Model year record

2009 Ford Escape

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 2,393 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V284000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component: Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 740,878
Reported to NHTSA: 2014-05-29
Owners notified: 2014-07-18

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Steering	843	122,000 mi
Power train	279	66,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	277	68,965 mi
Engine	257	70,167 mi
Electrical system	146	85,505 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	117	71,049 mi
Service brakes	96	100,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	85	62,000 mi
Unknown or other	57	102,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	34	52,873 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	22	106,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	22	14,516 mi
Suspension	21	60,000 mi
Structure: body	20	77,925 mi
Wheels	12	72,000 mi
Air bags	11	57,810 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	9	130,000 mi
Structure	8	137,000 mi
Seat belts	7	18,400 mi
Exterior lighting	5	105,000 mi
Steering: column	5	107,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	4	44,302 mi
Steering: electric power assist system	3	77,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments	3	74,000 mi
Traction control system	3	21,300 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	3	8,500 mi
Air bags: side/window	2	3,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)	2	129,082 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	2	70,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	2	49,900 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	2	58,294 mi
Visibility/wiper	2	92,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	47,916 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	2	44,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	2	13,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	1	23,435 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	58,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	1	950 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: crank/camshaft position sensor	1	140,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	950 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	11,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	1	122,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	88,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	1	105,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	53,900 mi
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal	1	20,000 mi
Seats	1	—
Service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module	1	—
Service brakes, electric	1	25,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light	1	112,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar	1	190,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	165,000 mi
Steering: steering control module	1	270,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate	1	18,000 mi
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments	1	100,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	1	1,113 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	1	23,680 mi
Visibility	1	77,925 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	78,000 mi

The 2008 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2010 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.