NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
Power Steering completely out of my car, making turning in any direction difficult. Causing Safety concerns as it has already caused exterior cosmetic damage while turning into the driveway and not being able to turn in as quickly as I was needing to get out of the traffic cause me to scrape approx. 12- 16inch onto my driver's /left sidebumper/fender. I have also felt loss of power, or a struggle to accelerate. Conditions are worsening as time goes by. As if my transmission is slipping. Power Steering assist light has turned on. It may have also resulted in poor alignment causing even more damage to tires and suspension.I took to the local Ford dealership to check, as there are 100,000 recalls for the exact issues on vehicles with the same year make and model as mine, according to my vin number, my vehicle was not included in these recalls. I was forced to pay nearly 100.00 out of pocket for these test to be ran. The test shows many faults including confirmation of power steering assist at fault and failing torque. Not only has this cause a domino effect of concerns with my vehicles safety, it has caused many outburst of emotional distress as it is hard for me to continue to drive my vehicle.
Power steering completely quit while driving without warning.
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 able to pull over on the side of the roadway. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was turned off and the smoking ceased. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that a spring inside the piston was fractured and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 107,573. The VIN was not available.
This vehicles has 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.
The incident took place on 12/12/22 while driving at about 40-45 mph a truck pulled out Infront of me causing me to unexpectedly break. There were no indicator warning lights on the dash prior to or after the failure. The break went all the way to the floor, luckily we were able to avoid an accident, and myself and my son were just jerked around and held back by the seat belt. The independent garage we use was right around the corner. The vehicle was diagnosed and needed a new master cylinder and abs hydraulic control unit. The part was out of stock and took three months to come in. The vehicle was repaired and received on 3/23/23.
I have had to spend over $5,000 in repairs for this vehicle and I’ve had it for over a year. It was listed at $6,999 at a used car dealership so I got it as is and have had issues ever since. There is no recall on my car according to the VIN# however I strongly disagree with that. When I first got it, it drove great for a week and then the problems started to arise. Every time I came to a complete stop the car would turn off completely. So I would have to put it in park and turn the key off then restart it and keep it moving a little. This kept going on for 11 months, until it turned off at a stop light and I couldn’t get it to start back up. I was almost hit by traffic coming up behind me (going no less than 45 mph) because of where the car was located. Turns out the motor basically combusted from the inside out. This was caused by the oil leak that could never get fixed because the gasket would always give way. After having to work for 4 months scraping together $3,200 plus paying for a rental car weekly, the motor was replaced and it was working well again. Until it wasn’t. The power steering is controlled by an electric pump which makes you more prone to getting into an accident. My power steering locks up every time I start the car. It did this before the motor was replaced but now it’s even worse since the motor was replaced. I have to turn my car on and off about 15 times before my steering wheel unlocks and I can move it normally. It takes my whole strength to turn the wheel when it locks up. I haven’t been to a ford dealership yet but I do plan on going to get them to check it out since a lot of 2008-2012 Ford Escapes have recalls on the power steering sensor. Long story short. This car has had to have so many repairs for things that normally don’t need repairs every 2 weeks and I want it to get looked into because I’ve never ever had car cost so much in repairs for things that shouldn’t be breaking so fast and easily. I have all the repair paper receipts.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the steering wheel became firm. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to his residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 277,000.
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.
Electric power steering assist just stopped and car was stuck. I couldn’t move. Very scary I could went over the hill and crashed. I cannot find the receipt it was a used electric power steering column. I am afraid to drive car now because it’s used. Ryder auto specialist should have a copy. Their phone number is [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The steering assist fault light is illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,224.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff with the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact that while accelerating, the steering wheel started operating normally. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the power steering control module (PSCM) needed to be replaced; and advised the contact to contact the dealer for assistance. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was contacted and also stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 270,000.
I simply pulled into gas station and as leaving, the power steering went out. I could not turn the vehicle easily. I made sure vehicle was in gear and tried to navigate safely off very busy road. There was no warning or lights or notices prior. The mechanic told me the entire steering column needed to be replaced.
In 2014 I contacted Ford they said they did a computer flash. It was a recall but they did a computer flash well oct 13 2022 that flash recall they did in 2014 on my power steering well it completely went out lost theory I almost killed me and my family now Ford said that you’re not gonna take care of it because they consider it was taken care of in the past please this is my second complaint no one has gotten back to me. Let me know what I can do.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while pulling into a parking lot, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact was able to park the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
I was driving the vehicle the power steering went out. They told me it’s electric power steering. They did a computer flash in 2014.I showed it was a summary print out for a safety recall they never change the parts they just did a computer flash, and now the part is completely out and he told me you’re not gonna fix it.
