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: power train
301 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Jul 23, 2013
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE WRENCH SIGN LIT UP. I HAD TO COAST THROUGH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND IT STARTED UP AGAIN, HOWEVER THE ENGINE KEPT SHUTTING OFF EVERY FEW MILES. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND OUT I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. WHILE LOOKING UP THE PART ON THE INTERNET, I NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT FORDS (ESPECIALLY ESCAPES) HAVING THIS ISSUE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? OF COURSE MY WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT AND I WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET WITH THE REPAIRS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE THE BUS BACK AND FORTH FROM WORK BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT AT THIS TIME. MY DAUGHTER IS IN COLLEGE AND I REFUSE TO LET HERE USE THE CAR WHILE IT IS THIS CONDITION. SHE HAS TO FIND A RIDE EVERY DAY TO SUMMER SCHOOL AND HER JOB. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HAVE A RECALL! IT IS NOT FAIR TO HARDWORKING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 22, 2013
I WAS JUST PULLING AWAY FROM A DRIVE THRU WINDOW WHEN THE "WRENCH" LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE TRUCK STOPPED MOVING FORWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH IT HADN'T BEEN. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE, WITH NO FURTHER LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN APPROX 3 WEEKS LATER, ALTHOUGH THIS TIME I WAS GOING APPROX. 20 MPH, HAVING JUST ACCELERATED FROM A STOP SIGN. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON, AND THEN THE TRUCK LOST POWER. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND RESTARTED IT. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF, SO I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO READ THE COMPUTER. THEY FOUND DIAGNOSTIC CODE P2111, THROTTLE BODY STUCK OPEN. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SITTING IN MY PARKING LOT AT WORK, WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, AND PER THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE COMPUTER HAD RESET ITSELF. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 22, 2013
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH. DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MIN. WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND SLOW DOWN. PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR AND NO RESPONSE -RPM AND SPEED DROPPING QUICKLY. ALMOST RUN OVER BY OTHER VEHICLES ON HIGHWAY. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH PANEL. CAR WAS PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND BARELY GOING AT 900 RPM AND ~ 2 MPH. NEEDED TO HA E CAR TOWED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY! *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jul 21, 2013
I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY IN MORNING TRAFFIC WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 55-60MPH WHEN ALL ACCELERATION CUT OFF AND I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND PUT MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE INTO PARK, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE WAS SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY AND MY WRENCH LIGHT (POWERTRAIN) APPEARED IN THE DASH. SHUT OFF ENGINE, WAITED 1-2 MINS AND RESTART ENGINE. RAN NORMALLY, PULLED ONTO HIGHWAY AGAIN AND SET CRUISE WHEN THE SAME HAPPENED A 2ND TIME. HAPPENED 3-5 MORE TIMES (WITH & WITHOUT CRUISE) OVER THE NEXT DAY UNTIL I COULD GET MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE. FORD DEALER ADVISED IT WAS THROTTLE BODY IN ADDITION TO OTHER SENSORS. (THE THROTTLE BODY WAS NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND COST ME $300 IN PARTS & LABOR!!) THE ERROR CODES WERE: P0012, P0341, P0346, P2111, & P2112. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 18, 2013
THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED. I'M DRIVING NORMALLY, AT A CONSTANT SPEED, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, RPMS DO WEIRD THINGS, GAS PEDAL DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL IN A DRIFT DOWNSPEED DOES NOTHING, PARK DOES NOTHING. PUTTING IT IN PARK AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE, AND STARTING AGAIN MAKES THE LIGHT GO AWAY AND RUN FINE AGAIN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS I TRAVEL WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND THIS WILL HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. VERY DISAPPOINTED FORD WILL NOT RECALL AND FIX THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 13, 2013
