2009 Ford Escape structure problems
32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the structure on the 2009 Ford Escape — 2% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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”
filed Mar 10, 2026
“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…”
filed Aug 31, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle…
SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 4, 2023
Structure problems in other Escape years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Escape | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 Escape | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 Escape | 4 | 4% |
| 2022 Escape | 20 | 9% |
| 2021 Escape | 90 | 27% |
| 2020 Escape | 670 | 43% |
| 2019 Escape | 11 | 2% |
| 2018 Escape | 19 | 1% |
| 2017 Escape | 62 | 2% |
| 2016 Escape | 21 | 2% |
| 2015 Escape | 36 | 3% |
| 2014 Escape | 84 | 4% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2009 Ford Escape
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.