2011 FORD ESCAPE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Escape. This model year has 1,310 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Steering Defects.
Before you buy — check the actual VIN
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2011 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Considering a 2011 Ford Escape?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Ford Escape. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 405 | 7 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 268 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 265 | 3 | 5 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 253 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 245 | 5 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 115 | 2 | 3 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 55 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 42 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 33 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 33 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 31 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 26 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 26 | 18 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 24 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 23 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | 4 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,310 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
For months my vehicle has had intermittent loss of power steering making it nearly impossible to control direction. On Jan. 29, 2026, I ran into the back of a vehicle that stopped suddenly and due to sudden power steering loss, I wasn't able to swerve and avoid collision. I was…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while starting the vehicle the contact became aware that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle ope…
Power steering went out all of a sudden
The contact had performed service on the 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the owner had experienced unintended loss of power steering functionality, making the steering wheel difficult to turn in either direction. The failure was intermittent. During the failure, the che…
Torque sensor. No warning. Has not been looked at by a mechanic. Was working fine when I parked it. Came back out and it was steering funny and making a grinding sound
Component: Driver-side door latch and lock assembly. The driver-side door latch appears to have failed, preventing the door from opening from both the inside and outside and creating an occupant entrapment risk. The failure is fully reproducible and ongoing. The condition first…
I purchased this vehicle on 10/16/25 through Affordable Auto Sales 692 Pleasant St Fall River Ma as it is a buy here pay here. It had 97,626 miles on it day of purchase. I noticed trouble with power steering as it is electric and kept locking up and asked several times to fix it…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel failed to operate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was extremely tight, and excessive force was needed to stee…
My power steering has failed five times in the last year. Yes, my vehicle is available for inspection. The power steering went out on me while I was driving, making it very hard to turn my steering wheel. Took it to a Ford dealer last year. They said they couldn't find anything w…
i have a cliking nose in my steering wheel when i am driving
My young daughter lost control of our 2011 FORD HYBRID ESCAPE vehicle with 94770 miles after starting the vehicle on moving off. She crashed into the sidewalk to avoid hitting pedestrians. ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE was lost. Car was taken to AutoNation Ford, St Pete…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel intermittently failed to turn in the intended direction. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the power steering assis…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 101,000, and at the …
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that several messages were displayed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mecha…
Subject: Urgent Safety Concern – Request for Recall Coverage Assistance To Whom It May Concern, I am writing with a heartfelt and urgent request regarding a serious malfunction in my vehicle's steering column, which has made it extremely difficult to turn. This presents a clear a…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel became extremely tight. The vehicle was taken to an independent mech…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the fuel tank was leaking and there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the fuel le…
My car is experiencing the issue in this recall for powerstearing but my vin is not associated, my ford year make mosel and issue is called out in the recall but my 2011 escape vin does not pull up the recall. I lose power steering and its not safe to drive. 14v284000 14so5 I c…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH the power steering function became inoperable. The contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle several times to regain power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illum…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel intermittently seized. The contact removed the key from the ignition, then re-inserted and pushed the key into the ignition to correct the failure. The contact stated that …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Ford Escape.
Recalls for 2011 Ford Escape
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Ford Escape. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2011 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Ford Escape reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Ford Escape has 1,310 NHTSA owner complaints, 38 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (405 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Escape?▾
#1: Steering Defects (405 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (268 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (265 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Ford Escape?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Ford Escape?▾
The 2011 Ford Escape has 38 crash-related complaints and 7 fire reports out of 1,310 total NHTSA complaints. 38 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Ford Escape have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2011 Ford Escape. The largest issue: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2011 Ford Escape?▾
The 2011 Ford Escape has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2011 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.