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, Oct 26, 2018
MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD: POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. NOT ABLE TO TURN WHEEL. CAR IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. WAS ABLE TO VERIFY A RECALL FROM 2014. WHICH I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM. RECALL# 14V28400. FORD RECALL#14S05. MY CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME SAFELY. SOON AS I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR LOCKED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE SINCE. THIS OCCURRED ON 10/21/2018.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 24, 2018
INTERMITTENT ROUGH IDLE/STALLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AS WELL AS HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT ALL SPEEDS. THROTTLE BODY REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN ISSUE FIRST PRESENTED LAST YEAR; SYMPTOMS PERSIST WITHOUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT; INDEPENDENT MECHANIC UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE/REPRODUCE ISSUE. ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS WITHOUT RESOLUTION.
Steering, Oct 24, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. 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 113,000.
Structure, Oct 23, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES WERE FRACTURED ON THE TAILGATE WINDOW. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBURBAN FORD OF STERLING HEIGHTS AT 586-268-7500 (LOCATED AT 40333 VAN DYKE AVE, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48313) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Steering, Oct 23, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. EARL FLOYD FORD (2687 KY-227, CARROLLTON, KY 41008, (888) 278-4062) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 23, 2018
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY. 2 LITTLE GIRLS 12 AND 6 AND THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND DRIVING AND NOT ME, WE WERE RETURNING A RENTAL CAR WHEN MY CAR FLASHED OUT OF NO WHERE GOING ABOUT 45MPH POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT UPON MY RESEARCH; THERE HAS BEEN CERTAIN VEHICLES RECALLED. COME ON FORD! WHATEVER THE DEFAULT IS, CAN YOU AT LEAST GIVE US OWNERS INSIGHT ON THIS STUFF TO GET IT FIXED? IS THIS SOME KIND OF MONEY MAKER FOR YOU ALL? TO SET UP CERTAIN TIMERS FOR THIS STUFF TO HAPPEN? I'M JUST SO THANMF THAT I WASN'T DRIVING. I WOULD HAVE NOT HAD THE POWER MY HUSBAND DOES TO OVERTAKE THE WHEEL. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO SOMETHING!
Steering, Oct 19, 2018
THE POWER STEERING INTERMENTLY GOES OUT IT EITHER WORKS WHEN I START THE CAR OR IT DOESN'T. I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN SINCE THAT IS WHERE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL PARTS ARE LOCATED. FORD SAYS THIS IS NOT UNDER THERE RECALL AND IT WILL BE $1350 TO REPLACE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE FROM WHAT I AM SEEING FORD WANTS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS
Steering, Oct 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. DURING THE FAILURE, THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (JACK KAIN FORD, 3405 LEXINGTON RD, VERSAILLES, KENTUCKY) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN 2014 PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Steering, Oct 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY IN AN EFFORT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND ALSO RECURRED WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: CAS-15831770. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Steering, Wheels, Oct 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW AIR VALVE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT ONE OF THE TIRES EXPERIENCED LOW AIR PRESSURE. MOMENTS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (JONES FORD, 2410 OCEAN HWY 17 SOUTH, SUPPLY, NC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000. *TT*JB
Service brakes, Oct 16, 2018
PARKED THE 2009 ESCAPE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, EVERYTHING FELT PERFECTLY NORMAL. WENT TO DRIVE IT AT 6AM THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. TOTALING OVER $600 AND THE ISSUE STILL WASN'T FIXED. NOW THEY SAY THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULE NEEDS REPLACED. THE COST OF THE PART IS $1700, PLUS LABOR. HOW DOES ALL THIS WITH THE BRAKES JUST GO BAD OVER NIGHT? SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF FORD ESCAPE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. SO WHY ISNT THERE A RECALL YET
Steering, Oct 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEAN ARBOUR FORD (1001 U.S. 23 NORTH, ALPENA, MI 49707, 888-232-8051) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,224. *TT UPDATED 11/29/18*JB
Steering, Oct 8, 2018
A FEW DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS AT APPROX 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT LIT. I PULLED OVER RE-STARTED CAR, DROVE ANOTHER 2 MILES AND SAME HAPPENED WHILE GOING AROUND A BEND IN ROAD CAUSING ME TO PARTIALLY GO INTO ONCOMING LANE. THIS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES WHILE BRINGING CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND NOW TOLD I NEED A COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO ALL COMPUTERIZED STEERING CONTROLS BEING LOCATED IN THE COLUMN. IS FORD DOING ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THIS OBVIOUS COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM ? I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE.
