Is the 2009 Ford Escape a bad year?
1,693 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 301, 5.5× a quiet Escape year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2009 Ford Escape were filed between 45k and 86k miles. You're at 65,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Escape owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 65,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 301 (18%) | 45k–86k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 289 (17%) | 48k–91k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 279 (16%) | 53k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 203 (12%) | 52k–98k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 828 (49%) | 93k–150k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 143 (8%) | 60k–135k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 32 (2%) | 57k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 22 (1%) | 60k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 19 (1%) | 60k–150k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bags | 14 (1%) | 10k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (1%) | 16k–77k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 11 (1%) | 44k–113k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Brakes | 108 (6%) | 78k–136k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seat belts | 7 (0%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 65,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,693 complaints: 34 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 32 say the car was towed.
19 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Shortly after entering highway on dark rainy evening, with no fore warning, car began to shake and lose power.
Car started to idle and couldn't give it any gas. It would stall. Started back up and then the gas would not accelerate.
Multiple times my car is stalling while driving. The first incident I was driving 55MPH. I took vehicle to Ford and was told it was the electronic throttle body and that the part is on back order for at least 4 weeks.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 65,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Ford Escape: 3
The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width. Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. 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.
These seat covers are made of heavier thread and are not compatible with seats containing side airbags. The heavier seat cover could interfere with full deployment of the airbag in the event of a crash. An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 40
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Ford Escape. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
2014 escape, 2010-2014 fusion, 2012-2014 edge, explorer, 2013-2014 taurus: Lincoln 2013-2014 mkt,mkz: Mercury 2009- 2011 mariner, 2010-2011 milan
After powertrain control module reprogramming, the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is on with several diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P06B8, P068A, P2610…
In valve body, a worn solenoid pressure regulator valve has diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0735 stored and indication of repair history was the valve body was…
Mercury/ford: on some vehicles, there is a fluid leakage, coming from left hand (Lh) halfshaft seal of the automatic transmission and a service kit…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Loss of power steering while driving
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Neighbouring years
2008 Escape: 1,974 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2010 Escape: 2,071 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford Escape year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Escape years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Ford Escape a bad year?
1,693 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 301, 5.5× a quiet Escape year. At 65,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2009 Ford Escape were filed between 45k and 86k miles. You're at 65,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Escape?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (301), engine (289), speed control (279), fuel system (203), steering (828). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 45k–86k miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Escape have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 15E045000), Steering (NHTSA 14V-284), Equipment (NHTSA 10E043000). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.