2011 Ford Escape problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (386) · Vehicle Speed Control (244) · Power Train (209)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Escape model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
1,062 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2016-10-26 · campaign 16V777000 · 329,265 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
Suspension:front:wheel Bearing 2015-06-03 · campaign 15E045000 · 576 vehicles
Defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. 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.
Risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2014-05-29 · campaign 14V284000 · 740,878 vehicles
Defect: 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 input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall
Service bulletins (49)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Structure 2023-04-04 · SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2000-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. it is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (vin) from a different vehicle. most modules on these affe
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor 2020-06-03 · DOR-M9J4S-07 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
these skus are exhaust manifolds with catalytic converters. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of carb certification. these skus can no longer be sold as they do not meet carb standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor 2020-06-03 · DOR-M3J3F-07 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
these skus are exhaust manifolds with catalytic converters. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of carb certification. these skus can no longer be sold as they do not meet carb standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
Equipment 2018-03-30 · SSM 47201 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
replacing the original equipment sync/navigation system with either an aftermarket sync/navigation kit or modifying original sync/navigation parts to provide additional features is not recommended nor supported on any ford, mercury or lincoln vehicle. only approved genuine ford accessories or origin
Showing the 6 most recent of 49 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-27 · Steering“power steering repeatedly fails during normal driving conditions. it is resolved by putting the vehicle in park and restarting. this has occurred spontaneously and unpredictably while driving on residential roadways, commercial roadways, highways and parking lots. this is potentially deadly if power steering fails during normal or necessary evasive…”
2026-10-13 · Steering · 169,781 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the power steering assist became inoperable, requiring greater effort to steer the vehicle. the failure mileage was approximately 169,781.…”
2026-10-08 · Steering“my 2011 ford escape is experiencing symptoms of the recall of the faulty electric power steering (eps) torque sensor. its not often, but when i turn on the car i wont have power steering but when i turn it off and turn it back on the power steering works. is there anyway you could open/put a recall on my 2011 ford escape. …”
2026-08-19 · Suspension“i have a 2011 ford escape awd 3.0 engine. i took it for ny state inspection and it fails due the right side front subframe is rusted and unsafe. ford has a recall on models up to 2004 but this vehicle has the same issue of the a/c draining on it causing the rust. i have been an auto tech for over 48 years, retired now, and strongly feel this shoul…”
2026-08-17 · Steering · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford escape. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the steering torque sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was…”
2026-08-13 · Structure:body“i went for an oil change and my mechanic found that the subframe/cross member assembly was almost rusted through. very dangerous. needs to be replaced. found out this is very common with the ford escape model of these years. will cost thousands to repair.…”
2026-07-29 · Unknown Or Other“the rear hatch clicks like it wants to open but doesn't release the latch to open it and i can't get to the place to release an lower the spare tire which is safety concern to me. also the driver side seat belt casing broke and doesn't release every time you push button to unlatch it which can cause serious problems if in an accident i had a indivi…”
2026-05-20 · Steering“the steering shaft torque sensor unexpectedly malfunctioned while driving resulting in a loss of steering. there was no indication that this would happen, no check engine light was on, and no symptoms prior to the incident. the vehicle is undrivable due to a lack of steering and was diagnosed by an independent garage. the steering shaft torque sens…”
2026-04-30 · Steering“i was traveling at 20 mph and slowed to make a turn when the steering wheel took two hands to turn the wheel ... i knew it was a power steering issue. happend all of a sudden with no warning and i was stuck in the middle of an intersection trying to turn around to go back home…”
2026-04-15 · Steering · 💥 crash“for months my vehicle has had intermittent loss of power steering making it nearly impossible to control direction. on jan. 29, 2026, i ran into the back of a vehicle that stopped suddenly and due to sudden power steering loss, i wasn't able to swerve and avoid collision. i was issued an infraction for this incident and had to file an insurance c…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.