WE WERE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON, JUST THE WRENCH LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, FORTUNATELY, AS THE STEERING STILL WORKED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, AND IT RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE, I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE DIE MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS GENERALLY HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE PULLED UP TO A RED LIGHT SIGNAL. THE CAR DIES, AND IT IS ALWAYS RIGHT BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN! YOU HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THEN IT RUNS FINE. WHEN IT DIES, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT FUNCTION AT ALL AS IT GOES RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, IT DIED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALSO. SAME SCENARIO AS MENTIONED ABOVE AND ALSO WHEN STOPPED, THE CAR THROTTLE KIND OF SURGES, ALMOST AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO DIE. WHEN YOU APPLY GAS, IT JUMPS FORWARD. I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALER AND AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE A CODE READER AND THE CODE WAS P2111 AND P2112 (ERROR THROTTLE ACTUATOR STUCK). THEY FIRST CHARGED ME FOR "CLEANING" THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. SAID I MUST HAVE BLOWN DUST IN IT! ALSO TOLD ME MY 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFT ISSUES ON HARD ACCELERATION....PROBABLY CAUSED BY THEM. TALKED TO PARTS DEPT AND THROTTLE BODY QUOTE $200.83, WHEN SERVICE ADVISOR ASKED IF I WANTED THEM TO REPLACE IT HE QUOTED $240.00. *TR
Power train, Jul 10, 2013
I WAS DRIVING THE 2009 FORD ESCAPE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FLUTTER. I WATCHED THE RPMS GO UP AND DOWN. I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM DYING OR TURNING OFF, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. IT KEPT FLUTTERING AND SLOWING DOWN THEN IT TURNED OFF. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING THE ORANGE WRENCH SHAPED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR TURNED BACK ON BUT CONTINUES TO DO THIS. I CANT DRIVE IT 2 MILES WITH OUT IT HAPPENING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS A PART CALLED THE THROTTLE BODY. THEY SAID ITS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. AND I WONT HAVE MY VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WOW. NOT .GOOD. RESEARCH DONE SHOWS THOUSANDS OF THE VEHICLES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FROM 2009 TO 2012 MODELS. *TR
Power train, Jul 8, 2013
APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM ON MONDAY, JULY 8TH, 2013, I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE TO WORK. I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE CORNER OF EAST 30TH STREET AND NORTH SHADELAND AVENUE. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM EAST 30TH STREET TO TURN LEFT (SOUTHBOUND) ON NORTH SHADELAND AVENUE WHEN THE VEHICLE (2009 FORD ESCAPE) STALLED AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. I TRIED TO START THE CAR BACK UP...THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I HAD TO COAST TO THE NEAREST SHOULDER FOR SAFETY. I CALLED A FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THE REPAIRS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS: 1) THROTTLE BODY, 2) REPROGRAMMING THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM AFTER THE THROTTLE BODY IS REPAIRED, 3) FUEL INJECTORS AS WELL AS 4) AIR FILTER...THE DEALER'S TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIRS WAS QUOTED TO ME AS $620.00!!! WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF THE FORD ESCAPE HAVING WITH THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ME RECOUP THE MAJOR COST OF THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRS AS I FEEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPAIR AT NO COST BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED BY FORD. *TR
Power train, Jul 8, 2013
STARTED TO DRIVE CAR AND ENGINE QUIT, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT WAS REPLACED ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO. *TR
Power train, Jul 8, 2013
DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. CAR THEN RAPIDLY DECELERATED AND I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jul 8, 2013
A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT A 2009 FORD ESCAPE FROM A USED DEALERSHIP, I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUV. FIRST THE BATTERY DIED, LEAVING ME, MY BOYFRIEND AND HIS 3 YEAR OLD NEPHEW STRANDED IN MALIBU UNTIL 10PM. THE NEXT DAY, WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AT AN AUTO ZONE. AS WE STARTED TO DRIVE HOME, MY CAR SURGES AND STALLS. I TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE BUT IN ABOUT 20 FEET, THE CAR SURGES TO A STOP AGAIN AND THE "WRENCH LIGHT" TURNED ON INDICATING A THROTTLE CONTROL/POWERTRAIN PROBLEM. I HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST BODY SHOP AND THE NEXT DAY THEY TELL ME THEY CANT FIX MY CAR AND THAT I NEEDED TO GET IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. I CONTACT THE PRIVATELY OWNED DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR (WHICH IS 40 MINS AWAY FROM MY HOME) AND THEY TELL ME THEY WILL GET SOMEONE TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO THEM. