2011 Ford Escape Powertrain (other) Problems

While driving, the power steering assist intermittently fails without warning. This makes steering very difficult and creates a serious safety hazard, especially at low speeds or during turns. The issue can be temporarily resolved by turning the engine off and restarting the vehicle, but it recurs unpredictably. There are no warning lights or error messages displayed on the dashboard. This is a known issue on this model year and may relate to a defective EPS (electric power steering) module. Please investigate.

NHTSA ID

11658355

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact attempted to make a right turn however, the power steering failed, and the steering wheel became difficult to steer in either direction. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unknown recall however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

NHTSA ID

11625992

Incident

Nov 16, 2024

Mileage

152,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there might have been a recall on the vehicle for the transmission. The manufacturer was notified, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11567765

Incident

Oct 1, 2023

Mileage

87,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the front driver side wheel seized and would not release. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured wheel dimension as a result the dimensions needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,899.

NHTSA ID

11531599

Incident

May 8, 2023

Mileage

82,899 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her husband was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle shuddered significantly and made abnormal knocking sounds. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's husband veered to the side road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle, the power steering became operable. The contact's husband was able to drive to the residence; however, the failure reoccurred intermittently while driving. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall due to the manufacture date. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11507243

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

Mileage

97,000 mi

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

When I turn at slows down and stalls. Nearly cuts off

NHTSA ID

11477892

Incident

Aug 6, 2022

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11416570

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND WHEEL ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN UP INTO WHEEL WELL. ALMOST HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN I LOST ALL STEERING. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP VIA TOW TRUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTEN AT 87,000 MILES DRIVER SIDE IS NOT FAR FROM BREAKING I WAS TOLD REPAIRS WOULD COST AS MUCH AS THE VEHICLE IS WORTH

NHTSA ID

11404594

Incident

Mar 22, 2021

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING UP HILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND OIL DELIVERY SENSOR WERE REPLACED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.

NHTSA ID

11364127

Incident

Jul 15, 2019

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEAR, AND FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN FORD DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11324649

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

TRANSFER CASE OVERHEATING AND DUMPING LUBRICANT ON TRANSMISSION/DRIVERS SIDE AXLE SPRAYING ALL OVER.

NHTSA ID

11271411

Incident

Oct 25, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

ESCAPE WOULD NOT START ON 10/14/19. MADE CLICKING NOISE BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CHECKED BATTERY WHICH INDICATED LOW VOLTAGE. REPLACED BATTERY ON 10/15/19. ON 10/17/19, ATTEMPTED TO START CAR. ALL LIGHTS CAME ON BUT NO SOUND WAS HEARD AND ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CHECKED NEW BATTERY WHICH WAS WITHIN LIMITS. CHECKED SYMPTOMS ONLINE AND FOUND ISSUE TO BE FAULTY NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. UPON FURTHER SEARCH, FOUND NUMEROUS OWNERS OF 2008-2012 FORD ESCAPE AND MERCURY MARINERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS IS NOT A FACTORY RECALL IF IT IS HAPPENING THIS OFTEN.

NHTSA ID

11269280

Incident

Oct 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000. *BF VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY FORD (WAVERLY, OH) WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR FILTER HOSE KEPT COMING OFF BECAUSE IT WAS TOO SHORT. CONSUMER STRETCHED THE HOSE TO KEEP IT FROM COMING OFF. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *DL

NHTSA ID

11254143

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM ON 2001-2012 FORD ESCAPE AWD MODELS: THE TRANSFER CASE ON AWD MODELS IS MOUNTED NEAR THE EXHAUST WHICH BAKES AND DRIES LUBRICATION GREASE IN THE TRANSFER CASE RESULTING IN BEARING FAILURE AND LOCK-UP CONDITIONS WHICH CAN CAUSE A CRASH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

