IllustrationWRENCH LIGHT KEEP COMING ON IN MOTION
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
Power Train complaints
301 reportsWRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED ABOVE 20 MPH. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND WAS VERY CONCERNING. I DROVE HOME IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, WITH HAZARDS ON, ALONG BACK ROADS TO AVOID INTERSTATE SPEEDS. CAR ACTUALLY DROPPED TO LESS THAN 1…
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WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED ABOVE 20 MPH. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND WAS VERY CONCERNING. I DROVE HOME IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, WITH HAZARDS ON, ALONG BACK ROADS TO AVOID INTERSTATE SPEEDS. CAR ACTUALLY DROPPED TO LESS THAN 10 MPH WHILE DRIVING UP HILL. TOOK IT TO MY DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD. THEY SAID THAT FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE COSTS, ESTIMATED AT $400.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NORMALLY, ALL OF THE SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING THE WRENCH INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON, AND THERE'S IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. MOTOR BEGINS TO STRUGGLE, AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE WHEN HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. STRUGGLES TO EVEN MAKE IT TO GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. AFTER TURNING …
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NORMALLY, ALL OF THE SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING THE WRENCH INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON, AND THERE'S IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. MOTOR BEGINS TO STRUGGLE, AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE WHEN HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. STRUGGLES TO EVEN MAKE IT TO GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE, WAITING A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THEN RESTARTING VEHICLE, IT WILL DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN, & THE WRENCH LIGHT IS NO LONGER THERE. HOWEVER, THIS SCENARIO KEEPS OCCURRING. IT STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THEN A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, & THEN TO SEVERAL TIMES IN A SINGLE DAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED WITHIN A WEEK WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED WITHIN A WEEK WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ
MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HAS DIFFICULTY GETTING ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS IS A DAILY STRUGGLE. YESTERDAY I WAS TRYING TO PASS AN 18-WHEELER AS IT WAS DRIFTING INTO MY LANE; AS I EAGERLY PRESSED ON THE GAS MY CAR JUMPED AND CONTINUED TO COAST AT THE SAME SPEED. EARLIER THIS MONTH, I HAD TO DECELERATE FROM 40 M…
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MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE HAS DIFFICULTY GETTING ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS IS A DAILY STRUGGLE. YESTERDAY I WAS TRYING TO PASS AN 18-WHEELER AS IT WAS DRIFTING INTO MY LANE; AS I EAGERLY PRESSED ON THE GAS MY CAR JUMPED AND CONTINUED TO COAST AT THE SAME SPEED. EARLIER THIS MONTH, I HAD TO DECELERATE FROM 40 MPH TO A FAIRLY ABRUPT STOP AND MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO. I JUST HAD MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED SO I KNEW THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM, MY CAR JOLTED A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART, THE RATTLING COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION IS CONSTANT. I GET MY FORD ESCAPE CHECKED UP EVERY MONTH, BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE. THIS CAR IS A HAZARD TO MY SAFETY, AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IN THIS ROLLING PLASTIC DEATH TRAP. IT'S INFURIATING THAT THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY TO BE NOT HARMFUL ENOUGH TO HAVE A RECALL. I COULD HAVE DIED FROM IN BOTH INSTANCES WHICH I SPECIFIED IN THIS COMPLAINT, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
MY FORD ESCAPE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN ACTING ERRATICALLY. IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE SOMETIMES, BUT THEN TURNS OFF AT OTHER TIMES. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE VEHICLE.
POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT HAVE REPLACE FRONT INNER BEARING,TRANSMISSION LINES, KEEP UP ON ALL MY MAINTAINED RECORDS SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN SEPT 2014' AND HAVE ALL OTHER MAINTAIN ECONOMIC RECORDS.
I HAVE HAD MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE IN THE FORD DEALER 5 TIMES FOR NHTSA # 10055321. THIS WEEK WILL BE 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS NOT A RECALL. FORD THEMSELVES SAID IT HAPPENS ON LIKE EVERY ESCAPE.
VEHICLE STALLED AND WENT INTO "LIMP-HOME" MODE AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED CONDITION.("LIMP-HOME" MODE IS A MODE PROGRAMMED BY FORD ENGINEERS TO ONLY ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER LIMITED POWER, GENERALLY ONLY 1-2 MPH.) I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE THEN ST…
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VEHICLE STALLED AND WENT INTO "LIMP-HOME" MODE AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED CONDITION.("LIMP-HOME" MODE IS A MODE PROGRAMMED BY FORD ENGINEERS TO ONLY ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER LIMITED POWER, GENERALLY ONLY 1-2 MPH.) I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AN ADDITIONAL TWO TIMES ABOUT TWO WEEKS APART FROM THE FIRST INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO USE MY OWN OBD II CODE SCANNER TO DETECT THE ERROR CODE P2111. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS COMPONENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY AND FORD MOTOR CORPORATION ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS COMPONENT. HOWEVER, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE THIS PART IF THEY ARE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THE ERROR CODE THEMSELVES ON THEIR CODE SCANNER. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE IN THAT IT WON'T STORE THIS PARTICULAR CODE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS, THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND TURN IT BACK ON IN HOPES OF RESETTING THE TRHOTTLE BODY. THIS WORKS BUT IT CANCELS THE ERROR CODE. THE DRIVER IS FORCED TO EMPLOY THIS TECHNIQUE TO CONTINUE THEIR TRAVEL OR FACED WITH THE OPTION OF WAITING FOR FORD TO COME AND SCAN FOR THE CODE THEMSELVES. IF THIS HAPPENS AFTER NORMAL WORK HOURS, THIS OF COURSE IS NOT AN OPTION. THE FACT THAT THIS ERROR CODE ERASES ITSELF IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE VEHICLE MOVING AGAIN IS A CATCH 22 SITUATION AND ONE THAT FORD SHOULD CORRECT. I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE MY OWN REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY SINCE FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE IT.
LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON RT. 17 SOUTH NEAR RAMSEY NJ. ENGINE WAS STILL ON BUT RPM`S WAS VERY ERRATIC. WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ISSUES WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE NOTED ON WEB SITES FOR FORD ESCAPE MODELS. UPDATED 10/01/15*LJ
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.