2009 Ford Escape Problems: Steering (1,842 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2009 Ford Escape is Steering (46% of 1,842 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,842 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2009 Ford Escape?

854 of 1,842 filings named Steering (46% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (204 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Steering and Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2008 has 2,398 reports on file; this year has 1,842. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2009 Ford Escape

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Steering. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Steering 854 complaints · 46.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 39
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 18
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2008 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Steering (STEERING) appears in 854 of 1,842 owner complaints (46.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 854 complaints, 46.4% of reports Steering (STEERING) 14 crash reports 854 · 46.4% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 204 complaints, 11.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 204 · 11.1% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 181 complaints, 9.8% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 6 crash reports 181 · 9.8% Engine (ENGINE): 152 complaints, 8.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 152 · 8.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 129 complaints, 7.0% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 129 · 7.0% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 112 complaints, 6.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 7 crash reports 1 fire reports 112 · 6.1% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 56 complaints, 3.0% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 56 · 3.0% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 23 complaints, 1.3% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 23 · 1.3% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 14 complaints, 0.8% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 14 · 0.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 237 complaints, 12.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 6 crash reports 1 fire reports 237 · 12.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Steering (STEERING) 854 46.4% 14 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 204 11.1% 2 crashes · 1 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 181 9.8% 6 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 152 8.3% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 129 7.0% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 112 6.1% 7 crashes · 1 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 56 3.0% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 23 1.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 14 0.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 237 12.9% 6 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2008; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2010. 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2009-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2010-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2010-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2010-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2011-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2012-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2012-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2012-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2012-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2013-Q1: 53 owner reports 53 2013-Q2: 117 owner reports 117 2013-Q3: 190 owner reports 190 2013-Q4: 95 owner reports 95 2014-Q1: 52 owner reports 52 2014-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2014-Q3: 38 owner reports 38 2014-Q4: 27 owner reports 27 2015-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2015-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2015-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2015-Q4: 31 owner reports 31 2016-Q1: 32 owner reports 32 2016-Q2: 26 owner reports 26 2016-Q3: 38 owner reports 38 2016-Q4: 38 owner reports 38 2017-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2017-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2017-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2017-Q4: 34 owner reports 34 2018-Q1: 59 owner reports 59 2018-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2018-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2018-Q4: 49 owner reports 49 2019-Q1: 60 owner reports 60 2019-Q2: 29 owner reports 29 2019-Q3: 24 owner reports 24 2019-Q4: 41 owner reports 41 2020-Q1: 39 owner reports 39 2020-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2020-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2020-Q4: 40 owner reports 40 2021-Q1: 41 owner reports 41 2021-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2021-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 2021-Q4: 21 owner reports 21 2022-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 2022-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2022-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2022-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2023-Q1: 24 owner reports 24 2023-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2023-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2023-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2024-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2024-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2024-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2024-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2025-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2025-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2026-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2026-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2026-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 Owner reports Oct 2008 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 10E043000 ◆ Recall campaign 10E043000 Recall campaign 14V284000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V284000 Recall campaign 15E045000 ◆ Recall campaign 15E045000 Investigation DP12006 ● Investigation DP12006 Investigation DP12006 ● Investigation DP12006 Investigation PE13003 ● Investigation PE13003 Investigation DP15001 ● Investigation DP15001 Investigation DP15001 ● Investigation DP15001 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005
  • Campaign 14V284000 was reported 1,621 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15E045000 was reported 953 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 5
2009-Q4 Owner reports 7
2010-Q1 Owner reports 7
2010-Q2 Owner reports 9
2010-Q3 Owner reports 17
2010-Q4 Owner reports 14
2011-Q1 Owner reports 4
2011-Q2 Owner reports 5
2011-Q3 Owner reports 5
2011-Q4 Owner reports 13
2012-Q1 Owner reports 8
2012-Q2 Owner reports 8
2012-Q3 Owner reports 18
2012-Q4 Owner reports 19
2013-Q1 Owner reports 53
2013-Q2 Owner reports 117
2013-Q3 Owner reports 190
2013-Q4 Owner reports 95
2014-Q1 Owner reports 52
2014-Q2 Owner reports 32
2014-Q3 Owner reports 38
2014-Q4 Owner reports 27
2015-Q1 Owner reports 36
2015-Q2 Owner reports 23
2015-Q3 Owner reports 17
2015-Q4 Owner reports 31
2016-Q1 Owner reports 32
2016-Q2 Owner reports 26
2016-Q3 Owner reports 38
2016-Q4 Owner reports 38
2017-Q1 Owner reports 29
2017-Q2 Owner reports 14
2017-Q3 Owner reports 27
2017-Q4 Owner reports 34
2018-Q1 Owner reports 59
2018-Q2 Owner reports 37
2018-Q3 Owner reports 31
2018-Q4 Owner reports 49
2019-Q1 Owner reports 60
2019-Q2 Owner reports 29
2019-Q3 Owner reports 24
2019-Q4 Owner reports 41
2020-Q1 Owner reports 39
2020-Q2 Owner reports 17
2020-Q3 Owner reports 20
2020-Q4 Owner reports 40
2021-Q1 Owner reports 41
2021-Q2 Owner reports 17
2021-Q3 Owner reports 22
2021-Q4 Owner reports 21
2022-Q1 Owner reports 25
2022-Q2 Owner reports 14
2022-Q3 Owner reports 16
2022-Q4 Owner reports 12
2023-Q1 Owner reports 24
2023-Q2 Owner reports 15
2023-Q3 Owner reports 11
2023-Q4 Owner reports 7
2024-Q1 Owner reports 17
2024-Q2 Owner reports 7
2024-Q3 Owner reports 6
2024-Q4 Owner reports 13
2025-Q1 Owner reports 6
2025-Q2 Owner reports 5
2025-Q3 Owner reports 2
2025-Q4 Owner reports 4
2026-Q1 Owner reports 12
2026-Q2 Owner reports 5
2026-Q3 Owner reports 3
Recall campaign 1 10E043000
Recall campaign 1 14V284000
Recall campaign 1 15E045000
Defect investigation 1 DP12006
Defect investigation 1 DP12006
Defect investigation 1 PE13003
Defect investigation 1 DP15001
Defect investigation 1 DP15001
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Steering and Suspension.

