10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 8 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 67,009 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Took my vehicle to Ford and another local garage for issues with the brakes not stopping the vehicle properly (soft pedal and longer distance to stop). After replacing all the mechanical parts the issue persisted. Ford couldn't find the issue, but the other garage thinks it's the ABS module. No fault codes or anything to back this up. Not sure how to test it and it's not worth the vehicle value to replace it. For now the car is parked. I think Ford knows about this problem and needs to issue a recall.
- High Ridge, MO, USA
I have a 2009 Ford Escape approximately 120,000 miles on it. A couple of months ago while driving to work in the early morning I saw deer standing in the road, they usually almost always move out of the road. As I got closer it was obvious it wasn't going to move, so I put the brakes on and the pedal went to the floor... thud...bump...crunch but the deer hobbled off. I pulled over and no visible damage to the front end, I look over and the deer was in the field putting on its best break dancing moves and suddenly took a nap. I got back in the vehicle pumped the brakes a couple of times and brakes came back, off to work I went. After work on the way home no A/C, when I got home there was some damage to the A/C condenser. Then just yesterday leaving work in the Escape, someone walked in front of me I put the brakes on and to the floor again...pump-pump-pump and stop.....slowly.... the person in front of me had a look of shock that I was 6 inches from them. Sorry I yell out they nod back begrudgingly. I think ya buddy you made out a lot better than that deer a couple of months ago. And oh ya now I always have brakes that go to the floor.
- Rollinsford, NH, USA
My 2009 Ford Escape has a severe driver's side front brake overheating problem. The brake caliper is causing enough friction on the rotor to cause the rim, tire, and the entire engine compartment to become over heated and smoke. The vehicle has only 125,000 miles.
- Clermont, FL, USA
Starter stuck was still running after turning car off and removed key I replaced my starter to find that the ignition switch went out now my car won't start the car was parked when this happened not running
- Bearden, AR, USA
Faulty ABS module. The brake pedal goes all the way to the floor without engaging the brakes. This happens when the vehicle is in motion.
- Austell, GA, USA
Brake pedal goes to the floor after vehicle brakes applied during a semi hard stop, people have reported this issue many times and found the issue to be the ABS control module. This is a big safety issue and needs to have a recall to repair before some is killed or injured. I don't understand why a recall has not been issued so far as complaints go back several years for this same issue. Please investigate this before someone is hurt or killed. I have seen in many post that it is about a $2000 plus repair. I am a senior citizen and live on a fixed budget. I bought it from another party and it has 92000 miles on it. This issue has happened on multiple occasions last time about 3 weeks ago. This needs to be recalled please, for safety sake. The vehicle was on a city street in motion when someone cut in front of me and I had to apply the brakes to avoid hitting the vehicle that cut me off. I was able to make it back home and the brakes tend to return to normal after pumping and letting vehicle sit. Really scarred me everytime it happens.
- Wellington, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle wobbled without warning. The contact stated he pulled over and waited several seconds before he restarted the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to joe machens Ford (1911 w worley St, columbia, mo 65203) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 109,000.
- Independence, MO, USA
Driving down a hill, my brake pedal started depressing to the floor with a delayed stop on April 27, 2020. No pump or pressure. The front brakes were replaced recently (a month ago) and the rotors have been resurfaced. The brake pedal now goes all the way to the floor, and this is very dangerous in regular driving conditions and dealing with unexpected stops or road conditions. I took the vehicle to the car shop and they figured the master cylinder needed to be replaced. Upon testing the car out, the same spongy brake feel and brake pedal depression to the floor symptoms remained. The car shop informed me that they'd have to go through the Ford dealership for the part and repair of the ABS, which would cost around $2,100. This is a definite safety issue. This needs to be a recall.
- Sterrett, AL, USA
ABS system failed brake pedal went floor. $2200 to replace. 48172 miles. 43540 miles ft car lurched at stop. Replaced purge valve$388. Axle seal leak. 38807 miles. $410. Transmission went out at 16271 miles. Rebuild trans $3148 miles covered under extended warranty.
- Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Driving in city traffic to the grocery store 2 miles from my house, average speed 35 mph, went to stop and brake pedal went almost to floor with very little/no stopping power almost had an accident.stopped at store shut car off and then went home, it was still the same.let the car sit a couple hours then used my pro scan tool to look for codes.no codes found either stored or engine running.road tested the car with scan tool hooked up and no codes found and the brakes were operating normally.this is the second time in 6 months this has occurred.bought this 2009 Ford Escape XLS new in 2009, it only has 30,000 miles.the first time it did this was in Sept.2019 and then yesterday on Feb.8 2020.I have researched this thoroughly and there are many reports of the same problem for this vehicle.this problem has been identified as the ABS module due to defective internal valve seals that corrode and allow fluid pressure to by-pass causing the brake pedal to go almost to the floor similar to a faulty master cylinder.I have read that currently Ford has a recall on some vehicles with the same problem but different models.the average installation repair cost is over $ 2000.00.this is a major safety defect/flaw/ issue and Ford should be compelled to replace and repair the ABS system on all models sharing the same or similar system experiencing this anomaly and yes it is an anomaly.no warning light on{ABS} no trouble codes either stored or running test.this car is garage kept, well maintained and in like new condition.please help us, the consumer from this refusal by Ford to repair and replace the most important safety item found on a vehicle, the brake ABS system.what will it take" a death perhaps and a major lawsuit?this car also has other safety recalls but don't appear on your website such as, electric power steering, throttle body and some others."unsafe at any speed",sound familiar"
- Palm Bay, FL, 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's wife owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 65 mph, the driver was forced to make a hard stop due to a pedestrian walking on the highway. Since that incident, the brakes became soft and went to floorboard when depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal had to be pumped multiple times to effectively stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to four independent mechanic who were unable to diagnose or repair the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
When I accelerate my wheel feels like it's slipping and grinding and when I apply the brakes hard they seem to not want to stop keeping my ABS on I feel the grinding and brake issue coming from the front wheel. When I step on the gas the front wheel hops and doesn't get traction wants to constantly slip and when I stop in snow the brakes lock up in front and ABS stays on for a bit might be gear drive or bearing it's getting bad. This happens when I have to give a lot of gas to go and the ABS when I need to really stop. This started a couple months after I financed it through genthe Chevrolet but I work many hours and it has to be fixed before I end up stranded or in an accident. When I first test drove it it was acting up I told the salesman dave teska he told me it was fixed but he must of doped it like the interior it looked new when I bought it now it has stain spots and looks dirty I found out it was a Ford fabric problem and they can't do anything. I'll never buy another vehicle again from genthe.
- Southgate, MI, USA
When applying the brakes the pedal goes all the way to the floor and barely stops. This has happened on city streets, country roads and highway. At first it did not do it very often, but it is now doing it at least once a week. It is very scary when trying to come to a stop and the brakes are not there. It used to get better by pumping the brakes, but this is not working all the time anymore.
- Superior, WI, USA
I was driving my Ford Escape and when I pressed my breaks there was a bang sound and the break pedal went to the floor. Lost all break pressure while driving.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
On hwy, going to turn...brake pedel went to floor...pumped..little, then to floor...kept pumping...nothing this time. The worsest. Have had to pump several times in past, (did pump up enough to stop) need fixed...senior & fixed income!
- Laremore, OK, USA
Starting in late 2018 when I applied my brakes they were soft and nearly went to the floor. We took it to the Ford dealership and they couldn't find anything wrong. The brakes started acting up again about a month later after visiting the dealership. Now they are soft spongy nearly all the time. It's scary to drive. If you have to brake suddenly they go nearly to the floor. I've gone online and found many complaints about the brakes, not only with 2009, but other years as well. Many have had their master cylinder replace only to find that didn't fix the problem. Please help B4 someone is injured or dies because their brakes fail !
- Norman, OK, USA
Brake pedal is spongy or goes to the floor, started off just here and there but now is doing it almost daily. There really should be a recall on the ABS control module. Sounds to me like this is a very serious problem with a lot of Escape owners. Are they going to wait till someone dies ( I hope it's not me) before they do something about it. Very scary to drive and very expensive if you have to pay to have it fixed. I know it could be nothing else, I have replaced every other part on the braking system and it still does the same thing. I replaced rotors, drums, pads, wheel cylinders, calipers, and master cylinder. Couldn't figure it out until I went online and saw all of the complaints. Ford, please recall the ABS module on this vehicle before someone dies because of your stupidity!! by the way, my son had an accident in this vehicle because of this problem, it was minor. But if it would of been worse I would be suing your [xxx] off. 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).
- New Athens, IL, USA
There has been multiple issues with this Ford Escape XLT. The ABS light continues to come on. The wheel of the car locks when you try too turn when driving wheel. It is very dangerous. The sensors even though we replaced them keep blowing which causing the truck to decline in speed while driving in traffic. We had to turn it onto to the grass to avoid accidents. Constant engine issues after we had it fixed multiple times. We are in a financial negative because of this truck. The tire sensors keep going also. These issues are happening after we have gotten this truck fixed multiple times and more dangerously while we are driving it. The brakes, steering wheel, transmission an the engine are all faulty. We have put thousands of dollars into the this vehicle. This is our transportation to work and we are behind with the notes. Even when the vehicle is stationary there is a grinding, almost like the wheels want to fall off. We need this fixed we need help!!!!!
- Lititz, PA, USA
- Cincinnati, OH, USA