2009 Ford Escape

Typical pattern

1.1% of complaints about the 2009 Ford Escape came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2009 vehicle — around the middle of the 212 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (828 complaints), typically at 10.2 yr or about 121,000 miles.

Complaints: 2,349
Median age at failure: 6.3 yr
Median mileage: 83,300 n=1976
Crash / fire / tow: 3.8% of reports
Safety recalls: 3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Steering

828 reports · 121,000 mi

10.2 yr

Power train

302 reports · 64,000 mi

4.8 yr

0.7%

Speed control

281 reports · 68,000 mi

4.8 yr

2.5%

Engine

254 reports · 70,167 mi

4.9 yr

2.8%

Electrical system

143 reports · 85,500 mi

7.1 yr

2.1%

Fuel / propulsion

116 reports · 71,552 mi

4.9 yr

1.7%

Service brakes

94 reports · 100,000 mi

11.8 yr

8.5%

Fuel system

88 reports · 62,000 mi

4.9 yr

2.3%

Other

55 reports · 102,000 mi

9.4 yr

3.6%

Engine cooling

38 reports · 55,000 mi

4.0 yr

Structure

34 reports · 74,000 mi

8.0 yr

5.9%

Electronic stability control (esc)

22 reports · 106,000 mi

8.8 yr

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15E045000 2015-06-03

Suspension:front:wheel bearing

The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.

Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V284000 2014-05-29

Steering:electric power assist system

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.

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.

10E043000 2010-09-03

Equipment

MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling 13,600 mi 1.8 yr in service

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

Engine cooling mileage not reported 1.6 yr in service

CONTINUOUS EMISSION OF VISIBLE PARTICULATE MATTER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN FROM THE INTERIOR HEATING/COOLING AIR DUCTS OF 2009 FORD ESCAPE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. PARTICULATE CAUSES COUGHING AND SNEEZING. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS JUST INSULATION THAT IS NON-TOXIC AND NOT HARMFUL. I DO NOT AGREE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SAMPLES TESTED FOR TOXICITY AND POTENTIAL HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CONTINUOUS INHALATION. *TR

Engine cooling 15,000 mi 9 mo in service

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.

Power train 2,000 mi 8 mo in service

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 WITH THESE ISSUES GOING ON. *TR

Other Escape model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.