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, Feb 2, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER THE VEHICLE RESUMED IN OPERATION THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
Steering, Jan 25, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK SEVERELY WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE POWER ASSIST FAIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR MODULE OR STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Steering, Jan 25, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
Steering, Jan 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMING STIFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND, WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Steering, Jan 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING), STEERING WHEEL SEEMED SLIGHTLY DETACHED AND THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT WHEN IN REVERSE AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO THE RECALL REMEDY BEING PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,402.
Steering, Jan 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,477. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ *CN
Steering, Jan 7, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED A CYLINDER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE ALSO VIOLENTLY SHOOK, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME EXTREMELY UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A GOOD WILL OPTION FOR THE CONTACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,400.
Steering, Jan 6, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
Steering, Dec 23, 2015
SEVERAL TIMES UPON STARTING MY 2009 ESCAPE, THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. IT WAS LIKE TRYING TO STEER THE CAR WHEN IT WAS NOT STARTED. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RE-STARTING SEVERAL TIMES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD THEN WORK PROPERLY. A FORD DEALER SAID THAT THE ONLY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 36,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. I DECIDED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED FOR FEAR THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD QUIT WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO PAY $1137.07 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE ESCAPE
Steering, Dec 14, 2015
STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY STIFF AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS; ERROR CODE B1342; SUSPECT FAILED TORQUE SENSOR
Steering, Dec 8, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Steering, Nov 30, 2015
TAKATA RECALL SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE I HAD A PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING I LEARN TO CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART.MY CAR WAS SERVICE AT ADAMSON FORD IN BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA FOR A POWER STEERING RECALL IT IS WORST NOW I CANNOT CUT IT OFF IT IS HARD THAN BEFORE TO TURN I RETURN BACK THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING HAS BEEN PERFORMED ALREADY HE STATED A SENSOR HARNESS PULLED LOOSE BUT I AM RETURN TO ADAMSON TODAY 11/30/15 I CALLED BEFORE THANKSGIVING THE SERVICE ADVISOR NO TECH. AVAILABLE UNTIL MONDAY 11/30/15.MY CAR I POWER STEERING IS WORST NOW BEFORE GOING TO GET RECALL ..THIS IS THE THIRD TIME 11/3/15 AND 11/16/15 WILL RETURN 11/30/15.I ONLY HAVE ONE CAR I NEED MY CAR FITS OR LIKE IT WAS BEFORE I COULD TURN OFF AND RESTART.
Steering, Nov 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 09/30/16*LJ; UPDATED 04/30/18*JB *TR
Steering, Nov 21, 2015
A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK I HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE STRAIGHT FROM A PARKED LOCATION ONLY TO FIND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING 40-50 YARDS INTO THE TRIP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, THE PROBLEMS USUALLY GOES AWAY, OR GOES AWAY AFTER SEVERAL SHUTDOWN CYCLES. MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF RECALL 14S05, AND RECEIVED A SOFTWARE UPDATE IN 2014. SINCE THEN THE STEERING HAS BEEN NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT AND SOMETIMES SHAKY WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EVEN WORSE, FORD IS NOT HONORING THE RECALL. I WENT INTO A DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY INFORMED ME THE RECALL WAS CLOSED OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FREE OF CHARGE, EVEN THOUGH MUCH OF WHAT I'VE READ FROM THIS INVESTIGATION IS THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE ONLY PUSHED OFF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT FIX IT. I AM VERY CERTAIN THE PROBLEM IS A TORQUE SENSOR BASED ON THE DISCUSSION HERE. IT APPEARS FORD HAS NO CARE IN FIXING A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM, AND IS IN FACT, TRYING TO COVER IT UP WITH SOFTWARE AND PASSING IT OFF AS USUAL WEAR AND TEAR.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Nov 18, 2015
MY FORD ESCAPE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN ACTING ERRATICALLY. IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE SOMETIMES, BUT THEN TURNS OFF AT OTHER TIMES. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE VEHICLE.
Steering, Nov 10, 2015
2009 FORD ESCAPE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING AND ALSO ON START UP OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER FORD SAFETY RECALL 14S05 AND TORQUE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE EPAS SOFTWARE REPROGRAMMED. EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OF POWER STEERING FAILURE HAVE RECURRED, THIS TIME DIAGNOSING AS POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND THUS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. FORD HAS DECLINED TO SERVICE VEHICLE UNDER SAFETY RECALL 14S05 DUE TO THE TORQUE SENSOR ALREADY BEING REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE IS, HOWEVER, LISTED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORK AND FORD CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES THAT THIS IS NOW NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE TORQUE SENSOR ALREADY BEING REPLACED UNDER THE SAME RECALL. HOWEVER, PRIOR WORK DONE UNDER THE RECALL WAS INADEQUATE IN SOLVING THE ISSUES.
Steering, Nov 5, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL HEADQUARTERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Steering, Nov 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Steering, Nov 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM. PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HAVING NO FAULT CODE PRIOR TO THE REMEDY BEING PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
Steering, Oct 27, 2015
LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
Steering, Oct 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Steering, Oct 21, 2015
VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO FORD RECALL #14S05 WHICH DEALT WITH A TORQUE SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN. AT THE TIME WE TOOK IT IN THERE WERE NO CODES REPORTED SO THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND REPROGRAMMED THE SOFTWARE. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A POWER STEERING FAILURE ON THE WAY TO WORK. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THE CODE FOR THE TORQUE SENSOR AND REPLACED IT BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER CONSULTING FORD IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS ADVISED BY MY DEALER THAT THE INITIAL RECALL WORK DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE AND THIS WAS THE NEEDED REPAIR BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED SINCE THEY HAD PERFORMED THE INITIAL RECOMMENDED REPAIR(REPROGRAMMING OF THE SOFTWARE). AT THIS POINT EVEN MY DEALER AGREES THAT THE INITIAL FIX IS INADEQUATE AND IT SHOULD BE A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN BUT FORD WILL NO LONGER HONOR THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS "FIXED" ONCE.
Steering, Oct 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Oct 18, 2015
POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT HAVE REPLACE FRONT INNER BEARING,TRANSMISSION LINES, KEEP UP ON ALL MY MAINTAINED RECORDS SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN SEPT 2014' AND HAVE ALL OTHER MAINTAIN ECONOMIC RECORDS.
Steering, Oct 15, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.