RoadVitals

2011 Ford Escape Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
284
Latest Jun 17, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 1,313 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 284 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

The 25 most recent of 284, in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Jun 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the fuel tank was leaking and there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the fuel leak. The mechanic applied epoxy to the leak, but the failure recurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA ID
11667381
Incident
Jan 1, 2025
Mileage
138,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 30, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a crack in the fuel tank which caused the fuel leak. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 220,000.

NHTSA ID
11657740
Incident
Oct 12, 2019
Mileage
220,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 10, 2025

The fuel pump was replaced and a new one was installed and now the engine is misfiring really hard and when the vehicle is placed in drive or reverse the engine tries to stall. The mechanic is saying that I will have to purchase a fuel rail pressure sensor that controls the fuel to each fuel injector. If this item or the whole fuel system is on a Recall List. Then I shouldn't have to pay anything to have it repaired and replaced by the Dealership. I do need to be notified about this issue immediately. This is a 2011 Ford Escape XLT AWD 4dr SUV with 3.0 V6 Flex Fuel system.

NHTSA ID
11641697
Incident
Jan 19, 2025
Fuel system
Filed Jan 11, 2025

Leaking gas from gas tank where the fuel delivery pipe enters the tank

NHTSA ID
11635414
Incident
Jan 11, 2025
Fuel system
Filed Dec 20, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon approaching the vehicle, the contact observed gasoline leaking underneath the fuel tank. The contact became aware of a crack in the gasoline tank seal. The contact stated that there was a constant odor of gasoline on the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 240,000.

NHTSA ID
11631781
Incident
Dec 20, 2024
Mileage
240,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 25, 2022

Back in June, I took my vehicle to have it checked out. When I accelerate, the SUV would feel like it was dragging something under the tires and riding very rough and bumpy, actually the vehicle was shaking while driving, then it would stop when I slow down. Even when I turn off the engine for a few hours and then drive it, its fine. No warning lights on dashboard. Fred Beans replaced spark plugs, changed filters, cleaned throttle body, oil change. Now it 's doing the same thing. If I am idle in park with AC on for a few minutes, it does it. Sometimes after I fill it with fuel, it does it. As far as I am know, they never checked the fuel pump. SUV shakes for about 2 minutes then stops. It feels as though I am getting a flat in all tires.

NHTSA ID
11481211
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
Fuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2022

I TRIED TO GET FUEL LATE AT NIGHT IN WINTER WARNING AFTER WORK AND UPON DOING SO, THE NOZZLE AT THE GAS STATION WOULD NOT FIT PROPERLY TO FUEL THE TANK. GAS BEGAN TO LEAK OUT AS I WAS FUELING THE VEHICLE, SQUIRTING UP ONTO MY BODY AND CLOTHING. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NOZZLE DID NOT FIT, HOWEVER I NEEDED DESPERATELY TO GET GAS SO THAT I COULD RETURN HOME IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WHERE I LIVE. I TRIED FILLING THE GAS TANK SLOWLY TO NO AVAIL. THEN I PROCEEDED TO ANOTHER GAS STATION AS THERE ARE NOT MANY AROUND, AND AGAIN NOZZLE WOULD NOT ENTER THE TANK. THIS TIME I COULDN'T EVEN TURN ON THE PUMP. AFTER INSPECTING THE SITUATION, I COULD SEE THAT THE FUEL TANK AREA LOOKED AS THOUGH THE HOLE FOR THE TANK NO LONGER ACCEPTED NOZZLES, THE FUEL FILLER AREA SEEMED TO HAVE SLIPPED AND I NOW I AM UNABLE TO GET GAS AT ALL. THERE WAS NO WARNING- THIS JUST HAPPENED SUDDENLY, PUTTING ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, WITH GASOLINE ON MY CLOTHING, FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND NEARLY STRANDED. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH GAS TO GET HOME, HOWEVER I CAN NOT FUEL MY TANK AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DIRE STRAIGHTS EMERGENCY.

