2009 FORD ESCAPE

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    steering electric assist

    342 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    344
    incidents
    Typical range: 89,000–150,500 mi

    Median 120,000 mi, based on 331 reports (28% had no usable mileage)

    • "CAR STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO STEER REGARDLESS OF SPEED BUT IT STARTED AT LOW SPEED. STEERING WHEEL WILL EVENTUALLY LOCK."~15,000 mi, complaint #1598771
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK GENTLY AND THEN SHOOK VIOLENTLY. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTER…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1457497
    • "STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE LIKE I WAS OUT OF CONTROL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.."~120,000 mi, complaint #1558898
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I TURNED LEFT AT A LIGHT AS I SHOULD, THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WITH NO WARNING, ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING AS I WAS TURNING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION . I WAS GOING MUCH SLOWER THAN 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT, SINCE I WAS…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1716255
    • "ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST FAILED TWICE WITH NO WARNING UPON START UP, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO DEFAULT TO MANUAL CONTROL, BASICALLY COULD NOT BE STEERED. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE RECALL THAT WAS DONE…"~607,792 mi, complaint #1537443
  2. #2

    throttle and pedal

    2 stranded, 256 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    259
    incidents
    Typical range: 52,000–86,000 mi

    Median 65,000 mi, based on 491 reports (3% had no usable mileage)

    • "WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, 45MPH ZONE, I NOTICED THE ACCELERATOR WAS HAVING NO EFFECT, HOWEVER THE TACH WAS STILL SHOWING THE ENGINE RUNNING. I COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING IT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION. AS I DO WITH…"~16,000 mi, complaint #974730
    • "WHILE DRIVING DOWN A THE HIGHWAY(WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR), THE CAR MADE AN ODD SOUND AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED WORKING. MY CAR DID NOT JUST STOP, IT WAS STILL DRIVING AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE, BUT I COULD NOT GIVE THE CAR GAS…"~52,000 mi, complaint #950161
    • "VEHICLE STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT. ENGINE LIGHT KICKED ON. ERROR CODE P2111, THROTTLE STUCK. WOULD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IF ON HIGHWAY. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR"~65,000 mi, complaint #1002360
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 30MPH, WHEN I LOST SPEED CONTROL. THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND WHILE IT WAS STILL ON(THE ENGINE), I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I COASTED INTO A GAS STATION AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE ENGINE WAS AT A VERY LOW IDLE AND IT S…"~87,000 mi, complaint #986725
    • "P2111 ERROR THROTTLE ACTUATER STUCK OPEN"~164,000 mi, complaint #1306315
  3. #3

    engine stall or no start

    18 stranded, 147 unsafe

    165
    incidents
    Typical range: 50,500–98,000 mi

    Median 71,000 mi, based on 317 reports (7% had no usable mileage)

    • "SUDDEN SURGE AND SLOW DECLINE IN SPEED. PULLED OVER TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED AND IT WAS OK. 4 MONTHS LATER SAME THING. I HAVE HAD IT IN 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR. LAST TIME DEC.2011 THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO NOT FLUCTUATE IN…"~2,000 mi, complaint #965520
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE SPEED DRASTICALLY DROPPED TO LESS THAN 5 MPH AND NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART…"~51,000 mi, complaint #1027397
    • "MY CAR STALLED OUT ON ME TWICE ON ON BUSY ROADS. THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO GET REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT BOTH TIMES."~72,000 mi, complaint #1569878
    • "THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE ON 2/16/2012, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY, AND THE DASH BOARD LIT UP (ENGINE, OIL AND OTHER LIGHTS). I PUT THE CAR AND PARK AND RESTARTED IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS…"~99,535 mi, complaint #915603
    • "MY FORD ESCAPE LIMETED JUST STARTED MAKING A NOISE OUT OF NOWHERE AND BEFORE IT STARTED I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND IT WOULD STOP RUNNING"~197,000 mi, complaint #1716299
  4. #4

    power steering hydraulic

    2 stranded, 144 unsafe

    146
    incidents
    Typical range: 103,500–154,000 mi

    Median 125,000 mi, based on 138 reports (20% had no usable mileage)

    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE STEERING RECALL 14V284000 LOSS OF POWERSTEERING AND FORD IS STATING WON'T REPAIR AS IT HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THE SAID RECALL BACK IN JULY. *TR"~12,000 mi, complaint #1133627
    • "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT ALERT IS ON AND NOW GREAT EFFORT TO TURN WITH STEERING. JUST GOT IN CAR THIS MORNING AND IT WAS A FIRST TIME ALERT IN STATIONARY"~104,000 mi, complaint #1544198
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND NE…"~125,000 mi, complaint #1515182
    • "STARTED ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. LOOKED UP IN MANUAL AND IT SAID IT WILL GO INTO MANUAL STEERING IF POWER STEERING GET HOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES BUT THEN THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE. NOW THE STEERING CHATTE…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1033019
    • "POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT.WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAD BEEN RECALL IN JULY 2014, WHEN A UPDATE WAS DONE FOR POWER STEERING ASSIST UNIT. THAT DID NOT CORRECT ISSUE FORD DEALERSHIP IN LUGOFF SC THAT DID SERVICE OFFERED NO WARRANTY, THEY INSPECTED IT AND STATE…"~227,222 mi, complaint #1148773
  5. #5

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    74 unsafe

    74
    incidents
    Typical range: 49,000–91,500 mi

    Median 69,500 mi, based on 124 reports (4% had no usable mileage)