We are having the same problems with this vehicle as others are having under Ford recall 19S54 NHTSA identifier 19V904. Three times after applying the brakes hard the brake system required servicing because the pedal would slowly go to the floor while sitting at a traffic light. Other symptoms would be sluggish or spongy braking. The last service was at a Goodyear where the service tech commented - left front inlet abs valve sticking, activated it three times with scanner before it started to work. He informed us that there was a recall for this problem that may be applicable to out Escape. I called Ford to report it, Case number [XXX]. Will use this Goodyear appt date to answer following questions. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked and became significantly difficult to steer. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's daughter was able to pull into a parking lot where she parked the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact's father owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
ABS Module failure. This is a major issue with these cars and it is extremely dangerous and should be recalled. It causes brake pedal to go to the floor. There’s thousands of cases and parts are unobtainable from manufacturing because they used a one year only part because they were testing it out. There’s been recalls on other models using similar Modules but not on this model.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact replaced the camshaft sensor himself; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the camshaft sensor and another unknown sensor had been previously replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her residence by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The independent mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under the recall in March of 2015. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, he became aware that the electric power steering was not functioning as designed. After restarting the vehicle, the power steering returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the electric power steering assist module needed to be reset. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the electrical power steering became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. The consumer stated the entire steering system would need to be replaced and the cost would be as much as $3500 to $5000+.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel became difficult to steer. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact was able to steer the steering wheel with the assistance of her son. The contact also stated that the vehicle overheated the day prior to the steering failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,300.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced intermittent power steering failure, without warning. The contact also stated that excessive force was required to steer the vehicle during the failure. The contract called a dealer and he has scheduled an appointment for a diagnostic test. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) which he linked to the failure; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that his vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a burning odor was detected with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with ABS module failure. The dealer informed the contact that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was unknown.
I really don't understand why my vehicle is not on the recall list getting the power assist steering fixed. Ford has been my brand of vehicles for as long as I began driving and it seems like they don't give a damn about loyal customers. My wife has been in 2 minor accidents because of the faulty power assist steering . I have the exact same SUV they recalled and it is extremely dangerous for my wife when the power steering quits while driving, and it gets worse because it will just starting working again while driving with no warning what so ever. God forbid something bad happens to her because of a very dangerous defect that Ford refuses to fix. I have had to accept that Ford vehicles are no longer safe to operate,and also their corperate executives are not concerned with the lives they knowingly put at risk 24 hours a day 365 days a year. #FUFord. #Buy Dodge # pure trash
First steering column locked with less then 65,000 miles . Now power train wrench light warning popped on less then 80,000 miles . Throttle body issue forcing car into limp mode leaving driver in danger on the road
The electric power steering system (EPAS) on my 2009 Ford Escape failed. Without the power steering the vehicle is unsafe to drive. It is currently sitting in my driveway undriven since July of 2022. The dealer has ordered new parts, but there is a long wait list because of the number of these failures. I believe there had been a recall issued for this problem but apparently my vehicle and many others were not included. I was told by the dealer’s parts department that there are at least 900 outstanding orders for this part and Ford has issues with their being manufactured. I had to pay the dealer in advance for the parts before he would order them.
While driving, my electric power steering failed. There is no warning light or system notice to indicate that this was going to happen. My daughter and I almost wrecked due to this issue. Now I have no way of knowing what the real issue is. I noticed my truck wasn’t included in the recall but it definitely should be. I almost lost control of the vehicle when this happened and it could have been catastrophic.
Rear shock mount rusted out and is destroying the inside of my trunk. Now is hanging loose.
The electric power steering assist has gone out, and now I have no power steering which makes turning difficult.
Put car in park. Park can be moved roll away while in park
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to drive home safely however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under call. The failure mileage was 160,000.
I change my brakes twice in not even a full month My alternator belt came off I replaced it when I put it in park it rolls it shakes and it takes a minute to go faster once I go 40 mph the acceleration pedal vibrates tire pressure sensor stays on and also it keep saying check fuel tank injector
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that the steering wheel had started to jerk to the left. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle and shifted to park and turned off and restarted the vehicle several times however, the power steering failed to return to full functionality. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but eventually the power steering had completely failed. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced, additionally code B1342-2F PSCM internal fault had been displayed on the dealer diagnostic code reader. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and felt that his vehicle should have been included in the recall. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.
Intermittent failure of power steering, beginning at startup—at each startup, power steering either worked or it didn’t. After one month, power steering failed entirely. Vehicle is still drivable, but with no power assist to steering. My mechanic says the power steering control module requires replacement. There is an active recall for this exact failure that applies to my model and year, but Ford customer service says it does not apply to my VIN, and will not tell me exactly why. Internet forums show this failure is common and often not covered under recall. Ford no longer manufactures the necessary replacement part, and my mechanic so far has been unable to find a used replacement.
