repaired · 2019 Q1
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
2011 Ford EscapeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,320 owner complaints about the 2011 Ford Escape, most often about the steering. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-777 the manufacturer reports only 52% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Ford Escape has problems
1,320 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
413Steering8 crash/fire/injury
268Power train2 crash/fire/injury
253Fuel/propulsion system2 crash/fire/injury
248Engine8 crash/fire/injury
245Vehicle speed control6 crash/fire/injury
117Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
43Structure
33Fuel system, gasoline
32Suspension
17216 other systems36 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 413 | 8 |
| Power train | 268 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 253 | 2 |
| Engine | 248 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 245 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 117 | 6 |
| Structure | 43 | 6 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 33 | 0 |
| Suspension | 32 | 1 |
| 16 other systems | 172 | 36 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2011 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.
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.
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?
110kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 307 steering complaints. 42% were reported before 100,000 miles.
17under 30k miles128under 100k miles179100k 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
21 owners mentioned a cost$1,200median
Middle half: $1,000 – $2,200
Fuel/propulsion system
18 owners mentioned a cost$350median
Middle half: $102 – $500
Engine
15 owners mentioned a cost$600median
Middle half: $503 – $733
Power train
13 owners mentioned a cost$406median
Middle half: $300 – $514
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
2011 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
2011 Ford Escape safety ratings
2011 Ford Escape SUV 4x4 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 3 stars (20.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Ford Escape, and the recalls they led to.
- Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionNo recall
- Loss of power steering while drivingNo recall
- Rear Liftgate Window Glass BreakageNo recall
- Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionNo recall
In owners' words
What Escape owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
While driving my 2011 Ford Escape, the steering suddenly became extremely difficult to turn, almost to the point of being impossible. The engine continued running normally, and no warning lights or messages appeared on the dashboard. After stopping the vehicle and turning off the engine, I…
Power steering repeatedly fails during normal driving conditions. It is resolved by putting the vehicle in park and restarting. This has occurred spontaneously and unpredictably while driving on residential roadways, commercial roadways, highways and parking lots. This is potentially deadly if…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the power steering assist became inoperable, requiring greater effort to steer the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 169,781.
Own a 2011 Escape?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.