    • "ON APRIL 19, 2013,I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT FROM MY HOME. I STOPPED AT THE EXIT TO WAIT FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. I GAVE IT GAS IT JERKED AND I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. THE WRENCH ICON CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO BASICALLY CRAWL BACK TO MY H…"~22,028 mi, complaint #988648
    • "WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 ON AN INTERSTATE IN MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE XLT 3.0L SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I CAREFULLY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AS SPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR. WHILE PARKED ON THE SHOULDER…"~49,200 mi, complaint #967049
    • "VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED DECELERATING AT A RAPID PACE. I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, AND THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY SEEMED TO STOP SENDING GAS TO THE ENGINE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND COAST TO A STOP. THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY MY LIFETIME WARRANTY AND IS GOING TO COST ME OVER…"~69,600 mi, complaint #995742
    • "HAD JUST COME OVER THE TN RIVER BRIDGE ON I40 EAST IN TN AND WAS APPROACHING MILE MARKER 137 WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME NON RESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE WITH NO DASH INDICATION LIGHTS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN BECAUSE ACCELERATION DID NOT WORK. I KNEW TH…"~88,682 mi, complaint #937626
    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE, 3.0L XLT. VEHICLE ENGINE POWER LOST AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ON SEPT 7, 2018. A RED WRENCH LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH DURING THE EVENT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID TRAFFIC, PARK ON THE SHOULDER, RESTART THE VEH…"~153,000 mi, complaint #1498060
  6. #6

    steering column

    49 unsafe

    49
    incidents
    Typical range: 79,000–149,000 mi

    Median 104,500 mi, based on 94 reports (12% had no usable mileage)

    • "I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKING, I TOOK IT INTO MIDAS TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A BUILD UP OF SNOW AND ICE AS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN VERY COLD. THEY SAID IT COULD ALSO BE THE STEERING AND TO TAKE IT TO FORD. I DROVE TO…"~10,800 mi, complaint #1543311
    • "THE CAR STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO LOCK UP WHILE IT WAS PARKED WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN AFTER AWHILE IT WOULD YOU WERE ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR IN THE STEERING WHEEL WERE FUNCTION AFTER A WHILE THE CAR WOULD DO IT WHILE DRIVING TH…"~72,000 mi, complaint #1518036
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE (LOCATED AT [REDACTED ADDRESS] N, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214, [REDACTED PHON…"~107,000 mi, complaint #1570702
    • "TRACKING #11113388 FILED 7/24/18 UPDATE. LOST USE OF POWER STEERING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER IN AND OUT OF PARKING SPACES. CAR INITIALLY TAKEN TO FIRESTONE WHO CONTACTED FORD WITH DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD TO REPLACE SENSOR- THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. FIRES…"~136,222 mi, complaint #1488681
    • "I TOOK MY FORD ESCAPE INTO FORD TO GET THE STEERING RECALL DONE AND THEY REPROGRAMMED IT AND 2 WEEKS AFTER THE STEERING BECAME WORSE SO I TOOK IT BACK INTO FORD AND THEY ARE NOW TELL ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT WAS PART OF THE REC…"~210,000 mi, complaint #1263541
  7. #7

    abs module

    44 unsafe

    44
    incidents
    Typical range: 72,000–140,000 mi

    Median 111,000 mi, based on 36 reports (32% had no usable mileage)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS, BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE…"~21,300 mi, complaint #1267829
    • "BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AFTER VEHICLE BRAKES APPLIED DURING A SEMI HARD STOP, PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES AND FOUND THE ISSUE TO BE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL TO REPAIR BEFORE SOME IS KILL…"~92,000 mi, complaint #1671794
    • "MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2009 FORD ESCAPE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP. MY MECHANIC PUT A NEW BREAK MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM ON AND THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY FOR A WEEK. THEN WITHOUT NOTICE THE SAME FRI…"~111,450 mi, complaint #1717973
    • "SBS MODULE KEEPSFAILING HAD MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED IN MY 2009 FORDESCAPE LOOKED ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM SHOULD BEARECALL ON THIS MODULE NOTHING WRONG NONABSLIGHT ON LOW BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE IN MOTION TRYING TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL VERY SPONGIE…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1535493
    • "BRAKES JUST WENT MUSHY 2 DAYS AGO. PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING IS SLOW AND POOR - VERY WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR AND BEING ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. LOOKING ONLINE IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ABS FAILURE."~215,000 mi, complaint #1713503
  8. #8

    transmission automatic

    3 stranded, 35 unsafe, 1 broken, 1 annoyance

    40
    incidents
    Typical range: 14,000–74,500 mi

    Median 31,500 mi, based on 52 reports (7% had no usable mileage)

    • "MY FIRST INCIDENT WITH MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT. AFTER JUST STARTING MY TRUCK AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BUT THE RPM'S WERE ROARING TO OVER 6000 AND MY TRUCK FINALLY SHOT OUT INTO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY…"~500 mi, complaint #965206
    • "I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITHOUT A SHOULDER. A VEHICLE IN MY LANE SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, SO I LET MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO CHECK THE NEXT LANE TO SEE IF I COULD SWERVE OVER AT WHICH POINT I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERAT…"~14,000 mi, complaint #849378
    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS TOWING THE VEHICLE WITH HIS 2009 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER 35 FT. TRITON V10 ENGINE WITH A FORD CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION IN HIS FORD ESCAPED CAUGHT FIRE. HE STATED THAT HE FOLLOWED THE INST…"~24,064 mi, complaint #803072
    • "THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WINING. LIKE A BEARING IS GOING OUT. I THINK IT IS THE OUTPUT SHAFT BEARING. *KB"~60,000 mi, complaint #903416
    • "I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY NO POWER WAS GOING TO THE WHEELS WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO SLOWDOWN AND ONCE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IT WOULDN'T SEND ANY POWER TO THE FRONT OR BACK WHEEL BUT WOULD REV THE ENG…"~160,000 mi, complaint #1531983
  9. #9

    brake hydraulics

    38 unsafe

    38
    incidents
    Typical range: 68,500–130,000 mi

    Median 90,000 mi, based on 35 reports (34% had no usable mileage)

