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
1,693 reports, newest first.
Steering, Feb 15, 2021
THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHEN STARTING THE CAR. MY ESCAPE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. WHEN I SEARCHED MY VIN THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL BUT IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
Power train, Feb 10, 2021
I SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT COME ON. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT WAS FOUND TO MOST LIKELY BE A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. ALSO I CAN NOT DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY FOR MORE THAN 5-10 MINUTES AT 60 MPH BEFORE IT STARTS TO SHIMMY AND BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Steering, Feb 9, 2021
MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING ON THE WEEK OF 1/24/2021. STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE/VIBRATE WHEN STOPPED OR AT LOW SPEEDS. ON 2/5/2021 WHEN I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE I HAD A POWER STEERING ASSIST ERROR AND NO POWER STEERING. CODE PULLED WAS B2278 FOR POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR. CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND SINCE THE RECALL(14S05) WAS CLOSED OUT BECAUSE THEY HAD DONE A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR IT, I AM NOT ABLE TO GET IT FIXED. EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ISSUES AND ERROR CODES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL.
Steering, Feb 4, 2021
THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST DOESN'T WORK
Steering, Feb 2, 2021
MY POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT WHEN I AM DRIVING AND MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR IT BUT THEY NEVER REPLACED IT AND THEY SAID THEY SCANNED IT AND NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT NOW IT'S ACTING UP AND FORD WON'T FIX IT.. IT WAS RECALLED FOR THIS.. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD FIX IT I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED TWICE..AND WHEN I START IT UP AND IT DON'T WANT TO WORK DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO STEER?
Steering, Feb 2, 2021
THE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN
Steering, Feb 2, 2021
I HAVE A 2009 FORD ESCAPE THE ELECTRIC STEERING WENT OUT ON IT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER I REPLACE THE TORQUE SENSOR THAT DID NOT WORK
Steering, Feb 1, 2021
STEERING HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO DO IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS UP BEFORE IT WAS ON AND OFF NOW HOWEVER IT HAS BECOME TO HARD TO MANEUVER THE TRUCK THE STEERING IS TO HARD TO DO. WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN MOTION.
Service brakes, Feb 1, 2021
DRIVING HOME I LOST THE ABILITY TO PROGRESSIVELY BRAKE, THE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VERY LAST PORTION. I WOULD RATE PROBABLY 95% OF DEAD SPACE AND THE SUDDEN BRAKING POWER. WELL 'SUDDEN'. ALMOST WRECKED A FEW TIMES ON THE LAST 5 MILES HOME.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 25, 2021
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP, MY CAR DIED. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW ALONG WITH A NEW DEVELOPMENT OF MY STEERING COLUMN SHAKING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO START IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK OVER DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN IT STARTED. I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD TRYING TO TURN LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SAID FAILURE. DROVE TO WORK ABOUT 10 MORE MILES WITH NO POWER STEERING IN A BUSY TOWN, NOT FUN. THE LOW TIRE SENSOR IS ON AS WELL, I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH TIRES, THEY ARE AT THE PROPER AMOUNT OF PSI. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I AM GLAD I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE DONE TO YOU WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD MY BATTERY AND CYLINOID AND STARTER CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE, BUT MY CAR REPEATEDLY DIES AT A STOP SIGN, AND WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN OR EVEN WHEN I AM TRYING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY. THESE TWO THINGS NEED TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I DON'T FEEL AS IF I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS SINCE THEY ARE ELECTRICAL AND SHOULD BE PUT ON THE RECALL LIST. I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST YEAR IN HOPES OF NOT HAVING TO PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO IT AND TO HAVE FOR A WHILE. IT LOOKS LIKE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO IT OR MAY HAVE TO BUY A DIFFERENT CAR SO I KNOW MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE.
Steering, Jan 25, 2021
SO ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO I GOT A LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD IT SAID SOMETHING LIKE ' POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE' NOTHING HAPPENED AT THAT TIME MY STEERING WHEEL KEPT SHAKING FOR A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT YESTERDAY WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE MY CAR I COULDN'T THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SO STIFF AND I GOT THAT WARNING AGAIN I CHECKED FOR A HOSE OR SOMETHING THE FUEL WAS STOCKED UP FOR POWER STEERING. MY STEERING WHEEL CAN'T BE MOVED AT ALL.
