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Ford Escape HybridModel year report

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Problems

Compared with other Ford Escape Hybrid years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

34/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
153filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
90,000miles, 143 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
32 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 34 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Escape Hybrid most often describe losing power steering assist, typically without much warning, and losing hydraulic braking assist, where the pedal goes to the floor and warning lights come on. Both issues are reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 150,000, and many complaints say a restart sometimes restores normal operation. A smaller group describes sudden loss of acceleration or a stall, often tied to the electronic throttle.

  1. Steering

    Power steering assist cuts out

    • 63 complaints (41%)
    • median 112,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (57 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,550 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2026

    Drivers describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes with a 'power steering assist fault' message and sometimes with no warning at all. Many say the assist returned after switching the vehicle off and restarting it, while others were told by dealers that a torque sensor or the power steering control module needed replacement. Several owners note their VIN was not covered by the steering recall and that repairs were quoted at their own expense. Reported from roughly 20,000 to over 250,000 miles, with many complaints between 80,000 and 150,000 miles and no clear weather pattern.

    What to check: Ask whether the steering assist has ever dropped out or the power steering fault message has appeared, and whether any recall or software work was done on the steering system. On a test drive, check that assist is present from a cold start and after a restart.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving to work. The powertrain light came on, my car started jerking. It wouldn't accelerate and the steering wheel became difficult to control. I had to pull to the side of the road. I turned off the ignition and restarted it. It was ok. That has happened twice since that first incident.”

    NHTSA complaint #10547049, filed 2013-10, 72,715 miles

    “Total power steering failure on start up when backing out of driveway. The power steering has been intermittent since then. Seems most likely to fail when cold. So far it has started working once warmed up and restarted. The vehicle is very hard to control when the power steering is not working. I'm concerned it will fail while driving and cause an accident. I plan on taking it to the dealership today.”

    NHTSA complaint #10652993, filed 2014-11, 96,700 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake pedal goes to the floor, warning lights on

    • 28 complaints (18%)
    • median 61,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (26 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2020

    Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor with little or no braking response, usually together with the brake, ABS and traction control warning lights. Some say the condition cleared after the vehicle was shut off and restarted, and that dealers could not duplicate the failure or found codes only after the pedal had been pushed all the way down. In several complaints the hydraulic control unit or a module was replaced; one service bulletin for this vehicle describes ABS warning light activation from the left front wheel speed sensor area. Reported from under 1,000 miles to about 150,000 miles, with a cluster of complaints between roughly 20,000 and 70,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the brake warning lights have ever come on or the pedal has felt soft or long, and whether the ABS module or hydraulic unit has been replaced. Check the brake fluid level and that all warning lamps go out after start-up.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Two weeks ago, at 50,000 miles and just back from the dealer's service, my brakes failed at start-up: very little braking action and a warning on the dash. I drove it around the block and went through four stop signs. I had it towed back to the dealer, where it has been ever since. The technician there found a code for over-extended brake pedal -- naturally the result when the brakes fail and the pedal goes to the floor. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10442798, filed 2012-01, 49,398 miles

    “Sudden and immediate loss of braking system without any warning lights etc. I had started car, backed down my driveway and entered roadway when ABS and brake warning lights appeared and I had no braking system operating. I had to be towed to a service station.”

    NHTSA complaint #10905581, filed 2016-09, 86,485 miles
  3. Engine

    Sudden loss of power or limited acceleration

    • 40 complaints (26%)
    • median 87,749 mi at 7.0 yrs old (40 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2019

    Owners describe the wrench or check engine light coming on and the vehicle dropping to a crawl, sometimes around 20-30 mph, with the accelerator on the floor having little effect. Complaints often mention code P2112 and the electronic throttle body; some say the dealer replaced the throttle body, and others report the part was backordered or that their VIN was not included in warranty coverage for it. A few describe the vehicle stalling outright after extended driving. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 170,000 miles, often during highway or steady-speed driving.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced or any throttle-related software work done, and whether the wrench light has appeared. During a test drive, note any hesitation or surging and ask for a scan of stored codes.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Throttle body recall issue, but for some reason I'm not covered car stalled, then restarted, then went into limp mode 2 miles later. Then on aug 4, 2016 throttle body completely failed and I limped back to dealership (fugate Ford) where it is awaiting repairs but I am told my VIN isn't on throttle body recall code 2112 Ford notice 13n03”

