Steering. Review the 827 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 301 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 279 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

34 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine complaints

254 reports

Clear category filter

43,000 miles · Jun 20, 2013

EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

P2111 ERROR PER COMPUTER - THROTTLE ACTUATOR STUCK OPEN. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND ENGINE SHAKES VIOLENTLY, FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL, BUT DOES NOT. NEEDS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. PROBLEM HAS NOW HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520837

44,450 miles · Jun 19, 2013

EnginePower Train

Read full complaint

UPON TURNING LEFT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION FROM A RED LIGHT, I ACCELERATED TO REACH ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR. THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN SLIGHTLY SO I PRESSED ON THE GAS SLIGHTLY BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE LIT (THERE IS A LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE A WRENCH). I TURNED THE RADIO OFF AND IT SEEMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND START THE ENGINE. IT SEEMED LIKE I HAD FULL CONTROL OVER STEERING AND BRAKING TO PULL OVER, BUT PERHAPS THAT WAS JUST THE SLOW RATE OF SPEED I WAS AT. NOW EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE NORMAL NOW, HOWEVER I AM CONCERNED AS I GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY FOLKS INDICATING THE SAME PROBLEM, SUSPECTING SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. THE FIRST TIME ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WITH THIS TIME BEING THE MOST RECENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520710

80,000 miles · Jun 19, 2013

Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CAR WENT IN TO LIMP MODE. WE COSTED TO THE SHOULDER TURNED CAR OFF. IT RE STARTED NO ISSUES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC WHO CLEAN THROTTLE BODY PLATE. CAR RAN GREAT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS THEN AGAIN SAME PROBLEM ARISES. CALL FORD TO PURCHASE PART AND TOLD IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER N…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10520625

93,417 miles · Jun 18, 2013

Engine

VEHICLE STALLED AND HESITATED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE WHEN RESTARTED LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, DROVE ABOUT A HALF MILE AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, REPEATED PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, DROVE ANOTHER 12 MILES AND IT OCCURR…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10520585

88,000 miles · Jun 18, 2013

EnginePower Train

Read full complaint

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AT APPROX 55 MPH WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY. ALTHOUGH STEERING AND BRAKING WAS AVAILABLE, ACCELERATION WAS NOT. THE ORANGE "WRENCH" WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTART. THIS HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THIS FIRST INCIDENT. SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER EACH TIME AND IT HAS RESTARTED. BUT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT IS FULLY DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET. A LARGE VOLUME OF "THROTTLE BODY" ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AND OTHER ESCAPE MODELS IS DOCUMENTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. THERE IS NEVER ANY ADVANCE WARNING OF WHEN THIS MAY OCCUR, AND IT HAS OCCURRED AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS. THE POTENTIAL DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL FROM FORD. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS DEFECT LEADS TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT ALREADY HAS NOT DONE SO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520490

39,000 miles · Jun 17, 2013

EngineFuel/propulsion System

Read full complaint

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, THEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SEEMED TO DIE AND THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED DOING ANYTHING. THE CAR THEN STARTED VIBRATING AND I HAD TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT LOTS ITS VELOCITY. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT SEEMED FINE; THEN LATER IN THE DAY THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. AT OTHER MOMENTS, SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED, IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR REVVED ITS OWN ENGINE (AS IF I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, BUT I WAS NOT.) I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR INJURED SOMEONE IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE FACT THAT THE ROAD WAS NARROW AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE ON TIME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520236

71,049 miles · Jun 16, 2013

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

DRIVING AGAIN TODAY AND TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LAST TWO WEEKS IS FORD GO TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM PULLED CODE AND CODE NUMBER IS 2112 SAME CODE AS BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520039

65,000 miles · Jun 15, 2013

EnginePower Train

Read full complaint

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY IN MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR, IT RANDOMLY STOPS ACCELERATING AND MY CAR STOPS RUNNING. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR HAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROADS. CARS COULD ALSO EASILY HIT ME WHEN MY CAR RANDOMLY STOPS.THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED ONCE I TURN OFF MY CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPENS MANY TIMES. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS THIS PROBLEM PUTS PEOPLE IN SERIOUS DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519975

