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, Oct 2, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO MAKE RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND RESUMED DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE IN PARK. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE CONTACT CALLED CORTESE FORD (2500 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623, PHONE NUMBER: (800) 952-7892) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Steering, Sep 26, 2017
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST EVEN AFTER THE RECALL REPROGRAMMING. WE PREVIOUSLY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL NUMBER 14S05 IN AUG. 2014. TROUBLE CODES WERE NOT FOUND AT THAT TIME SO THE DEALER ONLY DID A REPROGRAMMING WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST AND ALERT THE DRIVER WITH A WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME IF IT DID OCCUR. OUR VEHICLE HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING ON 9/24/17 BUT THERE WERE NO DRIVER ALERTS. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND TROUBLE CODE B1342 WHICH IF FOUND DURING OUR 2014 RECALL APPOINTMENT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEING REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE PREVIOUS REPROGRAMMING, EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE IN RESOLVING THE CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE OR ALERTING THE DRIVER. HAD WE NEVER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPROGRAMMING, WE WOULD STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. CLEARLY, OUR VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT POWER STEERING LOSS AND FAILURE CODE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE REPROGRAMMING DID NOT HAVE THE INTENDED RESULT WHATSOEVER - WE STILL EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING LOSS, THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT/MESSAGE AND THERE WAS NO CHIME TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF THE LOSS. I HAVE TRIED TO ESCALATE THIS ISSUE WITHIN FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY ARE DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE THIS KNOWN DEFECT UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY DUE TO THE PREVIOUS REPROGRAMMING. I'M HOPING NHTSA CAN HELP RESOLVE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE - I'M SURE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES AFFECTED!
Steering, Sep 26, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ABILITY WAS LOST. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AKINS FORD (220 W MAY ST, WINDER, GA 30680 (800) 282-7872) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
Steering, Sep 26, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE (CODE B12342) FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,225.
Steering, Sep 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBURBAN FORD IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Steering, Sep 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO M & M FORD, INC. (OLD ROUTE 28 NORTH, EPSOM, NH 03234) AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAPPONE FORD (530 NH-3A, BOW, NH 03304) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN COMPLETED THE YEAR BEFORE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 274,947. *BF UPDATED 7/16/18*JB
Steering, Sep 7, 2017
14S05-ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE DATED AUGUST 2017 REGARDING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE. I CALLED THE CAPITOL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS SHOCK TO KNOW THAT THE NEXT APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE IS JULY 2018. I CALLED TWICE TO CONFIRM. I KNOW THE RECALL IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT WAITING THAT LONG IS NOT SAFE. PLEASE HELP ME.
Steering, Sep 6, 2017
POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. I HAD PARKED THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND CAME BACK 30 MINUTES LATER AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK WHEN I CRANKED THE CAR.
Steering, Sep 3, 2017
WITHOUT WARNING I AM SUDDENLY UNABLE TO STEER MY VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND EVENTUALLY AFTER TALKING TO FAMILY, MADE IT HOME BUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOOK SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JUST A YEAR AGO AND HAVE ALREADY PUT 1800 IN IT AND THIS WILL BE S COSTLY REPAIR.
Steering, Sep 1, 2017
LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
Steering, Aug 31, 2017
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTS LISTED IN THOSE VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. ALL FAILURES HAPPEN WHILE PARKED AND IN MOTION. I BELIEVE THAT FORD NEEDS TO DIG A BIT DEEPER AND ISSUE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS RECALL TO FIX THESE VEHICLES BEFORE THE LIVES OF OTHERS ARE ENDANGERED AND I DO NOT WANT TO RISK THE LIVES OF HIM, MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT ACTS OF THE STEERING FAILURES WITHIN MY VEHICLE.
Steering, Aug 26, 2017
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING.
Steering, Aug 22, 2017
MY ELECTRONIC POWER SYSTEM IS FAILING. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT STOPS WORKING. IT BECOMES A DIFFICULT MANUAL STEERING WHEN THIS OCCURS. SO FAR THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND BEGIN TO TURN THE WHEEL AND CONTINUES THIS WAY WHILE DRIVING. IT CONTINUES NOT WORKING UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND LATER RETURN TO THE CAR AND START IT AGAIN. THIS OCCURRED ON CITY STREETS AND IN PARKING LOTS.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Aug 21, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. WHILE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.
