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: other or unspecified
56 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 21, 2018
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE FORD EMBLEM ON MY STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER, THEREFORE MAKING MY CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT BUT I HAD NO IDEA HOW THIS HAD HAPPENED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR INTO TOWN FAIR TIRE TO GET IT REALIGNED BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE MY ENGINE CRADLE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED SO I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THAT ADDRESSED AT A MECHANIC. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY PULLED THE VEHICLE SAFETY CHECK THEY DID ON MY VEHICLE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE WHEN THEY CHANGED MY TIRES AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES SO THIS WAS VERY ODD TO THEM AS WELL AS TO HOW THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED. I NEXT BROUGHT IT INTO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO FIX THE ISSUE MY ENTIRE FRONT END FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. $1600 LATER, MY VEHICLE IS BACK IN LINE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS CLAIMING THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THEY DID HAVE RECALLS ON THE 2005 ESCAPES FOR THIS SAME REASON. I'M LUCKY I NOTICED AND ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS HAPPENED LIKE MY ENGINE DROPPING OUT OF MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY OR SOMETHING. MY VEHICLE ISN'T THAT OLD AND ONLY HAS 81000 MILES ON IT. SOMETHING SEEMS OFF.
Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2018
LOSS OF POWER WHILE ACCELERATING.
Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2018
REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED OUTWARD WHILE PARKED IN FRONT ON MY HOME.
Other or unspecified, Feb 3, 2018
FAULTY EXHAUST SYSTEM, RUSTED LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES, NOT SURE HOW LONG WAS FAULTY BEFORE THE WHOLE SYSTEM BECAME TOTALLY NONFUNCTIONAL. HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY AGREE THIS IS "NOT TYPICAL" OF THEIR PRODUCT BUT STATES NO RECALL.
Other or unspecified, Dec 29, 2017
I NOTICED SOME EXTREME FOGGING AND A STRANGE SMELL IN MY CAR. THE CAR HAD JUST TURNED OVER 75,000, AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THE HEATER COIL HAD GONE OUT. SO, HE DICONNECTED THE HEATER COIL. AFTER THAT, THE ENGINE FANS WERE RUNNING LOUDLY. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS LATER, THE FAN ASSEMBY BROKE-A PIECE OF THE ASSEMBY CAME OFF. ALL THIS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING.
Other or unspecified, Dec 7, 2017
AIR CONDITIONING UNIT BROKE AND LEAKED THROUGH THE FIREWALL CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONTIONS WHEN RUNNING THE AIR UNIT AND DEFROST. 2008-2012 FORD ESCAPE EXPENSIVE RECEIVER DRIER FAILURES HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=AFQH2B_OV6C&FEATURE=EM-SHARE_VIDEO_USER
Other or unspecified, Nov 1, 2017
WHEN CLOSING THE REAR DOOR ON THE VEHICLE, THE BACK WINDOW JUST EXPLODED. SMALL PARTICLES OF GLASS FLEW IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND DRY AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS WINDOW TO HAVE EXPLODED. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT PICKED GLASS PARTICLES OUT OF MY CLOTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DEPARTMENT STORE PARKING LOT AND NOT YET OCCUPIED WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
Other or unspecified, Jul 28, 2017
THE LINK BETWEEN THE GAS PETAL AND ENGINE SOMETIMES STOPS WORKING! UPON PULLING ONTO A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS NO GAS FEED AND SO I DRIFTED ONTO THE SHOULDER, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT WAS OK AGAIN. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED AGAIN! THIS I S VERY DANGEROUS AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS FIX! THE CAR HAS ONLY 31,000 MILES ON IT.
Other or unspecified, Jan 31, 2017
AT FIRST MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN MY FORD ESCAPE STARTED BUT IT ONLY CREEPED DOWN THE STREET IT BARELY WANTED TO GO ANYWHERE WHEN I GOT TO THE LIGHT IT WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL SO I BACKED IT UP THEN SLOWLY DROVE IT ACROSS THE STREET OUT THE WAY OF TRAFFIC & WHEN I SHUT IT OFF IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP THE CRANKSHAFT & TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT ON IT. IT ONLY HAS 65,800 MILES ON IT AND I ONLY HAD IT 8 MONTHS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THAT PART BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS NOT THAT HIGH FOR IT TO GO OUT ALREADY. IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT TO GET REPAIRED. I NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE CRANKSHAFT WILL BE ABLE TO GET REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.
Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2016
2TIMES VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, STEERING AND BRAKES. ADVISED IT IS DUE TO NEEDING A NEW THROTTLE BODY. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 6, 2016
CAR KEEPS STALLING. WHILE ACCELERATING AS WELL AS AT FREEWAY SPEED (ON STREETS AND ON THE FREEWAY). THE OBD-II READER SAYS ITS CODE P2111 WHICH IS FOR THE THROTTLE BODY. GOT IT LEANED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE SHOP, IT STALLED AGAIN, SHOWING THE SAME CODE ON THE READER. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH THESE SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE ON MANY FORD ESCAPES OF THIS YEAR.
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 5, 2016
SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (55+) THE SMELL OF GAS FUMES ARE VERY STRONG INSIDE THE CAR. THIS IS ESPICALLY TRUE WHEN THE A/C/ IS ON HIGH.
Other or unspecified, Feb 9, 2016
I HAD OIL LEAKAGE IN JAN 2015 AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID ITS PTO SIDE COVER GASKET LEAKING. CAR HAD ONLY 48117 MILES. HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY FIXED IT. NOW AGAIN IN A YEAR I TOOK CAR FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND THEY DISCOVER OTHER LEAK. I DON'T SEE OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR THOUGH. THIS TIME IT'S TIMING COVER GASKET. DON'T HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ANY MORE. THEY SAID IT WILL COST $1340 PLUS TAX. I TOOK IT FOR SECOND OPINION AND THEY SAID NO LEAKAGE ON TIMING COVER GASKET BUT SAME LEAK WHAT I HAD IT LAST YEAR. THEY WORDED DIFFERENTLY. THEY CALL IT TRANSFER CASE COVER LEAKING. CAR HAS ONLY 66300 MILES. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY CAR CAN HAVE LEAKAGE PROBLEM IN SUCH LOW MILEAGE. FORD NEED TO LOOK INTO THESE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 15, 2015, fire
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 4 DAYS IN DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES UNEXPECTEDLY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. A 2014 RECALL RELATED TO THROTTLE BODY IS SUSPICIOUS. RECALL WAS ADDRESSED UNDER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 13N03.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 10, 2015
WHEN DRIVING CAR GOING ABOUT 45MPH.CAR SHUT OFF AND WRENCH WILL APPEAR ON DASHBOARD . I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD , SHUT OFF CAR WAIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART CAR . I AM IN FEAR THAT CAR WILL SHUT OFF IN AREA WHERE THERE IS NO SHOULDER AND I WILL BE HIT FROM BEHIND . THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN BUILDING WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM , SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR .
Other or unspecified, Oct 25, 2015
I HEARD A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND HAD A LARGE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. NO OBJECT HIT THE CAR TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 10, 2015
TODAY WAS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN, IT AL STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, IT JUST HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND. BUT TODAY THE FIRST TIME WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, LUCKILY I HAD A PLACE TO PULL OFF, TURN OFF ENGINE SIT AND START IT BACK, NOT IMMEDIATE I MAY SAY ( A LITTLE HESITATION IN THE STARTING) THEN THE SECOND TIME (TODAY) HAPPENED IN AN INTERSECTION SAME PROCESS, BUT THIS TIME WAS VERY SCARY, SEEING HOW CARS WERE COMING AT ME HONKING AND GOING AROUND ME. THEN THE THIRD TIME (TODAY) WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, WITH MY GRANDSON IN THE CAR I MIGHT ADD, THIS ACCRUED NOT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND REPEAT THE PROCESS TO GET GOING AGAIN. IF THIS CONTINUES TO OCCUR, IT COULD TURN INTO A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Aug 3, 2015
SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE IN HOT SUN,LATER BLEW OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY
Other or unspecified, Jul 30, 2015
FIRST DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 7/22/15 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND IT SEEMED AS THOUGH EVEN THOUGH I HAD FUEL IN MY GAS TANK, THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. I PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN AND IT RAN FINE. (VEHICLE BEGAN KIND OF SPUTTERING AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PETAL, IT WAS LIKE IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL.) WAS DRIVING A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SECOND DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 7/24/15 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND THE SAME ISSUE MENTIONED ABOVE HAPPENED. WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON, IT TOOK IT A FEW SECONDS TO TURN BACK ON. THIRD DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 7/25/15 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND THE SAME ISSUE MENTIONED ABOVE HAPPENED. TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP ON 7/27/15 AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOURTH DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 7/29/15 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE SAME ISSUE MENTIONED ABOVE HAPPENED. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. FIFTH DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 7/30/15 I WAS DRIVING 40-50 MPH AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD A DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE HOOKED UP TO VEHICLE AND IT READ ERROR CODE P2111 THROTTLE ACTUATOR STUCK OPEN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 27, 2015
MY CAR WILL BE IDLING AND SUDDENLY POWER DOWN. RECENTLY WHILE I HAVE BEEN SLOWING DOWN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP LIGHT, OR BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC IT WILL POWER DOWN. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, SOME HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, 2 OF WHICH ARE FORD DEALERSHIPS AND THEY WORK ON IT CHARGE ME A LOT OF MONEY AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. ALMOST A YEAR NOW! I'M FED UP.