I recently bought the vehicle from my aunt... I found there is a recall for the same year model made in Kansas city just as mine is... it's a 2009 escape made in KC... but yet it is not showing for the safety recall regarding the power steering.... I have no power steering... it's has shown the fault I power assist on the dash with the change needed warning info.... why is it that y SUV on everything I have read shows that one should have been included but is not... I also need to take it to the nearest ford center to have other repairs made too
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that occasionally after starting the vehicle, and while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed to operate as designed without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where she was informed that the power steering assist had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The electric power steering malfunctions and yes it would be available for inspection upon request. No I have not had a dealer or service center confirm this problem and it's not been inspected by police, insurance representative etc. There was no warning lamps, or symptoms of any kind prior to the failure. The first time this occured I was backing out of a parking spot and it was extremely hard to turn my steering wheel and the vehicle had no issues when I parked. I found that if the battery was unhooked for several hours the steering would work properly again for a period of time but, I never know when it's going to stop working again. It's my understanding there has been a recall on some vehicles for this issue but unfortunately my vehicle didn't fall under the recall. I have saw several complaints of this online when investigating the problem and really wish something would be done because I don't undetstand why some 2009 Ford Escape have a recall for this problem but not all 2009 Ford Escape when it's obviously a problem for more Escape's than just the ones with the recall.
The contact's friend owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact's friend was reversing out of her driveway at approximately 2 MPH, when the power steering failed to make it difficult to turn the wheel in either direction. The contact's friend stated she noticed no warning lights were illuminated. The contact's friend had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the electric power steering assist had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic stated that the manufacturer had issued a recall related to the failure; under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing out of her driveway, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and locked. The contact could not turn the steering wheel to the left or right. The contact stated an unknown warning light illuminated and was flashing. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon start of the vehicle, the power steering assist would fail to operate without warning. Over time, the failure became more frequent and would occur while driving at various speeds. The contact used a code reader which read "steering shaft torque sensor malfunction". The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that her vehicle was not apart of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000(Steering). The contact was referred to the NHTSA for further assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Vehicle was driving on I 75 North bound upon passing Micanopy Rd, and prior to Williston road exit. Driving between 73 to 75 MPH the ABS light came on. ahead of me a semi truck and in my left a car was passing, I tap the brake and the brake system fail to respond. I let the car role and veer to move move to the right, hunk tat the truck, shoot the emergency brakes and the SUV stop, I called Ford Public relation with no resolution although I was not looking for any compensation or repair cost. The claimed that the warranty of the vehicle was expired. I responded that I was not looking for any compensation, rather I was looking to report a problem that might has cost human lost..... I took the car to the ford dealership in Gainesville Florida to get an authentic report, in order to submit a safety concern to The Ford Motor Safety Department. Dealer and public relations office claimed that Ford Motor Company does not have a safety Department. I am an Industrial Hygienist who Work for OSHA as a COSHO and although I explained no action action seem to indicate that they know,,,,,,,, I question if they understood the issue. This failure may has cost loses, my vehicle is parked at my house This is a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid VIN [XXX]. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF ACTION TAKEN. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who initially replaced the brake master cylinder; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic and was diagnosed with a defective ABS module. The manufacturer was also notified and informed him that there were no recalls on his vehicle; he was then transferred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his girlfriend was pulling out of a parking space, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's girlfriend was able to drive to her residence by using excessive force to steer the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH with two children in the rear seats, and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the roadway by using physical force to steer the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times and had increased in occurrence significantly. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality for several seconds after starting. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the contact stated that the power steering control module (PSCM) was the only repair that was completed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance; however, the dealer declined to assist. The failure mileage was unknown.
I recently purchased this vehicle, have had it for about 3 to 4 weeks. The vehicle belonged to a gentleman whom deceased and vehicle came from Canada. The vehicle was running great and I was happy, however, on Easter 2022 my 1yr old daughter and I were leaving the emergency room due to us both being very ill and all of a sudden I was unable to steer the vehicle without having to use my entire body and all my strength. So, I immediately went to the auto part store and purchased steering fluid. Well, come to find out this vehicle has an electric steering system which I never heard of before in my life. Thankfully there was a mechanic on site and he told me about this along with changing a steering fuse??? The new fuse did not fix the issue. This nice man looked up and seen this vehicle has a steering, air bag and few more recalls out there. So, I called a ford dealership to inquire about getting these recalls taken care of and replaced, she basically told me that they would charge me for the diagnostic test and charge me for any and all recall repairs. I seen that this vehicle has never had any of the recalls taken care of. Now, is there a time frame for replacing recalls, especially if safety related!? Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Steering wheel shaking, while idling and driving. The next day total loss of power steering.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse in a parking lot, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over and felt that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. There were no warning lights that illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was able to diagnose the failure as a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.