Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
425–50K
550–75K
1175–100K
6100–150K
4150K+
36 reports with mileage · 1 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
37 reports
33,000 miles · Sep 15, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING MY NEWLY PURCHASED FORD ESCORT (BOUGHT IN MAY 2014) I LOST POWER,THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT OFF BUT I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE & IT SPUTTERED & SHOOK UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD. A LIGHTED WRENCH CAME ON WHICH I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS UNTIL I LOOKED IN THE MANUAL (DRIVETRAIN). ONCE I WAS SAFELY OFF THE R…
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WHILE DRIVING MY NEWLY PURCHASED FORD ESCORT (BOUGHT IN MAY 2014) I LOST POWER,THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT OFF BUT I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE & IT SPUTTERED & SHOOK UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD. A LIGHTED WRENCH CAME ON WHICH I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS UNTIL I LOOKED IN THE MANUAL (DRIVETRAIN). ONCE I WAS SAFELY OFF THE ROAD I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF & WAITED AWHILE & STARTED IT BACK UP & IT HAD POWER AGAIN & I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AT THE TIME WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. I REALLY AM CONFUSED AS TO WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. I FEEL MY FAMILY WAS IN DANGER AS I WAS ON A VERY BUSY ROADWAY & LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD VEHICLE & SO FAR NOT IMPRESSED. I REALLY HOPE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE SOON. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A CATASTROPHE FOR SOMETHING TO GET DONE? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10633224
50,000 miles · Feb 7, 2014
Steering
THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OFTEN HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER AND USUALLY IN THE MORNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MAKES A WEIRD SOUND BEFORE IT LOSES POWER. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE BUT OF DIFFER…
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THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OFTEN HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER AND USUALLY IN THE MORNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MAKES A WEIRD SOUND BEFORE IT LOSES POWER. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE BUT OF DIFFERENT YEAR AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563329
60,000 miles · Oct 14, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST SPEED, AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO PRESSURE TO THE GAS. AS I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON TO GET IT TO WORK. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN A DOZEN TIMES SINCE THEN. IN A PARKING GARAGE, AT LOW SPEEDS, ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10547838
62,000 miles · Sep 2, 2013
Power Train
AS I WAS PULLING OUT ON THE ROAD WITH MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN ABOARD, THE CAR SUDDENLY AND WITH OUT WARNING LOST POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. SOME $500.00 PLUS DOLLARS LATER, WE FOUND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY, SAME AS THE ARTICLE MENTIONED, WAS DEFECTIVE AND WE WERE ALSO TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART FROM THE FACT…
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AS I WAS PULLING OUT ON THE ROAD WITH MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN ABOARD, THE CAR SUDDENLY AND WITH OUT WARNING LOST POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. SOME $500.00 PLUS DOLLARS LATER, WE FOUND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY, SAME AS THE ARTICLE MENTIONED, WAS DEFECTIVE AND WE WERE ALSO TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART FROM THE FACTORY BUT A RECALL HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED. THANK GOD I WAS NOT PASSING ANYONE AT THE TIME. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10538393
25,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
SteeringWheels
AT 40-45 MPH HEAR WHEEL BEARING NOISE. DEALER CONFIRMED AND BOTH RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS (MAIN AND CARRIER) REPLACED BY FORD DEALER. STILL HAD NOISE AFTER REPLACEMENT. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CARRIER BEARING JUST REPLACED WAS BAD. REPLACED CARRIER BEARING AGAIN BUT STILL HAVING SAME NOISE. DEALER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN MANY …
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AT 40-45 MPH HEAR WHEEL BEARING NOISE. DEALER CONFIRMED AND BOTH RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS (MAIN AND CARRIER) REPLACED BY FORD DEALER. STILL HAD NOISE AFTER REPLACEMENT. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CARRIER BEARING JUST REPLACED WAS BAD. REPLACED CARRIER BEARING AGAIN BUT STILL HAVING SAME NOISE. DEALER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN MANY WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS, AND THAT FAULTY BEARINGS ARE COMING TO FORD FROM VENDOR. PROBLEM AS YET NOT RESOLVED. SEEMS FORD IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHICH BEARINGS ARE BAD WITHOUT INSTALLING THEM. I AM CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL WHEEL LOCK UP AT SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY A FRONT WHEEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532623
9,390 miles · May 29, 2013
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
DROVE 2011 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID INTO PARKING SPACE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. FRONT WHEELS WERE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AS A RESULT OF TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPACE. CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD, WENT UP AND OVER CURB IN FRONT OF CAR, AND HIT A PARKED CAR SEVERAL FEET AWAY BEFORE VEHICLE COULD BE STOPPED. INCIDENT OCCURR…
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DROVE 2011 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID INTO PARKING SPACE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. FRONT WHEELS WERE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AS A RESULT OF TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPACE. CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD, WENT UP AND OVER CURB IN FRONT OF CAR, AND HIT A PARKED CAR SEVERAL FEET AWAY BEFORE VEHICLE COULD BE STOPPED. INCIDENT OCCURRED IN DAYLIGHT AND GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO BE DRIVER ERROR - DRIVER IN 50'S IS VERY CAREFUL AND PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HAD PERFECT DRIVING RECORD FOR DECADES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10514020
19,517 miles · Sep 20, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM TEXAS MOTORS FORD, FORT WORTH, TX ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN, ON OCTOBER 24, 2011, AFTER COMING TO A STOP IN MY GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM ELECTRIC POWER TO GAS POWER AND LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE CABINET ON THE FRONT…
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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM TEXAS MOTORS FORD, FORT WORTH, TX ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN, ON OCTOBER 24, 2011, AFTER COMING TO A STOP IN MY GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM ELECTRIC POWER TO GAS POWER AND LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE CABINET ON THE FRONT WALL OF MY GARAGE, DESPITE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I TOOK MY (HAD IT TOWED) VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON THE SAME DAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD ADVISED ME OVER THE PHONE NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, BUT HAD REPAIRED THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. ABOUT TEN MONTHS LATER (AUGUST 13, 2012), AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT MY SURGEON'S OFFICE AT 7257 HAWKINS VIEW DR. (HARRIS SW), FORT WORTH, TX, THE VEHICLE, AFTER I WAS STOPPED, AGAIN SURGED INTO GAS MODE, JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE BUILDING, DOING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE WINDOW DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CAR. WE TOOK 35 PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE AND BUILDING AT THAT TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10476529
Official recalls
0
No 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
3
DP22005 · 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.
2011 Ford Escape Hybrid Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year