Other or unspecified, Jun 26, 2015
I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TURNING LEFT TO MAKE THE TURN AND GO UP THE HILL. THE CAR LOST POWER AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT HAD STALLED. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS FOR ME NUMEROUS TIMES AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE WILL HIT ME IN THE REAR WHEN MY CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, May 21, 2015
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2012 AND HAVE SINCE NOTICED THE VEHICLE LOSING THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. NO MATTER HOW FAR I PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO OF STALLING, IT WILL SPUTTER AND SHUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE AUTO SHOP TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS NOT MISFIRING A PISTON, OR THAT THEIR WAS ANYTHING IMMEDIATELY WRONG, BUT THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER TO WHY IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY TRANSMISSION ALSO STALLS IN GEARS AND WILL NOT SHIFT WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. SAME DEAL TOOK IT IN AND RECEIVED NO ANSWER. THE BACK HATCH GLASS ALSO LEAKS TERRIBLY WHEN IT RAINS AND I CANNOT GET IT TO SEAL AT ALL.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 10, 2015
I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO I-495 IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ATTAINING A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL (BECAUSE I HAD REACHED MY DESIRED SPEED), THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. I APPLIED FULL PRESSURE TO THE BREAK WITH BOTH FEET, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. I ATTAINED A SPEED OF ALMOST 100 MPH, EVEN WITH BOTH FEET FULLY DECOMPRESSING THE BREAK. BOTH SHOULDERS OF THE INTERSTATE HAD CONSTRUCTION, SO THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO UTILIZE ON EITHER SIDE. AFTER WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC, I FINALLY FOUND A SUITABLE OFF RAMP. AFTER PULLING THE EMERGENCY BREAK, PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND EVENTUALLY PARK, THE CAR CAME TO A VERY ABRUPT STOP (JUST BEFORE I REACHED A BUSY INTERSECTION AT THE END OF THE OFF RAMP). THE BREAKS CONTINUED TO SMOKE FOR ANOTHER 45 MINUTES AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND CUTTING THE ENGINE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I'M ALIVE, BUT I AM GRATEFUL. *TR
Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2015
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. THE REAR HATCH WINDOW EXPLODED INTO HUNDRED'S OF PIECES. LOW TEMPERATURE LAST NIGHT 50 DEGREES, 60 DEGREES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. *TR
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Mar 12, 2015
I WAS DRIVING AT 11 PM ON A COUNTRY ROAD, WHEN MY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, I COASTED AROUND A CORNER AND PUT ON MY FLASHERS. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND IT WAS VERY DARK. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD ROAD SIDE EMERGENCY SERVICE AND THEY INFORMED MY VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY FOR TOWING AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WRECKER. I HAD JUST GOT THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE SHOP FROM THE FORD DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH THEY HAD FOR OVER TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE WAITING ON A PART BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND NO ONE HAD ONE SO THEY HAD TO ORDER IT. I GOT THE CAR OUT THAT DAY ABOUT 11AM, WHICH I HAD TO PAY $176.00, PLUS OVER $30.. FOR A RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS, THAT'S ALL THEY WOULD COVER. I HAD TO SAT IN THE DARK AND RAIN FOR TWO HOURS WAITING ON A WRECKER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I AM 67 YEARS OLD AND THANK GOODNESS MY SISTER IN LAW WAS WITH ME, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE WRECKER TOWED MY VEHICLE TO FORD AND I AM WAITING ON THEM TO OPEN SO I CAN CALL THEM SO THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. *TR