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, Mar 13, 2014
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT THREE SEPARATE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. EACH TIME, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WITHOUT BEING HIT BY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TAKE MY SEATBELT OFF AND RAISE UP TO PUT MY FULL BODY WEIGHT ONTO THE WHEEL. AFTER THE THIRD ATTEMPT AT RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I DRIVE ALMOST 50 MILES A DAY ON THE HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK, AND I'M VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, AND WON'T LET MY KIDS RIDE IN IT NOW. PHONE CALLS TO FORD AND TWO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN NO HELP. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DOUBT THAT A CODE WILL SHOW ANY PROBLEM WITH A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, AND THAT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE, THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MINE IS THE FIRST REPORT OF THIS KIND, AND THAT A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE UP TO ME AS MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND SHOULD NOT BE A WARRANTY ISSUE, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
Steering, Mar 5, 2014
POWER STEERING LOSS. CAN RESET WITH SHUT DOWN AND RESTART. *TR
Steering, Jan 10, 2014
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED DURING A TURN. THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN MY HEADING AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING OVER, I TURNED THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN BACK ON. MY POWER STEERING WAS THEN REESTABLISHED. I HAVE HAD THREE REPEAT INSTANCES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAILURE THAT OCCURS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS NOT WEATHER INDUCED; I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND THIS OCCURRED ON A 65 DEGREE DAY. *TR
Steering, Dec 24, 2013
WHILE BACKING FROM A DRIVE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER/ELECTRONIC STEERING. I HAVE DRIVEN OLDER VEHICLES WITHOUT POWER STEERING BUT THIS WAS TWICE AS HARD TO TURN. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME AND HAD TO MAKE SURE TRAFFIC WAS CLEAR AT INTERSECTIONS TO AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC WHEN TURNING SINCE I COULD NOT AVOID GOING INTO OPPOSING LANES. RESET ITSELF LATER BUT WENT BACK OUT A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MUCH AND HIT A SMALL AMOUNT OF SLUSH. LIMPED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING SHE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IT. REVIEWS ONLINE SHOW THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE AT LEAST 2008 THAT I CAN SEE. ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH THE POSSIBILITY DOES INCREASE IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR
Steering, Air bags, Structure, Equipment adaptive/mobility, May 15, 2013
AT 2700 MILES THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO GO ON AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A CHECK ON AIRBAG PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, HOWEVER ONE WEEK LATER HAD TO RETURN VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AGAIN GOING ON. PROBLEM SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY TIGHTENING LOOSE WIRRE CABLES IN CABLE HARNESS BUT ONE MONTH LATER RETURNED VEHICLE AGAIN AS AIR BAG WARNING WAS AGAIN COMING ON AND THERE WAS CONCERN AS WE DIDN'T KNOW IF AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY IF NEEDED OR WORSE MAY DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. ADVISED THAT CAUSE WAS EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE IN WIRE CABLE HARNESS AND DEFECTIVE SENSORS.SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG READINESS WARNING. IN FALL OF 2012 A NEW PROBLEM STARTED WHICH AT FIRST I THOUGHT MIGHT BE DUE TO LEAVING PARKING BRAKE PARTIALLY ON. STEERING AT 40 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND CENTER CONSOLE WARNING LIGHTS AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD, STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN IN APRIL 2013 WITH VEHICLE STILL UNDER 10,000 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND PROBLEM SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. DROVE ABOUT 6 TO 8 MILES AND PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITH WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND DIFFICULT TO STEER AT FREEWAY SPEED. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER AND PICKED UP TWO DAYS LATER WITH PROBLEM SUPPOSEDLY CURED. 4 DAYS LATER ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN AND STEERING AS BEFORE WAS DIFFICULT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AS ALL AGREED IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.AFTER A WEEK OF TESTING AND WORK VEHICLE WAS READY . WAS ADVISED THAT PROBLEM WAS LOOSE WIRES IN CABLE HARNESS AND FAULTY SENSORS. I HAVE NOW BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2 WEEKS WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS BUT AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT I MAY HAVE PURCHASED A DEFECTIVE AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. WHAT PROTECTION DO WE HAVE? *TR
Steering, Sep 25, 2012
ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED STEERING IS HARD ON TURNS ON WINDING ROADS. HAD CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAY THE STEERING IS NORMAL. IT DID NOT FEEL THIS WAY WHEN IT WAS NEW. *TR
Steering, Jul 29, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO MANEUVER AND IT WAS MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Steering, Jun 15, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE FAILURE WAS CONSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER NOT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Steering, May 5, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POP COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN, POWER ASSIST MOTOR, STEERING RACK AND SHAFT WERE BEING REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000.