    • "VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, REQUIRES PUMPING BRAKE PEDAL TO CORRECT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER RECENTLY REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMED ABS MODULE. VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM AND ITS 2013. FOUND N…"~4,049 mi, complaint #974937
    • "BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR LEAVING MY OFFICE. LOCAL MASTER MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND SAID IT'S THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU). I DROVE TO FRONTIER FORD DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS A WRONG DIAGNOSIS AND AFTER REP…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1022978
    • "ENTERING A PARKING SPACE IN A GROCERY STORE LOT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES IT SEEMED I GOT A SIMUTANEUS ENGINE ACCELERATION AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD HITTING THE FACING CAR. *TR"~81,400 mi, complaint #1128700
    • "DRIVING HOME I LOST THE ABILITY TO PROGRESSIVELY BRAKE, THE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VERY LAST PORTION. I WOULD RATE PROBABLY 95% OF DEAD SPACE AND THE SUDDEN BRAKING POWER. WELL 'SUDDEN'. ALMOST WRECKED A F…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1724072
    • "THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC FAILURES OF BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL, MASTER CYLENDER, BOOSTER, ABS PUMP, ETC. IT'S A BADLY DESIGNED BRAKING SYSTEM THAT FAILS AT ANY TIME, PUTTING LIVES OF PEOPLE UNDER DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. MORE OFTEN THEN NOT THOSE FAILURES ARE OCC…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1741315
  10. #10

    hv system fault reduced power

    28 unsafe

    28
    incidents
    Typical range: 68,000–110,000 mi

    Median 80,000 mi, based on 51 reports (9% had no usable mileage)

    • "CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND YOU HAVE TO GET OFF OF HIGHWAY AND TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART TO RESET COMPUTER. THIS WORKS FOR ABOUT 10 MILES AND THEN IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. MY DEALERSHIP HAS THE CAR AND IS REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY SO WE CAN DRIVE THE CAR AND…"~45,145 mi, complaint #995686
    • "MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HAS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I TRY NOT TO MAKE LEFT TURNS DUE TO VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN WHEN I AM ACCELERATING, THE WRENCH COMES ON IN THE CAB WHEN I START EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. ALSO WHEN ON HIGHWAY WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR SLOWS DOWN…"~68,000 mi, complaint #965873
    • "DRIVING ON LOCAL HIGHWAY AND ENGINE ENTERED "SAFE MODE" (WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE). PREVIOUSLY VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND NEAR STALL BUT RUN FINE WHEN RESTARTED. *TR"~74,000 mi, complaint #998918
    • "VEHICLE RANDOMLY SLIPS INTO LIMP-HOME MODE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE WRENCH LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE ACCELERATOR IS NON-RESPONSIVE. IF THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK AND THE ENGINE IS SHIFT OFF, IT RESTARTS WITH NO PROBLEM...UNTIL A RANDOM TIME FURTHE…"~96,500 mi, complaint #991071
    • "HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER/THROTTLE RESPONSE. PULL OFF ROAD, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, RESTART AND COMPUTER SEEMS TO RESET. HAD BEEN 1-2 TIMES PER YEAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND STRUGGLED TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. HAPPE…"~177,000 mi, complaint #1609799
  11. #11

    steering rack mechanical

    21 unsafe

    21
    incidents
    Typical range: 97,500–159,000 mi

    Median 140,000 mi, based on 37 reports (10% had no usable mileage)

    • "THIS PAST WINTER THE DRIVERS SIDE EXIT SHAFT SEAL FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER. UPON RETURN MY WIFE NOTED THE STEERING COCKED TO THE LEFT SLIGHTLY BUT NO OTHER ISSUES, I TOLD HER THAT THEY PROBABLE WERE OFF A TOOTH ON THE PITM…"~28,967 mi, complaint #920816
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO [REDACTED ADDRESS]. AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE INDICATOR WAS STILL ON, POWER WAS LOST IN THE STEERING. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDICA…"~98,905 mi, complaint #1607884
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARNEY FORD INC (237 MOOSEHEAD TRAIL, NEWPORT, ME 04953) IN JUL…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1535068
    • "STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS."~170,000 mi, complaint #1690932
    • "I DROVE TO THE GROCERY STORE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF TO GO SHOPPING. I CAME OUT TO LEAVE AND TURNED ON THE CAR BUT I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. "~200,000 mi, complaint #1647890
  12. #12

    corrosion and rust

    15 unsafe

    15
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WHERE ANY METAL IS EXPOSED IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. ALL THE EXPOSED METAL COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE TRACKS FOR THE FRONT SEATS, THE UNDERSIDES OF THE SEATS, THE BOLTS HOLDING THE SEATS IN PLACE, AND ANY PIECES OF METAL ON THE IN…"~19,000 mi, complaint #888437
    • "RUST CAUSED FAILURE OF SUB FRAME. EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF REAR FRAME, SHOCK MOUNTS AND DRIVE TRAIN. VEHICLE WAS NEVER SUBMERGED AND HAD 64,692 MILES. *TR"~64,692 mi, complaint #1668744
    • "WASHING MY CAR AND NOTICE RUSTED WHEEL WELL ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE. RUST IS COMING THROUGH TO THE OUTSIDE OVER THE TIRE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD ESCAPE. APPARENTLY, THIS LEADS TO MORE SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE SHOCKS…"~118,000 mi, complaint #1185185
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION AND RUSTING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER HONDRU FORD([…"~127,000 mi, complaint #1637466
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was severe rusting and rot on the frame rail. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 184,500"~184,500 mi, complaint #2184890
  13. #13

