2009 Ford Escape Engine 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

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.

NHTSA ID

11735376

Incident

Apr 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was caused by the EGR valve. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The approximate failure mileage was 129,082.

NHTSA ID

11665255

Incident

May 31, 2025

Mileage

129,082 mi

THE ENGINE TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREWAY, WAS THE MOST SCARY THING FOR ME AND MY KIDS , I HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK TEH VEHICLE BUT I COULDN'T FIND ANYHTING, THE BATTERY AND OIL LIGTH COME ON THE DASH BOARD, I HAD TO PULL OVER ADN TURN TEH EMERGENCY LIGHT AND PULL OVER

NHTSA ID

11560746

Incident

Dec 18, 2023

Vehicle will stop running instantaneously. car will restart after several seconds. No engine warning light so there are no codes to read. The frequency had increased from every few days, but now happens every time you drive.

NHTSA ID

11546886

Incident

Sep 27, 2023

I have had to spend over $5,000 in repairs for this vehicle and I’ve had it for over a year. It was listed at $6,999 at a used car dealership so I got it as is and have had issues ever since. There is no recall on my car according to the VIN# however I strongly disagree with that. When I first got it, it drove great for a week and then the problems started to arise. Every time I came to a complete stop the car would turn off completely. So I would have to put it in park and turn the key off then restart it and keep it moving a little. This kept going on for 11 months, until it turned off at a stop light and I couldn’t get it to start back up. I was almost hit by traffic coming up behind me (going no less than 45 mph) because of where the car was located. Turns out the motor basically combusted from the inside out. This was caused by the oil leak that could never get fixed because the gasket would always give way. After having to work for 4 months scraping together $3,200 plus paying for a rental car weekly, the motor was replaced and it was working well again. Until it wasn’t. The power steering is controlled by an electric pump which makes you more prone to getting into an accident. My power steering locks up every time I start the car. It did this before the motor was replaced but now it’s even worse since the motor was replaced. I have to turn my car on and off about 15 times before my steering wheel unlocks and I can move it normally. It takes my whole strength to turn the wheel when it locks up. I haven’t been to a ford dealership yet but I do plan on going to get them to check it out since a lot of 2008-2012 Ford Escapes have recalls on the power steering sensor. Long story short. This car has had to have so many repairs for things that normally don’t need repairs every 2 weeks and I want it to get looked into because I’ve never ever had car cost so much in repairs for things that shouldn’t be breaking so fast and easily. I have all the repair paper receipts.

NHTSA ID

11530359

Incident

Dec 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the roadway. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was turned off and the smoking ceased. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that a spring inside the piston was fractured and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 107,573. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11500299

Incident

Dec 17, 2022

Mileage

107,573 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact replaced the camshaft sensor himself; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the camshaft sensor and another unknown sensor had been previously replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11484260

Incident

Sep 12, 2022

Mileage

140,000 mi

Escape bogs down in 1st gear and barely goes. I have almost been hit multiple times because of this. No engine lights are on.

NHTSA ID

11475211

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR EVEN MORE, BUT THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ALL TURNED ON. I BRAKED, PLACE IT TO PARKING AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I RESTART THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES ALREADY IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. EACH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED, I'VE BEEN DRIVING LESS THAN 40 MPH. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SHOP TO GET SCANNED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DETECTED.

NHTSA ID

11374327

Incident

Nov 11, 2020

Mileage

133,000 mi

ABS SYSTEM FAILED BRAKE PEDAL WENT FLOOR. $2200.00 TO REPLACE. 48172 MILES. 43540 MILES FT CAR LURCHED AT STOP. REPLACED PURGE VALVE$388.00. AXLE SEAL LEAK. 38807 MILES. $410.00. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 16271 MILES. REBUILD TRANS $3148 MILES COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11311153

Incident

Jan 13, 2020

Mileage

48,173 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN MANUAL STEERING MODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS INSTRUCTED BY THE OWNERS MANUAL, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT TO HAVE THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATIONAL TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. LITHIA FORD LINCOLN OF FRESNO (195 E AUTO CENTER DR, FRESNO, CA 93710, (559) 435-8400) WAS CONTACTED AND APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11297790

Incident

Jan 4, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHEN I WAS HEADED TO DROP MY DAUGHTER OFF I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET THAT HAS SPEED BUMPS WHICH I USUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. UNTIL THIS MORNING (08/08/2019) WHEN MY POWER STEERING KICKED OFF AND I HAD TO PHYSICALLY TURN MY WHEEL. I SAW THE THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR 2009 FORD ESCAPES AND I WAS WONDERING IF MINE WAS ONE OF THEM.

