NHTSA vehicle safety data
2011 Ford Escape Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2011 Ford Escape has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,319 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 Ford Escape, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2011 Ford Escape owner complaints
Owners have filed 1,319 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Escape, describing incidents dated November 22, 2010 to October 26, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Steering 412 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 284 complaints
- Power Train 268 complaints
- Engine 263 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 245 complaints
- Electrical System 117 complaints
Of the 1,319 complaints on file, 38 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 1,319 complaints, owners report 38 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11773918 · Filed
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…
ODI #11770916 · Filed
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.
ODI #11769905 · Filed
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…
Owner-reported
2011 Ford Escape mileage at failure
1,048 of the 1,319 complaints on file for the 2011 Ford Escape give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | Median 115,000 miles | Middle half 90,000–150,000 miles | Based on 299 complaints |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | Median 50,000 miles | Middle half 40,000–65,000 miles | Based on 197 complaints |
| Power Train | Median 45,000 miles | Middle half 35,000–60,000 miles | Based on 251 complaints |
| Engine | Median 45,000 miles | Middle half 40,000–60,000 miles | Based on 249 complaints |
| Vehicle Speed Control | Median 45,000 miles | Middle half 35,000–55,000 miles | Based on 239 complaints |
| Electrical System | Median 60,000 miles | Middle half 45,000–105,000 miles | Based on 96 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2011 Ford Escape in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Defect Petition DP15-001: Loss of power steering while driving
Closed June 14, 2018
- Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003: Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Closed February 28, 2014
- Defect Petition DP12-006: Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Closed February 21, 2013
- Preliminary Evaluation PE11-016: Rear Liftgate Window Glass Breakage
Closed August 18, 2011
Fuel Delivery Module may Crack and cause Fuel Leak
NHTSA #16V777000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice
Reported October 26, 2016 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 329,265 vehicles
Repair completion: 51.7% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Ford campaign 16S41 · Owners notified November 6, 2017 · Vehicles built February 26, 2009 – April 29, 2012 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Front Wheel Bearing has Wrong Dimensions
NHTSA #15E045000 · Suspension — Front — Wheel Bearing · NHTSA notice
Reported June 3, 2015 · Timken Company
Potentially affected: 576 vehicles
Repair completion: 58.24% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified May 20, 2015
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
NHTSA #14V284000 · Steering — Electric Power Assist System · NHTSA notice
Reported May 29, 2014 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 740,878 vehicles
Repair completion: 72.29% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Ford campaign 14S05 · Owners notified July 18, 2014 · Vehicles built August 18, 2006 – September 11, 2010 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
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.
Manufacturer remedy
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 is 14S05.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Ford Escape model years
Check your 2011 Ford Escape VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Escape at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Ford VIN