2009 Ford Escape Electrical Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11738281

Incident

Nov 12, 2025

Me and my [XXX] old was driving on the highway in my 2009 Ford escape and suddenly my power steering completely went out with no warning. I was driving 60 mph because that's my safe speed. Steering got completely resistant to the point I could not turn my steering wheel almost crashing into another vehicle with a child in the vehicle. I found out that Ford has had power steering issues with almost all their vehicles due to their electrical power steering system. My vehicle was inspected by a independent service center that confirmed that Ford's electrical power steering is not safe because it can disable while driving, however I called to see if Ford could inspect the issue complimentary, they declined and said it would cost. Not knowing that as a consumer, that is extremely terrifying to know that while driving I'm at a high risk of an accident. I also called Ford to see about a recall because I was informed Ford had multiple recalls for their electrical power steering in most of their Ford Escapes, but there was none for mine. The Ford service worker i spoke to, infact, volunteered to inform me that all Ford Escapes from 2008-2012 should be recalled due to the electrical power steering issues. Once I got home turned my vehicle off and the next morning started my vehicle up to show my husband the power steering issue, 24 hrs later a Warning came on saying power steering assist fault. With that warning coming on after the fact, 24 hours later, without that warning could have ended fatal. This is not a situation that should be handled lightly because it can end fatal, and with no warning that these vehicles power steering can disable while driving there's no telling how many accidents have ended fatal already because of this very issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11714676

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

The ford escape is experiencing the exact power steering assist fault, same year model in Safety Recall 14S05, but it’s not showing up for the recall.

NHTSA ID

11660046

Incident

May 9, 2025

As many other Ford escapes have been recalled due to power steering issues. Mine has been going out while driving and causing a very dangerous safety issue. Ive contacted my local ford dealership and noticed my 2009 ford escape is not on the recall list. Im requesting a change to this as my vehicle is a real safety issue for not just myself but for others. No warning lights appear whenever it goes out either.

NHTSA ID

11639717

Incident

Jan 30, 2025

I was driving to work when all the sudden out of nowhere with no warning I lost all power steering control luckily I just got off the highway and wasn’t going too terribly fast though it scared the crap outta me and this could have ended very badly! I was unable to turn my wheel at all!!! On my dashboard it says POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT after researching this I came across a recall for 2008-2014 Ford Escapes for what exactly happened to me on my

NHTSA ID

11578172

Incident

Mar 12, 2024

Vehicle Will not shift from Park gear. Locking up and can't drive until it allows me to shift. Time varies and also have to start and restart the engine several times before it allows the shifter lock to release from Park.

NHTSA ID

11576580

Incident

Feb 20, 2024

At 200,000 miles I'm beginning to have problems withe electric power steering along with suspension issues as well. i start my vehicle drive for a bit could be turning or coming to a brake an steering gives out cause me to work to turn it

NHTSA ID

11530277

Incident

May 2, 2023

The electronic steering on our 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid stopped working. We responded to the 14S05 recall. Our dealer reprogrammed the system and that seemed to work, however the problem is not with the program, the issue as shared with us by the Ford dealer is with The torque sensor or the electronic steering switches that are affixed to the steering column. The repair per the dealer is to replace the steering column. The software was not the issue, the Ford components are the issue. The recall letter states that "...the dealer may need to replace the torque sensor or the steering column. This service will be performed free of charge (parts and labor). But now Ford will not authorize the repair since the it was 'fixed' previously with software. A correction that ultimately failed. Ford's customer service is unwilling to acknowledge this reoccurring issue as shown by the complaints here. From Ford's perspective they believe the dealer is at fault for not undertakign the proper correction, when the dealer was first advised to address the problem with software. I.e. the cheaper solution. Ford has a know component failure issue that it is refusing to address.

NHTSA ID

11505264

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

Electric power steering assist just stopped and car was stuck. I couldn’t move. Very scary I could went over the hill and crashed. I cannot find the receipt it was a used electric power steering column. I am afraid to drive car now because it’s used. Ryder auto specialist should have a copy. Their phone number is [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11502567

Incident

Oct 26, 2022

Power steering just stopped working

NHTSA ID

11501827

Incident

Jan 15, 2023

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. 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.

