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: service brakes
108 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Service brakes, Dec 6, 2013
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE TURNPIKE WHEN ALL AT ONCE MY CAR JERKED THEN LOST POWER, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR SO I COASTED ON THE MEDIAN TILL THE CAR ALLOWED ME TO TURN ONTO AN EXIT RAMP. MY HUSBAND CAME AND CHECKED THE TRUCK, IT STARTED AND SEEMED TO BE OKAY. THE ENTIRE MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE TRUCK STARTS HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND ON AT LEAST 6 TIMES WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL BEFORE IT UNLOCKS AND ALLOWS ME TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND I WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE COST. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS FAIR BECAUSE I RESEARCHED THIS MATTER AND FOUND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MATTER. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THERE COULD BE A CATASTROPHE. I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO FIX THIS MATTER. THANKS *TR
Service brakes, Nov 21, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD UPON BEING DEPRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Service brakes, Nov 20, 2013
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR LEAVING MY OFFICE. LOCAL MASTER MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND SAID IT'S THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU). I DROVE TO FRONTIER FORD DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS A WRONG DIAGNOSIS AND AFTER REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER THE BRAKE WAS SOFT AND WENT HALF WAY TO THE FLOOR. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Nov 8, 2013
DRIVING AND VEHICLE KEPT ACTING LIKE IT WAS STALLING WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE. KNEW THAT THE GAS WAS NOT LOW, SO WASN'T SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. MADE IT TO DESTINATION AND CALLED MECHANIC. BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SHOP, STILL WITH INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE DRIVING. RAN A TEST AND SAID THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WAS STUCK OPEN - THIS HAS SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE VEHICLES. GOT IT FIXED WITH NO INCIDENTS, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. *TR
Service brakes, Apr 21, 2013
VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, REQUIRES PUMPING BRAKE PEDAL TO CORRECT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER RECENTLY REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMED ABS MODULE. VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM AND ITS 2013. FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AFTER DOING SEARCH FOR "FORD ESCAPE BRAKE PROBLEMS". FORDS RESPONSE IS THAT HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PROBLEMS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 10, 2012
DURING A COLD START AND VEHICLE IS PUT IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS MOMENTARILY UNRESPONSIVE AND HAS TO BE PRESS EXTREMELY HARD IN ORDER TO ENGAGE BRAKES. AT TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE "PUMPED" TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT FEELS AS IF THERE AREN'T ANY POWER BRAKES. FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE HAS INCREASED OVER TIME AT FIRST THE PROBLEM OCCURRED RARELY, NOW MORE OFTEN THEN NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE FORD DEALER WITH THE ISSUE IN 06/2012, THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. I AM BRING THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN 12/10/2012. SINCE THIS TIME I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
Service brakes, Electric, May 10, 2010
I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 FORD ESCAPE IN DECEMBER 2008. IT HAS ABOUT 25000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH BRAKE. WHEN I BACKUP VEHICLE, SOMETIMES THE BRAKE IS STUCK, AND CANNOT BE PRESSED DOWN ANYMORE, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE IS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE MOVE AS BRAKE IS LOCKED. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TWICE TODAY AS 05/10/2010. ONE WAS IN THE MORNING AND ANOTHER WAS IN THE AFTERNOON. THE VEHICLE HIT THE STREET CURB AS IT CANNOT BE STOPPED. I WAS LUCKY AS THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC OR PEOPLE BEHIND OF ME. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 17, 2009, crash
59 YR. WOMAN NO DRUGS NEVER. NON SMOKER. ATTENDING TRAFFIC VERY CONCENTRATED. 17 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. IT IS TRUE I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE WITHOUT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM. ALSO IT IS TRUE I DIDN'T TRY TO STOPPED SUDDENLY AT ANY TIME BEFORE. USUALLY I DRIVE VERY SAFE TAKING A RATIONAL DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS. IT HAPPENED INTO A TIED TRAFFIC AT 125 NE STREET, NORTH MIAMI, SOUTH FL AT APPROX 6 PM LAST FRIDAY 3/13/09 NO MORE THAT 25 MILES PER HOUR BECAUSE TRAFFIC IS USUALLY DENSE AT THAT TIME ON THAT STREET. UNDER A GREEN LIGHT THE 1ST CAR IN ROW SUDDENLY STOPPED TO MAKE AN UNAUTHORIZED LEFT. ALL THE CARS BEHIND IN THE LINE STOPPED TO HIT THE ONE IN FRONT, ONE BY ONE. I WAS THE LAST IN THE ROW. ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO STOP MY CAR VERY HARD WITH ENOUGH DISTANCE IT DIDN'T STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKE WITH ALL MY SOUL TO AVOID THE IMPACT BUT I IT DIDN'T WORK AS I EXPECTED. I WAS DRIVING A RENTED SUV-FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2009. THE CAR KEPT RUNNING UNTIL HIT THE LAST CAR IN THE ROW. ACCIDENT WAS NOT MY FAULT, I DIDN'T GET THE TICKET. IT WAS A RENTED CAR. NOW THE INSURANCE WILL TRY TO COLLECT FROM ME THE $1000 DEDUCTIBLE OF MY POLICY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION WOULD BE. AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS, LARGER RECALLS AND ARE GENERALLY LESS RELIABLE DAY BY DAY, AND WE PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THEM. *TR