YearToAvoid

2009 Ford Escape Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2009 Ford Escape has a complaint index of 75, ranking 6th worst among 21 model years, with Steering the top problem area (828 complaints, 49% share, median mileage 121,000). NHTSA lists one recall for a power steering software issue.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
75/100
#6 of 21 Escape years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
1,693
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
34
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
17
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2024
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
17 / 0

Top 2009 Ford Escape problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering828 (49%)
  2. Engine476 (28%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain301 (18%)
  4. Fuel System203 (12%)
  5. Electrical System145 (9%)
  6. Brakes130 (8%)
  7. Other58 (3%)
  8. Structure & Body34 (2%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires28 (2%)
  10. Airbags14 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering wheel suddenly locks up or becomes very hard to turn while slowing down or turning, sometimes leading to a minor crash.
  • Vehicle left in what appears to be neutral rolls unexpectedly after the driver exits, striking objects nearby.
  • Transmission or powertrain warning light comes on with loss of gas pedal responsiveness, then the vehicle regains power after restarting.
  • Engine stalls and loses power while accelerating up a hill or at a stoplight, sometimes accompanied by battery and oil warning lights.
  • Brakes fail to stop the vehicle at intersections despite hard braking effort, forcing the driver to swerve.
  • A transmission fire occurred while towing at highway speed after following the manual's towing shift procedure.
2009 Ford Escape complaints: complaints filed per quarter1862008 Q42011 Q12013 Q22015 Q32017 Q42020 Q12022 Q22024 Q3
1,693 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2013 Q3 (186).

2009 Ford Escape recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V284000May 29, 2014Steering740,878 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    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.

    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.

    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.

2009 Ford Escape fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Escape years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Good10254220.5
2008Caution651,974321
2009Avoid751,693121
2010Avoid802,069322
2011Caution601,316222

All Ford Escape years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Escape ranks 6th worst out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 75, earning an Avoid rating relative to other Escape years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Ford Escape?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 828 complaints, 49% of all reported issues, and 16 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 121,000.
Does the 2009 Ford Escape have a steering recall?
Yes. NHTSA recall 14V284000 covers 2008-2011 Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles for a power steering torque sensor issue; Ford updates the power steering control module and instrument software.
How does the 2009 Escape compare to other model years?
The 2009 Escape's complaint index of 75 is higher than earlier years like 2005 through 2007 (index 45 or lower) but lower than 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2020, which have indexes of 85 to 100 and are also rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Ford Escape?
EPA rates the 2009 Escape at 21 mpg combined (19 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.