U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Ford ESCAPE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,316 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

57,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,061 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 406 of 1,316 complaints (30.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	421	32.0%
Engine operation	174	13.2%
Braking behavior	81	6.2%
Transmission and shifting	68	5.2%
Electrical and battery issues	39	3.0%
Fuel system concerns	35	2.7%

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

406

Power Train

263

Fuel/Propulsion System

253

Engine

248

Vehicle Speed Control

244

Electrical System

110

Unknown Or Other

Suspension

Steering: 406; Power Train: 263; Fuel/Propulsion System: 253; Engine: 248; Vehicle Speed Control: 244; Electrical System: 110; Unknown Or Other: 56; Suspension: 31

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

108

25,000 to 49,999

341

50,000 to 74,999

229

75,000 to 99,999

135

100,000 to 149,999

158

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 108; 25,000 to 49,999: 341; 50,000 to 74,999: 229; 75,000 to 99,999: 135; 100,000 to 149,999: 158; 150,000 and above: 90

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (341). 255 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.

2011

2012

2013

395

2014

106

2015

2016

2017

104

2018

125

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2011: 25; 2012: 26; 2013: 395; 2014: 106; 2015: 69; 2016: 74; 2017: 104; 2018: 125; 2019: 75; 2020: 53; 2021: 55; 2022: 60; 2023: 56; 2024: 42; 2025: 37; 2026: 14

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 421 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 174 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 81 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 10399262 · 2011-05-05 (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.

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399262 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10406922 · 2011-06-15 (June 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.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10396790 · 2011-04-19 (April 19, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO COAST AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO THE NORMAL SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED A CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE WILL CONTACT HIM WITHIN THE NEXT TWO DAYS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,8…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10469412 · 2012-08-06 (August 6, 2012)

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. ONCE ON 7/27 AND AGAIN TODAY, 8/6. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE COMING DOWN OFF AN OVERPASS WITH THE AIR ON THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,528 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469412 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10402268 · 2011-05-21 (May 21, 2011)

FORD ESCAPE 2011 HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON MAY 17TH 2011 I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND WITH THE IMPACT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I WAS HIT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN HALF. THE HUNK HORN WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING. DUE TO THE CAR SEAT BRAKING I HAVE SEVERAL INJURIES AND HAVE BEEN GOING TO THERAPY DAILY. I HAD A 2010 FORD FOCUS AND CHANGED IT TO THE FORD ESCAPE FOR SECURITY PURPOSES AND NOW THIS HAPPENS. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. DUE TO THE ACCIDENT I HAVE NO CAR NOW AND NOW WHY OF GETT…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402268 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10410559 · 2011-07-05 (July 5, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE THEN LUNGED FORWARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, CAUSING A CLANKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TSB CHIP WAS REPLACED, AND THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AS THE CONTACT ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410559 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10415991 · 2011-07-26 (July 26, 2011)

WHILE TOWING MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED BEHIND MY RV BUS, THE TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. I DID EVERYTHING THAT WAS TAUGHT TO ME BY FORD DEALERSHIP IN GURNEE, IL, CAMPING WORLD IN FOX LAKE, IL AND THE FORD MANUAL. THE MADISON, TENNESSEE FORD DEALERSHIP TRIED TO BLAME ROADMASTER FOR THE PROBLEM. ROADMASTER IS THE MAKER OF THE TOWING SYSTEM (BARS, ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR LIGHTS AND THE EVEN BRAKE SYSTEM). THAT MADE NO SENSE AT ALL. I CHALLENGED THEM ON THAT AND THEN THEY ASKED ME TO GO OVER WHAT I DO TO TOW THE VEHICLE AND AFTER I EXPLAINED ALL THE ST…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415991 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10438666 · 2011-12-05 (December 5, 2011)

AS I WAS EXITING A HIGHWAY, MY CAR MESSAGE CENTER ALERTED ME TO SAFELY COME TO A STOP. AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR SHUT OFF. I RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO GET INTO PARKING LOT ON ELECTRIC, I GUESS. IT WAS TOWED TO UTTER FORD, IN SHERMAN, TX. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH THE FUEL PUMP AND THE ELECTRICAL. THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND SAID THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. I PICKED IT UP ON 12/3 AROUND 2:30PM. I GOT 40 MILES AND THE CAR WENT INTO FAIL/SAFE MODE AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438666 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10456976 · 2012-05-01 (May 1, 2012)

LAST YEAR I PURCHASED A 2011 FORD ESCAPE AND HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DISSATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE. THE SELLING DEALER, TOWER FORD IN GREAT NECK, NEW YORK HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP ME RECTIFY MY SERIOUS COMPLAINT AND CONCERNS WITH MY VEHICLE. ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS, THE BRAKES ARE VERY LOW, AND A SWISHING LIQUID NOISE IS HEARD IN THE FUEL TANK WHEN STOPPING, THE RIGHT SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR SQUEAKS, AND THE CENTER CONSOLE IS LOOSE. I'VE BROUGHT MY TRUCK BACK TO THIS DE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10456976 at NHTSA ↗