RESPONSIVE. THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT I AM QUICKLY LOSING SPEED, I CANNOT ACCELERATE, AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT REV WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR. I MUST STOP THE CAR, PUT IT IN PARK, TURN IT OFF, AND RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM AND CONTINUE DRIVING. SIMPLY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURNING IT OFF AND RESTARTING IT WILL NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 14, 2013
I ACCELERATED FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND IN APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET THE ACCELERATOR STOP WORKING. THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY IDLE AT A SLOW PACE. I STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTED. THE ACCELERATOR WORKED AT THAT TIME AND I CONTINUED ONTO THE HIGHWAY WITH NO PROBLEM. I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH FOR ABOUT 10 MILES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO AN IDLE. I REPEATED THE SAME PROCESS AS BEFORE, STOP, PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED. THE ACCELERATOR WORKED AGAIN AND I CONTINUED ON 10 MILES AND MADE IT HOME. THE NEXT AVAILABLE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I EXPERIENCED (2) OF THE SAME SCENERIOS LISTED ABOVE ALONG MY 6 MILE ROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER (2) DAYS THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WITH A $574 PRICE TAG TO REPAIR. THE SERVICE PERSON STATED THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR A RECALL ITEM. SHE THEN STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON A "NATIONAL BACKORDER" AND WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER MONTH. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING ALOT!! I HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME TYPE OF ISSUE HAPPENING TO OTHER FORD ESCAPES, VARYING YEARS AND WAS SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THE INCIDENT STARTED WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOWN, HEADED TOWARD HOME AT APPROIMATELY 11:00 PM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I HAD LOST POWER TRYING TO TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC OR WAS ON A MUCH BUSIER HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HOPE OTHERS ARE AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Engine, Jun 10, 2013
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON. I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE IS NOTHING. THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT GIVING IT GAS WILL NOT HELP IT TO MOVE. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND PULL OFF ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. THIS WORKS BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. NOW IT JUST SHUTS DOWN SPORADICALLY. I CANNOT BE SURE WHEN OR WHERE IT WILL HAPPEN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD) AND I AM WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHERE I HAVE MY LOAN AND THEY SAID EVEN IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTIES. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Engine, Jun 8, 2013
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY ONE. CURRENTLY THE BIG ISSUE IS THE THROTTLE BODY (WHICH I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE FORD ESCAPES). ALSO THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM, HEATING/AIR, AND SECURITY SYSTEM (ALSO IT HAS A PROBLEM NOT STARTING---NOT SURE IF THAT'S ALSO THROTTLE BODY). IS THIS BEING RECALLED? *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 5, 2013
I HAD TO GET THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED ON MY 2009 ESCAPE BECAUSE THE CAR ENGINE WOULD DISENGAGE AND THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STOP WORKING. THE CAR WOULD COAST TO A STOP AND I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF AND CUT IT BACK ON TO GET IT TO RE-ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED EVER COUPLE OF DAYS FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND CLAIMS THAT THERE WAS A BAD PRODUCTION BATCH THAT CAUSED A NATIONAL BACKLOG OF PARTS. THE CALL CENTER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE AND FORD IS CLAIMING THAT I HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR THE PART EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR NEARLY A MONTH. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, May 16, 2013
TRUCK FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A RED LIGHT, WITH PEDAL COMPLETELY ENGAGED. HAD CONTINUED LOSS POWER/THRUST WHEN I PUSH THE GAS. THIS HAPPENS SO OFTEN NOW, I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS I NEVER KNOW IF I'LL BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE. SUNDAY AFTER FINALLY GETTING HOME, I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT TO STAY CRANKED WHEN I DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO REVERSE. THIS LOSS OF POWER WAS EXUBERATED BY HAVING THE A/C RUNNING. FIRST THE TIMING COVER LEAKS AT 22, 761, THEN A PULLEY FALLS OFF THE ENGINE AT 40,149 SPRAYING OIL ALL OVER MY INTERIOR VIA THE A/C. AFTER THE PULLEY WAS REPLACED THE CAR WOULD IDLE HIGH AND THEN STARTED JERKING AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL, TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES, FINALLY HAD THE TECH DRIVE WITH ME AND HE FELT THE JERKING. AFTER THREE VISITS FOR THIS, IN NOVEMBER 2012 AT 50,000 I WAS AM TOLD THE COIL PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, NOW AT 55, 063 MILES I AM TOLD IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED? I THINK I WAS SOLD A LEMON AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT'S ILLEGAL. WHAT IF I AM REAR ENDED DUE TO THE HORRIBLE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF YOUR PRODUCT?
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Jan 23, 2013
2009 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY, AT 50 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. HER FOOT WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SHE ALSO NOTICED TWO SYMBOLS, A GAS AND A WRENCH LIGHT, APPEARED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. SHORTLY AFTER SHE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN, SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION. ON DECEMBER 21, 2012, AS SHE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE CITY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. AT THAT TIME, ONLY THE SYMBOL OF THE WRENCH APPEARED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION, ONLY TO BE TOLD, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM.
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 14, 2011
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON BUSY 4 LANE CITY STREET VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO CENTER LEFT TURN LANE BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED INERTIA SWITCH. CONCERN IS IF FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH (INERTIA SWITCH) HAD FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES IT IS ANY ONES GUESS WHAT THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, SUDDEN START OR SUDDEN STOP TO CAUSE THE SWITCH TO FAIL. *TR