Steering, Oct 7, 2018
ON 10/6/18 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN STIFFNESS IN MY STEERING WHEEL AS I TURNED THE CORNER ON A MAIN CITY STREET. AT THIS POINT I HAD TO PULL OVER CAUTIOUSLY THREE BLOCKS AWAY INTO A GAS STATION AND CALL TRIPLE AAA TO GET TOWED HOME. THE TRIPLE AAA EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT AROUND THE GAS STATION NOTING ALSO THAT THERE IS AN ON AND OFF STIFFNESS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I GOT TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN SINCE ITS SATURDAY NIGHT, AND NO ONE IS OPEN. IT WILL NEED TO BE TOWED FORD OR ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. BASED ON THE RECALL INFORMATION, I COULD POSSIBLY NOT BELONG IN JOB#1 FROM KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. I AM HOPING THIS RECALL APPLIES TO MY VEHICLE. I WILL CALL YOUR OFFICE ON MONDAY AS WELL AS MY FORD DEALERSHIP. I HOPE THAT I CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE QUICKLY AND SAFELY. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
Electrical system, Oct 6, 2018
IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T TURN THE CAR ON WHEN TURNED. AFTER TURNING TO THE START POSITION YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE PROBLEM GRADUALLY GETS WORST TO THE POINT THAT IT NO LONGER WILL START THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALSO LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. I REQUEST THE NHTSA RECALL THE 09 FORD ESCAPE FOR THIS ISSUE ASAP.
Steering, Oct 1, 2018
POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. CONTINUES TO GO IN AND OUT. I SEE THE RECALL FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. OBVIOUS MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS RECALLED VEHICLES. ONLY 74K MILES.
Steering, Sep 22, 2018
POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I HAVE TO PUT ALL MY STRENGTH INTO BARELY BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING VEHICLE. AS OF NOW, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK AT ALL FOR NEARLY A WEEK. USUALLY, TURNING VEHICLE ON AND OFF OVER AND OVER WILL AT SOME POINT GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK BUT NOT ANYMORE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE HAPPENING WITH AN UNACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF FORD ESCAPES AND FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE!!! IS IT GOING TO TAKE TERRIBLY INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED?
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 16, 2018
HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 20 MINUTES ON 08/16/2018: VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION EACH TIME, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE STOPPED, ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASHBOARD AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF STEERING, SPEED CONTROL. WHEELS LOCKED UP AND ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN ON VEHICLE AGAIN.
Steering, Sep 13, 2018
WAS DRIVING AND POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED WORKING WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT.. ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT.
Steering, Sep 12, 2018
POWER STEERING ELEC ASSIST WENT OUT AND MUST USE MANUAL STEERING.
Steering, Sep 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (HUB CITY FORD, 2909 NW EVANGELINE THROUGHWAY, LAFAYETTE, LA 70507, (337) 233-4500) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Steering, Sep 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL BROWN FORD AT (734) 399-4244 (LOCATED AT 32222 PLYMOUTH RD, LIVONIA, MI 48150) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V28400 (STEERING) WAS A ONE TIME REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Engine, Sep 10, 2018
2009 FORD ESCAPE, 3.0L XLT. VEHICLE ENGINE POWER LOST AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ON SEPT 7, 2018. A RED WRENCH LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH DURING THE EVENT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID TRAFFIC, PARK ON THE SHOULDER, RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEED TO THE NEAREST EXIT. THIS SAME POWER LOSS HAS OCCURRED AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THE HIGHWAY EVENT. THERE ARE NO ENGINE CODES FOUND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS. THIS ESCAPE WAS DIAGNOSED BY FORD DEALER IN 2017 FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 13N03 REGARDING THROTTLE BODY FAILURES. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AT THAT TIME.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 6, 2018
VEHICLE STALLS/SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON SIDE STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. RECENTLY HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 30 MINUTES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 25, 2018
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING AT INTERSECTION. VERY DANGEROUS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CODE P2112. ISSUE HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND CAR STARTS AGAIN AFTER STALL.