50,100 miles · Jun 14, 2013

EnginePower Train

Read full complaint

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND AS THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 5 MPH, IT WENT INTO WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE "LIMP MODE." WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE ENGINE "WRENCH" LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE IDLED AT ABOUT 800 RPM, AND IT TOOK ABOUT A MINUTE OR MORE FOR THE CAR TO "LIMP" OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED IT. IT THEN WORKED FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHICH WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM WHERE THIS HAPPENED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. NOW IN JUNE ( SEVERAL MONTHS LATER), WE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW YOU WERE INVESTIGATING. I PRINTED OUT THE ARTICLE, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SAID THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A CIRCUIT PROBLEM, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND IT MAY TAKE "WEEKS" FOR THEM TO GET THE PART. WE DROVE THE CAR ONCE MORE AND THE SAME " LIMP MODE" KICKED IN 3 TIMES IN A 3 MILE TRIP. WHILE TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE GOES INTO THE LIMP MODE WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO ACCELERATE THE CROSS A ROAD, ETC. WHILE MY VEHICLE IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE REPAIRED SATISFACTORILY, THIS IS POTENTIALLY AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND I AM REPORTING IT SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JULY 2008, ACCORDING TO THE STICKER ON THE DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519777

59,975 miles · Jun 14, 2013

EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

I ACCELERATED FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND IN APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET THE ACCELERATOR STOP WORKING. THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY IDLE AT A SLOW PACE. I STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTED. THE ACCELERATOR WORKED AT THAT TIME AND I CONTINUED ONTO THE HIGHWAY WITH NO PROBLEM. I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH FOR ABOUT 10 MILES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO AN IDLE. I REPEATED THE SAME PROCESS AS BEFORE, STOP, PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED. THE ACCELERATOR WORKED AGAIN AND I CONTINUED ON 10 MILES AND MADE IT HOME. THE NEXT AVAILABLE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I EXPERIENCED (2) OF THE SAME SCENERIOS LISTED ABOVE ALONG MY 6 MILE ROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER (2) DAYS THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WITH A $574 PRICE TAG TO REPAIR. THE SERVICE PERSON STATED THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR A RECALL ITEM. SHE THEN STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON A "NATIONAL BACKORDER" AND WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER MONTH. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING ALOT!! I HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME TYPE OF ISSUE HAPPENING TO OTHER FORD ESCAPES, VARYING YEARS AND WAS SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THE INCIDENT STARTED WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOWN, HEADED TOWARD HOME AT APPROIMATELY 11:00 PM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I HAD LOST POWER TRYING TO TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC OR WAS ON A MUCH BUSIER HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HOPE OTHERS ARE AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519754

Official recalls

14V284000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

May 29, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.

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

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

PE13003 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Feb 21, 2013 · Closed Feb 28, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles. During this investigation, Ford identified a condition in subject vehicles equipped with 2.5L and 3.0L engines that may result in a sudden reduction of engine power.According to Ford, the ETB internal motor contacts may develop a high resistance material buildup condition on the commutator, resulting in intermittent electrical connectivity and reduced engine power. When this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or Wrench light will illuminate and the vehicle may enter a limited limp home mode.Ford?s trade name for the feature is Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM) mode.In this mode, engine power and vehicle speed are reduced, while full function of the power steering, power braking, lighting, and climate control systems are maintained.ODI?s complaint analysis indicate that the predominant failure mode involved reduced motive power associated with the limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Analysis of warranty claims provided by Ford identified 59,807 claims related to ETB replacements and approximately 50 percent of claims are associated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed.Ford described several factors where the ETB motor may fail resulting in DTCs P2111 or P2112 but the failure is not an existing stuck open or closed ETB valve position.According to Ford, the ETB control strategy provides the driver with three FMEM modes that allow varying degrees of vehicle mobility depending on the severity of the fault detected.DTCs associated with stuck open or closed throttle valves are designated the highest failure severity resulting in engine speeds limited to high idle corresponding 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.Other FMEM limp modes may result in reduced engine performance but will maintain vehicle speed above 20mph. During this investigation, Ford and its suppliers, Delphi and Igarashi, updated the powertrain control module (PCM) software to include a throttle body motor cleaning cycle during key-on and modified the ETB internal motor components design, surface finish and material composition to improve durability. Additionally, Ford developed a remedy procedure and issued a special Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 13N03 extending the ETB warranty coverage and instructing dealers to update the powertrain calibration to improve vehicle performance in the event that intermittent electrical connectivity of the throttle body motor contacts occurs. The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, all vehicles are eligible for the program through January 31, 2015 regardless of mileage.Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by mail to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer who will reprogram the PCM to the latest calibration. The bulletin was sent to dealers on January 17, 2014 and the owner letter mailing began on January 27, 2014. See the investigative file for copies of Ford's bulletin and owner letter. This preliminary evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding that

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.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

Ford Escape transmission problems →Ford Escape electrical problems →