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, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 24, 2017
LOSS OF POWERING STEERING IN VEHICLE GOING 55 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR SAFETY SIGNALS APPEARED ON THE DASH WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURED AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AT THIS POINT THEY SAID THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE FIXED EVERYTHING REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL POWERING STEERING ISSUE, BUT NOW THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN CLOSED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND I AM NOW RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN THE RECALL INITIALLY, IT TOOK THEM 2 MINUTES TO COMPLETE THE CHECK LIST CHECKING FOR DTCS AND TO REPROGRAM THE PSCM AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE CUSTOMER INFORMATION SHEET POSTED WITH THE SAFETY RECALL BULLETIN WAS NEVER GIVE TO ME EVEN THOUGH ALL DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGEMENT SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A COPY TO THOSE WHO ONLY HAD REPROGRAMMING COMPLETED ON THEIR VEHICLE.
Steering, Oct 24, 2017
POWER STEERING WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. WORKED FINE AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR FOR 1 DAY. NEXT DAY, POWER STEERING DISENGAGES AFTER ABOUT 10 SEC EVERY TIME AND WILL NOT COME BACK WITH RESTARTING THE CAR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH THAT FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE.
Steering, Oct 23, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER INTERSTATE FORD OF MIAMISBURG, OH. WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Steering, Oct 22, 2017
THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND YOU ARE FORCED TO TURN WITHOUT IT. BUT IT IS NOT ONLY WITHOUT IT, IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING IF FIGHTING AGAINST YOU. THEN AT RANDOM TIMES THE POWER STEERING WILL START TO WORK AGAIN. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW THE CAR WILL REACT.
Steering, Oct 18, 2017
CAR SERVICED FOR RECALL 14S05 THIS AUGUST FOR POWER STEERING FAULT. SAME ISSUE: LOST POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE AND DROP BACK TO MANUAL MODE HAPPEN OCT. 16TH. FORD REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE UNDER THE SAME RECALL.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 18, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES FLICKERED ON AND OFF. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO AND HEATER WERE STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (BILL MARSH FORD, 408 W MILE RD NW, KALKASKA, MI 49646) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WRONG BATTERY WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS- 13337258. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Service brakes, Oct 18, 2017
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE BREAK PEDAL SUDDENLY GOES TO FLOOR PANEL AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED TO GET BREAKS WORKING AGAIN>
Steering, Oct 18, 2017
IMMEDIATE STEERING FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WITH NO NOTICE OR WARNING. STEERING WAS WORKING FINE IN THE MORNING BUT UPON STARTING THE CAR IN THE AFTERNOON, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR MY CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED AS THIS IS A KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Steering, Oct 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS INTERMITTENT OVER A PERIOD OF A MONTH. ARROW FORD SERVICE IN ABILENE, TEXAS WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
Steering, Oct 7, 2017
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR
Steering, Oct 3, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING THAT REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. PINE BELT FORD (120 MS-589, PURVIS, MS) DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) A YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED FIRST REPAIRS ON RECALL OCT.2016 @ ABOUT 138,000 MILES. UPDATED 7/24/18*JB
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL VALVE REMAINED OPENED AND EVAPORATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LEAK FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FROM THE UPPER FUEL TANK WHERE THERE WAS A FRACTURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 192,000.
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.
Electrical system, Aug 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS GRADUALLY GETTING WORST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NORTH BROTHERS FORD LOCATED AT 33300 FORD ROAD WESTLAND, MICHIGAN 48185; 734-821-7451 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,145.
Steering, Aug 26, 2017
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING.