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, Dec 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE REVERSING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (KEY SCALES FORD, 1719 CITRUS BLVD, LEESBURG, FL 34748) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND THAT THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. CASE NUMBER: [XXX] WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT
Steering, Power train, Dec 3, 2017
LOST STEERING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. POWER HAS CUT OUT ON MANY OCCASIONS
Steering, Nov 25, 2017
I AM HAVING THE SAME STEERING ISSUES AS DESCRIBED IN HUNDRED OF COMPLAINTS 2011 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS . THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO QUIT AND LOCK-UP MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2011 FORD ESCAPE , SO MUCH SO THAT FORD HAS A ISSUED FACTORY RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR ESCAPE DISPLAY ALL THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS , YET ACCORDING TO FORD MY VEHICLE DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL . WHY DOES ONE MODEL NOT QUALIFY WHEN OTHER MODEL WITH THE SAME ISSUES ARE RECALLED ? SEEMINGLY , I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Nov 23, 2017, crash
SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WILL DRIVING, OFTEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND ON STREETS AT 35MPH. I HAVE BEEN IN 3 ACCIDENTS AS DIRECT RESULT, LUCKY NO ONE WAS I HIRED. WHEN IT HAPPENS THE STEERING MAKES A LOUD CLICK AND THEN YOU CAN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, THAT SOMETIMES FIXES IT BUT OFTEN TIMES IT WILL IMMEDIATELY CLICK AGAIN AND THE STEERING WILL TURN OFF. FORD STAFF LAUGH SAYING THEY GET LOTS OF COMPLAINTS BUT SAY NOTHING IS BEING DONE AND GIVE ME A BILL FOR 1200 DOLLARS. I ALREADY SPENT 30K ON THE CAR AND I DO T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO GIVE FORD SO MY CAR IS WORTHLESS AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IN THIS CAR, IT REALLY IS DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE WILL DIE, THAT'S A GUARANTEE.
Steering, Nov 23, 2017, crash
I HAVE BEEN IN TWO MINOR ACCIDENTS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE DRIVE. THE STEERING FAILS ONCE A DAY AND DOES SO, USUALLY WHEN MAKE A HARD OR SHARP TURN. ONCE, THE POWER STEERING DISENGAGED, REVERTING TO MANUEL, WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH! FORD REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE STEALING AFTER MORE THAN 10 CONTACTS WITH THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE AND MULTIPLE FORD DEALERS. THEY REFERRED ME TO THEIR 'LEGAL DEPARTMENT' AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING.
Steering, Nov 20, 2017
AS I'M DRIVING MY ESCAPE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING AT RANDOM TIMES.
Steering, Nov 11, 2017
FAILURE OF POWER ASSIST SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AS EXITING A PARKING LOT. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP (NON-FORD) . ERROR CODE B2778 INDICATED WITH REMEDY OF REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. APPEAR THAT THE SAFETY PROBLEM IDENTIFIED UNDER FORD RECALL 14S05 IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THE VEHICLES THE RECALL COVERED FORCING US TO PAY FOR THIS SAFETY FIX
Steering, Nov 10, 2017
FOR SOME INARTICULATE REASON, MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE POWER STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR RECALL - WTH??? I HAVE INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING. WHEN IT WORKS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES AND SHAKES SO BADLY, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR ON & OFF 3 OR 4 TIMES TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK.
Steering, Nov 9, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
Steering, Oct 26, 2017
I AM HAVING THE SAME STEERING ISSUES AS DESCRIBED IN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER 2011 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO QUIT AND LOCK-UP MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2011 FORD ESCAPES, SO MUCH SO THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A FACTORY RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR ESCAPES. MY VEHICLE (ALSO A 2011 FORD ESCAPE) DISPLAYS ALL THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS, YET ACCORDING TO FORD, MY VEHICLE DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. WHY DOES ONE MODEL NOT QUALIFY WHEN OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ARE RECALLED? SEEMINGLY, I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Oct 19, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MCCAFFERTY FORD, LANGHORNE, PA, 877-692-8282) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
Steering, Oct 2, 2017
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST IS DEFECTIVE SO THAT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL, THE CAR RUMBLES. THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A TRUSTED MECHANIC. THE DEFECT COULD RESULT IN REDUCED PRECISION IN STEERING THE CAR. THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONS AT LOW SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH WHEN I AM TRYING TO PARK MY CAR OR TURN RIGHT ON A ROAD. THE ENTIRE CAR RUMBLES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES.
Steering, Aug 16, 2017
AFTER A 2.5 HOUR OUT OF TOWN TRIP, ONCE I CAME INTO TOWN AND SLOWED DOWN TO THE SPEED LIMIT, THE STEERING WHEEL GOT VERY HARD AND I HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD, MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE FOR TURNS OR CHANGING LANES WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND REQUIRE THE USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE. AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION I POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF; WHEN I POWERED IT BACK ON EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THERE WERE NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS THAT CAME ON TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE STEERING WHEEL GETTING VERY HARD AT LOW SPEED. I FOUND A RECALL ONLINE FOR 2011 FORD ESCAPES INVOLVING THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING BUT WHEN I PROVIDED MY VIN NUMBER TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO ME. I FEEL THAT THIS SAFETY RECALL DOES IN FACT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE BUT WAS OVERLOOKED FOR SOME REASON. RECALL NUMBER IS 14S05.
Steering, Suspension, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 5, 2017
RIGHT NOW THE FUEL POMP STOP WORKING AND THE CAR TURNS OFF AND THEN AFTER A WHILE TURNS ON AGAIN. IT WAS ON A LOCAL STREET.
Steering, Jul 13, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROBBERSON FORD LOCATED AT: 2100 NE 3RD BEND OR 97701 541 382 4521, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP, STEERING COLUMN, AND STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Steering, Jul 10, 2017
COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING COLUMN FOR 2011 FORD ESCAPE . I KEEP TELL PAGE FORD IN AZ . ABOUT MY PROBLEM WITH STEEING COLUMN . THEY NOT WILL TO HELP THE CUSTOMER ABOUT THERE PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE . IT HARD TO DRIVER I KEPT TELL THEM IT HARD TO DRIVER .
Steering, Jul 1, 2017
WHILE MAKING A TURN I LOST MY POWER STEERING CAUSING MY TO ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR HEAD ON. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND GET OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITH POWER STEERING AGAIN.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 28, 2017
WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THEN ALL POWER TO DASH WENT OUT, PULLED OVER AND COULDN'T ROLL UP THE WINDOWS, NO POWER AT ALL, LET IT SIT FOR A MINUTE AND WAS THEN ABLE TO ROLL UP THE WINDOWS.
Steering, Apr 24, 2017
CAR HAS ONLY 22,000 MILES, DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR, AND HEARD A LOUD CLICK SOUND AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT.
Steering, Apr 13, 2017, crash
I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING. A CAR SWERVED INTO MY LANE AND THE POWER STEALING GAVE OUT AS I ATTEMPT TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE FOR SAFETY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING CAYS ED ACCIDENT AND INJURY. FRAUDULENT CONCEALMENT OF DEFECTS (FORD JUNK CARS RIP OFF ) WENT TO FORD IN NOVEMBER 2016 ABOUT POWER STEARING AFTER THEY REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. THEY FINALLY TOLD ME, AFTER THE STEERING COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING, THAT THEY ALREADY FIXED THE POWER STEERING IN A PREVIOUS RECALL. LIARS!!!! I HAVE THE RECEIPT FROM THE PREVIOUS VISIT AND NO POWER STEERING WAS FIXED. SAME OLD PART IS IN CAR. AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY$1200 DOLLARS! I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAY THE RECALL EXPIRED AND I NEVER BROUGHT MY CAR IN... IF THAT'S SO WHY DO I HAVE SERVICE RECIEPT. LIARS!
Steering, Mar 31, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,662. *LN *AS
Steering, Mar 8, 2017
WHEN DRIVING IN A LOW SPEED IN A CITY STREET, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T STEER IT FELT SO HARD THAT I HAD TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PREVENT TO GET INTO ACCIDENT. I CHECKED ONLINE IF THERE'S ISSUE OR RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE'S A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT WHEN THEY TYPE THE VIN # IT'S NOT INCLUDED AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WILL COST $2,000 TO FIX IT.NOT SURE WHY THIS IS NOT INCLUDED FOR RECALL...
Steering, Feb 16, 2017
DRIVING AND POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK. IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER CAR TO STOP. WHEN I TURNED OF IGNITION AND RESTART VEHICLE THE POWER ASSIST WORKS FOR A WHILE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON APPROX 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES. MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED......?? DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
Steering, Feb 14, 2017
THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. CONSOLE DISPLAYS "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAULTY STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR (DTC B2278). DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE PART NUMBER OF THE FAULTY TORQUE SENSOR IS (CL8Z-3F818-A). THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE EXACT SAME AS FORD RECALL 14S05 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN 14V284000. THIS ESCAPE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL 14S05 AND THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE DATES SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER, THE VIN DOES NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN THE RECALL.
Steering, Jan 31, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A NEW POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 04/11/17 LJ *CN