There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2011 Ford Escapein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact attempted to make a right turn however, the power steering failed, and the steering wheel became difficult to steer in either direction. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unknown recall however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there might have been a recall on the vehicle for the transmission. The manufacturer was notified, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated when the vehicle was parked the key was inserted into the ignition approximately five times before the vehicle started. Additionally, the contact stated on three occasions while driving at various speeds the steering wheel became stiff. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a independent dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition cylinder switch and torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000. .
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the front driver side wheel seized and would not release. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured wheel dimension as a result the dimensions needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,899.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after turning off the cruise control to reduce the speed from 65 MPH to 60 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal to adjust the speed and then depressed the accelerator pedal to readjust the cruise control however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact then coasted to the side of the road and shifted the vehicle into park(P) then to drive(D), reverse(R) and then neutral(N) while depressing the accelerator pedal however, the failure persisted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called Roadside Assistance who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
Back in June, I took my vehicle to have it checked out. When I accelerate, the SUV would feel like it was dragging something under the tires and riding very rough and bumpy, actually the vehicle was shaking while driving, then it would stop when I slow down. Even when I turn off the engine for a few hours and then drive it, its fine. No warning lights on dashboard. Fred Beans replaced spark plugs, changed filters, cleaned throttle body, oil change. Now it 's doing the same thing. If I am idle in park with AC on for a few minutes, it does it. Sometimes after I fill it with fuel, it does it. As far as I am know, they never checked the fuel pump. SUV shakes for about 2 minutes then stops. It feels as though I am getting a flat in all tires.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEAR, AND FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN FORD DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TRANSFER CASE OVERHEATING AND DUMPING LUBRICANT ON TRANSMISSION/DRIVERS SIDE AXLE SPRAYING ALL OVER.
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.
FORD PART BL8Z-7251-A IN 2001-2012 ESCAPE/MERCURY MARINER/MAZDA TRIBUTE,& SIMILARLY DESIGNED FORD EXPLORER,EDGE, TAURUS, AND SEVERAL MAZDA--ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND 4X4 MODELS ARE MADE WITH KNOWN DEFECTIVE TRANSFERCASES/AUTOMOBLIE DESIGN. THE ENGINE EXHAUST IS PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE GEAR CASE WHICH DRIES THE LUBRICANT WITHIN (12 OZ.). MASSIVE BEARING FAILURE CAN OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT DESTROYING THE TRANSFER CASE, CAUSING A LOCKUP CONDITION, THE CASE OR DRIVE SHAFT CAN BREAK FREE AND RESULT IN A CRASH.
A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM ON 2001-2012 FORD ESCAPE AWD MODELS: THE TRANSFER CASE ON AWD MODELS IS MOUNTED NEAR THE EXHAUST WHICH BAKES AND DRIES LUBRICATION GREASE IN THE TRANSFER CASE RESULTING IN BEARING FAILURE AND LOCK-UP CONDITIONS WHICH CAN CAUSE A CRASH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING UP HILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND OIL DELIVERY SENSOR WERE REPLACED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000. *BF VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY FORD (WAVERLY, OH) WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR FILTER HOSE KEPT COMING OFF BECAUSE IT WAS TOO SHORT. CONSUMER STRETCHED THE HOSE TO KEEP IT FROM COMING OFF. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *DL
MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE XLT 2.5L IS STALLING WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED, TURNING. THE RPM'S ARE JUMPY. CAR STALLS WITH FOOT ON THE GAS IN MID DRIVE! REPLACED THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE AS DIAGNOSED. NOT THE FIX.
FLAT TOWING, ALL FOUR WHEELS ON GROUND, SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, TOWED IN TO DEALERSHIP, TOLD TRANSMISSION WAS BURNED UP. IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE IF LET GO. 86986 MILES ON 2011 ESCAPE. HAVE BEEN FLAT TOWING BEHIND MOTORHOME FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS.
TRANSMISSION BROKE WHILE FLAT TOWING.
I BOUGHT AN RV LAST YEAR AND DECIDED TO PULL IT BEHIND MY RV. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT PROCEDURE IN NEEDED TO DO TO PULL MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE ON ALL FOUR WHEELS BEHIND MY RV AND SO I FOLLOWED THE MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS AND DID SO. WELL I GOT ABOUT 300 MILES FROM MY HOUSE AND THE TRANSMISSION BURNS UP! I HAVE CONTACTED FMCO AND THEY ARE GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND AND NOT WANTING TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY TRANSMISSION WHICH I TOTALLY DISAGREE BECAUSE I FOLLOWED THE MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS.
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.
TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 128000.MILES AND COST US 3500.00 AND WE ONLY OWNED IT FOR LESS THAN A YEAR
SHIFT SOLANOID PROBLEMS WHERE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT. FORD DOES NOT HAVE THESE PARTS ON HAND AND ARE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL MID OCTOBER 2018. WHY? BECAUSE TOO MANY ESCAPE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. A RECALL NEEDS TO CONDUCTED ON THIS ISSUE AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REPLACE THESE SOLANOIDS.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026