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2009 Ford Escape Transmission & Power Train Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026

279Power Train complaints
16.5%Of all 1,691 complaints
#2Most-reported category

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

How power train ranks on this vehicle

STEERING817 · 48.3%
POWER TRAIN279 · 16.5%
ENGINE254 · 15%

Share of the 1,691 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC WHILE STOPPED, PRESSED GAS PEDDLE CAR ROLLED BUT NOT STRONG , HESITATED AS I HAD TOLD FORD DEALER, HAD TO SLAM…”NHTSA complaint 10483200 — filed 11/02/2012
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT…”NHTSA complaint 10482869 — filed 11/01/2012
“IN FEBRUARY 2012 (MILEAGE APPROX 32900), I EXPERIENCED JERKING UPON ACCELERATING AS MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE WAS CHANGING GEARS. THE DEALER ASSESSED IT AS A…”NHTSA complaint 10481970 — filed 10/23/2012

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

Power Train complaints by year filed

2201052120121703120141562016362018732020322022122024

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Ford Escape have transmission & power train problems?

Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Ford Escape: 279 of 1,691 complaints on file (16.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Ford Escape have in total?

1,691 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 34 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train category include?

NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines 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 07/12/2026.