NHTSA ID

11492489

Incident

Nov 5, 2022

First steering column locked with less then 65,000 miles . Now power train wrench light warning popped on less then 80,000 miles . Throttle body issue forcing car into limp mode leaving driver in danger on the road

NHTSA ID

11474419

Incident

Jul 18, 2022

I recently purchased this vehicle, have had it for about 3 to 4 weeks. The vehicle belonged to a gentleman whom deceased and vehicle came from Canada. The vehicle was running great and I was happy, however, on Easter 2022 my 1yr old daughter and I were leaving the emergency room due to us both being very ill and all of a sudden I was unable to steer the vehicle without having to use my entire body and all my strength. So, I immediately went to the auto part store and purchased steering fluid. Well, come to find out this vehicle has an electric steering system which I never heard of before in my life. Thankfully there was a mechanic on site and he told me about this along with changing a steering fuse??? The new fuse did not fix the issue. This nice man looked up and seen this vehicle has a steering, air bag and few more recalls out there. So, I called a ford dealership to inquire about getting these recalls taken care of and replaced, she basically told me that they would charge me for the diagnostic test and charge me for any and all recall repairs. I seen that this vehicle has never had any of the recalls taken care of. Now, is there a time frame for replacing recalls, especially if safety related!? Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11461856

Incident

Apr 17, 2022

I brought my 2009 Escape in for a steering recall. When Hopkins Ford checked for codes, they said there were none. They then performed a reset on the electric steering. After they performed the reset, my steering went out. I brought it back to have it checked again then they said now there is a code. They are now claiming they are not responsible for the code repair (Steering column) because in their eyes, they reset the recall. I have been in contact with Ford customer service and they said there is nothing they can do because they closed the case when they reprogrammed the recall. There were no issues prior, or codes prior to them reprogramming the steering. They now are trying to tell me it will cost me $1700 to repair an issue that is part of a recall.

NHTSA ID

11445166

Incident

Dec 23, 2021

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL

NHTSA ID

11416424

Incident

Nov 19, 2019

Mileage

119,500 mi

THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC FAILURES OF BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL, MASTER CYLENDER, BOOSTER, ABS PUMP, ETC. IT'S A BADLY DESIGNED BRAKING SYSTEM THAT FAILS AT ANY TIME, PUTTING LIVES OF PEOPLE UNDER DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. MORE OFTEN THEN NOT THOSE FAILURES ARE OCCURRING AT LOW SPEEDS. BRAKE FAILURE IS MOST COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD ESCAPE CARS THAT LOOKS LIKE OCCURRING MUCH MORE OFTEN THEN EVEN ON REST OF FORD VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11408248

Incident

Apr 12, 2021

Mileage

140,000 mi

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WHOLE IGNITION HOUSING UNIT IT WAS STATIONARY AND WON'T START JUST SOMETIMES

NHTSA ID

11407794

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING TORQUE AND I DID PURCHASE THE VEHICLE UNTIL 2016. I AM NOW HAVING STEERING ISSUE WHERE MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING UP. ITHIS IS MY 2ND TIME ISSUE AN COMPLAINT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 6 MONTHS AND HAS GOTTEN WORST. I SPOKE WITH FORD THIS WEEK AND WAS ADVISE THEY COULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THE RECALL DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE. I WIIL HAVE TO GET IT FIX MYSELF AND FILE A CLAIM WITH CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIP FREE OF CHARGE. I SEE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. WHY WAS THIS VEHICLE NOT FIXED IN THE RECALL. SHOULD I CONSULT WITH MY ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS MATTER? THANK GOD I HAVENT SUFFER ANY MAJOR ACCIDENT SO FAR SINCE THE WHEEL HAS BEEN LOCKING UP🙁

NHTSA ID

11406119

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

I BOUGHT MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE NEW. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS COMPLETELY WENT OUT. BEFORE IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT THE STIRRING WOULD WORK, AND THEN IT WOULD STOP WORKING UNTIL ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST AND I WAS TOLD AROUND $1400 AND AT THIS TIME I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. SO THEN I STARTED RESEARCHING WITH MY VIN NUMBER. MY VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED AT THE KANSAS CITY PLANT. AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL HELPFUL PEOPLE BUT I HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE THIS. I'M ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT ONLY IN EMERGENCIES. BECAUSE IT WILL TURN JUST NOT EASILY AS IT SHOULD. THANK YOU. I AM ALMOST POSITIVE IT'S THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. WITH I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ELECTRIC PANEL WILL HAVE TO BE PULLED OUT FOR THE PART TO BE INSTALLED. ALSO I WAS GIVEN A RECALL 14S05. HOPEFULLY WITH THE DOCUMENTATION I UPLOADED AND THE RECALL

NHTSA ID

11404344

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE TORQUE SENSOR FOR MY CALL WAS REPAIRED DUE TO RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE RECALL ISSUE RELATED TO TORQUE SENSOR FAILURE HAS REOCCURRED AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11400143

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

STEERING HAS TENSION WITHOUT WARNING HAVE TO STOP KILL THE CAR WAIT. RESTART. TO RESET...ANY SUDDEN TURNS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD.!!!!!!!! THERE SHOULD. NOT BE AN EXPIRATION ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

NHTSA ID

11398683

Incident

Mar 2, 2021

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP, MY CAR DIED. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW ALONG WITH A NEW DEVELOPMENT OF MY STEERING COLUMN SHAKING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO START IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK OVER DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN IT STARTED. I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD TRYING TO TURN LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SAID FAILURE. DROVE TO WORK ABOUT 10 MORE MILES WITH NO POWER STEERING IN A BUSY TOWN, NOT FUN. THE LOW TIRE SENSOR IS ON AS WELL, I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH TIRES, THEY ARE AT THE PROPER AMOUNT OF PSI. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I AM GLAD I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE DONE TO YOU WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD MY BATTERY AND CYLINOID AND STARTER CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE, BUT MY CAR REPEATEDLY DIES AT A STOP SIGN, AND WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN OR EVEN WHEN I AM TRYING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY. THESE TWO THINGS NEED TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I DON'T FEEL AS IF I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS SINCE THEY ARE ELECTRICAL AND SHOULD BE PUT ON THE RECALL LIST. I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST YEAR IN HOPES OF NOT HAVING TO PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO IT AND TO HAVE FOR A WHILE. IT LOOKS LIKE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO IT OR MAY HAVE TO BUY A DIFFERENT CAR SO I KNOW MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

NHTSA ID

11389761

Incident

Jan 25, 2021

Mileage

168,000 mi

MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO. LAST NIGHT AS PULLING OUT MY DRIVE WAY MY STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. O PULLED BACK INTO MY DRIVE AND NOTICED ON THE DASH IT READ POWER ASSIST FAILURE. BEFORE THIS MY DASH WOULD BLINK OUT AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAP IT SO IT WILL COME BACK ON. WHEN IT DOES ALL THE DIALS WOULD GO BACK INTO SYNC . THE BAD PART IS IF YOU ARE NOT NOTICING YOUR DASH AND PARK AND TURN OFF THE CAR IT WOULDN'T CRANK BACK UP. MY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR IS ON I HAD IT CHECKED AND NO ONE AND FIND OUT WHICH SENSOR IT IS. MY OIL CHANGE LIGHT WANT GO OUT EVEN AFTER MANY OIL CHANGES. THE COMPANY THAT DOES MY OIL CHANGE ARE NOT ABLE TO RESET. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. UNTIL LAST NIGHT WHEN THE POWER ASSIST FAILURE POPPED UP. PLEASE HELP AND ASSIST MY VEHICLE WAS PAID OFF 5 MONTHS AGO. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT I WILL IF I REALLY HAVE TO. I LIKE MY FORD ESCAPE.

NHTSA ID

11387474

Incident

Jan 10, 2021

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY FORD ESCAPE LIMETED JUST STARTED MAKING A NOISE OUT OF NOWHERE AND BEFORE IT STARTED I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND IT WOULD STOP RUNNING

NHTSA ID

11385530

Incident

Dec 22, 2020

Mileage

197,000 mi

I RECEIVED THE CAR FOR MY AUNT WHO PURCHASED IT NEW. IN 2018. POWER STEERING WAS GOING OUT. I REACHED OUT TO FORD THEY SAID THEY HAD A RECALL. I GAVE MY VIN NUMBER AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT FROM THE LOT THAT WAS FOR THE RECALL BUT HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE SAME YEAR MAKE UP MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11383445

Incident

Aug 1, 2018