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THEY TELL ME ITS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE AND THAT I NEEDED TO GET IT REPLACED. AFTER THEY GAVE ME A QUOTE ON HOW MUCH REPAIRS WOULD COST, I TOLD THEM I COULDN'T AFFORD IT SO THEY TRIED CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY. AFTER THEY CLEANED IT, THEY SAID MY CAR WAS OPERABLE AGAIN BUT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AS SOON AS I COULD. SINCE THEN I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR ALMOST 300 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT I AM STILL WEARY THAT MY CAR WILL STALL ON ME AGAIN SO I WILL DEFINITELY HAVE THE PART REPLACED ONCE I HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO. FOR A WEEK WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP(S) I DID A LOT OF RESEARCHING ON MY MAKE AND MODEL SUV AND I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL YET. ANYWAY, I'M JUST THANKFUL I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY OR A BUSY STREET WHEN MY ESCAPE DECIDED TO CRAP OUT ON ME. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A WAY WORSE OF A SITUATION. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jul 5, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON I55 IN CHICAGO GOING 60 MPH THE GAS PEDDLE WENT SOFT. THERE WAS NO ACCRETION, I WAS FORCE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AND IT RAN FINE FOR 20 MILES THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, AND THEN AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT WOULD TAKE 2 WEEKS TO HAVE A REPLACEMENT PART. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jul 3, 2013
VEHICLE RANDOMLY SLIPS INTO LIMP-HOME MODE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE WRENCH LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE ACCELERATOR IS NON-RESPONSIVE. IF THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK AND THE ENGINE IS SHIFT OFF, IT RESTARTS WITH NO PROBLEM...UNTIL A RANDOM TIME FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. MONDAY IT HAPPENED 5 TIMES; TUESDAY IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 2, 2013
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY FORD ESCAPE WOULD COME ON AND OFF, ON AND OFF. SOME TIMES IT WOULD STAY ON FOR WEEKS AND THEN JUST DISAPPEAR. SOMETIMES IT WOULD STAY ON FOR A DAY OR TWO AND THEN DISAPPEAR. AND WHENEVER I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NEVER ON. PEP BOYS COULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE THEY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NEVER ON, AND NO CODES APPEARED. WHEN PEP BOYS DROVE THE CAR, IT NEVER STOPPED ON THEM. IN APRIL OF 2012, AS MY SON WAS HOME FROM COLLEGE AND DRIVING THE CAR, IT SHUT OFF ON HIM ON THE FREEWAY ON MANY OCCASIONS. HE WOULD EXPLAIN TO ME THAT THE ENGINE WENT OFF AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. HE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND EITHER RESTART IT OR WAIT AN HOUR FOR IT TO START SOMETIMES. THIS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AT FAST AND SLOW SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MAINTENANCE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE CAR BEGAN STOPPING ON ME WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS STATED ABOVE. EVERY TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO PEP BOYS, THEY WOULD DRIVE IT FOR HOURS AND IT NEVER STOPPED ON THEM. ON APRIL 29, 2012, I TOOK THE CAR IN TO PEP BOYS, AND THE STOP ENGINE CODE READ THAT THE CAM SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I GOT THE CAR BACK ON MAY14, 2012, AND IT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ON ME. THEN IT RAN GOOD FOR TWO WEEKS, THEN IT BEGAN STOPPING AGAIN ON A REGULAR BASIS. ON JUNE 21, 2012, I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE CODES READ THROTTLE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE AND I GOT THE CAR BACK ON JUNE, 29, 2013. I HAVE SPEND OVER $3500.00 ON THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO GET REIMBURSED. ONE THING TO NOT IS THAT THE ORIGINAL CHECK LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AROUND AUGUST OF 2011 AND THERE NEVER WAS A CLEAR DIAGNOSIS UNTIL MAY AND JUNE OF 2013. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jul 1, 2013
