2011 Ford Escape Steering Problems

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

404Steering complaints

30.8%Of all 1,312 complaints

#1Most-reported category

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

How steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING404 · 30.8%

POWER TRAIN263 · 20%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM253 · 19.3%

ENGINE248 · 18.9%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL244 · 18.6%

Share of the 1,312 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“AT 2700 MILES THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO GO ON AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A CHECK ON AIRBAG PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY FIXED…”NHTSA complaint 10512044 — filed 05/15/2013

“ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED STEERING IS HARD ON TURNS ON WINDING ROADS. HAD CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAY THE STEERING IS NORMAL. IT DID…”NHTSA complaint 10477089 — filed 09/25/2012

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO MANEUVER AND IT WAS MAKING A SQUEAKY…”NHTSA complaint 10416289 — filed 07/29/2011

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

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Ford Escape have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Ford Escape: 404 of 1,312 complaints on file (30.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Ford Escape have in total?

1,312 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 38 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 38 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING 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.