Steering, Jul 13, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROWN MOTORS (LOCATED AT 555 CYPRESS AVENUE, REDDING, CA 96001, TEL: (530)953-2687) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Steering, Jul 5, 2017
WHEN DRIVING SLOW OR TURNING I WILL LOOSE POWER STEERING. BATTERY LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON. HAD BOTH ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY CHECKED BOTH ARE FINE. RECALL 14S05 DONE JUST BEFORE I PURCHASED. CPU ONLY UPDATED. ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WAS ALMOST HIGHT MAKING A LEFT TURN BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WAS TOLD BY FORD MECH THAT TOOK FOR TEST DRIVE. THAT POWER STEERING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL. DA IT DOES.
Steering, Jun 12, 2017
STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT ON ROAD AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DROVE HOME SLOWLY WITHOUT POWER STEERING. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. NEXT DAY POWER STEERING WOULD BE INTERMITTENT. IT WOULD GO OUT, I WOULD TURN VEHICLE OFF THEN ON AND SOME OF THE TIMES THE POWER STEERING WOULD BE OFF THEN ON. FORD DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE WITH COLUMN AT A COST OF $1,5000.
Steering, Jun 2, 2017
VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING EITHER WHEN FIRST STARTED OR DRIVING . WHEN POWER STEERING IS LOST , STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN , ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IF VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL. AN ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. MADE A RIGHT HAD TURN , POWER STEERING WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY , AND HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL OVER TO THE LEFT SO AS NOT TO HIT A CURB AND LIGHT POLE. TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM.VIN NUMBER WAS RAN IN FORD'S SYSTEM , AND CAME BACK AS NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. WAS THEN SCANNED FOR TROUBLE CODES ( AT A COST OF $89.95 ) , AND CODES WERE FOUND FOR ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST RELATED TO THE TORQUE SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN . AT THIS POINT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE REP THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $895.00 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. I COMPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A RECALL , BUT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VIN NUMBER WAS RAN THROUGH FORD'S SYSTEM , THEN I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS . I THEN STATED THAT THE IF THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE , THEN THE RECALL AND ASSOCIATED PARTS WERE NO GOOD , AND THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE AT FORD'S EXPENSE , NOT MYSELF AS A CUSTOMER. REP THEN TOLD ME TO CALL THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE LINE , THEY COULD DO NOTHING ELSE. CALLED THE CUSTOMER CARE LINE , EXPLAINED THE SITUATION , AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME ANSWERS AND RUN AROUND AS BY THE DEALER. DID RECEIVE A CASE NUMBER WHICH IS CAS-12427226-T6B5S5 . VEHICLE TO ME IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE , AND FORD SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM 100 %
Steering, Jun 1, 2017
POWER STEERING FAULT MESSAGE CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN SHAKING AMD DRIFTS WHEN DRIVING ON ROAD. WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN KIRKLAND, WA ON MAY 31,2017. THEY SAID THST NO RECALL HAD BEEN FOUND IN VEHICLE. ESTIMATED REPAIRS AT $1500.
Steering, May 5, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ *AS
Steering, Apr 17, 2017
POWER STEERING GOES ON AND OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. IT GOES FROM NORMAL TO SUPER HARD TO STEER
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Mar 30, 2017
POWER STEERING GOES OUT, AT ALL SPEEDS NOW (MY ESC LIGHT IS ON THE DASH AND WON'T GO OFF) HARD TO STEER WHEEL WHEN AT A STOP OR TO MAKE A TURN. MAKE IT'S HARD TO PARK A CAR.
Steering, Mar 30, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOST POWER. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE, IT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE POWER ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Mar 29, 2017
FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2009 [XXX] RECALL NUMBER 14S05 FORD WON'T FIX THE DEFECT. IT WILL CAUSE CRASH ON HIGHWAY. IT TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER IN FREMONT, CA. THE DEALER REFUSE TO FIX IT. EVERYDAY I USE, I WORRY IT WILL CRASH BECAUSE IT ALMOST CRASH COUPLE TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, UNTIL RECENTLY I FOUND OUT THE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Mar 29, 2017
POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING. THIS MAKE IT VERY HARD TO STEER. MUCH HARDER THAN CARS THAT DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING IN THE OLDER DAYS. POWER STEERING STOPPED AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN TO THE GARAGE.