Problems · by component

2009 Ford Escape structure problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Ford Escape cite structure, 2% of all 1,693 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
2% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was severe rusting and rot on the frame rail. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 184,500”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2026StructureODI 11723370
“The subframe is rusted. There is an actual hole in the subframe. Yes, as of today, it is available for inspection. It has been put on a lift and looked at by an independent service center, which deemed it unsafe to drive. Because of this costly issue, the vehicle has been parked and not driven, leaving me without transportation as I cannot afford to replace an entire subframe as patching doesn’t seem to be an option due to the amount of rust.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2025StructureODI 11684191
“The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, who determined that the passenger-side front subframe was rotten. The front and rear underbody were rotten. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2024StructureODI 11625287
“Was informed during inspection the subframe is rusted very badly and could fail. In doing research the 2009 Ford escape has had these recalled for this specific reason that the subframe components were not properly coated causing rust and failure. My VIN isn't on the list after speaking to Ford. My next step is to address you to see if it needed to get added as it is exact nature of the original 2006 subframe recall that mine is not a part of yet needs to be”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2023Suspension, StructureODI 11537019
“The passenger rear panel paint is bubbling and has rust under the bubbled paint. This is a defect noticed on all the Ford Escapes that I see in parking lots and pre owned vehicle lots. This is a factory defect that I and a lot of other Escape owners feel the manufacturer should take responsibility for and recall the issue so we can get our vehicles fixed. The cost to do it is not covered under my insurance. The safety of others is if you have small kids that are near the vehicle can get rust in their mouth if they touch the area that the bubbled paint has fallen off. The child could touch the bubble, the paint comes off the vehicle and they put it in their mouth. The chips of paint if they try to swallow them could cut their throat trying to swallow the paint chip. The bubble was noticed after owning the vehicle for a year. When I asked at a dealership they mentioned that this is a flaw with the Escapes and nothing can be done about it other than taking it to a body shop and have them remove the rust and paint the quarter panel. That is very expensive.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2022StructureODI 11458457
“The front sub frame rusted out on the passenger side. The is a 1inch by 5 inch hole in the sub frame. The lower control arm could have come off and the whole spindle and tire could have come off the vehicle while driving. Haggerty Ford iin West Chicago, Il noticed the large hole while doing an inspection for an oil change.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2021StructureODI 11445590

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.