    NHTSA complaint #10894223, filed 2016-08, 146,000 miles

    “While driving, the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid slowed suddenly and while I still had power, I was unable to accelerate. I was on a busy road and there was nothing I could do to get my vehicle to go . The service engine soon light came on and we were able to enter a neighborhood and pull over. We turned off the car and looked through the manual but couldn't find anything. The car started up again and seemed to drive normal but with the check engine light illuminated. The dealership said the electronic throttle needed to be replaced. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10731171, filed 2015-06, 85,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that focuses on the steering assist and brake systems is worthwhile on this model year, since owners most often describe those two systems losing assist. Ask for service records showing whether steering recall or software work and any brake hydraulic unit replacement were done, and confirm the VIN's recall status directly.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 153 consumer complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. 143 of the complaints include a mileage, and 22% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 5 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 6 Ford Escape Hybrid model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 34 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Air bags (1), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “Upon start vehicle would loose power steering. We would turn the car off and restart and power steering would be working again. Problem begin happening more frequently. After a couple of weeks, took into local dealership and determined we needed a new steering column assembly. Known issue with the 09 Ford escape and when I spoke with customer service, Ford was unwilling to do anything.”

NHTSA complaint #11045588, filed 2017-11, 137,000 miles

Brakes: “My ABS brakes on my 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid engine light came on and the RPM ramped while I was going 65 MPH down a highway and the front passenger brakes started smoking. I took it in to have it fixed and it was going to cost $5700 to fix because of some hcu unit that failed while I was driving at pretty good rate of speed. I am glad it didn't throw me off into a ditch or catch on fire with me in it. What a crappy design this is. Wow!!! Scary stuff.”

NHTSA complaint #11196529, filed 2019-04, 95,000 miles

Engine: “On march 9, 2016, our 2009 Escape Hybrid completely stopped in traffic on boulder highway, las vegas, nevada which occurred about 1 mile from a carwash that we have frequently used no less than 15 times annually. Our vehicle had completely stopped in traffic 5 times within a 1 mile distance between the initial stop on boulder highway to our rv park. At the initial stop in traffic my wife and I had to push our vehicle into a gas station because the vehicle would not restart. …”

NHTSA complaint #10870463, filed 2016-05, 61,832 miles

Vehicle speed control: “While driving you lose power/speed no matter how much you push the gas pedal, an alert symbol comes on the dash especially on the freeway. You have to get over and turn the car off and then back on and it will work for a while. They tell me it is the throttle body that needs repair but my VIN is not one of the effected ones...”

NHTSA complaint #11005584, filed 2017-07, 95,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

22% of the 143 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 58,000 and 124,000 miles.

4%0–104%10–2513%25–5015%50–7520%75–10031%100–15012%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (143 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 90,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’11’1422’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Escape Hybrid · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated5 / 5——3 · 20.4% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Escape Hybrid 4WD2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT292728$2,400
Escape Hybrid FWD2.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT343132$2,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 5 on record; the latest 5 are shown.

Other model years of the Ford Escape Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2023248,0000———Too new
20227045,0000——50 · TypicalRising
202112436,7021——81 · MoreRising
202029028,4001——100 · MoreRising
2013593,0000———Not enough data
20121538,0000—32—Falling
20113779,0000—320 · FewerRising
20105977,6280—320 · FewerRising
200915390,0000—3234 · FewerFalling
200844395,2500—3251 · TypicalFalling
200712491,3890—30Not compared (before 2008)Rising
2006219100,0000—29Not compared (before 2008)Rising
2005178101,0190—29Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Ford Escape Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid?

Owners of the 2009 Escape Hybrid most often describe losing power steering assist, typically without much warning, and losing hydraulic braking assist, where the pedal goes to the floor and warning lights come on. The issues reported most often: Power steering assist cuts out; Brake pedal goes to the floor, warning lights on; Sudden loss of power or limited acceleration.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 153 consumer complaints for the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 70 complaints (46% of the total), followed by brakes with 32.

Has the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid (Escape Hybrid FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 32 mpg combined, 34 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid reported?

Among the 143 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 58,000 and 124,000 miles; 22% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.