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: steering
828 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Mar 10, 2019
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE WHEEL HAD BEEN SHUDDERING FOR A FEW WEEKS AND GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I HAD TO GET THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND PARTS REPLACED. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT FORD RECALLED ALL POWER STEERING IN CARS MADE FROM 2008-2011, BUT FOR SOME REASON MY CAR DID NOT HAVE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MADE DURING THOSE YEARS.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 8, 2019
THE VEHICLE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES . THE FOR DEALER SAYS ITS A SENSOR BUT IT HAS THROWN OUT MY POWER STEERING
Steering, Mar 4, 2019
POWER ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VERY HARD TO STEER PER DEALERSHIP STEERING TORCH SENSOR OUT NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 4, 2019
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35MPH ON A CITY STREET AN ALERT SOUNDED ON THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE STATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAME HARD TO STEER AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLUSION. MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AND MESSAGE CONTINUED TO BE DISPLAYED AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE. CONTACTED TOW SERVICE TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Mar 1, 2019
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT ALERT IS ON AND NOW GREAT EFFORT TO TURN WITH STEERING. JUST GOT IN CAR THIS MORNING AND IT WAS A FIRST TIME ALERT IN STATIONARY
Steering, Feb 26, 2019
I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKING, I TOOK IT INTO MIDAS TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A BUILD UP OF SNOW AND ICE AS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN VERY COLD. THEY SAID IT COULD ALSO BE THE STEERING AND TO TAKE IT TO FORD. I DROVE TO SEE MY SON IN BATTLE CREEK ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY AND AFTER MY VISIT AND ON MY WAY HOME IT SEEMED TO BE GETTING MORE SHAKY SO I WENT RIGHT HOME AND AS I TURNED INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE STEERING WENT OUT. SO I CALLED BROOKLYN FORD AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THEM AS THEY ARE VERY REPUTABLE. THEY SAID THAT I WAS THE EIGHTH PERSON THEY HAD TO FIX THIS SAME PROBLEM. NOW I THINK THAT IS EIGHT TO MANY AND THINK SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE 2008 MODELS. BROOKLYN FORD SAID THE CAUSE WAS A SCANNED CODE-B2278 STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION-INTERNAL FAILURE TO TORQUE SENSOR. BROOKLYN FORD HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN ( PART NUMBER CL8Z 3C529D), REPROGRAM, CLEAR CODE, RETEST. THE COST FOR THIS WAS $1,285.85 AND BEING A RETIRED SENIOR THIS WAS A GOOD SHARE OF MY LIVING EXPENSES. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS AS IT JUST SEEMS FUNNY THAT SO MANY CARS HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE JUST THIS YEAR.
Steering, Feb 26, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME DIFFICULT AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
Steering, Feb 23, 2019
STEERING LOCKS UP ON TURNS WHEN LOW SPEED TURNS
Steering, Feb 23, 2019
MY STEERING STARTED SHAKING. A FEW DAYS LATER MY POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ONE. THE FOLLOWING DAY MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY "FIXED" ON MY VECHICAL IN 2017 DUE TO A RECALL. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO PAPERWORK IT WAS RECALIBRATED AND NOT REPLACED AND NOW IS BROKEN. DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS?
