2009 Ford Escape Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape. Part of Generation 2 — 2008–2012.

20082010
Complaints
2,339
per 10K Sold
135.2
US Sales
173,044
Crashes
53
Fires
2
Injuries
42
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2009 Ford Escape Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1813 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:119,932 mi
Crash-related:15
#2279 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:73,519 mi
Crash-related:1
#3277 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:73,214 mi
Crash-related:7
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Ford Escape.

Steering Defects
813
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
—
Avg Miles
119,932
Transmission / Drivetrain
279
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,519
Unintended Acceleration
277
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,214
Engine Problems
252
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,568
Electrical Faults
141
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
117,645
Fuel System
115
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,572
Brakes
94
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,747
Gasoline Fuel System
85
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,199
Engine & Cooling
34
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,734
Electronic Stability Control
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
132,753
Automatic Transmission
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
15,086
Body Structure
19
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
91,877
Suspension Failures
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,076
Airbags
11
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,468
Wheel Issues
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,138
Hydraulic Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
118,286
Seat Belt Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
39,286
Structural Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,954
Headlight/Taillight Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,600
Steering:Column
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
131,645
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Traction Control System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Ford Escape

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~740,878 vehicles.

14V284000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~740,878 affected

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.

Other Ford Escape Years

200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

2009 Ford Escape — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Ford Escape reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2009 Ford Escape has 2,339 NHTSA complaints, 53 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 813 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Ford Escape?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (813 complaints, avg 119,932 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (279 complaints, avg 73,519 mi); Unintended Acceleration (277 complaints, avg 73,214 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Ford Escape?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 95,167 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Ford Escape?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape include 53 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 42 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 740,878 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Ford Escape?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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