    fuel tank and lines

    14 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    15
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=15, median 105,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "DRIVING ON SUBDIVISION STREET AND LOST OF GASOLINE TO ENGINE. THE ENGINE DIDN'T KILL. THE CAR REDUCED SPEED TO 1 MPH. *TR"~34,700 mi, complaint #992178
    • "I DRIVE A 2009 FORD ESCAPE WHICH HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. IN MARCH OF 2015 I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT PUDDLES OF GASOLINE WERE APPEARING UNDER MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK HA…"~84,000 mi, complaint #1170767
    • "GAS TANK. LOTS OF CORROSION WHERE FILLER NECK CONNECTS TO THE GAS TANK. WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL GAS LEAKS FROM THE CORROSION POINT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN I NOTICED A STRONG GAS ODOR. I MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED A WET SPOT O…"~100,900 mi, complaint #1316981
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL CAP MALFUNCTIONED AND THE TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE…"~125,000 mi, complaint #1191747
    • "3/28/2021 MILEAGE 138141, 1 DAY AFTER FILLING TANK NOTICED STRONG ORDER OF GASOLINE COMING FROM UNDER CAR AND GASOLINE LEAKING OUT OF TOP OF TANK WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. TRACKED SOURCE OF LEAK TO A 1 INCH CRACK IN TOP OF TANK ABOUT 2 INCHES FORWARD AND TO T…"~138,141 mi, complaint #1737595
  14. #14

    other

    11 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    14
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 137,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "HOY EN LA MAANA CAMBI LA RUEDA DE REPUESTO Y RESULTA QUE LA GATA SE AISL, CAY, VENTAJOSAMENTE NO ESTUVE BAJO EL VEHICULO, LA GATA NO SIRVE AHORA, PUDE HABER MUERTO A CAUSA DE ESTA FALLA DE FABRICA DEL ARTEFACTO. TERRIBLE EL PROBLEMA , EXIJO UNA SOLUCION."~51,190 mi, complaint #1311104
    • "I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE MARCOTTE FORD. THEY SAID THE PART THAT FAILED WAS THE PART THAT WAS RECALLED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD THEM THEY DID THEIR PART ON THE RECALL WHEN THEY REPROGRAMMED IT AND WILL NOT COVER THE PART. I THEN CALL…"~109,000 mi, complaint #1149805
    • "MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED BY RECALL 14S05 BUT IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST SO FORD WON'T PAY FOR THE REPAIR."~132,000 mi, complaint #1639267
    • "AUTO CREDIT NEVER FIXED THE RECALLS. *TR"~169,000 mi, complaint #1658569
    • "FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2009 [XXX] RECALL NUMBER 14S05 FORD WON'T FIX THE DEFECT. IT WILL CAUSE CRASH ON HIGHWAY. IT TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER IN FREMONT, CA. THE DEALER REFUSE TO FIX IT. EVERYDAY I USE, I WORRY IT WILL CRASH BECAUSE IT ALMOST CRASH COUPLE TIMES I…"~400,000 mi, complaint #1367037
  15. #15

    glass and windshield

    11 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    12
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 102,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR WIDOW GLASS LITERALLY EXPLODED PRIOR TO ACTUALLY SHUTTING"~33,259 mi, complaint #1192513
    • "WE GOT IN THE CAR READY TO GO TO THE STORE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS SHUT AND THE BACK REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. GLASS SHATTERED EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR"~47,916 mi, complaint #1025868
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE HINGES OF THE REAR WINDOW DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED THE GLASS TO BECOME UNSTABLE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE…"~92,000 mi, complaint #1295712
    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE LIFTGATE GLASS HINGES HAVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE RIGHT HINGE HAS BROKEN OFF AND CRUMBLED AT THE CENTER OF THE HINGE. THIS OCCURRED AT 150,000 MILES. THIS OCCURRED WHEN ABOUT TO DRIVE OFF AFTER LEAVING A SHOPPING PLAZA. THE WINDOW THEN I…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1294648
    • "1. REAR LIFT GATE GLASS HINGE CORRODED AND SNAPPED OFF, LEAVING GLASS DANGEROUSLY HANGING ON ONE HINGE. 2. TRUNK INOPERABLE DUE TO TRUNK OPERATING VIA ELECTRIC PATCH AND NO LONGER RECEIVING ELECTRIC SIGNAL. 3. REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL EXTREMELY RUSTIN…"~168,000 mi, complaint #1476482
  16. #16

    airbag system

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "ON JUNE 2ND 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY NEW FORD ESCAPE ON HIGHWAY 101 HEADING WEST WHEN BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS INSTANTLY DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR GET IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEATBELT LOCKED ME INTO THE SEAT, I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS TOPANGA CANYON. I…"~3,300 mi, complaint #726611
    • "STARTED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, LESS THAN 10 MPH. SIDE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. NOTING HIT THE CAR AND WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING FELL ON THE CAR. WE WERE ON AN EVEN SMOOTH PAVEMENT. *TR"~9,987 mi, complaint #732094
    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHETHER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO CODES INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH…"~10,000 mi, complaint #806451
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO TAKE TH…"~63,000 mi, complaint #919013
    • "WE WERE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. BRIDGE WAS ICY, AND TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED. WE SLID ON THE ICE AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. WE WERE THEN REAR-ENDED AND DRIVEN MUCH HARDER IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN OUR CA…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1347647
  17. #17

    trunk or liftgate

    5 unsafe, 3 broken

    8
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 78,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "LIFTGATE WILL NOT OPEN. GLASS DOOR WILL OPEN. POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN. *TR"~18,000 mi, complaint #971459
    • "THE REAR HATCH ON MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4X4 FINALLY QUIT OPENING. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR NUMEROUS ISSUES AND ALWAYS MENTIONED A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR HATCH NOT ALWAYS OPENING BUT THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM NOW 5000 MIL…"~42,000 mi, complaint #891061
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CLOSING THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS, THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE SUDDENLY FRACTURED CAUSING THE LIFT GATE GLASS TO BECOME UNSECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE HIN…"~97,000 mi, complaint #1083981
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES WERE FRACTURED ON THE TAILGATE WINDOW. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBURBAN FORD OF STERLING HEIGHTS AT [REDACTED PHONE] (LOCATED AT [REDACTED ADDRESS], STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48313) AND WAS INFO…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1508981
    • "DURING A COLD SNAP IN JANUARY, I CLICKED MY BACK WINDSHIELD LIFTGATE TO RETRIEVE GROCERY BAGS, AND THE HINGE ON THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW SNAPPED IN HALF AND SENT THE WINDSHIELD FLYING ON IT'S HYDRAULIC INTO MY LEFT SHOULDER. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LO…"~210,000 mi, complaint #1472105
  18. #18

