IllustrationHCU MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. DEADLY FLAW IN BRAKE SYSTEM DESIGN
2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escape Hybrid years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape Hybrid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1925–50K
2150–75K
2975–100K
45100–150K
17150K+
143 reports with mileage · 10 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
153 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES, AND WAS INTERMITTENT THE FIRST TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT DID NOT ALWAYS CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BAY FORD (LOCATED AT 5100 ROSECRANS AVE, HAWTHORNE, CA 90250, (301) 584-7641) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
OUR 2009 FORD HYBRID ESCAPE CAUGHT FIRE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND IT TOOK TWO FIREMEN TO PUT IT OUT. THE ENTIRE FRONT WAS DESTROYED. EVEN THE DASH BOARD WAS MELTED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL TRIGGER, BUT THERE IS NO CERTAINIY AS TO WHAT CAUSE THIS FIRE, WHICH HAD FLAMES NEARLY 10…
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OUR 2009 FORD HYBRID ESCAPE CAUGHT FIRE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND IT TOOK TWO FIREMEN TO PUT IT OUT. THE ENTIRE FRONT WAS DESTROYED. EVEN THE DASH BOARD WAS MELTED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL TRIGGER, BUT THERE IS NO CERTAINIY AS TO WHAT CAUSE THIS FIRE, WHICH HAD FLAMES NEARLY 10 FEET HIGH. MY SON WAS SITTING IN THE CAR TALIKING ON THE PHONE. HE CAME RUNNING IN SAYNG THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR AND WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW IT HAD ALREADY STARTED TO CATCH FIRE. SMOKE AND CATCH FIRE. I AM THANKFUL HE WAS NOT INJURED AND THAT MY HOUSE -A CEDAR SIDED HOME- DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE.
I HAVE HAD THE SUV FOR 3 MONTHS. I'M EXPERIENCING TOTAL BREAK LOSS. THE FIRST TIME I ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.
CAR NOT STARTING BECAUSE OF A POORLY DESIGNED IGNITION HOUSING. THE CAR SOMETINMS DOESN'T START BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH LIKE IT SHOULD. I GOT THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SO WHY IS THRE NOT A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE?
VEHICLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING FUNCTION. SYSTEM PROVIDES NO WARNING OF STEERING FUNCTION LOSS. CURRENTLY THE STEERING IS SHOWING EVIDENCE OF THE STEERING TORQUE MOTOR FEEDBACK LOSS. PRODUCES SMALL OSCILLATIONS IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING IN PARK OR AT IDLE.
MY ABS BRAKES ON MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE RPM RAMPED WHILE I WAS GOING 65 MPH DOWN A HIGHWAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER BRAKES STARTED SMOKING. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT WAS GOING TO COST $5700 TO FIX BECAUSE OF SOME HCU UNIT THAT FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT PRETTY GOOD RATE OF SPEED. I…
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MY ABS BRAKES ON MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE RPM RAMPED WHILE I WAS GOING 65 MPH DOWN A HIGHWAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER BRAKES STARTED SMOKING. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT WAS GOING TO COST $5700 TO FIX BECAUSE OF SOME HCU UNIT THAT FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT PRETTY GOOD RATE OF SPEED. I AM GLAD IT DIDN'T THROW ME OFF INTO A DITCH OR CATCH ON FIRE WITH ME IN IT. WHAT A CRAPPY DESIGN THIS IS. WOW!!! SCARY STUFF.
THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS GONE OUT. FORD DID A RECALL ON THIS PART BUT IF YOU WEREN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT THE TIME THEY DID THE RECALL THEY WOULD JUST FLASH YOUR ECU AND CALL IT GOOD. THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM HAPPENING. SO EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING FAILS LIKE IT DID TO ME WHILE I WAS D…
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THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS GONE OUT. FORD DID A RECALL ON THIS PART BUT IF YOU WEREN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT THE TIME THEY DID THE RECALL THEY WOULD JUST FLASH YOUR ECU AND CALL IT GOOD. THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM HAPPENING. SO EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING FAILS LIKE IT DID TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY THEN WANT TO CHARGE YOU TO HAVE THE STEERING ANGLE TORQUE SENSOR REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY FORD AT THEIR EXPENSE.
WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING JUST FAILED, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME VERY HARD TO USE AND NEEDS REPLACED. I HAD FELT A SMALL CHIMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT A STOP A DAY OR 2 BEFOREHAND, THAT IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE WARNING,BUT DIDN'T REPEAT. IT JUST FAILED WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS IN TOWN, DASHBOARD PROBLEM LIT UP AND IS WORSE T…
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WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING JUST FAILED, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME VERY HARD TO USE AND NEEDS REPLACED. I HAD FELT A SMALL CHIMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT A STOP A DAY OR 2 BEFOREHAND, THAT IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE WARNING,BUT DIDN'T REPEAT. IT JUST FAILED WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS IN TOWN, DASHBOARD PROBLEM LIT UP AND IS WORSE THAN A CAR WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING. EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACING THE POWER STEERING, THE DIFFICULTY OF IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW SAFE IT REALLY IS FOR MOST DRIVERS. DATE IS APPX, BUT VERY CLOSE TO END OF DEC 2018.
MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAS A PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE IGNITION. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WORSE FOR MANY MONTHS. I HAVE TO PUSH IT IN AND TRY OVER AND OVER BEFORE THE CAR STARTS. IT ALSO HAS SO MANY OF MY WARNING LIGHTS ON EVEN THO THE PROBLEMS FIXED OR REPLACED.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving
Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages
DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.