NHTSA ID
11453639
Incident
Feb 22, 2022
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Apr 1, 2021

MY POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT IS ON AND I CAN NOT STEER MY VEHICLE. I GOT IN TO TAKE MY KIDS OUT AND I COULD NOT STEER. ITS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND I READ THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD UNDER STEERING ISSUE COMPLAINTS. IF MY VEHICLE IS COVERED TO BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NEXT STEP. ITS AROUND $1000 TO FIX AND I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS.

NHTSA ID
11405899
Incident
Mar 11, 2021
Mileage
138,000 mi
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Mar 26, 2021

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED ON MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE. STATIONARY WHEN HAPPENED. SO, FRUSTRATED THAT I CANT STEER IT AND HAVE TWO KIDS I NEED TO TOTE AROUND BUT ITS VERY UNSAFE AND I CANT DRIVE IT WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. ALSO MY FUEL INTAKE FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT IS ON FOR IT. I READ THAT BOTH OF THESE EXACT ISSUES HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON THIS MODEL. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
11405046
Incident
Mar 11, 2021
Mileage
175,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 21, 2021

I HAVE CALLED FORD MANY TIMES, AS I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME, IT SHOWS THAT MY CAR HAS AN EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK CODE P0457. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT SHOWS THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER 'FIXING'. FORD ESCAPE HAD THIS RECALL IN 2016 BUT FOR SOME REASON I WAS NOT SENT A NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
11404099
Incident
Mar 10, 2021
Fuel system
Filed Dec 3, 2020

RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL IN DEC 2017, CALLED KENDAL FORD IN ANCHORAGE FOR SCHEDULING OF REPAIR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART NEEDED AND WOULD CALL WHEN IT CAME IN. OCTOBER 2018, CALLED KENDALL AFTER RECEIVING SECOND NOTICE. THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID THEY'D CALL WHEN IT CAME IN. KENDALL FORD SERVICE DEPT. 866-957-4040. THIRD NOTICE RCVD 7/12/2019. CALLED AGAIN AND, TERESA, STATED THEY'D CALL WHEN THE PART CAME IN. THREE YEARS TO GET A PART IS OUTRAGEOUS. THE FORD DEALER HAS DEMONSTRATED BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT RECALLS, UNABLE TO BE TRUTHFUL, AND HAVE NO CONCERN ABOUT ANYTHING BUT MONEY.

NHTSA ID
11377736
Incident
Jul 12, 2019
Mileage
64,210 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 4, 2020

MY CAR ALWAYS SHOWS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE READINGS- SHOWS THAT THERE IS A LEAK, THEY HAVE CHANGED 4 TIMES THE PURGE VALVE. THE LIGHT GOES OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN COME BACK AGAIN. IT SHOWS THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. THE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING OR PARK.

NHTSA ID
11353101
Incident
Sep 29, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 9, 2020

THE GAS TANK IS FAULTY. SUDDENLY, IT WILL NOT HOLD GAS. GAS BEGAN TO POUR OUT AFTER I HAD FILLED THE TANK JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFOREHAND. I NOTICED THE GAS POURING OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN OUR GARAGE. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE. I READ THAT SOME 2011 FORD ESCAPES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS VERY ISSUE, BUT MY VIN DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE DATABASE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED THAT I FILL OUT THIS FORM.

NHTSA ID
11338472
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2020

IT'S STALLING IN MOTION OR SUDDENLY SURGING FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, POSING A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS. INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS AND SURGES AS THEY ENTER TRAFFIC FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329098
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
129,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 30, 2019

THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL REGARDING THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE REPAIRED IN MAY 2019 (BY CHAPMAN FORD IN HORSHAM, PA), JUST BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE. IN LATE AUGUST 2019, THE CAR WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (FULLERTON FORD IN SOMERVILLE, NJ). THEY INSISTED CHAPMAN FORD DID A POOR JOB WITH THE RECALL REPAIR (SPECIFICALLY CONNECTING THE FUEL PUMP) AND FORD CORPORATE AUTHORIZED FULLERTON TO FIX CHAPMAN'S POOR WORK (FREE OF CHARGE FOR ME). A FEW DAYS AGO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START EVEN WHEN JUMP STARTED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS (MALOUF FORD IN NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ AND FULLERTON FORD) SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPENING TO WORK ON THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS. I WANTED TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE OUT OF A VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE SHOP (QUALITY AUTO CENTER IN FRANKLIN PARK, NJ) . THE PRIVATE SHOP DIAGNOSTICALLY PROVED THE FUEL PUMP NO LONGER WORKS. THE PRIVATE SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE VEHICLE NOW WORKS AGAIN. THIS IS INDEED AN OLDER VEHICLE, BUT I THINK THE TIMING IS ESPECIALLY SUSPICIOUS THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILS SHORTLY AFTER IT HAS BEEN HANDLED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR RECALL REPAIR. FURTHERMORE, CHAPMAN FORD WAS DEEMED BY FORD CORPORATE TO DO A SUBPAR RECALL REPAIR. I CALLED FULLERTON FORD AND FORD CORPORATE ABOUT POTENTIAL LIABILITY BUT THEY DIDN'T SEEM INTERESTED TO ENTERTAIN BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID
11277126
Incident
Oct 28, 2019
Mileage
142,000 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Oct 17, 2019

WHEN TRUCK HAS A FULL OR EVEN HALF TANK , ALWAYS SMELL A LOUD GAS SMELL COMING FROM TRUCK. GAS SMELL SO LOUD CAN NOT HAVE TRUCK PARKED IN GARAGE DUE TO FUMES. ALSO WITH BRAKES, WHEN FORCED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY THE BRAKES MAKE A WEIRD SOUND AND WONT LOCK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
11269178
Incident
Aug 5, 2019
Mileage
141,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 26, 2019

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS UP ALL THE TIME ON THE CAR. IT WILL ALSO SAY "CHECK FUEL FILL INLET" WHEN I PUMP GAS. THE CODE READS P0455 WHICH MEANS THE ENGINE COMPUTER RECOGNIZES A LARGE LEAK IN THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM (EVAP). THE VEHICLE'S EVAP SYSTEM IS SEALED, IT'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT GASOLINE VAPORS IN THE FUEL TANK FROM ESCAPING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. I AM NOT SURE IF ONE OF THE RECALLS PERTAINS TO THIS, BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ME. SO MUCH SO, THAT I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR IN FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ID
11246459
Incident
Jan 14, 2019
Fuel system
Filed May 10, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT ABOUT THE RECALL BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT

NHTSA ID
11206855
Incident
Oct 24, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Dec 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE DEALER (PREMIER FORD OF BAY RIDGE, 152 58TH ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11220, (347) 578-7900) INDICATED THAT THEY ORDERED THE PART FOR THE REPAIR MONTHS AGO; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY AVAILABLE CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11155642
Incident
Oct 24, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Nov 4, 2018

RECALL #16S41 PERFORMED ON 12/14/2017. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER 8+ TIMES FOR STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. CURRENTLY GASOLINE ODOR IS INSIDE OF THE CAR SO STRONG WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR.

NHTSA ID
11145209
Incident
Dec 14, 2017
Mileage
74,969 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 30, 2018

EXPERIENCE SURGING AND STUMBLING UNDER THROTTLE UP

NHTSA ID
11144209
Incident
Oct 22, 2018
Mileage
34,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 25, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (WORLD FORD PENSACOLA, 6397 PENSACOLA BOULEVARD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11131547
Incident
Jan 22, 2018
Fuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). BEATRICE FORD LINCOLN (4115 NORTH 6TH STREET, BEATRICE, NEBRASKA 68310, (402) 223-3547) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11130229
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Fuel system
Filed Sep 13, 2018

RECALL NOTICE ISSUED IN NOVEMBER 2017 AND PERSISTENT CALLS TO DEALER (EVERY MONTH) HAVE NOT PRODUCED A REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF WHEN THE PARTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL. THE ANSWER PROVIDED BY DEALER EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST 11 MONTHS THE CUSTOMER HAS CALLED HAS BEEN "THE PARTS ARE BACKORDERED" AND NO ESTIMATE OF WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETE IS PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
11129270
Incident
Nov 2, 2017
Fuel system
Filed Aug 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (PHIL LONG FORD OF MOTOR CITY, 1212 MOTOR CITY DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905, (719) 694-3487) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT *JS

NHTSA ID
11115585
Incident
Aug 3, 2018

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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