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, May 30, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE (LOCATED AT 275 GLYNN ST N, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214, (770) 461-1151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Steering, May 29, 2019
EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 15 MPH. DEALER NOTES "REPLACED STEERING TORQUE ANGLE SENSOR" FOR CODE P2278. VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL OF 2008-2011 FORD ESCAPES EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, May 28, 2019
MY CAR STALLED OUT ON ME TWICE ON ON BUSY ROADS. THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO GET REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT BOTH TIMES.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, May 16, 2019
THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. THE WHEEL OF THE CAR LOCKS WHEN YOU TRY TOO TURN WHEN DRIVING WHEEL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE SENSORS EVEN THOUGH WE REPLACED THEM KEEP BLOWING WHICH CAUSING THE TRUCK TO DECLINE IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. WE HAD TO TURN IT ONTO TO THE GRASS TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. CONSTANT ENGINE ISSUES AFTER WE HAD IT FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL NEGATIVE BECAUSE OF THIS TRUCK. THE TIRE SENSORS KEEP GOING ALSO. THESE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING AFTER WE HAVE GOTTEN THIS TRUCK FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AND MORE DANGEROUSLY WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IT. THE BRAKES, STEERING WHEEL, TRANSMISSION AN THE ENGINE ARE ALL FAULTY. WE HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS OUR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND WE ARE BEHIND WITH THE NOTES. EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY THERE IS A GRINDING, ALMOST LIKE THE WHEELS WANT TO FALL OFF. WE NEED THIS FIXED WE NEED HELP!!!!!
Steering, May 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO RESET THE COMPUTER DUE TO THE EPS FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR MAY FLASH IN THE EVENT OF THE FAILURE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. APPLE FORD LINCOLN APPLE VALLEY (6961, 7200 150TH ST W, APPLE VALLEY, MN 55124, (952) 204-9657) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED FOR FURTHER TESTING AND DIAGNOSIS WHICH HAD NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED AS OF YET. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS TO TEST AND DIAGNOSE THE EPS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCLUDED THE VIN FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, May 1, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUNTINGTON FORD LINCOLN (333 W JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON, NY 11743, (833) 386-3267) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOUSING AND COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,800. *BF *JB
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 29, 2019
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING ANY POINT IN DRIVING.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2019
KEY IGNITION SWITCH IS DIFFICULT TO WORK. AFTER TURNING TO THE START POSITION YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THIS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOT WORST TO THE POINT THAT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 10 TRIES AND 3 OR 4 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED .YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUNCH THE KEY IN HARD (ESPECIALLY US WITH ARTHRITIS) THEN TURN TO GET STARTED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TRY TO START THE CAR AND EXTREMELY STRESSFUL WHEN AWAY FROM HOME. THIS IS A COMMON FLAW OF THIS CAR AND MUST BE FIXED BY FORD.
Steering, Apr 23, 2019
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL NOT ENGAGE EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED.
Steering, Apr 20, 2019
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE
Steering, Apr 17, 2019
STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE LIKE I WAS OUT OF CONTROL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS..
Steering, Apr 12, 2019
DUE TO A RECALL ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY (NHTSA RECALL 14V-284), JERRY'S FORD (ANNANDALE, VA) REPLACED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE ON JULY 24, 2014, AT NO CHARGE. AT THE TIME, THE ESCAPE'S MILEAGE WAS 32,950. ON FEBRUARY 17, 2019, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC A FEW MILES FROM OURISMAN FORD (6129 RICHMOND HWY, ALEXANDRIA, VA). WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I MANAGED TO DRIVE TO OURISMAN, WHERE, TWO DAYS LATER, THEY REPLACED THE FAILED SYSTEM AT A COST OF $2,319.97. AT THAT TIME, THE ESCAPE'S MILEAGE WAS 54,061. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ON RECALL LASTED ONLY 21,111 MILES AND FEWER THAN 4.5 YEARS. THE ESCAPE IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2008. IT'S REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER, ESPECIALLY SINCE ITS FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ON FEBRUARY 22, I SPOKE WITH BRENDON AT FORD CORPORATE (800.392.3673). HE SAID HE COULD DO NOTHING AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE DEALER. ON FEBRUARY 28, I SPOKE WITH CHUCK JACKOWSKI AT OURISMAN, WHO SAID HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP AND WOULD CALL ME BACK, BUT DID NOT CALL. WHEN I CALLED AGAIN ON MARCH 7, CHUCK SAID HE DID NOT YET HAVE A SOLUTION, BUT WOULD FOLLOW UP AND CALL ME ON MARCH 8; HE DID NOT CALL. I CALLED CHUCK ONCE MORE ON MARCH 13 AND JOON KO ANSWERED. I IDENTIFIED MYSELF, JOON SAID HE WOULD GET CHUCK, BUT RETURNED TO SAY THAT CHUCK WAS BUSY AND WOULD CALL ME BACK SHORTLY. CHUCK DID NOT CALL. I HAVE ALSO WRITTEN TO FORD CORPORATE; NO REPLY.