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT INFORMED HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT MOVE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS LOCKED. IN ORDER TO GET THE SEAT BELT TO OPERATE NORMALLY IT H…"~17,000 mi, complaint #828930
    • "PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKED ARBITRARILY. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE SEAT BELT WAS TO UNBUCKLE AND ALLOW SEAT BELT TO FULLY RETRACT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON (3) OCCASIONS TO HAVE SEAT BELT REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK VEHICLE TO 3RD PARTY AND HAD SEAT BE…"~18,400 mi, complaint #833671
    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE - DRIVER'S SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION AND LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION. CANNOT RE-LATCH. FORD DEALER IN GALVESTON, TEXAS NOT RESPONDING TO REPEATED REQUEST TO SCHEDULE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART....? *TR"~45,500 mi, complaint #852308
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UN-LATCH. AFTER FOUR MINUTES THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO UN-LATCH THE SEAT BELT AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THA…"~70,000 mi, complaint #931477
    • "THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP TIGHT ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I TRIED TO PULL IT OFF OF MY CHEST TO TRY TO RESET IT BUT IT DID NOT RESET TO THE LOOSE, UNLOCKED POSITION. IN ORDER TO TRY AND RESET THE LOCK, I UNPLUGGED THE SEAT BELT AND LET IT RETRACT TO T…"~84,815 mi, complaint #1013000
  19. #19

    control module

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 101,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "ON OCTOBER 24, 2009, THE RPM NEEDLE WOULD STICK AT THE 2000 LEVEL. HESITATION OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING MARCH 2, 2010, THE THROTTLE BINDED ON ACCELERATION. ON JULY19, 2011, POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED DUE TO RECALL.ON FEBRUARY 12, 2011, E…"~6,053 mi, complaint #972682
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WO…"~36,000 mi, complaint #1240882
    • "AFTER ONLY ABOUT 36.000 MILES, THE PCM COMPUTER CONTROLLING EVERYTHING IN THE CAR SUDDENLY FAILED. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED WHILE PARKED AND NOT ON THE ROAD WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. IT APPEARS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE VEHICLES IN THE PAST…"~36,000 mi, complaint #1245845
    • "VEHICLE HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE DASHBOARD GAUGES LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING, TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY CAUSE OF ISSUE. IF I HIT THE DASH IT GAUGES WOULD START TO WORK AGAIN. WHEN GAUGES WERE NOT WORKING, A/C WOULD STOP WORKING AS WELL.…"~102,500 mi, complaint #1113772
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND STEERING COLUMN SEIZED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO S…"~156,000 mi, complaint #1450512
  20. #20

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 stranded, 5 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T TURN THE CAR ON WHEN TURNED. AFTER TURNING TO THE START POSITION YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE PROBLEM GRADUALLY GETS WORST TO THE POINT THAT IT NO LONGER WILL START THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISS…"~92,000 mi, complaint #1504413
    • "KEY IGNITION SWITCH IS DIFFICULT TO WORK. AFTER TURNING TO THE START POSITION YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THIS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOT WORST TO THE POINT THAT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 10 TRIES AND 3 OR 4 MINUTES…"~106,500 mi, complaint #1562068
    • "BOUGHT MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE XLT 4WD IN 2016.HAD NO PROBLEMS UP UNTIL AROUND MARCH, 2017 WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE.TURNED THE KEY TO START AND IT WOULDN'T. THINKING MAYBE THERE WAS A LITTLE MOISTURE ON IGNITION KEY SEEING HOW IT HAD RAINED EARLER AND KEYS WER…"~115,000 mi, complaint #1607394
    • "HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING VEHICLE. MUST PUSH KEY IN VERY HARD, SO MUCH SO THAT YOUR HAND WILL HURT, IN ORDER FOR IT TO START. SOMETIMES IT STARTS, SOMETIMES IT WON'T. HAS LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. ACTS LIKE YOU CAN'T PUSH IN KEY IN…"~152,000 mi, complaint #1268735
    • "AFTER USE AND PARK, THE ESCAPE 2009 4 CYL. DO NOT START. SEVERAL TIMES IN BETWEEN WEEKS WITH THIS TROUBLE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, START AS NOTHING OCCUR. IN AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC, SENT A CODE: 1260 AND 1681. STARTER IS GOOD AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION WAS RECENTL…"~903,101 mi, complaint #998443
  21. #21

    starter

    1 stranded, 5 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "THE KEY HAS A HARD TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE. IT MAY BE THE IGNITION MODULE."~80,000 mi, complaint #1654875
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS GRADUALLY GETTING WORST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEH…"~97,145 mi, complaint #1403834
    • "THE IGNITION SWITCH ISNT ALWAYS STARTING THE CAR WHEN TURNED. SOMETIMES IT HAS TO BE TURNED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT WILL FINALLY START THE CAR. THIS HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE THE LAST FEW MONTHS."~101,000 mi, complaint #1512122
    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE 3.0 246,000 MILES, HAVE HAD ALL RECALL ITEMS REPLACED. PROBLEMS WITH STARTER CONTINUOUSLY ENGAGED, SPARK AND MELT POSITIVE WIRE. REPLACED STARTER, TUMBLER AND IGNITION MODULE. 5 MONTHS LATER SAME EVENT OCCURRED. STARTER CONTINUOUSLY ENGAGED, S…"~246,000 mi, complaint #1255686
  22. #22

