repaired · 2015 Q4
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. 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.
2009 Ford EscapeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,693 owner complaints about the 2009 Ford Escape, most often about the steering. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 14V-284 the manufacturer reports only 72% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Ford Escape has problems
1,693 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
828Steering17 crash/fire/injury
301Power train2 crash/fire/injury
279Vehicle speed control7 crash/fire/injury
254Engine3 crash/fire/injury
143Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
116Fuel/propulsion system
94Service brakes
88Fuel system, gasoline
37Engine and engine cooling
14819 other systems14 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 828 | 17 |
| Power train | 301 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 279 | 7 |
| Engine | 254 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 143 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 116 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 94 | 8 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 88 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 37 | 0 |
| 19 other systems | 148 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2009 Ford Escape recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
121kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 647 steering complaints. 30% were reported before 100,000 miles.
30under 30k miles196under 100k miles451100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
66 owners mentioned a cost$1,500median
Middle half: $1,263 – $1,971
Power train
22 owners mentioned a cost$457median
Middle half: $300 – $605
Vehicle speed control
19 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $370 – $500
Service brakes
17 owners mentioned a cost$1,765median
Middle half: $1,200 – $2,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Escape year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escape median. How we score
9961,0275584991,3944642541,9741,6932,0711,3206042,7532,0911,1481,1922,7101,8336041,62135623810278263
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Ford Escape safety ratings
2009 Ford Escape 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (20.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2009 Ford Escape, and the recalls they led to.
- Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionNo recall
- Loss of power steering while drivingNo recall
- Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionNo recall
In owners' words
What Escape owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic,…
Hi! I [XXX] [XXX] my vehicle streeing wheel struck or lock when the vehicle slow down or stopped. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the power steering failure warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
Own a 2009 Escape?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.