U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Ford ESCAPE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,692 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

90,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,415 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 817 of 1,692 complaints (48.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	832	49.2%
Engine operation	223	13.2%
Braking behavior	156	9.2%
Transmission and shifting	82	4.8%
Electrical and battery issues	71	4.2%
Fuel system concerns	20	1.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering

817

Power Train

279

Vehicle Speed Control

277

Engine

254

Electrical System

142

Fuel/Propulsion System

116

Service Brakes

Fuel System, Gasoline

Steering: 817; Power Train: 279; Vehicle Speed Control: 277; Engine: 254; Electrical System: 142; Fuel/Propulsion System: 116; Service Brakes: 94; Fuel System, Gasoline: 85

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

101

25,000 to 49,999

167

50,000 to 74,999

280

75,000 to 99,999

241

100,000 to 149,999

408

150,000 and above

218

Under 25,000: 101; 25,000 to 49,999: 167; 50,000 to 74,999: 280; 75,000 to 99,999: 241; 100,000 to 149,999: 408; 150,000 and above: 218

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (408). 277 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

439

2014

132

2015

2016

112

2017

2018

161

2019

140

2020

112

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2008: 1; 2009: 9; 2010: 41; 2011: 24; 2012: 44; 2013: 439; 2014: 132; 2015: 93; 2016: 112; 2017: 91; 2018: 161; 2019: 140; 2020: 112; 2021: 97; 2022: 65; 2023: 57; 2024: 41; 2025: 15; 2026: 18

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 832 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 223 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 156 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10310858 · 2010-02-16 (February 16, 2010)

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 VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS BLACK AND IT IS WARM, THAT IS WHY HE WAS HEARING THAT NOISE. HOWEVER THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS. …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,356 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10335861 · 2010-06-11 (June 11, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,389.

Owner-reported narrative. 23,389 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335861 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10346209 · 2010-07-29 (July 29, 2010)

A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED A 2009 FORD ESCAPE, I NOTICED MY ACCELERATOR VIBRATING UNDER MY FOOT. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS WHILE ACCELERATING MY CAR FELT LIKE IT STALLED- TO EXPLAIN I WOULD PUSH DOWN THE PEDAL AND THE CAR WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WAS REVVING UP THEN NOTHING! MY CAR WOULD STOP,NO FORWARD MOVEMENT, NO ENGINE SOUND, NOTHING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THEN MY CAR WOULD KICK IN AND MOVE, THIS "STALLING" ALMOST GOT ME HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THEY FIXED IT. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THIS OCCURRED AGAIN …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346209 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10348696 · 2010-08-11 (August 11, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,419. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348696 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10262152 · 2009-03-17 (March 17, 2009)

59 YR. WOMAN NO DRUGS NEVER. NON SMOKER. ATTENDING TRAFFIC VERY CONCENTRATED. 17 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. IT IS TRUE I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE WITHOUT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM. ALSO IT IS TRUE I DIDN'T TRY TO STOPPED SUDDENLY AT ANY TIME BEFORE. USUALLY I DRIVE VERY SAFE TAKING A RATIONAL DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS. IT HAPPENED INTO A TIED TRAFFIC AT 125 NE STREET, NORTH MIAMI, SOUTH FL AT APPROX 6 PM LAST FRIDAY 3/13/09 NO MORE THAT 25 MILES PER HOUR BECAUSE TRAFFIC IS USUALLY DENSE AT THAT TIME ON THAT STREET. UNDER A GREEN LI…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262152 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10320640 · 2010-03-18 (March 18, 2010)

2009 FORD ESCAPE PURCHASED APRIL 2009. NOTICED TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVING. THOUGHT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN MY ERROR FOR NOT STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY. MARCH 2010, MILEAGE ABOUT 20,000 STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION WHEN I ACCELERATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL OR STARTS JERKING AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE REVS UP WITH NO ERROR LIGHTS COMING ON. CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320640 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10269676 · 2009-05-22 (May 22, 2009)

09 FORD ESCAPE TRANSMISSION LOST THIRD GEAR [6 SPEED AUTO] THEN GOES INTO DEFAULT MODE [5TH GEAR ONLY] THIS IS A VERY HARSH EVENT [IT CAUSES THE TIRE TO SKID ON DRY PAVEMENT] FORD REPLACED A PCM NOW THE TRANSMISSION SPEWS OIL OUT THE DIPSTICK TUBE AND COVERS THE BACK END GATE AND UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE [THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AS EXHAUST TEMPS ARE HIGH] THUS FAR THE SELLING DEALERS SERVICE AND WARRANTY IS A JOKE PROBLEMS STARTED AT 2000 MILES HAVE 3000 NOW THE TRUCK SPENDS MORE TIME AT DEALERSHIP THAN AT OUR HOME WE DO NOT FEEL WE CAN BE SAFE WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269676 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10289719 · 2009-10-25 (October 25, 2009)

PURCHASED 2009 FORD ESCAPE FWD V6 AUTO TRANS AS A VEHICLE TO BE TOWED BEHIND OUR MOTOR HOME. WE WERE ASSURED IT WAS TOWABLE (FORD OWNERS MANUAL & DINGHY TOWING GUIDES PUBLISHED ANNUALLY WITH AUTO MFR'S INPUT). WE HAVE BLOWN 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN PAST 4 MONTHS, AND HAVE MORE THAN FOLLOWED FORD'S GUIDELINES. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL OTHER RVERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED UP TO 4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES - SOME REPORTED BEING FLAGGED DOWN BY OTHER MOTORISTS BECAUSE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CAR WHILE BEING TOWED. THE WIRING HARNESS ON OURS HAS BEEN MELTED BOT…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289719 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10365014 · 2010-11-08 (November 8, 2010)

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 SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT RIGHT. SHE WOKE ME UP AND WE ALL LEFT THE HOUSE AND WENT TO HER PARENTS HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET. WE CALLED THE GAS COMPANY AND THEY CAME TO SEARCH THE HOUSE. THE COULD NOT FIND A GAS LEAK, SO THE GUY FROM THE GAS COMPANY ASKED TO LOOK IN THE GARAGE. WHEN WE OPENED …

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365014 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10408259 · 2011-06-21 (June 21, 2011)

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH HER 2009 FORD ESCAPE; SHE HAS AN ARBITRATION DATE ON JUNE 28 IN COLUMBUS, OHIO; PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE CLEVELAND OFFICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP/LUNGE WHILE ENGAGING IT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNG/JUMP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR A REAR LEAKING WINDOW. THE WEATHER STRIPING WA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10408259 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10473826 · 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)

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 THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BY RPM AND POWER STEERING WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING IN THE LEFT LANE AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC BEHIND, IN FRONT AND IN RIGHT LANE. I TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS IN HOPES OF WARNING THE TRAFFIC AROUND ME. THE SEMI BEHIND ME HAD TO SLOW ALSO AND I COULD NOT CHANGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 88,682 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473826 at NHTSA ↗