11253525

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

123,000 mi

FORD PART BL8Z-7251-A IN 2001-2012 ESCAPE/MERCURY MARINER/MAZDA TRIBUTE,& SIMILARLY DESIGNED FORD EXPLORER,EDGE, TAURUS, AND SEVERAL MAZDA--ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND 4X4 MODELS ARE MADE WITH KNOWN DEFECTIVE TRANSFERCASES/AUTOMOBLIE DESIGN. THE ENGINE EXHAUST IS PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE GEAR CASE WHICH DRIES THE LUBRICANT WITHIN (12 OZ.). MASSIVE BEARING FAILURE CAN OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT DESTROYING THE TRANSFER CASE, CAUSING A LOCKUP CONDITION, THE CASE OR DRIVE SHAFT CAN BREAK FREE AND RESULT IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11245090

Incident

Aug 17, 2019

Mileage

1 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED EDITION AND ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS GOING AT A GREAT AMOUNT OF SPEED THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY THE DASH WENT BLACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND EVERYTHING I WAS ABLE TO STOP I RESTARTED CAR IT STARTED BACK UP

NHTSA ID

11245083

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE XLT 2.5L IS STALLING WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED, TURNING. THE RPM'S ARE JUMPY. CAR STALLS WITH FOOT ON THE GAS IN MID DRIVE! REPLACED THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE AS DIAGNOSED. NOT THE FIX.

NHTSA ID

11220426

Incident

Jun 13, 2019

Mileage

69,000 mi

FLAT TOWING, ALL FOUR WHEELS ON GROUND, SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, TOWED IN TO DEALERSHIP, TOLD TRANSMISSION WAS BURNED UP. IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE IF LET GO. 86986 MILES ON 2011 ESCAPE. HAVE BEEN FLAT TOWING BEHIND MOTORHOME FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS.

NHTSA ID

11193290

Incident

Mar 28, 2019

Mileage

86,986 mi

TRANSMISSION BROKE WHILE FLAT TOWING.

NHTSA ID

11192313

Incident

Mar 28, 2019

Mileage

86,986 mi

I BOUGHT AN RV LAST YEAR AND DECIDED TO PULL IT BEHIND MY RV. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT PROCEDURE IN NEEDED TO DO TO PULL MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE ON ALL FOUR WHEELS BEHIND MY RV AND SO I FOLLOWED THE MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS AND DID SO. WELL I GOT ABOUT 300 MILES FROM MY HOUSE AND THE TRANSMISSION BURNS UP! I HAVE CONTACTED FMCO AND THEY ARE GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND AND NOT WANTING TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY TRANSMISSION WHICH I TOTALLY DISAGREE BECAUSE I FOLLOWED THE MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS.

NHTSA ID

11184595

Incident

Feb 10, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 128000.MILES AND COST US 3500.00 AND WE ONLY OWNED IT FOR LESS THAN A YEAR

NHTSA ID

11181497

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I AM REPLACING WHEEL BEARING IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS CAUSES THE WHEEL TO SHAKE. I CANT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO PUT MONEY INTO A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILES AND EVERY 6 MONTHS. ALSO REAR WIPER MOTOR BURNT OUT DUE TO A LEAKY SEAL OR POOR SEAL FROM FORD.

NHTSA ID

11180058

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE IS BUCKING AND JOLTING GOING UPHILL ON A LEVEL SURFACE. IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. IT IS NOT NOT SHIFTING AT ALL THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSE TO. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE WITH THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS. THIS IS NOT VIN.RELATED IN ANY SENSE. THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11151747

Incident

May 10, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

SHIFT SOLANOID PROBLEMS WHERE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT. FORD DOES NOT HAVE THESE PARTS ON HAND AND ARE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL MID OCTOBER 2018. WHY? BECAUSE TOO MANY ESCAPE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. A RECALL NEEDS TO CONDUCTED ON THIS ISSUE AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REPLACE THESE SOLANOIDS.

NHTSA ID

11129401

Incident

Sep 9, 2018

Mileage

64,000 mi