AS I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY CAR APPEARED TO STALL. A WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD VERY LITTLE POWER. IT FELT AS IF I WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP WHO HAD IT TOWED. THE PROBLEM IS THE THROTTLE BODY BUT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE 8,000 REQUESTS FOR THE PART BUT IT IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING PRODUCED SO THE WAIT COULD BE MONTHS OR LONGER. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PICK UP MY CAR AND DRIVE IT AS IS, AS A REPLACEMENT CAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I ASKED IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GET THE PART THREW A DIFFERENT COMPANY AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART CANNOT BE FOUND ANYWHERE BUT I MAY BE ABLE TO GET A USED ONE FROM A WRECKED CAR. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR AND DROVE IT HOME IT STALLED TWICE. I DID AS I WAS ADVISED BY FORD, I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS WORKED BOTH TIMES BUT IS NOT A VERY SAFE WAY TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY I HAD SOMEONE FOLLOWING ME AND WE BOTH HAD OUR HAZARDS ON AS THE CARS BEHIND US WERE NOT HAPPY WHEN I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jun 30, 2013
WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I COASTED THE CAR ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC TO THE RIGHT LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE THIS PART OF THE HIGHWAY HAS NO SHOULDER AND IS BORDERED BY A CONCRETE WALL OR FENCE. THE RIGHT-LANE TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP WHILE I RESTARTED THE CAR. AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR, I PROCEEDED DOWN THE FREEWAY, BUT BEFORE I ARRIVED AT THE NEXT EXIT, THE CAR STALLED AGAIN. I FEARED FOR MY SAFETY AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS. I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON 6/20/13 AND REPORTED IT TO SAFERCAR.GOV. AT THAT TIME, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SERVICES MY CAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON TO FORD ESCAPES THAT THERE IS A 3 WEEK BACKLOG FOR ORDERING A REPLACEMENT PART. IN THE MEANTIME, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE PCM (POWER CONTROL MODULE?) ' FOR $118 ' AS A TEMPORARY FIX. APPARENTLY, THE 'FIX' WAS VERY TEMPORARY. MY CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE THROTTLE BODY IS REPLACED. FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS, I CANNOT RISK DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK. HOW MANY LIVES MUST BE PLACED AT RISK BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT? *TR
Power train, Engine, Jun 29, 2013
ABOUT A YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF AGO I LOST ALL FORWARD MOTION WHILE DRIVING, COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE "WRENCH" LIGHT CAME ON. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT STARTED IT RIGHT UP. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS PERIOD, I TOOK IT TO OUR FORD HOUSE BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. I THEN TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A THROTTLE ISSUE BUT COULDN'T FIND THE EXACT PROBLEM, SO HE SUGGESTED WE TAKE IT BACK TO THE FORD HOUSE AND LET THEM "PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER" AND LOOK AGAIN. I DID BUT THEY SAID ALTHOUGH THEY UNPLUGGED AND RECONNECTED SEVERAL THINGS THEY STILL COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND NOW IT HAS STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN, 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. NOW IT SPUTTERS SOME WHEN I RESTART IT BUT SO FAR IT HAS STARTED. I HAVE A TODDLER AND DEPEND ON MY CAR TO GET US AROUND AND THIS IS A VERY REAL SAFETY CONCERN. GETTING REAR-ENDED OR RUN OVER WHILE TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD IS A HUGE FEAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN I TAKE IT BACK TO THE FORD HOUSE, AND I WILL, THE WAIT ON THE PART WILL STILL MEAN I'LL BE DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE .FORD NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY AND THEN THE WHOLE WORLD WILL KNOW HOW MUCH THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jun 28, 2013
I WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN, TURNED LEFT AND PRESSED THE GAS AND MY CAR WOULDN'T GO, ALL LIGHTS AND GAUGES WERE NORMAL BUT THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WOULDN'T MAKE THE CAR GO SO I COASTED OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST MADE IT OUT OF THE ROAD. I TRIED CALLING SEVERAL TOW TRUCK COMPANY'S FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINS, I TRIED CRANKING THE CAR. ALL PARTS RAN NORMAL, ALL GAUGES NORMAL, SO I DROVE IT TO WORK AND THEN CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT IS WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
Power train, Jun 26, 2013
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY APPROX 55-65 MILE PER HOUR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, RPMS WENT DOWN TO 1000 AND WOULD NOT REV BACK UP UNTIL I PULLED THE CAR OVER ON THE SHOULDER PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AND BACK ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 5 TIMES SINCE AND SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN UNTIL I DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALER. ALSO OCCURED LEAVING A STOP. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 25, 2013
VEHICLE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AT 45 MPH. *TR
