2009 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

254Engine complaints

15%Of all 1,691 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING817 · 48.3%

POWER TRAIN279 · 16.5%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL277 · 16.4%

ENGINE254 · 15%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM142 · 8.4%

Share of the 1,691 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE STALLED (ENGINE RUNNING BUT NO FORWARD MOTION AND NO RESPONSE TO ACCELERATOR) WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HEAVY…”NHTSA complaint 10485843 — filed 11/23/2012

“IN FEBRUARY 2012 (MILEAGE APPROX 32900), I EXPERIENCED JERKING UPON ACCELERATING AS MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE WAS CHANGING GEARS. THE DEALER ASSESSED IT AS A…”NHTSA complaint 10481970 — filed 10/23/2012

“I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL/DRIVETRAIN LIGHT CAME ON . I PULLED TO THE BERM…”NHTSA complaint 10480592 — filed 10/15/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Ford Escape have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Ford Escape: 254 of 1,691 complaints on file (15%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Ford Escape have in total?

1,691 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 34 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.