2009 Ford Escape Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (66) · Service Brakes (20) · Vehicle Speed Control (17)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Escape Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
143 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (5)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2016-09-08 · TSB 16-0118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005-2012 escape hybrid and 2006-2011 mariner hybrid vehicles may set dtcs p0a81 (battery pack cooling fan 1 control circuit) and/or p0a96 (battery pack cooling fan 2 control circuit) in the traction battery control module (tbcm). these codes by themselves normally do not result in any symptoms
Electrical System:software 2011-04-01 · SIS-21841 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
comm-trans lund: some 2009-2011 models may have the air bag inicator flashing with a stored trouble code. this is a software problem. *rm
Service Brakes, Air:antilock 2011-03-01 · AS-21769 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration. *rm
Traction Control System 2009-12-09 · TSB-09-15-1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/mercury: traction control light with dtc c1440. some vehicles built may exhibit the traction control light on with dtc code c1440. if the vehicle is operated for an extended period following the illumination of the traction control light, a slight brake drag condition may be observed.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring 2009-06-01 · TSB-09-5-5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: vehicles may exhibit a clicking or rubbing noise from the left front wheel speed sensor and/or exhibit abs warning light activation. escape and escape hybrid only. *pe
What owners report
2026-07-31 · Steering“car steering torque sensor not working properly causing power steering assist to be lost compromising electric power steering (eps) assist and increasing the risk of an accident. ford has a recall 14s05/2014-193, but they are saying my car is not included on this recall at this time although it is exactly the same issue i am having now. …”
2025-03-11 · Steering · 260,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while driving 8 mph, the steering wheel failed to respond. there were no warning lights illuminated. the steering wheel ceased to function; however, the contact was able to make a full turn of the steering wheel, and the vehicle was turned off. the vehicle was restarted, and the contact…”
2025-01-27 · Steering · 120,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving in a parking lot at 15 mph, the steering wheel became inoperable. the steering wheel was difficult to turn. the power steering assist failure warning light was illuminated. the contact related the failure to nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). the local deale…”
2024-07-16 · Steering“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact stated whil…”
2024-07-01 · Steering · 190,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph and making a left turn, the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn. the vehicle was later taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering control module (pscm) was faulty and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not y…”
2023-02-27 · Steering · 270,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated while stopped, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally. the vehicle then lost power steering functionality. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the power steering control module was reset; however, the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to the independent mec…”
2022-04-05 · Steering · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed, causing the steering wheel to be difficult to maneuver. the power steering sensor failed warning message was displayed. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. the manu…”
2022-02-14 · Steering · 158,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle the steering wheel would shake and vibrate before eventually the message "torque sensor failure" had displayed and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering …”
2022-01-05 · Steering · 59,746 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that after his wife started the vehicle, it was discovered that the power steering assist had malfunctioned, and the steering wheel was very difficult to turn in either direction. the cause of the failure was not yet determined. the manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the fai…”
2021-09-20 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 ford escape hybrid. the contact stated that the steering wheel was locked after starting the vehicle. several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle in for a diagnostic test. the dealer also informed the contact that there was no open reca…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.