Model year
2009 Ford Escape
NHTSA lists 1 recall and 1,693 complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 0 recalls and 153 complaints under ESCAPE HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are STEERING (817), POWER TRAIN (279), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (277). NHTSA lists 3 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 20–32 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,100–$3,350, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2001 996 complaints
- 2002 1,027 complaints
- 2003 558 complaints
- 2004 499 complaints
- 2005 1,394 complaints
- 2006 464 complaints
- 2007 254 complaints
- 2008 1,974 complaints
- 2009 1,693 complaints
- 2010 2,070 complaints
- 2011 1,318 complaints
- 2012 604 complaints
- 2013 2,753 complaints
- 2014 2,089 complaints
- 2015 1,130 complaints
- 2016 1,166 complaints
- 2017 2,701 complaints
- 2018 1,821 complaints
- 2019 596 complaints
- 2020 1,612 complaints
- 2021 350 complaints
- 2022 236 complaints
- 2023 101 complaints
- 2024 76 complaints
- 2025 26 complaints
- 2026 3 complaints
Recalls
14V284000 · May 29, 2014
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…
Complaints
1,693 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 34, fire flag on 2, injury field 17, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| ESCAPE HYBRID | 0 | 153 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP12006 | Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction · ENGINE | Oct 2, 2012 | Feb 21, 2013 |
| PE13003 | Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction · ENGINE | Feb 21, 2013 | Feb 28, 2014 |
| DP15001 | Loss of power steering while driving · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | Apr 1, 2015 | Jun 14, 2018 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape FWD · 2.5L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 28 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Escape FWD · 2.5L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 | 28 | 23 | — | — | $2,900 |
| Escape FWD · 3L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 | 26 | 21 | — | — | $3,200 |
| Escape Hybrid FWD · 2.5L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 34 | 31 | 32 | — | — | $2,100 |
| Escape 4WD · 2.5L · Automatic 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 | 25 | 21 | — | — | $3,200 |
| Escape 4WD · 3L · Automatic 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 17 | 24 | 20 | — | — | $3,350 |
| Escape Hybrid 4WD · 2.5L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 29 | 27 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2009 Ford Escape at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.