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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,236 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Ford Escape electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #98

Oct 062022

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My steering got heavy and hard to turn. Loss of power steering. I had a diagnostic done and my Torque sensor in my steering is bad. I know there is already a recall on the 2011 Ford Escape, but my Vin number wasn't on the list. Thank you

- Sidney, OH, USA

problem #97

Oct 062022

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
I am a 79 year old disabled man when I stopped at th spokane va hospital the driver's door would not unlock. I tried everything I could and could not unlock the door.to get out.even the key is only an electric switch there is no mechanical way to open the door. If I had been in an accident and the car was on fire I would have died. As is I had an extremely dificult time climbing out of the car. I drove to a Ford dealer to see if they could fix it but they told me it would be two or more weeks before they could help me. I asked them if I had to stay in that car for all that time.

- Malo, WA, USA

problem #96

Aug 192022

Escape

  • miles
The electric power steering failed several times while driving. Have to turn off and on the get it working again. It fails without warning while driving. Informed dealer and they stated don-€™t worry about it that it is not on recall. It is very dangerous to drive and happens without warning. This vehicle needs a recall to be able to fix this serious dangerous situation. I have to drive with kids in the car. This is a serious hazard to me and others. Other cars of this type and year has had recalls to fix the very same problem. Thank you

- Tombstone, AZ, USA

problem #95

Feb 202022

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving, the power steering goes out and you are not able to steer the car. It is very noticeable when I am making a right or left hand turn. You have to turn the steer wheel manually (a lot different from manual steering in older cars). When this happens, I put the car in neutral, turn the car off, restart the car, and put it back in drive. This temporarily fixes the problem. Very difficult to turn the wheel. It is extremely stressful and difficult to control the car at that point. I have not been in an accident yet and no bodily harm has been caused; however, I am hoping it doesn't ever happen. I was told by Ford that this is the Electric Power Steering Gear. There was a recall for Ford Escape 2011 and my VIN is not included. It should be as I am experiencing the same problems. There is no warning before this happens. It just happens and you cannot prepare for it. I would truly appreciate to be included in the recall as I do have a 2011 Ford Escape and I am experiencing the same problems/issues the other cars did that were included in the recall. As this was purchased as a used car, I was not aware of the possible recall and this problem. The date below only indicates the most current incident.

- Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

problem #94

Nov 012020

Escape

  • 147,000 miles
The instrument cluster started by flashing all lights to staying on. Then the speed controls, speedometer, RPM gauge, and heat sensor would not work. On top of all this. The brakes began to make a clicking noise when this issue would happen and the brakes would act rough. No mechanic could figure out the problem until it was to late. This needs to be better known and better managed.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #93

Nov 012020

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
I have been having issues with dash cluster going crazy while driving, I have reserched on line and have found many people are having the same issue, would be nice if fordwould take care of this issue.

- Greeley, CO, USA

problem #92

Jul 102020

Escape

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All off these events I am describing happened all while driving and still occur while in park. All of these also slowly progressed into one big issue over a month and a half period. It started off as my headlights were dimming and flickering, then it progressed to my dash lights doing the same, flickering and dimming on and off. Then it started affecting my ac and heat, it would get locked to stay on and I would have it turned off but if my gauges were in a certain position sometimes it would just turn on by itself. Then my battery light would turn on and off, and then my power steering was making like a click sound and it would go in and out. One time my locks were going on and off by themselves as well. I replaced the battery thinking it was dying, that didn't help. I took it to get the battery and alternator tested and it was giving a 100%. I'm at a loss and do not know what else to do as the power steering is an issue.

- Salut Ste Marie, MI, USA

problem #91

Jan 012014

Escape 6-cyl

  • 129,000 miles
It's stalling in motion or suddenly surging forward when accelerating from a stop, posing a serious safety risk to vehicle occupants, other motorists and pedestrians. Intermittent vehicle stalls and surges as they enter traffic from a stopped position or while driving at highway speeds.

