IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOST SPEED AND RPMS. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT RAN AT AN IDLE. DEALERSHIP SAID THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART HAS NEED ON BACK ORDER FOR SOME TIME. *TR
2009 Ford Escape
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape 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
1010–25K
16725–50K
28050–75K
24175–100K
408100–150K
219150K+
1,416 reports with mileage · 276 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 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
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
116 reportsWE WERE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON, JUST THE WRENCH LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, FORTUNATELY, AS THE STEERING STILL WORKED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, AND IT RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SINCE THAT…
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WE WERE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON, JUST THE WRENCH LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, FORTUNATELY, AS THE STEERING STILL WORKED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, AND IT RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE, I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE DIE MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS GENERALLY HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE PULLED UP TO A RED LIGHT SIGNAL. THE CAR DIES, AND IT IS ALWAYS RIGHT BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN! YOU HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THEN IT RUNS FINE. WHEN IT DIES, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT FUNCTION AT ALL AS IT GOES RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, IT DIED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALSO. SAME SCENARIO AS MENTIONED ABOVE AND ALSO WHEN STOPPED, THE CAR THROTTLE KIND OF SURGES, ALMOST AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO DIE. WHEN YOU APPLY GAS, IT JUMPS FORWARD. I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALER AND AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE A CODE READER AND THE CODE WAS P2111 AND P2112 (ERROR THROTTLE ACTUATOR STUCK). THEY FIRST CHARGED ME FOR "CLEANING" THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. SAID I MUST HAVE BLOWN DUST IN IT! ALSO TOLD ME MY 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFT ISSUES ON HARD ACCELERATION....PROBABLY CAUSED BY THEM. TALKED TO PARTS DEPT AND THROTTLE BODY QUOTE $200.83, WHEN SERVICE ADVISOR ASKED IF I WANTED THEM TO REPLACE IT HE QUOTED $240.00. *TR
CAR SURGED THEN STALLED ON INTERSTATE 65MPH. 2ND TIME AT 40MPH ON COUNTY HWY. THROTTLE BODY BAD-PART ON NATIONAL BACKORDER 2 WEEK DELAY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, I LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS GAS, MY ENGINE STALLED AND DIED. WHEN HOOKED UP TO DIAGNOSTIC TO SEE WHY MY SUV KEEPS DYING WHEN IDLE, THE CODE WAS "P2112" THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM STUCK CLOSED. *TR
CAR HAS THROTTLE BODY ISSUES WHICH IS NOW COMMON - WHERE IS THE RECALL? *TR
VEHICLE "JERKED" AND LOST ALL THROTTLE. OPEN ENDED WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO SMALL SERVICE CENTER WHO SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND IT HAD THE FAULTY P2111 CODE (THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM STUCK OPEN). CODE WAS CLEARED AND CAR RESTARTED. DIED ANOTHER 6 TIMES ON THE WAY HO…
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VEHICLE "JERKED" AND LOST ALL THROTTLE. OPEN ENDED WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO SMALL SERVICE CENTER WHO SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND IT HAD THE FAULTY P2111 CODE (THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM STUCK OPEN). CODE WAS CLEARED AND CAR RESTARTED. DIED ANOTHER 6 TIMES ON THE WAY HOME, EACH TIME RESTARTING AFTER TURNING THE KEY OFF. I SEE THAT THIS IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION AND WANTED TO BRING YET ANOTHER INSTANCE TO YOUR ATTENTION. IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE OR A LARGE LEFT HAND TURN LANE DURING RUSH HOUR IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PRETTY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR BEGAN TO IDLE. I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON FIVE MINUTES LATER AND IT ACCELERATED FOR 1/4 OF A MILE BEFORE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS IT WAS DETERMINE…
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WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR BEGAN TO IDLE. I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON FIVE MINUTES LATER AND IT ACCELERATED FOR 1/4 OF A MILE BEFORE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY AS WELL AS THE PROCESSOR. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ACCELERATOR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR REDUCED TO IDLE. AFTER PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLING TO A STOP THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND I WAITED FOR 5 MINUTES. ONCE RESTARTED THE CAR RAN NORMALLY BUT CONTINUED TO…