Service brakes, Apr 10, 2019
BRAKES ARE MUSHIE AND THE PEDDLE GOES TO THE FLOOR, FORD HAS CHECKED IT AND CLINT FIND A PROBLEM. YET LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE A HOST OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE,
Steering, Apr 7, 2019
MY POWER STEERING WENT TOTALLY OUT WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING ON A CITY STREET AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR!
Steering, Apr 2, 2019
MY CARS ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FAILED AFTER I STOPPED FOR GAS. PRIOR TO THIS MY CARS STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHEN EVER THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND NOT IN MOTION, LIKE WHEN SITTING AT A RED LIGHT FOR EXAMPLE. THIS OCCURRED FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS BEFORE THE POWER STEERING FAILED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED BUT MY VIN SAYS MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I CAN NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL ANYMORE WITHOUT A LOT OF EFFORT MAKING THE CAR TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
Steering, Mar 25, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) BY ANTELOPE VALLEY FORD (1155 AUTO MALL DR, LANCASTER, CA 93534, (888) 415-0959), THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Steering, Mar 25, 2019
POWER STEERING ASST. WENT OUT. ON CHECKING, THERE IS A FORD RECALL 14S05 FOR THAT PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO FORD, THE RECALL WORK WAS PREFORMED ON SEPT 11, 2014 BY JOE COOPER FORD. THEY FURNISHED ME A DOCUMENT # 680882E. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS WORK AND DO NOT THINK IT WAS PREFORMED. THE TORQUE SENSOR HAS GONE OUT AND THE CAR WENT INTO SUDDEN MANUAL STEERING WHILE DRIVING WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO PERFORM. I WAS AFRAID I WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN TULSA OK AT 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER ASSIST WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HAVE INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE FAULTY TORQUE SENSOR AT THE TIME OF THE WARRANTY WORK
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 23, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAY, ENGINE WILL STALL OUT, COMPLETE SHUTOFF, WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OR LIGHTS. THE COMPUTER IS NOT STORING ANY CODES INDICATING FAULTS. AFTER A STALL, CAN PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND RESTART. MOST COMMONLY OCCURS WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM BRAKING TO ACCELERATION.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 22, 2019
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING SO THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME BUT NOT ALL ESCAPES ON A CITY STREET WHILE I WAS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION
Steering, Mar 22, 2019
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING A DANGEROUS ROAD. NO WARNING LIGHT. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HOME
Steering, Mar 20, 2019
POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED BEFORE IT JUST WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHEN I STARTED IT UP AND TRIED TO BACK UP IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL.
Steering, Mar 18, 2019
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. OTHER VIN #S OF MY YEAR AND ASSEMBLY PLANT ARE COVERED BY RECALL, BUT NOT MINE. LANDERS FORD COLLIERVILLE ASSESSED PROBLEM AS STEERING ANGEL TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND PSCM INTERNALLY FAULTY. OBVIOUSLY MY VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR FREE REPAIR BY FORD.
Steering, Mar 16, 2019
I BOTH THE CAR USED BUT THE POWERSTEERING WENT OUT ABOUT TO CAUSE DEATH IT DID THE SAME THING THE RECALL SAID
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 12, 2019
POWER STEERING FAILURE. EXACT FAILURE AS REPORTED UNDER FORD RECALL # 14S05 BUT THIS SPECIFIC VIN# IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH.
Steering, Mar 11, 2019
POWER STEERING FAILURE!! HAD TO TAKE TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN CODE B2337B. SO NOW, THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1200 TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY SAID IT'S NOT FUNCTIONING! THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. FORD COMPANY SAID THE POWER STEERING RECALL HASN'T INCLUDED MY VIN NUMBER YET BUT TO SAVE RECEIPT JUST IN CASE THAT CHANGES.