2011 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,316 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 38 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 38 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpOct 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
Campaign 16V777000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system
253 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 7, 2015
THE ESCAPE LEAKS GASOLINE THROUGHOUT THE GAS PUMP ONLY WHEN IT'S TURNED ON. AND THE BACK DOOR DOESN'T OPEN, IT'S LOCKED. *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 7, 2014
WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS HARD TO CONTROL. THE SUV SEEMS TO SPUTTER AS I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE ENGINE (MOTOR) SEEMS TO MISS WHEN ACCELERATION IS BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH. NEXT, WHEN ACCELERATING PAST 60 THE ENGINE MISSING OR (CUTTING OUT SYMPTOM) OCCURS. *TR
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 30, 2014
DRIVING ON FREEWAY APPROX 65 MPH, NO WARNING, ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS. THANKFULLY ABLE TO DRIFT OVER TO SHOULDER OF EXIT LANE AND RESTARTED WITH NO DETECTABLE ISSUES. ASKED MECHANICS TO RUN ALTERNATOR DIAGNOSTICS - AS THEY SAID THE ALTERNATOR WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD MAKE AN ENGINE COMPLETELY CUT OFF. TESTED OK. PARKED FOR WEEKEND. SAME THING HAPPENED ON MONDAY MORNING. SEARCHED FOR PROBLEM ONLINE, FOUND THROTTLE BODY COMMENTS. CALLED LOCAL DEALER - SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME IT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL, BUT APPOINTMENT SETTER TOLD ME IT WASN'T. WE'LL SEE WHEN I GET THERE TOMORROW. VERY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE - I'M LUCKY I TRAVEL AT VERY EARLY TRAFFIC TIMES. I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AFTER READING SO MANY SIMILAR STORIES. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 31, 2014
DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND JUST QUIT RUNNING. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 29, 2014
DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE CUTS OUT AND I HAVE NO POWER. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT IN THE DASH CAME ON. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED THE KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR. IT DROVE FINE THE NEXT 3 MILES TO MY HOME. *JS
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 29, 2014
VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JUMP, THEN CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THROTTLE BODY WAS THE CAUSE. *JS
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 21, 2014
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED QUICKLY FROM A STOPPED POSITION UPON STARTING IN THE MORNING. I HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP IT FROM SURGING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT PRESSED THE GAS PEDDLE AT ALL. VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD SUDDENLY DURING DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND OFTEN WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. ALSO SOMETIMES INCREASES ACCELERATION WHEN COASTING AT A MEDIUM SPEED WHEN NO GAS HAS BEEN APPLIED. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 20, 2014
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT OPERATES AS IT SHOULD, ONCE THE RPM SLOW TO AN IDLE THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE AND STALL AT IDLE. AT SLOW SPEEDS (10-20 MPH) THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE AND STALL WHEN THE THROTTLE IS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITIES ARE MINIMAL, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH HOWEVER IT DOES NOT STALL AT THIS SPEED. ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE SLIGHTLY, HOWEVER IT IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE OF AN EVENT AS AT SLOWER SPEEDS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 11, 2014
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DIED. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURNED IT ON AND WAS ABLE TO PROCEED FOR ANOTHER 5-6 MILES, THEN THE ISSUE REPEATED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON, HOWEVER. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TRIP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK LATER, WITH THE SAME OUTCOME AS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. SCHEDULED A REPAIR FOR 11/14/12 AT WHICH TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFAULT CODE P1450. CANNISTER WAS FULL OF FUEL. EVAPORATOR CANISTER, PIPE AND VALVE WERE REPLACED. TOTAL FOR THE REPAIR $557.16 PLUS SALES TAX BECAUSE VEHICLE MILEAGE EXCEEDED 36,000 WARRANTY CEILING. THEN ON MAY 16, 2013, WHILE ON VACATION, VEHICLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS - ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DIED... PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF VEHICLE, TURNED IT BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT TOWN WITH A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON THE VEHICLE. THIS TIME THE CODES WERE P0685 AND P2112, WHICH REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH COST ANOTHER $314.18 PLUS SALES TAX. I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS NOW BEING COVERED UNDER THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 13N03, BUT WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT SIMILAR COVERAGE FOR THE EVAPORATOR CANNISTER ISSUE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 25, 2014
