Saturday, August 8, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2009 Ford Escape vs 2009 Toyota Highlander

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2009 Ford Escape2009 Toyota Highlander
NHTSA complaints1,691134
Recall campaigns19
Service bulletins (TSBs)45292
Investigations32
Crash reports346
Fire reports25
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)20–3219–26
Median reported incident mileage91,000 mi67,260 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentFord EscapeToyota Highlander
Steering82711
Power Train3017
Vehicle Speed Control27914
Engine25423
Electrical System14320
Fuel/propulsion System1151
Service Brakes9421
Fuel System, Gasoline881

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling1970
Loss of power1920
Steering problems1720
Vibration / shaking850
Check engine light810
Hesitation / surging650
Rust / corrosion340
Clunking / rattling99

Compare all Ford Escape vs Toyota Highlander years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.