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 22, 2019
I HAPPEN TO SEE IT'S A LOT OF RECALLS ON THE FORD ESCAPES I TYPED MY VINLAND IT SHOWS ZERO RECALLS BUT I'M ACTUALLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE RECALLS HAVE MY FORD ESCAPE POWERSTEERING ASIST FAULT SCREEN CAN'T UP NOW IT'S HARD TO TURN AND WHAT NOT BEFORE THIS SCREEN POPPED UP I HADD ANOTHER SCREEN TELLING ME TIRE SENSOR FAULT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL COMMON I ACTUALLY THINK THEY NEED TO RECALL MORE VEHICLES
Steering, Feb 19, 2019
I STOPPED TO PARALLEL PARK ON A BUSY MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN CLOVIS. AS I WAS BACKING AND TURNING INTO A A PARKING SPACE BETWEEN TWO PARKED VEHICLES THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN TIGHT ENOUGH TO PARK INTO THE SPACE. ALL I COULD DO WAS TO PULL OUT AND SLOWLY DRIVE HALF A BLOCK TO A LARGE HALF EMPTY PARKING LOT WHERE I HAD ALLOT MORE ROOM TO MANEUVER. I WAS ABLE TO PARK THERE AND WE HAD TO WALK BACK TO THE RESTAURANT TO EAT. WHEN WE RETURNED TO OUR VEHICLE AND AFTER I STARTED IT, I FOUND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. I DROVE TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP THAT WAS ALSO WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED OUR ESCAPE FROM. I WENT INSIDE TO TALK WITH A SERVICE WRITER. I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE RECALL 14S05 AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. I INFORMED HIM THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE IN 2012 DUE TO A STEERING PROBLEM. WE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD OVER THE ISSUE IN 2014. HE CHECKED OUR VIN NUMBER AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR US UNDER THE RECALL. HE SAID I COULD TRY TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SEE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR US.
Steering, Feb 18, 2019
STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE. I STOPPED FOR LUNCH THEN CRANKED IT AND STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS THE TORQUE ASSEMBLY. I ALSO NOTICED THE SEATBELT ALARM HAD QUIT WORKING AND THE CLOCK NEEDED RESET. NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. THERE HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE VIBRATION OR SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE SINCE PURCHASE. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS IN THE STEERING COLUMN IN 2011, JUST AFTER PURCHASE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TORQUE ASSEMBLY FOR SAME YEAR OF CAR BUT NOT MY VIN, OF COURSE.
Steering, Feb 16, 2019
FEBRUARY 1ST 2019 I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. THE DAY BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAD A RECALL AND PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. AFTER THAT THE POWER STEERING WORKED PROPERLY FOR TWO WEEKS. ON FEBRUARY 14TH I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK AND THE POWER STEERING WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THEY REPORTED THE TORQUE SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. FORD DID NOT ADEQUATELY PREVENT MY CAR FROM THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY TOLD ME TWO OPTIONS WERE POSSIBLE, UPDATING SOFTWARE OR REPLACING PARTS. NOW THAT THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE, THE RECALL WAS CLEARED OFF OF MY CAR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND WILL NOT BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED.
Steering, Feb 15, 2019
AS I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. MY CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO MY HOME AND JUST PUSHED IT TO MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL SUPER HARD TO GET IT IN. IT WAS TERRIFYING AS MY SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Steering, Feb 13, 2019
I USE MY VEHICLE AS MY ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME AS A SINGLE PARENT. I CAME HOME FOR A QUICK LUNCH. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY & HAD NO POWER STEERING. IT WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING, I ALMOST DROVE RIGHT INTO MY NEIBORS HOUSE!!!! I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM NOW TO FIND OUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER BUYERS THAT ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. IT STARTED WITH MY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHT THAT GOES OFF AND ON WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND NOW THIS. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE CLEARLY THERE'S A MANUFACTURING FLAW. IS FORD WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO GET SERIOUS BODILY INJURY FROM AN ACCIDENT FROM THEIR MANUFACTURING FLAW OR GOD FORBID KILL SOMEBODY DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. IN MY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA POWER STEERING IS NEEDED AS IT IS GLARE ICE ROAD CONDITIONS PRETTY MUCH 24/7 FOR THREE TO FIVE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. WHEN SPEAKING WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IT'S GOING TO COST ME NEAR $1,000 TO FIX, $1,000 THAT I DON'T HAVE AND DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES OF OBTAINING. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND SEE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THROWING OUT THE IDEA OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I'M DEFINITELY A BOARD . I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD. I WOULD IMAGINE IF THIS ISN'T MADE RIGHT THEY WILL BE LOSING A LOT OF CUSTOMERS MYSELF INCLUDED I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN, AND I'M IN THE MARKET FOR MYSELF AND MY TEENAGER.
