Problems · by component

2011 Ford Escape fuel/propulsion system problems

253 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Escape cite fuel/propulsion system, 19% of all 1,319 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
253
19% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel/propulsion system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The fuel pump was replaced and a new one was installed and now the engine is misfiring really hard and when the vehicle is placed in drive or reverse the engine tries to stall. The mechanic is saying that I will have to purchase a fuel rail pressure sensor that controls the fuel to each fuel injector. If this item or the whole fuel system is on a Recall List. Then I shouldn't have to pay anything to have it repaired and replaced by the Dealership. I do need to be notified about this issue immediately. This is a 2011 Ford Escape XLT AWD 4dr SUV with 3.0 V6 Flex Fuel system.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2025Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11641697
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2022Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11481211
“I TRIED TO GET FUEL LATE AT NIGHT IN WINTER WARNING AFTER WORK AND UPON DOING SO, THE NOZZLE AT THE GAS STATION WOULD NOT FIT PROPERLY TO FUEL THE TANK. GAS BEGAN TO LEAK OUT AS I WAS FUELING THE VEHICLE, SQUIRTING UP ONTO MY BODY AND CLOTHING. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NOZZLE DID NOT FIT, HOWEVER I NEEDED DESPERATELY TO GET GAS SO THAT I COULD RETURN HOME IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WHERE I LIVE. I TRIED FILLING THE GAS TANK SLOWLY TO NO AVAIL. THEN I PROCEEDED TO ANOTHER GAS STATION AS THERE ARE NOT MANY AROUND, AND AGAIN NOZZLE WOULD NOT ENTER THE TANK. THIS TIME I COULDN'T EVEN TURN ON THE PUMP. AFTER INSPECTING THE SITUATION, I COULD SEE THAT THE FUEL TANK AREA LOOKED AS THOUGH THE HOLE FOR THE TANK NO LONGER ACCEPTED NOZZLES, THE FUEL FILLER AREA SEEMED TO HAVE SLIPPED AND I NOW I AM UNABLE TO GET GAS AT ALL. THERE WAS NO WARNING- THIS JUST HAPPENED SUDDENLY, PUTTING ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, WITH GASOLINE ON MY CLOTHING, FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND NEARLY STRANDED. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH GAS TO GET HOME, HOWEVER I CAN NOT FUEL MY TANK AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DIRE STRAIGHTS EMERGENCY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2022Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11453639
“MY POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT IS ON AND I CAN NOT STEER MY VEHICLE. I GOT IN TO TAKE MY KIDS OUT AND I COULD NOT STEER. ITS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND I READ THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD UNDER STEERING ISSUE COMPLAINTS. IF MY VEHICLE IS COVERED TO BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NEXT STEP. ITS AROUND $1000 TO FIX AND I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2021Steering, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11405899
“THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED ON MY 2011 FORD ESCAPE. STATIONARY WHEN HAPPENED. SO, FRUSTRATED THAT I CANT STEER IT AND HAVE TWO KIDS I NEED TO TOTE AROUND BUT ITS VERY UNSAFE AND I CANT DRIVE IT WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. ALSO MY FUEL INTAKE FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT IS ON FOR IT. I READ THAT BOTH OF THESE EXACT ISSUES HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON THIS MODEL. PLEASE HELP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2021Steering, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11405046
“I HAVE CALLED FORD MANY TIMES, AS I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME, IT SHOWS THAT MY CAR HAS AN EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK CODE P0457. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT SHOWS THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER 'FIXING'. FORD ESCAPE HAD THIS RECALL IN 2016 BUT FOR SOME REASON I WAS NOT SENT A NOTICE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2021Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11404099

Showing 6 of 253 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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