Does the 2009 Ford Escape have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Ford Escape, the most recent reported on May 29, 2014 (Steering: electric power assist system). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Escape?

Owners have filed 1,693 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is steering (828 complaints), followed by power train (301).

How many 2009 Ford Escape complaints mention a crash or fire?

34 of 1,693 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 17 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2009 Ford Escape recalls and problems

1 recall and 1,693 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2009 Ford Escape.

recalls

1,693

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2009 Ford Escape recalls

Steering: electric power assist system

NHTSA campaign 14V284000 · reported May 29, 2014 · Ford Motor Company · 740,878 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: 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.
The 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.
The fix: 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.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Steering828
Power train301
Vehicle speed control279
Engine254
Electrical system143
Fuel/propulsion system116
Service brakes94
Fuel system, gasoline88
Unknown or other55
Engine and engine cooling37

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Sep 22, 2026 · Steering · 135,000 miles
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, where it was…

Aug 13, 2026 · Fuel/propulsion system
A quien corresponda Por medio de la presente me pongo en contacto con ustedes por motivo de falla mecánica en mi auto móvil Ford escape 2009 ya que hace aproximadamente dos meses atrás al llenar el tanque de gasolina me percaté que el interior olía a combustible y al revisarlo noté que se tiraba por debajo del…

Jun 23, 2026 · Steering
Hi! I […] […] 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)

May 20, 2026 · Steering · 188,136 miles
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 repaired by an…

May 16, 2026 · Engine
On several occasions my 2009 Ford escape xlt completely died as I was driving 1. On the highway at 60mph I had to pull over and restart vehicle. 2. Going through town at 30mph I had to put in neutral to restart as I was moving uphill. 3. As I was at a stop light, again putting in neutral was necessary to restart as…

Escape model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2006	3	464	16	9
2007	2	254	15	2
2008	3	1,974	59	6
2009	1	1,693	34	2
2010	3	2,070	29	3
2011	2	1,318	38	7
2012	1	604	38	3

Across all years, the 2013 Escape has the most complaints (2,753). All Ford Escape years →

Questions

Does the 2009 Ford Escape have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Ford Escape, the most recent reported on May 29, 2014 (Steering: electric power assist system). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Escape?: Owners have filed 1,693 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is steering (828 complaints), followed by power train (301).
How many 2009 Ford Escape complaints mention a crash or fire?: 34 of 1,693 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 17 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received September 22, 2026.