117 complaints reported

2009 Ford Escape Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
117
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2024

Power steering assist fault Torque sensor

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2024
Oct 2021

I SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT COME ON. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT WAS FOUND TO MOST LIKELY BE A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. ALSO I CAN NOT DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY FOR MORE THAN 5-10 MINUTES AT 60 MPH BEFORE IT STARTS TO SHIMMY AND BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2021
Jan 2019

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY NO POWER WAS GOING TO THE WHEELS WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO SLOWDOWN AND ONCE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IT WOULDN'T SEND ANY POWER TO THE FRONT OR BACK WHEEL BUT WOULD REV THE ENGINE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN DRIVE. I TRIED THIS IN REVERSE AS WELL BUT STILL NOTHING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2018
May 2018

2009 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BAD THROTTLE BODIES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THROTTLE BODY FAILED AT 62,338 MILES AND AGAIN 14 MONTHS LATER AT 75,927. *JS *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
Sep 2017

2009 FORD ESCAPE LEAKING OIL IN GARAGE AND GOT WORSE. LEAKING FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. AXEL SEAL LEAKING AND WAS CHANGED. BUT LEAK CONTINUED. RETURNED TO GARAGE AND FOUND OUT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH MANUFACTURING PROBLEM FROM 2008 TILL 2014. HAD TO ORDER AND REPLACE ANOTHER NEW SEAL, BUSHINGS, HALF SHAFT AXEL. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A POSSIBLE FIRE IF NOT FIXED IN TIME. THIS LEAKED WHILE SITTING IN GARAGE AND GOT WORSE AS DRIVEN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2016
Jan 2017

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB) MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE WILL OCCASIONALLY LURCH/SURGE FORWARD OR STALL OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD ADDRESSED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY A FEW YEARS AGO BUT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD CONTACT ALL OWNERS!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2017
Dec 2016

WHILE DRIVING OUR VECHILE THE WRENCH LIGHTS COMES ON , THEN WE FILL A JERK TURN THE CAR OFF AN ON. THEN IT IS OKAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON AS WELL. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. UNFAIR THAT IT IS ONLY COVERED AFTER SO MANY MILES. WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING. WE BROUGHT OUR CAR USED WITH 51,000 MILSES. WE TRIED TO GET IT IN THE DEARLSHIP EVERYTIME THE LIGHT CAME ON. BUT NOTHING. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO NOW. THE LIGHTS COMES ON WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2016
Jun 2016

WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED ABOVE 20 MPH. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND WAS VERY CONCERNING. I DROVE HOME IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, WITH HAZARDS ON, ALONG BACK ROADS TO AVOID INTERSTATE SPEEDS. CAR ACTUALLY DROPPED TO LESS THAN 10 MPH WHILE DRIVING UP HILL. TOOK IT TO MY DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD. THEY SAID THAT FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE COSTS, ESTIMATED AT $400.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2016
Apr 2016

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NORMALLY, ALL OF THE SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING THE WRENCH INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON, AND THERE'S IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. MOTOR BEGINS TO STRUGGLE, AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE WHEN HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. STRUGGLES TO EVEN MAKE IT TO GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE, WAITING A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THEN RESTARTING VEHICLE, IT WILL DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN, & THE WRENCH LIGHT IS NO LONGER THERE. HOWEVER, THIS SCENARIO KEEPS OCCURRING. IT STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THEN A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, & THEN TO SEVERAL TIMES IN A SINGLE DAY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2016
Nov 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED WITHIN A WEEK WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2015
Oct 2015

SPEED DECELERATED ON INTERSTATE. COULD NOT INCREASE SPEED. ENGINE, SOUND SYSTEM, LIGHTS AND STEERING MAINTAINED OPERABLE. HAD TO COAST TO OUTSIDE LANE AND EXIT FREEWAY. WRENCH LITE CAME ON AND MANUAL INDICATED THROTTLE CONTROL. HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SLOW SPEED ACCELERATION, BIT NEVER THIS. IT WAS A TRUE STATE OF PANIC IN 5PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2015
Aug 2015

I HAVE HAD MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE IN THE FORD DEALER 5 TIMES FOR NHTSA # 10055321. THIS WEEK WILL BE 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS NOT A RECALL. FORD THEMSELVES SAID IT HAPPENS ON LIKE EVERY ESCAPE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2014
Jan 2015

ESCAPE WENT INTO LIMP MODE 4 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS- CURRENTLY HAS A FIELD SERVICE ACTION NUMBER FOR THIS PROBLEM 13N03, BUT FORD HAS SET SUCH LIMITS.... DEALER MUST BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT, BUT WITH THIS POWER LOSS - IT HAPPENS WHEN IT HAPPENS. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO COVER REPAIR UNTIL THAT TIME. SO, I HAVE AN ESCAPE THE STALLS... WHEN AND WERE IT WANTS, CURRENTLY CAR AT THE DEALER.... NEVER RECEIVED LETTER FROM FORD.... *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2014
Nov 2014

MY THROTTLE/POWERTRAIN LIGHT WENT ON AND I FOUND THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN PLACED AND I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY FORD WITH A RECALL LETTER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2014
Oct 2014

WAS AT A STOP, STARTED TO GO AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT ON AND THE GAS PEDDLE DID NOT WORK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2014
Jul 2014