Steering, Jan 25, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,729.
Service brakes, Jan 21, 2021
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS AN ABS MODUEL CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES FOR AN 09 MODEL
Steering, Jan 11, 2021
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I TURNED RIGHT AT A LIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WITH NO WARNING, ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING AS I WAS TURNING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION . I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A CRAWL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE TURN TO KEEP FROM CRASHING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENCTH TO TURN THE WHEEL BUT WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO HAVE MY WIFE COME AND GET ME AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE BUT ALL I FOUND WAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE SAME SITUATION THAT HAPPENED TO ME. I ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, I'M LUCKY I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY OR GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. I EXPECT AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO HAVE MY CONCERNS ADDRESSED AND TO HAVE THIS FIXED FREE OF COST TO ME.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 11, 2021
MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO. LAST NIGHT AS PULLING OUT MY DRIVE WAY MY STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. O PULLED BACK INTO MY DRIVE AND NOTICED ON THE DASH IT READ POWER ASSIST FAILURE. BEFORE THIS MY DASH WOULD BLINK OUT AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAP IT SO IT WILL COME BACK ON. WHEN IT DOES ALL THE DIALS WOULD GO BACK INTO SYNC . THE BAD PART IS IF YOU ARE NOT NOTICING YOUR DASH AND PARK AND TURN OFF THE CAR IT WOULDN'T CRANK BACK UP. MY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR IS ON I HAD IT CHECKED AND NO ONE AND FIND OUT WHICH SENSOR IT IS. MY OIL CHANGE LIGHT WANT GO OUT EVEN AFTER MANY OIL CHANGES. THE COMPANY THAT DOES MY OIL CHANGE ARE NOT ABLE TO RESET. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. UNTIL LAST NIGHT WHEN THE POWER ASSIST FAILURE POPPED UP. PLEASE HELP AND ASSIST MY VEHICLE WAS PAID OFF 5 MONTHS AGO. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT I WILL IF I REALLY HAVE TO. I LIKE MY FORD ESCAPE.
Service brakes, Jan 6, 2021
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2009 FORD ESCAPE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP. MY MECHANIC PUT A NEW BREAK MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM ON AND THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY FOR A WEEK. THEN WITHOUT NOTICE THE SAME FRIGHTENING EVENT OCCURRED. SHE IS TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON HER CAR WHICH IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE NOW. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND HE SAID THEY WERE EXPERIENCING NATION WIDE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS MODULE AND THE ITEM WAS ON BACK ORDER WITH NO HOPE OF A DELIVERY DATE FOR A NEW ONE. I'VE NOTICED A BIG NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT ISSUE. HOW MANY LIVES WILL IT COST BEFORE FORD ISSUES A RECALL AND FIXES THIS ISSUE. MY DAUGHTER CAN'T AFFORD THE MORE THAN $1000.00 COST OF A REPAIR...EVEN IF THE PART WAS AVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Jan 5, 2021, crash
I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE AND THE ABS BRAKES ACTIVATED DUE TO A SLIPPERY SPOT ON THE ROAD. THEN A CAR STOPPED QUICK IN FRONT OF ME AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN NO BRAKES, I WENT OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED. WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS BAD ABS MODULA. CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD IT COULD BE $2,000 TO REPAIR. I SEE RECALLS ON FORDS 2006-2010. BUT NOT MY FORD ESCAPE. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL. MY 2009 FORD WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IN MY FAMILY EVER SINCE. NOW I HAVE THE CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VERY THANKFUL NO ONE WAS INJURED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME AND OTHERS. THANK YOU
Steering, Jan 5, 2021
THE POWER STEERING ON THIS 2009 FORD ESCAPE STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED IT AND IT WORKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT THEN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ISSUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 14V284000) AND MY VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE DATE RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLE. WHEN I ENTER MY VIN NUMBER IT SAYS I HAVE 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS. WHAT HAPPENS IF A VEHICLE HAS BEEN FIXED BY A RECALL AND THEN IT FAILS AGAIN? SHOULDN'T THERE BE A FIX TO THAT FIX? FORD COULDN'T EVEN TELL ME, WHEN I TALKED TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE, IF IT HAD BEEN FIXED UNDER THAT RECALL BY A PREVIOUS (ONLY 1) OWNER.