    unintended acceleration

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "AFTER A RECALL THAT REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ACCELERATION WITH OUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING PRESSED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 15TH. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE ON AUGUST 20TH. NO I…"~22,000 mi, complaint #809432
    • "INTENDED TO PARK CAR IN FRONT OF GARAGE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPED UP UNCONTROLLABLY,DRIVER APPLIED BAKES AND TURNED SHARPLY YET THE VEHICLE HIT THE GARAGE STRUCTURE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE HOUSE."~54,800 mi, complaint #1322812
    • "WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION WITH A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP, DESPITE MY FRANTIC EFFORTS TO BRAKE THE CAR; I SWERVED TO MY RIGHT, WENT THROUGH 6 INCHES OF SNOW ON GRASS CURB AND THEN WE…"~69,500 mi, complaint #1048875
    • "PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP THE CURB AND SIDE SWIPE A BRICK COLUMN BEFORE HITTING A BENCH BY THEN I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION STOPPING THE CAR. CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CAR AN…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1660046
  23. #23

    engine internal

    1 stranded, 4 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 63,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "VCT SOLENOIDS AND CAM SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY, ENGINE LAGS AND EXIBITS POOR FUEL MPG. THE PROBLEM OCCURED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND UPON RESEARCH; I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE IS VERY VAST WITH 2009-2011 FORD ESCAPES, MERCURY MARINERS, 2…"~52,000 mi, complaint #1079751
    • "TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO FORD DEALER DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STUCK ON. DIAGNOSTICS PULLED 2 CODES, P0011 & P0012. THESE 2 CODES ARE MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS!! BOTH SOLENOIDS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND POSSIBLY HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH CYLINDER HEADS AND CAM SHAFTS IF H…"~63,296 mi, complaint #972471
    • "ENGINE STARTED IN PARKING LOT WITH A VERY ROUGH IDLE. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A FUEL ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED BUT DIES IMMEDIATELY AFTER GIVING GAS TO THE PEDAL. THE 2009 FORD ESCAPE WAS TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE REPORTED IT HAS A SEIZED ENGINE ON THE…"~73,317 mi, complaint #1091384
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was a…"~107,573 mi, complaint #1863430
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the fail…"~129,082 mi, complaint #2098172
  24. #24

    heater core and blower

    3 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED WITH 4WD AND 4 CYLINDER ENGINE HAS CONTINUED TO SPEW FLACKY WHITE MATERIAL FROM THE HEATING/AC DUCTS WHEN THE SYSTEM'S FAN IS OPERATING. UPON RETURN TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN EXISTED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. TH…"~500 mi, complaint #793136
    • "VISIBLE PARTICULATE MATTER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN COMING FROM INTERIOR HEATING/COOLING DUCTS OF 2009 FORD ESCAPE. DEALER KEPT CAR FOR 2 DAYS TO "BLOW OUT" THE SYSTEM AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL PERSISTS, CAUSING ME TO COUGH AND SNEEZE. DEALER STATES TH…"~8,500 mi, complaint #825035
    • "WHITE FLAKY MATERIAL COMING OUT OF VENT SYSTEM. 2009 FORD ESCAPE. VERY SERIOUS SEE SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 09-21-6. *TR"~19,318 mi, complaint #794416
    • "ON 7/17/2011 WHILE DRIVING FROM EDEN PRAIRIE, MN TO HOME IN HASTINGS, MN WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL I, ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER, SMELLED A ODOR LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. I PULLED INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT AND WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND I INV…"~46,000 mi, complaint #878654
  25. #25

    timing belt or chain

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE TIMING CHAIN CASE COVER CRACKED. THIS CAUSED MISALIGNMENT OF THE ATTACHED PULLEY AND SUBSEQUENT DETACHMENT OF THE SERPENTINE BELT. THERE WERE 13600 MILES ON THE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AT THE TIME IT OCCURRED. *TR"~13,600 mi, complaint #804702
    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN COVER CRACKED CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME LOOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WHO REPLACED THE TIMING COVER. FIVE MONTHS LATER THE…"~28,000 mi, complaint #829840
    • "FORD 2009 ESCAPE-CAR STARTED MAKING A SQUEAL NOISE AND BELT STARTED TO COME OFF AND WHEN LOOKED TO SEE THE WHAT WAS GOING ON THE CARS MOUNTING BOSS BROKE OFF OF TIMING COVER AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE IDLER PULLER MOUNTING BOLTS BROKE FROM COVER AND CAUSED CA…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1090696
    • "THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; MANUAL DID NOT HAVE CAUTIONARY INFORMATION. FURTHER UPON CHECKING, THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN(TSB) ISSUED BY FORD #-09-13-83. FAULTY PREMATURE FAILING PARTS ON MULTIPLE FORD MODELS INCLUDING FORD ESCAPE, MERCURY MA…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1173456
    • "MY WIFE OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE PURCHASED NEW FROM A DEALER AND THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE I QUESTION IF THERE WASN?T SOME TYPE OF FLAW IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR AT THE VERY LEAST, SOME TYPE FAILURE IN THE QUALITY CONTROL PROCESS. W…"~160,000 mi, complaint #1003929
  26. #26

    suspension arms and bushings

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE (RENTAL CAR) I RECEIVED THIS NEW RENTAL CAR FROM A MAJOR RENTAL CAR COMPANY AT THE SEATTLE/TACOMA AIRPORT WITH ONLY WITH 83 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I RENTED THE CAR ON APPROXIMATELY 7-7-09. ON 7-13-09, WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,100 MILES ON IT, THE…"~1,113 mi, complaint #733507
    • "REAR SWAYBAR SUBFRAME MOUNT BRACKET DETACHED FROM SUBFRAME WELDING. FAULTY WELDING IS THE DEFECT AND CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR"~58,294 mi, complaint #987035
  27. #27

    driveshaft axle cv

    2 unsafe, 1 broken

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "LEFT FRONT AXLE SHAFT BROKE AND SEAL TO TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID CAR HAD 14,516 MILEAGE REPLACED SHAFT AND SEAL AND BUSHING. *TR"~14,516 mi, complaint #780297
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEAL BLEW IN THE FRONT AXLE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEV…"~20,000 mi, complaint #891767
    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE LEAKING OIL IN GARAGE AND GOT WORSE. LEAKING FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. AXEL SEAL LEAKING AND WAS CHANGED. BUT LEAK CONTINUED. RETURNED TO GARAGE AND FOUND OUT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH MANUFACTURING PROBLEM FROM 2008 TILL 2014. HAD TO ORDER AND REPLA…"~91,000 mi, complaint #1347373
  28. #28