THROTTLE STOPPED WORKING AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN. IT WORKED FOR SEVERAL MILES BEFORE HAPPENING AGAIN. *JS NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CHANGED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AT NO CHARGE. THE FIRST SET OF INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITH MY 7 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR, SO IT WAS SCARY AND DANGEROUS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2014
Jul 2014

CAR SLOWED THEN ACCELERATED TO OVER 100MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER, TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT 5MPH, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND STOPPED WITH A BUMP TO MY GARAGE DOOR. TOOK IT TO DEALER, TOLD NOTHING WRONG AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NOW I FIND OUT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LINKAGE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I BELIEVE HAS A RECALL. DEALER WANTS $100 TO LOOK AT IT. IF THE PART BEING RECALLED IS FINE, THEY KEEP THE $100, IF NOT THEY DEDUCT IT FROM MY BILL OR REFUND IT TO ME. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY NOTHING COULD BE DONE, ACCORDING TO THEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL MORE OCCASIONS, INCLUDING THE SLOWING UP OF THE VEHICLE. YOU PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN AND YOU LOSE POWER, THEN SUDDENLY IT KICKS IN AND YOU'RE OFF AND RUNNING AT HIGH SPEEDS, WITH THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I'VE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP AND THROWN IT INTO NEUTRAL AND WATCHED THE ENGINE TACH VERY HIGH BEFORE TURNING IT OFF (INTO ACCESSORIES SO I STILL HAVE BRAKES AND STEERING) TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY INFORMED ME THE DEALER HAS THE RIGHT TO CHARGE ME THE FEE BUT URGED ME TO GO TO DEALER AND PAY. IF THE LINKAGE IS ON RECALL THEN WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY A FEE UP FRONT? THEY CLAIM I SHOULD GET A REFUND IF IT IS THE LINKAGE, BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS, CHECK ENGINE OR ANYTHING CAME ON. I NOW HAVE THE CAR UP FOR SALE AND I AM PASSING THIS PROBLEM ONTO THE NEXT BUYER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN URGING ME TO HAVE TRANSMISSION FLUSHES SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36K MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2009
May 2014

CAR STARTED TO IDLE AND COULDN'T GIVE IT ANY GAS. IT WOULD STALL. STARTED BACK UP AND THEN THE GAS WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TROUBLE STARTING BACK UP BUT WOULD. THIS KEPT REPEATING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2014
Apr 2014

TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WORE OUT VALVE BODY IN TRANSMISSION AND LEAKY SEAL. BOTH ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR FORD AND THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB TO THEIR DEALERS ON THIS ISSUE BUT HAVE NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PAY $2374.00 TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE. SEE LINKS BELOW: HTTP://WWW.AUTOMD.COM/TSB/BULLETIN_B275253/ HTTP://WWW.AUTOMD.COM/TSB/BULLETIN_B313101/ *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2014
Dec 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE SPEED DRASTICALLY DROPPED TO LESS THAN 5 MPH AND NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR IT DROVE NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER WHEN I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH. HOWEVER, THIS TIME THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT ON AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHT WENT AWAY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2013
Dec 2013

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. ENGINE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER WHILE COMING TO A STOP TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. ENGINE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AGAIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2013
Dec 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A POWER TRAIN OR A THROTTLE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2013
Dec 2013

WHILE DRIVING AT A SET SPEED OF 55 MILE PER HOUR I EXPERIENCED A JERK IN THE POWER TRAIN. THE ENGINE CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A NOTABLE COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED. THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY INPUT. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE THE FAR RIGHT OUT OF TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO SLOW DOWN ON. I HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IN THE ROUGH AND SLOWLY APPLY BREAK UNTIL I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND APPLIED AXEL KERATIN PEDAL. NO RESPONSE. I THEN PLACED THE TRANSMISSION PARK. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT THE CAR STARTED BUT THE ENGINE CRANKED FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE STATING. I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO RENTER TRAFFIC HEADING TOWARD MY DESTINATION. A FEW MILES LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED THIS TIME THE CAR HAD ANOTHER LIGHT ILLUMINATE ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. AN OPEN ENDED WRENCH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2013
Nov 2013

THIS IS MY SECOND TIME THAT HAPPENED TO ME FIRST WAS ON 11/27/2013 AND TODAY 11/28/2013 I WAS DRIVING ON HEAVY TRAFFIC MAKE A STOP THEN I START TO ACCELERATING AND MY CAR LOSE THE THROTTLE AND THE WRENCH LIGHT BECAME ON THE ENGINE START TO SHAKE WAS VERY SCARY THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME SO I TURN OFF MY CAR AND RESTART AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WAS OVER BUT TODAY THE SAME HAPPENED WHEN I TRYING TO ENTER TO THE EXPRESSWAY AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR AGAIN AND DRIVE TO HOME I MAKE A RESEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY REGULAR WITH FORD ESCAPE AND SOME OTHER MODEL FROM FORD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2013
Nov 2013

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND AS I WAS TURNING MY CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 1-2 MPH I DROVE IT JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE (LESS THEN 100 FEET) AND AS I DROVE THE CAR JERKED. WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK THE CAR SHOOK SO I TURNED IT OFF. THE LIGHT THAT CAME ON WAS THE THROTTLE/POWERTRAIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2013

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2009 Ford Escape has 117 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.