Steering, Feb 13, 2019
DRIVING HOME FROM MY DR APPOINTMENT BELLS GO OF AND STEERING GOES OUT. YOU NEED LOTS OF STRENGTH TO TURN THIS SUV AT ANY SPEED I A NEW ONE OF THIS VEHICLE AND I THANK GOD I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE THIS THING IS A DEATH TRAP I THINK FORD IS DROPPING THE BALL WITH A SOFTWARE UP DATE. THE NEED TO FIX THE STEERING SO WE CAN FEEL SAFE
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 12, 2019
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. AND ALSO TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT ESCAPE 4WD V6 W/ ~172,XXX. DASH NOTIFICATION APPEARED ON 02/09/19 BUT QUICKLY WENT AWAY. POWER STEERING WAS FINE, NOT ONE ISSUE EVER. THEN ON 02/11/19 ON THE WAY HOME, THE DASH ALERT SHOWED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY AND BEEPED MULTIPLE TIMES. I PARKED IT AT HOME IN DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO MOVE IT INTO THE STREET A LITTLE BIT LATER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NONEXISTENT. TOOK FULL BODY WEIGHT TO JUST GET IT TO IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. LUCKY THAT I WASN'T DRIVING OR DELIVERING FOR MY JOB LIKE I USUALLY AM DURING THE WEEK. BUT TO MY LUCK, MY VIN ISN'T UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY ESCAPE WAS BUILT IN MAY 2009, WELL WITHIN THE RECALL TIME PERIOD. I THINK HIGHLY OF FORD AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AT THEIR ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE AND CURB CUSTOMER ISSUES... AND THIS IS A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING ISSUE! ANY FORD EXECUTIVE OR HIGHER UP WOULD HAVE THIS DONE ASAP IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO THEIR OWN FAMILY. WE NEED TO ALL STAND UP AND FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR SAFETY OR OUR FINANCIAL WELLBEING. MOST CAN'T AFFORD THESE $1-2K FIXES.
Steering, Feb 11, 2019
POWER STEERING HAS FAILED EVEN THOUGH RECALL 14S05 WAS PERFORMED OCTOBER 2014
Steering, Feb 11, 2019
THE POWER STEERING FAILS SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. YOU CAN STILL STEER BUT IT IS DIFFICULT, SOMETIMES IT WILL FAIL AS SOON AS YOU CRANK THE VEHICLE. YOU CAN TURN OFF VEHICLE THEN RESTART AND IT WILL BE OK. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR NOW. THERE IS A RECAL BUT ONLY FEW MODELS WITH THE CORRECT VIN NUMBER. HOWEVER EVERYWHERE ON LINE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND THE RECAL WILL NOT COVER BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER. THE STEERING SHOULD LAST THE DURATION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND ALL SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECAL. NOT JUST A SELECT FEW THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR IN MOTION, OR SETTING STILL. NO PATTERN
Steering, Feb 9, 2019
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. ESPECIALLY ON TURNS.
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Feb 9, 2019
TAKATA RECALL SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICS ISSUE SENSORS, POWER STEERING, IGNITION, SPEEDING SENSORS, (ALL ELECTRICS) THE WORST ONE IS POWER STEERING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON LINE FOR THIS MODEL BUT NOT FOR MY CAR. (WHY NOT MY CAR?) THERE ARE IN RECALL ALL 2008 - 2011 FORD ESCAPES
Steering, Feb 7, 2019
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
Steering, Feb 6, 2019
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST FAILED TWICE WITH NO WARNING UPON START UP, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO DEFAULT TO MANUAL CONTROL, BASICALLY COULD NOT BE STEERED. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE RECALL THAT WAS DONE ON THIS ISSUE FOR A 2009 ESCAPE. TOTAL REPAIR COST INCURRED 1,358.86.
Steering, Feb 5, 2019
LOST CONTROL OF ALL POWER STEERING
Steering, Feb 2, 2019
POWER STEERING WENT OUT RANDOMLY ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER AND NO RECALLS ARE SHOWN EVEN THOUGH MY ESCAPE IS FROM THE KANSAS CITY PLANT AS WELL. THIS IS THE SECOND RECALLED PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX.