10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 59,450 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The front sub frame rusted out on the passenger side. The is a 1inch by 5 inch hole in the sub frame. The lower control arm could have come off and the whole spindle and tire could have come off the vehicle while driving. Haggerty Ford iin West Chicago, Il noticed the large hole while doing an inspection for an oil change.
- Glendale Heights, IL, USA
Never again with a Ford. Had a life threatening incident. K frame completely rusted out, making front passenger tire wobble and almost fall off. I was driving 65 mph and it started. Took to shop immediately to find gapping holes in k frame. Ford should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen. Have read about previous complaints of this SAFETY issue with other years and people. I cannot afford repair I am on disability and now stuck without a vehicle. When I tried to break, abs and traction control came on. Was checked and mechanic said abs module failed also. Repairs are beyond what I can afford and I could have been killed along with others. I may call an attorney because k frame/ engine sub frame should last life of vehicle. Not take a life. I also had Huge safety issue with my Taurus, a few years ago, filed a complaint with you for this problem also. Nothing was done. I should have learned my lesson. Ford does not care, why can they get away with this, I saw the class action lawsuit results for other years with same issue. What a joke. Our government is failing us letting auto makers get away with these type of incidents.
- Canisteo, NY, USA
The hinges on the glass for the tail lift corroded causing the back window to drop. This poses a safety hazard when driving or opening the back window on the tail lift.
- Zionsville, IN, USA
The 2009 Ford Escape subframe is corroded and rusted. This could cause a wheel to come apart from the frame and cause an accident if we drive it over 55 miles an hour. Her car shakes when she is braking - and rattles constantily. There is a known recall on 'some' 2009 Ford Escapes, however ours does not fall into this category therefore Ford will not fix this. The fix for them is a simple bracket mounted under the car to hold the frame together, although it is not the desired fix to keep my daughter safe, it is a fix. The air conditioner condenser is sitting on top of the subframe corroding it, I have researched why it's happening. I have contacted Ford Motor Company and because our car's VIN number does not match the vehicles they have on file, they state there is nothing they can do. My 19 year old is driving this car and it is not safe. For me to get it fixed will be approximately $2000 and if this is a know issue, Ford should fix it.
- Clinton Township, MI, USA
Rust caused failure of sub frame. Excessive rusting of rear frame, shock mounts and drive train. Vehicle was never submerged and had 64,692 miles.
- Lenardo, NJ, USA
It was a heavy rainy night when windshield wipers started acting up with their rhythm making it hard to see through a slightly blurred windshield then windshield & sunroof starts leaking water all over me, inside the front light switch, down into floor boards plus all in the seats !! if that wasn't enough I was slowing down to go around a few curves when brakes acted like they didn't want me to stop scary. Key is hard & sticky feeling to turn in ignition cylinder therefore making the ignition switch not being able to catch any voltage at all to start the engine..after a million tries it'll finally start.. it still leaks, very hard to start & replacing brakes again...
- Trussville, AL, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon inspection it was discovered that the front passenger side sub frame had experienced severe corrosion and rusting. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer hondru Ford(300 S. main St. Manheim pa.) and the manufacturer case (xxx) were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000. ('parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')
- Elizabethtown, PA, USA
'takata recall' I was in a car accident June 8th 2018 where my SUV was totaled out. My airbags didn't deploy so I'm trying to see what help can I get. I was making payments on the SUV. I hit my head bad now I suffer head issues that I'm getting treated for also I had a passenger who was hurt.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
1. rear lift gate glass hinge corroded and snapped off, leaving glass dangerously hanging on one hinge. 2. trunk inoperable due to trunk operating via electric patch and no longer receiving electric signal. 3. rear passenger side wheel well extremely rusting.
- Sayville, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While the vehicle was parked, the liftgate glass fell out of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear bolts and hinges failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,925. Updated 01/10/17
- Watertown, WI, USA
2009 Ford Escape liftgate glass hinges have excessive corrosion and the right hinge has broken off and crumbled at the center of the hinge. This occurred at 150,000 miles. This occurred when about to drive off after leaving a shopping plaza. The window then is only supported by one hinge, and the lift support bars.
- Lyndhurst, OH, USA
Premature rust above the passenger side rear wheel well. I have taken very good care of this car and have waxed it on a regular schedule but yet the rust has become a problem due to a manufacturing/design defect. (white Ford Escape).
- Lakewood, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that water leaked through the rear window and underneath the dashboard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
- Greensburg, IN, USA
There is a known throttle body issue with the Ford Escape 2009, where the truck goes into "limp mode" indicated by an illuminated wrench. I had just taken it in for this issue, Ford only did the recalibration and did not replace the defective throttle body. The next day while in the parking lot at my work, the vehicle went into "wrench mode" or "enhanced limp mode (since the recalibration)" and lurched into a cement pillar causing severe damage to the front right side of my vehicle. Damage was ~$5K, rental car $500, deductible $100, higher insurance, structural damage to the vehicle (permanent loss of value).
- Irvine, CA, USA
I was merging off of an exit ramp. I slowed down so I can enter traffic, and then when I accelerated, the car hesitated/lagged before surging me forward. This problem occurs often and has almost caused an accident. Sometimes it will happen when I'm completely stopped and then accelerate, or going up a hill.
- Leesburg, VA, USA
The rear hatch on my 2009 Ford Escape XLT 4X4 finally quit opening. I have had the vehicle into the dealer for numerous issues and always mentioned a problem with the rear hatch not always opening but they could never duplicate the problem. I am now 5000 miles out of the bumper to bumper warranty and the hatch will not open. It used to 'hang up and not open on occasion, but now appears to be permanent. When I called my dealer they told me it was out of warranty and they had other customers that had the same problem, unfortunately, those customers paid between $250 and $700 to have it fixed. I contacted Ford directly requesting they repair the lift gate since it had been reported when originally under warranty, only to be advised to pay to have it repaired as it is now out of warranty, and save my receipts in case there ever is a recall. (I find this statement interesting because it means they are aware of the problem). The only latch on the lift gate is a button above the license plate, there is no latch inside the vehicle or glove compartment that would allow you to manually open it. I consider this a huge safety concern.
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Warrington, PA, USA