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT PART IS BAD.... I WAS DRIVING ON A OPEN HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO SPEED, IT WAS AS IF I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY BUT WHEN IT WAS IDLING, IT WAS RUNNING REALLY ROUGH. AFTER SETTING FOR AWHILE IT SEEMED TO RUN OK BUT OF COURSE BEING A LADY I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT NOW. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO OUR DEALER, ASTORG FORD, THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTED PART BUT DIDN'T HAVE IT IN STOCK, THEY WOULD GET IT IN A FEW DAYS BUT STILL SENT IT BACK HOME FOR ME TO DRIVE AND OF COURSE I WILL NOT DRIVE IT TILL IT IS FIXED, I THINK IT WAS BAD ON THEIR PART TO SEND THE ESCAPE BACK TO ME THE WAY IT IS. THANK YOU *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 14, 2014
LOST THROTTLE CONTROL, PULLED OVER, TURNED ENGINE OFF, AND RESTARTED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES OVER FOLLOWING MONTH AT 70MPH ON FREEWAY, 50MPH ON SURFACE STREET AND AN INTERSECTION AT A STOPLIGHT. EXACT SAME BEHAVIOR (LOSS OF ACCELERATOR, TURN ENGINE OFF, RESTART). DEALERSHIP REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. FIVE MONTHS (7,000 MILES) LATER PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION ALMOST RESULTING IN A SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT BACK TO FORD, THEY PERFORMED TESTS, SAID THEY ALREADY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY WITH THE NEW ONE AND MADE NO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE DEFECT. THERE WILL BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS THAT RESULT FROM THIS DEFECT. *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 30, 2014
CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY BUCK WHILE LOOSING POWER. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON THEN DISAPPEARED. SEAMS TO BE A RANDOM GHOST THAT VISITS EVERY 2 WEEKS. HAD MAP SENSOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THEN 2 WKS LATER HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME PAID FOR THROTTLE BODY. 2 WKS WENT BY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME DIDN'T. GO TO DEALER. NOT SURE BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN IF IT IS INFACT THE PROBLEM. CAR SUCKS. SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 27, 2014
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FOR A SECOND AND THEN LOST ALL POWER. THERE WAS NO GAS GOING TO THE ENGINE AND I COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY SPEED. I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP WHILE MOVING OVER IN THE FREEWAY LANE TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I DID STOP, THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT HAD TROUBLE GETTING FUEL TO IT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND SAT FOR A SECOND AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON IT STARTED UP AND WOULD GO. OVER THE PAST MONTHS THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF. SOME DAYS IT DRIVES FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL DO THE SAME ASPECT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 13, 2014
ACCELERATING FROM TRAFFIC LIGHT, IN LEFT LANE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR. MANAGE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED ENGINE. ALL APPEARED NORMAL. I MANEUVERED TO A ROAD WITH LESS TRAFFIC TO CONTINUE HOME. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITHIN A MILE. *TR
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 11, 2014
ON 1/10/14 UPON PULLING ONTO AN EXIT OFF OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE AS I SLOWED DOWN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD POWER BUT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON IT'S OWN. I PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON, CAR IN PARK AND STARTED AGAIN FINE. AGAIN LATER THAT EVENING I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND UPON PULLING OFF AN EXIT THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. 1/11/14 I DROVE HOME ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, CAME TO STOP LIGHT AND ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND PARK. ENGINE RESTARTED FINE AND VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STALL AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION. THIS TO ME IS DANGEROUS LOSING ENGINE POWER. I AM AFRAID THIS COULD CAUSE ME TO BE REAR-ENDED IF THIS KEEPS UP. I AM SEEING THE DEALER FIRST THING NEXT WEEK. *TR
Service brakes, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 23, 2013
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, AND HAD PULLED FROM A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO STALL, AND SHE HAD NO CONTROL- NO BRAKES, NO THROTTLE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T STOP HER, AND SHE FINALLY PUSHED IT INTO PARK AND THAT DID NOTHING. IT ROLLED TO A STOP, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING. SHE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED IT. IT RESTARTED, AND SHE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATIONS WHICH WAS CLOSEBY. VERY SCARY, BUT FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER REAL TRAFFIC, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 20, 2013
AFTER INTERMITTENT 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS, HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED 12/14/2013 PER FORD TSB. ON THIS DATE, 12/16/13 IT FAILED AGAIN AND HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT AFTER 36,000 OR 3 YEARS AS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION NOT TO REPLACE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 18, 2013
I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 10 MPH, THE GAS PEDDLE STOPPED WORKING, I WOULD PRESS IT BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE LITTLE WRENCH APPEARED ON THE DASH. I STOPPED AND THE MOTOR STARTED RUNNING LOUDLY AND ROUGHLY SHAKING THE VEHICLE. I PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE KEY, WAITING A MOMENT AND RESTARTED IT. THE RESTART TOOK LONGER THEN NORMAL BUT IT WAS FINE AFTER THAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES NOW, EACH TIME I WAS GOING APPROX. 10-15 MPH. IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR CANNOT DRIVEN OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES. THE 3RD TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS SLOWING TURNING LEFT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC, HAD THE CAR NOT CUT OFF, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION HOWEVER IT CUT OFF MAKING THE ONCOMING DRIVER SWERVE INTO THE OTHER LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME. IT'S VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 18, 2013
WHEN ON FREEWAY LOSES ALL THROTTLE HAVE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD AND RESTART. HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AT DEALERSHIP WITH A TOTAL COST OF 533.13. WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY? *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 14, 2013
WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT MY VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR QUIT FUNCTIONING. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN A 14 DAY PERIOD. TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM, I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF VIA THE KEY, WAITED 3 MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. SAME THING. NEXT I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THE THROTTLE BODY BEGAN FUNCTIONING AGAIN. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY CLEANED THE AFFECTED PART AND RE-INSTALLED IT. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 13, 2013
WHILE DAUGHTER DRIVING VEHICLE IN HOUSTON, DRIVING ON FREEWAY, APPROX. 65 MPH, VEHICLE LOST ENGINE ACCELERATION POWER, NO RESPONSE FROM GAS PEDAL, WARNING LIGHTS (WRENCH SYMBOL) ILLUMINATED. HAD TO COAST/IDLE ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES TO GET TO SHOULDER OUT OF TRAFFIC- VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY - TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED, VEHICLE THEN OPERATED AS NORMAL AT THE TIME, BUT EVENT HAS SINCE BEEN RECURRING. NOW HAS HAPPENED 6 OTHER TIMES... VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER, ESPECIALLY A YOUNG DRIVER. MIGHT ADD THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IS VERY POPULAR WITH YOUNG ADULTS - YOU WILL SEE MANY IN COLLEGE TOWNS. VERY DANGEROUS. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS MANY COMPLAINTS AND PROBABLE CAUSE SUSPECTED TO BE THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. MANUFACTURER MUST BE AWARE BY NOW. HAVING CAR REPAIRED - EXPECTING COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600 - $800. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 13, 2013
I WAS SETTING AT AN INTERSECTION PULLING OUT IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE DIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE PAST YEAR. AT TIMES WHEN I TRY TO STOP IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING WITH FOOT COMPLETELY CLEAR OF ACCELERATOR. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 9, 2013
THE VEHICLE WENT TO IDLE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SWITCHED OFF AND RESTARTED. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. OUR DEALER SAYS THEY CANT DIAGNOSE UNLESS THEY HAVE THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS IN IDLE ONLY. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 27, 2013
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTION. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON . COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION. CAR LIMPED HOME [FORTUNATELY ONLY 300 YARDS] @ LESS THAN WALKING PACE. NOT HAPPY AND HAS AFFECTED MY CONFIDENCE IN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE. LUCKILY FORD AGENT HELPFUL. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 22, 2013
I WAS ON I80 HEADING WESTBOUND THROUGH LINCOLN. ALL THE SUDDEN I FELT A THUMP AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE (OF THREE LANE TRAFFIC) AND WAS SURROUNDED BY SEMI TRUCKS. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED AAA FOR A TOW AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. I WAS ADVISED THAT I HAD A STUCK THROTTLE BODY. THEY SAID THIS IS QUITE COMMON FOR THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY UNDER WARRANTY AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I HAD RECENTLY TAKEN AN 1800 MILE ROAD TRIP WITH MY CHILDREN THROUGH DALLAS AND HOUSTON. I AM SO GRATEFUL THIS DIDN'T OCCUR ON OUR TRIP. *TR