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WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ACCELERATOR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR REDUCED TO IDLE. AFTER PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLING TO A STOP THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND I WAITED FOR 5 MINUTES. ONCE RESTARTED THE CAR RAN NORMALLY BUT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH NO WARNING. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED IT WAS A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. *TR
ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM STARTING FROM A STOP LIGHT TO TRAVELING UP TO 70 MPH ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE MY FORD ESCAPE HAS SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE DOES NOT LOCK UP, JUST ALL POWER IS LOST. I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THERE IS NO REVVING OF ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A STOP, BUT IT …
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ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM STARTING FROM A STOP LIGHT TO TRAVELING UP TO 70 MPH ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE MY FORD ESCAPE HAS SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE DOES NOT LOCK UP, JUST ALL POWER IS LOST. I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THERE IS NO REVVING OF ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A STOP, BUT IT WILL START TO JERK AND STALL. FINALLY I TURN IT OFF, THEN RESTART IT BUT IT I HAVING DIFFICULTY IN STARTING. THUS FAR I HAVE SPENT $240 FOR A TOW AND HAVE HAD 3 MECHANICS INVESTIGATE, ONE HAD NO IDEA BUT HAD "HEARD ABOUT THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS", A SECOND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CHARGED ABOUT $40 TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME ITS THE THROTTLE BODY AND WILL BE CHARGING ABOUT $365 TO REPLACE. *TR
I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE, APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM, GOING 70 IN A 65 ZONE. THE RADIO WAS ON, SO I HEARD NOTHING STRANGE, BUT SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING, MY CAR LOST THE POWER MOVING IT FORWARD. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF MY 09 ESCAPE. THE STEERING REMAINED OK, AS DID THE BRAKES, BUT MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE ENGINE TO KEEP M…
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I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE, APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM, GOING 70 IN A 65 ZONE. THE RADIO WAS ON, SO I HEARD NOTHING STRANGE, BUT SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING, MY CAR LOST THE POWER MOVING IT FORWARD. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF MY 09 ESCAPE. THE STEERING REMAINED OK, AS DID THE BRAKES, BUT MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE ENGINE TO KEEP MY CAR MOVING FORWARD. AS IF MAYBE I HAD RUN OUT OF GAS - BUT THERE WAS NO SPUTTERING AND I WAS NOT LOW ON GAS. I KEPT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL THINKING MAYBE THERE WAS TRASH IN MY GAS LINE, BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE WAY MY VEHICLE BEHAVED. I WAS SLOWING DOWN FAST, BUT COULD STEER MYSELF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A MINUTE OR 2, AND TRIED TO START AGAIN. IT TOOK A MINUTE TO CATCH, BUT IT FINALLY DID AND I DROVE OFF. 5 MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY, IT DID IT AGAIN. AGAIN, I STRUGGLED TO THE SHOULDER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED. I WAS 50 MILES FROM HOME IN A RATHER REMOTE AREA AND I WAS SCARED. AGAIN, I STARTED MY ESCAPE - AGAIN IT TOOK A MINUTE, BUT IT DID START AND I MADE IT ALL THE WAY HOME WITHOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND MY CAR HIS BEEN THERE 36 DAYS. I CALL EVERY OTHER WEEK TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF THE PART. THEY NEVER HAVE ANY NEWS OF THE PART COMING. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME AN EXCELLENT LOANER CAR TO DRIVE, BUT THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THEY TELL ME 1000'S OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PART GO BAD ACROSS THE US. WE'RE ALL WAITING. JUST THIS MORNING, THEY SAY THEY NOW HAVE A SHIPPING NUMBER FOR THE PART WE ALL NEED. THEY TELL ME 7 OF US ARE WAITING FOR THE SAME PART HERE IN MY SMALL TOWN. THEY HOPE THE PART WILL BE HERE TODAY OR TOMORROW. MY LOCAL FORD ESTIMATES THE REPAIR COST TO BE $450. SURELY THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR
Official recalls
114V284000 · 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
3DP15001 · 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.