    engine oil consumption

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO THE 2009 ESCAPE HYBRID MODEL ONLY. WHILE CHANGING OIL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE OIL FILLER TUBE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD (ONE OF THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE ENGINE BAY). I SPILLED A SMALL AMOUNT O…"~950 mi, complaint #695887
    • "DURING A BASIC OIL CHANGE, WE WERE INFORMED THE OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE THREADS FOR THE PLUG WERE STRIPPED. THE SERVICE MANAGER, I AM BASING THIS ON WHAT WE WERE TOLD BY TRAINED FORD TECHNICIANS, STATED "THE OIL PAN IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND I…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1017499
    • "I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AND WAS HOLD THAT I HAVE A "PERFUSE" OIL LEAK IN MY MOTOR. AND MY MOTOR HAS LESS THAN A 100,000 MILES ON IT.. *JS"~96,000 mi, complaint #1091257
  29. #29

    evap system

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "FUEL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. REAPPEARED SEPTEMBER 16,2013. ADJUSTED . REAPPEARED SEPTEMBER 24,2013 REPLACED FUEL FILLER PIPE. SINCE THIS IS PART OF EMISSION CONTROLS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER EMISSION WARRANTY. *TR"~23,000 mi, complaint #1012924
    • "I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN 2009. SUMMER OF 2011, IT STARTED DYING WHEN STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS OR ANY STOPS. IT DID THIS MOSTLY WHEN IT WAS .25 TANK OF GAS OR LESS AND THE WARMER THE WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WA…"~39,000 mi, complaint #1006784
    • "I HAD MY EVAP CANISTER LEAK WHICH I PAID TO HAVE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES AGO ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO A GAS LEAK. NOW I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE SEAL BECAUSE IT IS LEAKING FUEL AROUND THIS EVAP CANISTER AND IT'S A "CLOSED" SYSTEM. THEY CL…"~87,670 mi, complaint #1269714
  30. #30

    power windows and locks

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BATTERY IN HER VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE ON THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO GAIN ACCESS FROM THE FLOOR BOARD IN THE REAR SEAT. THE DEALER WAS NO…"~17,000 mi, complaint #825051
    • "MY FORD ESCAPE IS A 2009, 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS. ON JULY 12TH, I OPENED AND CLOSED THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE WINDOW SLID DOWN. ONCE TAKEN TO GET DIAGNOSED, I WAS TOLD THE REGULAR CABLE HAD GONE OUT. I HAD IT FIXED AND WAS ON MY WAY. ON J…"~44,000 mi, complaint #929223
    • "TRUNK BUTTON TO OPEN, BLUETOOTH AND STEERING ELECTRICAL AND THE ABILITY THAT IT SAYS THAT IT CAN TAKE KEYS OUT CAUSE WONT SAY THAT IT IS IN PARK "~161,000 mi, complaint #1446423
  31. #31

    wiring harness

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "POWER STEERING ON CAR WILL SHUT OFF AT RANDOM, AN AUDIBLE CLICK WILL BE HEARD WHEN POWER STEERING SHUTS ON OR OFF, WILL TURN ON AND OFF WHEN GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD OR TURNING,HAVING CAUSED ME TO ALMOST CRASH DOZENS OF TIMES. THIS WILL ALSO HAPPEN WHEN VE…"~105,000 mi, complaint #1439719
    • "THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND GAUGES WENT OUT AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING AND TURN SIGNALS DIDN'T WORK. THIS HAPPENED 3 OR TIMES ON A [REDACTED ADDRESS] WITH A DURATION OF ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS EACH"~108,000 mi, complaint #1533972
    • "MY VEHICLE IS COMING ALIVE AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS AND RADIO COMING ON THAT I HAVEN'T BE ABLE TO PARK IT IN MY GARAGE AS O FEEL LIKE IT MAY END UP CATCHING FIRE. WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE TURN SIGNALS, BREAK LIGHTS, AND CLIMATE CONTROLS AND SHUT OFF…"~195,000 mi, complaint #1710465
  32. #32

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ACTIVATED, WHITE FLAKES BEGAN TO BLOW FROM THE VENTILATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS OPERATED. THE FLAKES WERE BLOWN…"~11,000 mi, complaint #809888
  33. #33

    brake pads and rotors

    1 unsafe, 1 broken

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HAS A SEVERE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. THE BRAKE CALIPER IS CAUSING ENOUGH FRICTION ON THE ROTOR TO CAUSE THE RIM, TIRE, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO BECOME OVER HEATED AND SMOKE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 125,000 MI…"~125,000 mi, complaint #1693740
  34. #34

    cruise control conventional

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL AND CRUISE HAD TO BE DISENGAGED TO STOP ACCELERATION. VEHICLE FAILED ON [REDACTED ADDRESS] SPEED AFTER ENTERING MERGE LANE. *TR"~22,000 mi, complaint #805688
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE. THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR WAS A…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1018589
  35. #35

    door latch and hinge

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I BOUGHT THE FORD ESCAPE IN 2009. THE MODEL HAD A RECALL ON THE MODEL FROM 2001 TO 2005 REGARDING TO THE BACK DOOR LOCK DEFECT. FORD ISSUED RECALL ON MARCH 31, 2005. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS TO THE LATER ESCAPE MODEL AND NO RECALL IS MADE. THE PROBLEM…"~53,900 mi, complaint #935808
    • "REAR WINDOW HINGES CORRODED. WINDOW IS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF."~54,000 mi, complaint #1394362
  36. #36