NHTSA ID

11265566

Incident

Aug 8, 2019

WHEN YOUR DRIVING ASS "GO POWER" IS LOST AND A WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATES IN THE LOWER LEFT CORRNER. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE IM DRIVING BUT IT JUST DECIDES TO DO IT WHEN IT WANTS TO. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO ITS HAPPEND WHEN I WAS GOING 10MPHS AND 30 MPHS AND ABOUT 45MPH...SUPER SUPER SCARY LUCKLY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME ALL TIMES... LAST TIME THIS HAPPEND WAS ON 7/23/2019

NHTSA ID

11235033

Incident

Jul 23, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

ON JULY 9, 2019 I WAS EXITING THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING AT WHICH TIME THE ODOMETER WENT DOWN FROM 50 DOWN TO 0 IMMEDIATELY CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. THANK GOD I WAS ALREADY IN THE PROCESSING OF EXITING. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AT ALL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO FIRESTONE WHO WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC AT THE TIME, AND SUGGESTED THAT I BRING IT BACK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND OF GREAT CONCERN. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 42,460 MILES OR SO ON IT, AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE ENCOUNTERING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT SINCE 2010 AND AT THE TIME PURCHASED AT 18,000 MILES OR SO. I DRIVE MY VEHICLE LOCALLY ONLY. I HAVE READ THAT THIS A PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPES, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE LISTED AS A RECALL. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID

11230759

Incident

Jul 9, 2019

Mileage

42,460 mi

THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. THE WHEEL OF THE CAR LOCKS WHEN YOU TRY TOO TURN WHEN DRIVING WHEEL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE SENSORS EVEN THOUGH WE REPLACED THEM KEEP BLOWING WHICH CAUSING THE TRUCK TO DECLINE IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. WE HAD TO TURN IT ONTO TO THE GRASS TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. CONSTANT ENGINE ISSUES AFTER WE HAD IT FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL NEGATIVE BECAUSE OF THIS TRUCK. THE TIRE SENSORS KEEP GOING ALSO. THESE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING AFTER WE HAVE GOTTEN THIS TRUCK FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AND MORE DANGEROUSLY WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IT. THE BRAKES, STEERING WHEEL, TRANSMISSION AN THE ENGINE ARE ALL FAULTY. WE HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS OUR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND WE ARE BEHIND WITH THE NOTES. EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY THERE IS A GRINDING, ALMOST LIKE THE WHEELS WANT TO FALL OFF. WE NEED THIS FIXED WE NEED HELP!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11207987

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

143,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAY, ENGINE WILL STALL OUT, COMPLETE SHUTOFF, WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OR LIGHTS. THE COMPUTER IS NOT STORING ANY CODES INDICATING FAULTS. AFTER A STALL, CAN PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND RESTART. MOST COMMONLY OCCURS WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM BRAKING TO ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID

11191103

Incident

Mar 7, 2019

Mileage

135,000 mi

I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND I ADDED FLUID ONCE. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY LIKE IT HAS BEEN SPRAYING. I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAK AND OTHERS HAD IT FIXED UNDER RECALL FOR 2008. THIS IS A ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11170472

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE WRENCH LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. IT JUST SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING--NO ENGINE PROBLEMS APPARENT, LIKE SPUTTERING OR ANY OTHER WARNING SIGN. IT IS SCARY, AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED TWICE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND START IT, AND IT STARTS AGAIN WITHOUT A PROBLEM, BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE RESOLVED BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

11160932

Incident

Dec 12, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, AN ALARM SOUNDED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO A PARKING LOT TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ASHEVILLE FORD LINCOLN (611 BREVARD RD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806) WHERE THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,500.

NHTSA ID

11154267

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

117,500 mi

HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 20 MINUTES ON 08/16/2018: VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION EACH TIME, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE STOPPED, ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASHBOARD AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF STEERING, SPEED CONTROL. WHEELS LOCKED UP AND ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN ON VEHICLE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11129761

Incident

Sep 16, 2018

Mileage

72,000 mi

2009 FORD ESCAPE, 3.0L XLT. VEHICLE ENGINE POWER LOST AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ON SEPT 7, 2018. A RED WRENCH LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH DURING THE EVENT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID TRAFFIC, PARK ON THE SHOULDER, RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEED TO THE NEAREST EXIT. THIS SAME POWER LOSS HAS OCCURRED AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THE HIGHWAY EVENT. THERE ARE NO ENGINE CODES FOUND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS. THIS ESCAPE WAS DIAGNOSED BY FORD DEALER IN 2017 FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 13N03 REGARDING THROTTLE BODY FAILURES. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA ID

11128412

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

153,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLS/SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON SIDE STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. RECENTLY HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 30 MINUTES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11127899

Incident

Sep 5, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

ENGINE TURNS OFF WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS IN VARYING CONDITIONS; IE. DRIVING SLOW, DRIVING FAST, ON THE HIGHWAY ON SIDE STREETS.

NHTSA ID

11115813

Incident

Aug 5, 2018

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AT LOW SPEEDS, IT LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. BILL CURRIE FORD (5815 N DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL) WAS CALLED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NO INVOLVEMENT IN RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11112982

Incident

Feb 23, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi