2009 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

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 OF OIL WHILE REFILLING (2 TABLESPOONS) AND NOTICED IT DROPPED ONTO THE MANIFOLD, WHICH HAS SOME CREASES AND FOLDS IN IT THAT CAN CATCH THE OIL AND POOL IT. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT WAS STILL HOT ENOUGH TO START SMOKING SLIGHTLY. AFTER WIPING UP WHAT OI…

Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248396 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 DROVE AROUND THE CORNER TO VISTA FORD AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT OTHER THAN THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. FORD HAS BEEN SHIPPED THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND SAYS IT WILL TAKE 3 MONTHS TO ANALYZE. FORD WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS UNTIL THEY DETERMINE IT WAS A …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276281 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 9,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281025 at NHTSA ↗

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 FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT IT IS CALLED). I DO KNOW IT CAME OFF THE SPINDLE. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE ON VACATION WITH ME WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAD EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND NEAR THE END OF THE EXIT LANE, I WAS DRIVING AR…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,113 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282253 at NHTSA ↗

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 TIME. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE, THE CODES THAT COME UP THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE SO CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I DO TAKE IT IN MOST OF THE TIMES THE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON SO THEY ASK WHETS THE PROBLEM? I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE OR NOT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284014 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2014-05-29 (May 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.