    engine cooling

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "GOT HOME AT 4PM, PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND TURNED IT OFF. WALKED INSIDE AND WENT TO DINNER AT MY IN LAWS. ABOUT 3AM MY WIFE WOKE UP TO ONE OF OUR BABIES CRYING. SHE WENT DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. AS SHE WAS WALKING THROUGH OUR KITCHEN SHE SMELLED…"~26,000 mi, complaint #824652
    • "RADIATOR FAN IS CONSTANTLY RUNNING AT HIGH SPEED EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. WHEN TURNING ON THE AC FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR A CLOUD OF SOMETHING CAME OUT OF THE VENTS WHICH STARTLED THE DRIVER AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF IN A CONGESTED AREA. AC IS…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1285810
  37. #37

    engine mounts

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS MAY HAVE PREMATURELY FRACTURED AND MAY NEED TO BE REPLA…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1299622
  38. #38

    fuel pump

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON BUSY [REDACTED ADDRESS] VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO CENTER LEFT TURN LANE BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED INERTIA SWITCH. CONCERN IS IF FUEL…"~24,466 mi, complaint #861820
    • "2009 FORD ESCAPE WITH 69,282 MILES SPONTANEOUSLY GOES INTO LIMP MODE, CAUSING DECELERATION IN TRAFFIC. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL IT IS STOPPED, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, AND FUEL PUMP RESTART BUTTON PUSHED. THE CAR WILL THEN START AND CAN BE DRIVEN. THIS HAS…"~69,282 mi, complaint #972392
  39. #39

    stability and traction control

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT AND THE ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD FLASHES OFF AND ON. ONLY HAPPENS MAYBE 20% OF THE TIM…"~13,000 mi, complaint #735626
    • "WHILE DRIVING ABS, STABILITY CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON. STEERING FEELS ODD. HARD/EASY"~120,000 mi, complaint #1388439
  40. #40

    sunroof

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE MOONROOF COLLAPSED AND FRACTURED INTO MULTIPLE PIECES AS A RESULT OF AN EXTREMELY SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW ON THE TOP SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WH…"~13,000 mi, complaint #902189
    • "SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD AND NOT INWARD IF SOMETHING HIT IT. *KB"~33,633 mi, complaint #892556
  41. #41

    suspension struts shocks

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I HAD TAKEN MY SUV IN FOR A ROUTINE, ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WAS UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUES AS I HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ON THE CAR IN ADDITION TO TAKING IT BACK TO FORD TO FIX THE VARIOUS RECALL/SAFETY ITEMS, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS < 6 MONTHS PRIOR. MY ME…"~77,372 mi, complaint #1150380
  42. #42

    tpms

    2 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILURE ON VEHICLE. TPMS CAME ON, I CHECKED TIRES AND SYSTEM WENT OFF. LATER SYSTEM CAME ON AGAIN AND STAYED ON WITH NO LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. *TR"~23,680 mi, complaint #807510
    • "TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND AND DOME LIGHT BLINKS WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING ALL OF THE TIME."~125,000 mi, complaint #1634551
  43. #43

    battery and charging

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES FLICKERED ON AND OFF. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IN AD…"complaint #1415207
  44. #44

    engine head gasket

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "HEAD CYLINDER WAS CRACKED AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT, DUE TO CAR DID NOT OVER HEAT AND WAS IN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR CONDITON. *JS"~85,000 mi, complaint #1006497
  45. #45

    lighting exterior

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "LIGHT BULBS (BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL, 3RD BRAKE LIGHT) ARE BURNING OUT AFTER ONLY A SHORT TIME. APPEARS TO BE BURN MARKS NEAR BASE OF BULB, SEEMS THEY ARE BURNING TOO HOT/TOO MUCH CURRENT. THESE BULBS WERE ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, WITH 22000 MILES ON VEHICLE. BOTH RE…"~22,000 mi, complaint #864074
  46. #46

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY HE NOTICED THAT WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AS IF METAL HITTING AGAINST METAL. HE TOOK THE V…"~1,356 mi, complaint #763145
  47. #47

    paint and clearcoat

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The passenger rear panel paint is bubbling and has rust under the bubbled paint. This is a defect noticed on all the Ford Escapes that I see in parking lots and pre owned vehicle lots. This is a factory defect that I and a lot of other Escape owners feel the…"complaint #1804036
  48. #48

    parking brake

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Put car in park. Park can be moved roll away while in park"complaint #1822553
  49. #49

    software or update

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "PROBLEME COME IN THE MORNING AFTER A SMALL RUN TO CORNER STORE. 2 MONTS BEFORE FORE UPDATE DE TROTTLE SOFTWARE. FOR THE RECAL."~161,500 mi, complaint #1209330
  50. #50

    transmission manual clutch

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE IS AS FOLLOWS; 2009 FORD ESCAPE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP OUT OF 5TH GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THIS FIRST OCCURRED FIRST IN NOVEMBER 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 58000 MILES (REPAIRED), THEN IN APRIL 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 72000 MILES (…"~58,000 mi, complaint #887887
  51. #51

    unknown

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "This is a follow up complaint because I would like to attach more files that are pertinent "complaint #2180002
  52. #52

    wheel or rim

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER RIM AND T…"~120,000 mi, complaint #1165847
  53. #53

    wiper and washer

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "IT WAS A HEAVY RAINY NIGHT WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED ACTING UP WITH THEIR RHYTHM MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THROUGH A SLIGHTLY BLURRED WINDSHIELD THEN WINDSHIELD & SUNROOF STARTS LEAKING WATER ALL OVER ME,INSIDE THE FRONT LIGHT SWITCH,DOWN INTO FLOOR BOARDS PL…"~80,456 mi, complaint #1644660

Recall-sized clusters

These are large batches of near-identical complaints (recall notifications, service campaigns), kept separate from the ranking above so they don't drown out individually-reported problems.

Not matched to any cluster below: every campaign NHTSA has on file for this exact make/model/year is 10E043000, 14V284000, 15E045000. This is a vehicle-wide list, not an attribution - see below for which clusters have a real, complainant-cited match.

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for FORD ESCAPE directly.