- Ridgeley, WV, USA

problem #90

Feb 112020

Escape

  • 60,000 miles
The ABS braking system on the Ford Escape hybrid failed unexpectedly and without warning at only 60K miles. The vehicle was in motion, and all the lights came on at once and the system read "check brakes." The brakes felt loose, and I took it a mechanic the next day. They thought that pressure was getting sent unevenly to both sides of the vehicle, so they flushed the brakes. However, they discovered total ABS failure, and a $3000 fix associated with it. This is a known issue all over the internet. There are facebook groups advocating for a recall of this vehicle. We were lucky that we didn't crash into someone. The brakes only work if you apply extreme force to them, and even then they get loose and the car starts to roll away. These issues are becoming extremely prevalent now in 2020 that the 2008-2011 era of this hybrid is getting a bit older. That being said, this model only has 60K miles on it and should not have had brake failure. Https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/5850/Ford/Escape-hybrid/Ford-Escape-hybrid-brake-problems/P4

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #89

Jan 152020

Escape

  • 95,000 miles
I have only owned my pre-owned vehicle for 3 years and have had to replace driver side front bearing 2X's, rear wiper motor twice and now vehicle will stall while in motion and at stops for traffic lights. I have always driven Ford and feel that this is something with the assembly line because I learned of another from the same assembly line that had the same problems.

- Wallagrass, ME, USA

problem #88

Oct 262019

Escape

  • 4 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving down the road the battery light came on. Then all the sudden the stearing wheel got tight and I couldnt steer the car. Then I turned car off started it again after a few minutes the battery light lite up and the stearing was locking up not letting me turn.very scarey cause almost had an accident and nothing was displayed saying anything about stearing or battery low...

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #87

Oct 142019

Escape

  • miles
Escape would not start on 10/14/19. Made clicking noise but would not turn over. Checked battery which indicated low voltage. Replaced battery on 10/15/19. On 10/17/19, attempted to start car. All lights came on but no sound was heard and engine would not turn over. Checked new battery which was within limits. Checked symptoms online and found issue to be faulty neutral safety switch. Upon further search, found numerous owners of 2008-2012 Ford Escape and Mercury mariners have the same issue. Would like to know why this is not a factory recall if it is happening this often.

- Jasper, GA, USA

problem #86

Oct 042019

Escape

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. While the contact's wife was driving 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn, causing her to bump into a curb. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The driver was able to park the vehicle into a parking spot. Once the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the steering wheel resumed normal operation. The contact's wife managed to drive the vehicle home. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to autonation Ford bellevue (located at 411 116th ave ne, bellevue, wa 98004, (425) 243-5203) where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced and the power steering control module needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 107,000.

- Bothell, WA, USA

problem #85

Aug 042019

Escape

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. While attempting to start the vehicle, the key turned in the ignition; however, the vehicle did not start. The contact stated that the failure occurred at least seven other times. The vehicle was taken to Texas country Ford (321 E coke rd, winnsboro, tx 75494), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

- Winnsboro, TX, USA

problem #84

Mar 012018

Escape

  • 115,000 miles
Back door wont open, rear wiper doesn't work, rain comes in through back door.

- Grass Lake, MI, USA

problem #83

Jun 012013

Escape

  • miles
First issue is that the back back door wont open & there is no keyhole to unlock it either. Second issue is that when it rains heavy water is coming through from the outside into all my doors & it stays there because there is no plug to let the water out. The cheapest option was to drill holes in the bottom of each door to let the water out.

- Cicero, IL, USA

problem #82

Feb 072019

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
I was driving down the road and the car just died and did not start again and I cant figure out whats wrong with the car but even in the off engion switch still was trying to start its self so I had to remove the battery cables so it would stop trying to start and we cant figure out whats wrong with it still and we just spent $3500 to get the transmission replaced and at this time we have no clue how to fix it.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #81

Feb 012019

Escape

  • 65,000 miles
This will be the second time I am replacing wheel bearing in the front driver side wheel. This causes the wheel to shake. I cant afford to continue to put money into a vehicle with such low miles and every 6 months. Also rear wiper motor burnt out due to a leaky seal or poor seal from Ford.

- Wallagrass, ME, USA

problem #80

Apr 062017

Escape

  • 145,500 miles
Takata recall.... checked VIN with NHTSA and saw recall information. Today, I would feel safer if this issue was fixed.

- Mount Vernon, IN, USA

problem #79

Nov 262018

Escape

  • 93,855 miles
There have been several incidents with this vehicle where the steering wheel will seize and lose of acceleration when making sharp turns. During these incidents we would restart the ignition and the steering wheel would start working again.

- Boston, MA, USA

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