Steering, Jan 3, 2021
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2009 ESCAPE LIMITED ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING HER TO ALMOST CRASH. AFTER GETTING THE CAR PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SHE HAD TO RESTART IT AND THE STEERING ASSIST BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND IS DANGEROUS TO BOTH THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE VEHICLE AND ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. FORD NEEDS TO ALERT DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE THEY HURT OR KILL SOMEONE. WHEN I ENTER HER VIN NUMBER IT SHOWS NO RECALL. IF THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AN RECALL IN 2011 WHY IS IT NOT AN ISSUE TODAY. I HAVE A DAUGHTER CURRENTLY STRANDED AT HER WORK BECAUSE HER STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN AS I TYPE THIS REPORT.
Steering, Dec 31, 2020
ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FAILURE CAME ON DASH WARNING AND NEXT START UP THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD.
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Dec 29, 2020
MY FORD ESCAPE LIMETED JUST STARTED MAKING A NOISE OUT OF NOWHERE AND BEFORE IT STARTED I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND IT WOULD STOP RUNNING
Steering, Dec 29, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I TURNED LEFT AT A LIGHT AS I SHOULD, THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WITH NO WARNING, ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING AS I WAS TURNING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION . I WAS GOING MUCH SLOWER THAN 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT, SINCE I WAS TURNING. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A CURB\STREET SIGN, BUT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO MAKE IT TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, I'M LUCKY I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY OR GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL. I EXPECT AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION.
Steering, Dec 28, 2020
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND PREPARED TO TAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT. AS I PERFORMED THE TURN, THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN/STEER. A VEHICLE WAS WAITING TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT I WAS ENTERING. DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FAILING, I ALMOST COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE.
Steering, Dec 27, 2020
SO TODAY ON 12/27/2020 I WAS HOUSE SITIING FOR A FRIEND AND WHILE CHECKING PULLING DOWN THE STREET TO THE HOUSE MY SENSOR CAME ON ALERTING ME OF A POWER STEERING FAULT AND A MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER NOTICING THIS I PARKED THE CAR IN MY FRIENDS DRIVEWAY FINISHED HIS REQUESTS AND HEADED BACK TO THE CAR. WHEN I ENTERED MY CAR TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I FELT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL OF MY CAR AND HAVING TROUBLES STEERING. AT THIS POINT I CANCELLED MY OTHER PLANS AND DROVE THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT AFTER EXPERIENCING EXTREME DIFFICULTY DRIVING THE CAR AND TRYING TO TURN THE VEHICLE. I AFTER TAKING IT HOME CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID CONTAINER TO SEE IF IT WAS LOW TO WHICH IT WAS NOT AND CHECKED THE PIPES TO SEE IF THE CAR MAYBE WAS LEAKING FOR A PIPE MAYBE RUPTURING WHICH I DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. I FOUND ONLINE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE BUT DID THE SEARCH FOR THE VIN NUMBER AND FOUND MY CAR NEVER RECEIVED IT IN THE MAIL AND THE CAR WAS NEVER SERVICED FOR THIS ISSUE. SO I AM NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IS WRONG AND HOPEFULLY HOPE I DON'T NEED TO PAY 1600 DOLLARS TO FIX THE POWER STEERING HOPEFULLY.
Steering, Dec 21, 2020
MY STEERING COLUMN STARTED LOCK UP ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. IT HAPPENING MORE OFTEN NOW. I HAVE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND IT RESET ITSELF. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IS IS THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD HAVE TO FIX BY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SPECIAL TOOLS. I ALSO SEARCHED Y-TUBE AND THEIR WAS RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING SENSOR BACK IN 2009 THROUGH 2011- I DID NOT PURCHASE THIS TRUCK UNTIL 2016. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR, WHEN IT WAS NOT FIXED ACCORDINGLY DURING THE RECALL. I SEE THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL OF THESE COMPLAINTS OVER LAST 3 MONTHS. I USED THIS CAR TO TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN, BUT THANK GOODNESS IT START HAPPENING IN CITY STREET. THIS IS A ACCIDENT AWAITING TO HAPPEN.