Power train, Jun 25, 2013
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CAR STALLED. I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT COAST TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE RESTARTED IT. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE BUT LATER THAT NIGHT, THE SAME THING OCCURRED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. *TR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 24, 2013
I WAS LEAVING OUR LOCAL STORE AND TURNED ONTO THE ACCESS ROAD TO HAVE MY CAR START SHAKING AND WON'T GO FASTER THAN ABOUT 4 MPH. RIGHT AFTER, THE POWERTRAIN SYMBOL CAME ON FOLLOWED THE ENGINE LIGHT. WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON I CREPT INTO THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN. WHEN TURNED BACK ON THE LIGHTS WERE ALL GONE, SO I ASSUMED IT WAS A FLUKE. UNTIL I STARTED DRIVING AND AS SOON AS I TURNED EVERYTHING TURNED BACK ON AND THE SHAKING HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE IT WAS THE THROTTLE AND THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF SO MANY OF THE ESCAPES BREAKING IN THE SAME PART. NOW ITS THE SIT AND WAIT GAME FOR WEEKS! *TR
Power train, Engine, Jun 24, 2013
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM A CAMPING TRIP YESTERDAY AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. I PULLED OVER QUICKLY. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT KEPT JERKING FORWARD WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR ABOUT A MILE UNTIL I GOT UP TO 50 MPH AND THEN IT DID THE SAME THING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS $325. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY AT 74,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. THE PART NEEDED IS ON BACK ORDER WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY VEHICLE AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 24, 2013
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013, I WAS DRIVING NEAR TOPEKA, KANSAS, IN A SUBURBAN AREA WITH MY WIFE, 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER & 6 MONTH OLD SON IN OUR 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT ON A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET SO WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, AND RESTART THE CAR SUCCESSFULLY. THE ESCAPE CONTINUED ON WITHOUT ISSUE BACK HOME TO LAWRENCE, KANSAS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AROUND LAWRENCE WITHOUT ANY ISSUE UNTIL FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013. ON THIS DATE MY WIFE HAD TO COMMUTE FROM LAWRENCE TO KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, FOR WORK-RELATED TRAINING. ON HER TRIP TO KANSAS CITY (KC) THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60+ MPH). SHE WAS SUCCESSFUL RESTARTING THE VEHICLE BUT IT STALLED ONCE AGAIN WHILE IN KC. SHE DROVE THE ESCAPE TO SHAWNEE MISSION FORD TO SEE IF DIAGNOSTICS COULD BE RUN ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME LEFT IN THE DAY TO PERFORM THE FULL DIAGNOSTICS. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TEST-DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING IT STALLED ONCE AGAIN. BECAUSE CARSEATS FOR OUR TWO CHILDREN WERE LOCATED IN THE ESCAPE, MY WIFE HAD TO DRIVE FROM KC BACK TO LAWRENCE SO OUR FAMILY WOULD HAVE THESE ITEMS ON HAND. WHILE DRIVING FROM KC TO LAWRENCE THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AGAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60+ MPH). ONCE BACK IN LAWRENCE THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF AT LAIRD NOLLER FORD, AND ON SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013, IT WAS DETERMINED BY THEIR SERVICE STAFF THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS PART IS CURRENTLY ON NATIONAL BACKORDER, SO WE COULD BE WITHOUT OUR PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 3 WEEKS. THIS WILL RESULT IN HARDSHIP ON THE FAMILY AND COULD RESULT IN MAJOR FINANCIAL COSTS IF A RENTAL VEHICLE IS NEEDED FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD WE ARE WITHOUT OUR PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jun 24, 2013
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 3.5 MILES WHEN I WAS TURNING LEFT GOING ABOUT 10-15 MPH. MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE WRENCH ILLUMINATED. I PANIC BECAUSE I WAS ON A STREET WHERE THERE WAS NO AREA TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS BEHIND ME AND PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS I TURNED THE ENGINE OVER AND IT SPUTTERED TO LIFE, BUT THEN THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. CARS WERE COMING BEHIND ME AND I TRIED MY BEST TO GIVE THEM ROOM TO DRIVE BY, WHICH WAS HARD AS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER WITH PARKED CARS. AFTER THE CARS PASSED ME, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN AND WAITED ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS AND THE ENGINE CAME TO LIFE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT. *TR