718 complaints reported

2009 Ford Escape Steering

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

Reports
718
Crashes
11
Fires
0
Injuries
3

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEAN ARBOUR FORD (1001 U.S. 23 NORTH, ALPENA, MI 49707, 888-232-8051) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,224. *TT UPDATED 11/29/18*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2018
Nov 2018

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN OUR 2009 FORD ESCAPE STOPPED WORKING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IT. THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON ON THE WAY TO WORK AND THEN THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY. IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL FOR 2009 FORD ESCAPES AND NEEDS TO BE ADDED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2018
Nov 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE LEFT. WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MANEUVER IN POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (PHIL LONG FORD, 1212 MOTOR CITY DR #A, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905) AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

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

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING BECOMES INTERMITTENT AND EVENTUALLY FAILS COMPLETELY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE ROAD AND ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
Oct 2018

MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD: POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. NOT ABLE TO TURN WHEEL. CAR IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. WAS ABLE TO VERIFY A RECALL FROM 2014. WHICH I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM. RECALL# 14V28400. FORD RECALL#14S05. MY CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME SAFELY. SOON AS I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR LOCKED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE SINCE. THIS OCCURRED ON 10/21/2018.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. EARL FLOYD FORD (2687 KY-227, CARROLLTON, KY 41008, (888) 278-4062) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.

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

THE POWER STEERING INTERMENTLY GOES OUT IT EITHER WORKS WHEN I START THE CAR OR IT DOESN'T. I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN SINCE THAT IS WHERE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL PARTS ARE LOCATED. FORD SAYS THIS IS NOT UNDER THERE RECALL AND IT WILL BE $1350 TO REPLACE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE FROM WHAT I AM SEEING FORD WANTS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. DURING THE FAILURE, THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (JACK KAIN FORD, 3405 LEXINGTON RD, VERSAILLES, KENTUCKY) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN 2014 PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY IN AN EFFORT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND ALSO RECURRED WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: CAS-15831770. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL BROWN FORD AT (734) 399-4244 (LOCATED AT 32222 PLYMOUTH RD, LIVONIA, MI 48150) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V28400 (STEERING) WAS A ONE TIME REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (HUB CITY FORD, 2909 NW EVANGELINE THROUGHWAY, LAFAYETTE, LA 70507, (337) 233-4500) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

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

I KNOW THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON POWER STEERING AND MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. MY POWER STEERING ISN'T WORKING. IT SHOWED A FAULT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEN IT WENT OUT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
Sep 2018

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I HAVE TO PUT ALL MY STRENGTH INTO BARELY BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING VEHICLE. AS OF NOW, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK AT ALL FOR NEARLY A WEEK. USUALLY, TURNING VEHICLE ON AND OFF OVER AND OVER WILL AT SOME POINT GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK BUT NOT ANYMORE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE HAPPENING WITH AN UNACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF FORD ESCAPES AND FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE!!! IS IT GOING TO TAKE TERRIBLY INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED?

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

WAS DRIVING AND POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED WORKING WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT.. ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2018
Sep 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND VIBRATED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. EVENTUALLY, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,500. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED, RESOLVING THE ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2017
Aug 2018

WHEN DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE AS I WAS PASSING A SEMI TRUCK, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON RESEARCH OF MY VEHICLE I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS AND FORD IS REFUSING TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE USED TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY.

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

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLES POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND WENT TO MANUAL CONTROL AND I HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT ONLY ON MODELS OUT OF KANSAS CITY PLANT. APARENTLY THIS ISN'T THE CASE, AFTER RESEARCH THERE HAS BEEN HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND TOLD THE SAME THING BY FORD THAT IT'S NOT COVERED UNLESS IT CAME FROM KANSAS CITY PLANT. THIS REPAIR COST ME 2,228 DOLLARS AND ONLY 249 DOLLARS WAS LABOR. THE ONE PART FROM THE FORD DEALER WAS 1564 WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED SINCE FORD KNOWS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE IT CAUSED IT TO HAVE AN ISSUE.

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

A LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN PARKED. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND PUT MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
Aug 2018

I STARTED MY VEHICLE AFTER WORK AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I DRIVE AN HOUR ONE WAY RO WORK EVERYDAY WITH NO ISSUES EXCEPT NOW THIS. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THEIR MAY BE A RECALL. WHEN I CALLED FORD THEY SAID THAT MY VIN # HAD NO RECALLS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN HELP ME WITH.

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

A FEW DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS AT APPROX 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT LIT. I PULLED OVER RE-STARTED CAR, DROVE ANOTHER 2 MILES AND SAME HAPPENED WHILE GOING AROUND A BEND IN ROAD CAUSING ME TO PARTIALLY GO INTO ONCOMING LANE. THIS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES WHILE BRINGING CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND NOW TOLD I NEED A COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO ALL COMPUTERIZED STEERING CONTROLS BEING LOCATED IN THE COLUMN. IS FORD DOING ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THIS OBVIOUS COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM ? I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2018
Aug 2018

DASH WARNING "POWER ASSIST SYSTEM FAIL" CAME ON - STEERING LOCKED UP, WILL NOT TURN EITHER DIRECTION. DRIVING ON STREET AND TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. CAR WOULDN'T TURN AND DROVE INTO YARD. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER CARS ON THAT SIDE OF DRIVEWAY. PROBABLY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
Aug 2018

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND APPROACHED AN OFF RAMP ON MY RIGHT . AS I WAS NEGOTIATING THE THE WINDING TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO ALMOST LOCK AND A MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". IT NEVER REVERTED BACK AND I LIMPED HOME WITH SEVERE ISSUES MAKING TURNS. I HAD A RECALL NOTICE IN 2014 THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM. IT WAS A 14SO5 RECALL AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE PSCM AND IC.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
Aug 2018

THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT FOR MY 2009 ESCAPE. THIS ALERT APPEARED THE MORNING OF 01/06/2018. ALTHOUGH THE DISPLAY READ POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, THE CAR HANDLED NORMALLY FOR MY DRIVE HOME. AFTER I HAD PARKED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF, THEN RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THE ROY O'BRIEN FORD DEALER, HERE IN SAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI(WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM) TOLD ME THAT SINCE I HAD RESPONDED TO AND COMPLETED SOME SORT OF REPROGRAMMING OF THE STEERING, AS STATED IN A RECALL, THAT MY CASE WAS CLOSED AND NO RECOURSE TO REPAIR THE CURRENT ISSUE WAS OFFERED. I HAVE OWNED FORDS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND AM COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK EFFORT TO AT LEAST OFFER A FREE DIAGNOSIS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.

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

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2009 Ford Escape has 718 Steering complaints on file. 11 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.