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: steering
409 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Aug 13, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE LEFT OR RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Steering, Aug 13, 2018
FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT CAUSED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST DURING DRIVING IN THE CITY.
Steering, Traction control system, Jul 30, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE DEALER (SPURR SUBARU, 6331 BROCKPORT SPENCERPORT RD, BROCKPORT, NY 14420) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Steering, Suspension, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 27, 2018
VERY OFTEN AS I'M DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO TURN THE WHEEL WILL JUST JERK AWAY.. ALSO THE FUEL TANK HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE. NOW I AM UNABLE TO PUMP GAS WITHOUT GAS LEAKING OUT. THE WHEELS AND TIRES ALWAYS GO FLAT I'M THINKING SOMETHING TO DO UNDER TRUCK
Steering, Suspension, Jul 20, 2018
FRAME FAILURE, "K" FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS FRACTURED MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. THIS ISSUE WAS A RECALL ON 2001-2004 ESCAPES.
Steering, Jul 12, 2018
2011 FORD ESCAPE XLT 3.0L EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND IN MOTION TWICE IN PAST 12 MONTHS. VEHICLE WAS OPERATED ON A CITY STREET AND BOTH INSTANCES WERE SPONTANEOUS. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES. POWER STEERING RESUMED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT BOTH TIMES.
Steering, Jun 28, 2018
MY SCAPE 2011 SUDDENLY LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WHILE I AM DRIVING, I WAS INVESTIGATION AND I FOUND A RECALL NUMBER: 14S05 ' ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FOR CERTAIN MODELS 2008- 2011 FORD ESCAPE, THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT ONLY CERTAIN MODELS WHERE RECALLED FOR DEALER REVISION AND MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM, SO THERE ARE OTHER MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM FORD SHOULD OPEN THE PROGRAM FOR OTHER ESCAPE MODELS, LOSSING STEERING ASSIST COULD INCREASE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT
Steering, May 31, 2018
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS OUT JUST LIKE THE RECALLED FORD ESCAPES FROM 08-11 RECALL. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TOWN AND MAKING TURNS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON BUSY ROADS IN THE CITY AND BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN.
Steering, May 10, 2018
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, FAILED.
Steering, May 7, 2018
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN BACKING UP. INFORMED BY DEAN SELLERS FORD IN TROY , MICHIGAN THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND IT WOULD COST ME 1400 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED AND UNLIKE OTHER ESCAPES FROM THE SAME YEAR WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM, MINE IN NOT UNDER RECALL. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. HAVE ALWAYS OWNED FORDS AND STEPFATHER WORKED FOR THEM FOR 30+ YEARS. HOPE THAT FORD WILL STAND BY ITS PRODUCT. HAVE 110,000 MILES ON IT AND WE WERE HOPING FOR MORE.
Steering, May 7, 2018
TAKATA RECALL- WHILE DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT 20MPH I LOST COMPLETE POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND HAVING THE REPAIR FIXED, IT WAS STATED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR WENT OUT AND WAS UNABLE TO DETECT DRIVER STEERING INPUT. ALIGNING WITH THE CURRENT RECALL 14S05. BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL FORD IS NOT WILLING TO COVER THE REPAIR COST.
Steering, May 2, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (VARSITY FORD, 3480 JACKSON ROAD, ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN 18106) FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS14691951. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Steering, May 1, 2018
STEERING ON MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE HAS STOPPED WORKING AND IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE AT A STOPPED POSITION. IT ALL OF THE SUDDEN STARTED AND FORD WILL NOT REPAIR IT ON RECALL . FORD SUCKS!!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD IN MY LIFETIME!!!! I CANT EVEN DRIVE IT BECAUSE MY ARMS AND HAND HAVE CHRONIC PAIN AND THIS IS ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE
Steering, May 1, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR IDLING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EAU CLAIRE FORD LINCOLN (2009 LORCH AVE, EAU CLAIRE, WI 54701, (715) 852-1000), BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
Steering, Apr 26, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A GRINDING TYPE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD JERK AND VIBRATE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY, BUT THE EXACT FAILURE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING), BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND AT THE TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. *TT UPDATED 9/19/18*JB
Steering, Apr 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE JERKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAD GOTTEN WORSE IN THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, TO THE POINT THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER (BOB CHAPMAN FORD, 1255 COLUMBUS AVENUE MARYSVILLE, OHIO 43040) ON OCTOBER 16, 2016 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
Steering, Apr 1, 2018
THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT ACTIVATE AT START..MUST START SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE IT WORK FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING.I HAVE ONLY ONE HAND THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO HIT THE CURB I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FORD SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL .WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX THIS (NOT 1500.00 FROM FORD) PLEASE HELP
Steering, Mar 29, 2018
2011 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAILURE OF POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO ISSUES CONTAINED IN RECALL NOTICE 14V-285 AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 11, 2018
BEGINNING FEBRUARY 16, 2018 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING VIBRATION AND BOUNCING OF STEERING WHEEL EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I ADDITION TO STEERING CONCERN - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE SHORTING OUT AFFECTING THE DASH ELECTRONICS SUCH AS INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH, RADIO OPERATION AND DOOR LOCKS. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION BECAME STEADILY WORSE TO THE POINT THAT IN EARLY MARCH 2018 I BEGAN INQUIRING ON VEHICLE RECALLS. IN SPEAKING TO FORD WAS ADVISED THAT A STEERING UNIT RECALL WAS ISSUED BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED. FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH FORD IDENTIFIED THE POSSIBILITY THAT A CLERICAL ERROR OCCURRED WHICH FAILED TO INCLUDE MY VIN TO THE RECALL AS MY VEHICLE STICKER DID NOT IDENTIFY THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE ONLY THE MONTH AND YEAR. MORE TELEPHONE CALLS WITH FORD IDENTIFIED MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE AS BEING MANUFACTURED ON 09/09/2010 AND WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CONVERSATIONS SINCE 2/16/18 YIELDED THAT MOJAVE AUTO GROUP PERFORMED A SOFTWARE RESET IN DECEMBER 2014 RATHER THAN REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING UNIT. WHEN I BEGAN SPEAKING WITH FORD AND NHTSA THE VEHICLE WAS STILL OPERATIONAL. ON 3/6/18 MOJAVE AUTO GROUP HAS INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND WRITTEN UP THE POWER ASSIST FAILURE AND FOUND THE STEERING COLUMN BAD AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT. INFORMATION ON MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED WITHIN THE MOJAVE AUTO GROUP SYSTEM UNDER SO#605329
Steering, Feb 13, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TT
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Feb 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ABS AND STABILITY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANDY SHAW FORD (1231 E MAIN ST, SYLVA, NC 28779, (828) 586-0900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SENSOR AND COLUMN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,349. *TT *TR
Steering, Feb 3, 2018
POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEED IN PARKING LOT. VEHICLE REVERTED TO MANUAL STEERING MODE UNTIL VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON.
Steering, Feb 3, 2018
POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEED ON CITY STREET. VEHICLE REVERTED TO MANUAL STEERING UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON AGAIN.
Steering, Jan 25, 2018
POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 DAYS. ALL AT LOW SPEEDS, LESS THAN 10 MPH. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER FORD ESCAPES OF THE SAME YEAR BUT MY VEHICLES VIN IS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. I AM ASKING TO BE INCLUDED.
Steering, Dec 12, 2017
LOST POWER STEERING -THE CAR HAS 41000 M I HAVE ONLY ONE HAND WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING I WAS VERY CLOSE TO AN WRECK..HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED..FORD SAID MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL ..ESCAPES FROM 2008-2011 WERE RECALLED BUT MY CAR IS EXCLUDED???NO EXPLANATION...