  1. Recall campaign 10E043000

    Safety recall 10E043000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
    Remedy:
    MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 14V284000

    Steering

    Report date
    Component:
    Steering (STEERING)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 15E045000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 1,842 complaints · page 1 of 74
2026-09-22Steering (STEERING)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11766179
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed bar-yaw angle sensor. The contact was informed that the bar-yaw angle sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
2026-08-13Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11756827
CrashFireInjuryDeath
A quien corresponda Por medio de la presente me pongo en contacto con ustedes por motivo de falla mecánica en mi auto móvil Ford escape 2009 ya que hace aproximadamente dos meses atrás al llenar el tanque de gasolina me percaté que el interior olía a combustible y al revisarlo noté que se tiraba por debajo del vehículo lo cual me llevó a investigar posible causa encontrando que en ese modelo es falla del fabricante solicitando sea reparado para evitar posible incendio del mismo ya que según lo que encontré es muy probable sufrir accidente en este estado del vehículo
2026-07-31Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11753983
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Car steering torque sensor not working properly causing power steering assist to be lost compromising electric power steering (eps) assist and increasing the risk of an accident. Ford has a recall 14S05/2014-193, but they are saying my car is not included on this recall at this time although it is exactly the same issue I am having now.
2026-06-23Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11745927
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Hi! I [XXX] [XXX] my vehicle streeing wheel struck or lock when the vehicle slow down or stopped. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2026-05-20Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11739090
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the power steering failure warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that ten years ago, an unknown recall repair for the failure was completed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 188,136.
2026-05-16Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11738281
CrashFireInjuryDeath
On several occasions my 2009 Ford escape xlt completely died as I was driving 1. On the highway at 60mph I had to pull over and restart vehicle. 2. Going through town at 30mph I had to put in neutral to restart as I was moving uphill. 3. As I was at a stop light, again putting in neutral was necessary to restart as vehicle would not move until restarted. I have not had it inspected by anyone yet as I have not had the funds to pay mechanic for service inspection. This was very scary and almost caused a serious accident on 4 out of 5 times this has occurred. On the highway I was in the fast lane to pass a semi truck with several vehicles following close behind and when my vehicle suddenly shut off no long able to move I was afraid the vehicle behind me was going to hit mine. I had no idea what was happening as that was the first time about 6 months ago. After that it has happened 4 more times. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request given I will not be charged for the inspection.
2026-05-03Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11735376
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was driving down the road about 35 mph and it jerked me clean off the right side of the road. Here the driver side and passenger side subframe/engine cratle is completely rotted out bad . This needs fixed before someone dies.
2026-04-20Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11732344
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and only manual steering was available. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. When the vehicle was purchased, the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); and was already repaired under the recall. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
2026-03-24Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11726657
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Steering sensor failed as documented in Ford fixing the steering torque from a recall on B2778:EF. The steering would not turn and happened while driving near Airport Dr and Garrison in Carthage, Mo. There was traffic and could barely get the SUV to turn at all. Almost hit another car in a 35 mph zone when it happened. There was no warning or lights on dashboard at all. Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash per Ford. A computer update was done in 2023 but obviously, it did not fix the safety issue for my vehicle and put me and others at risk of accidents.

Ford Escape Complaints by Model Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2009 Ford Escape?

Owners named Steering most often — 854 of 1,842 reports (46%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2009 Ford Escape?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Steering and Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2009 Ford Escape?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources