2011 Ford Escape Hybrid problems & reliability
37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering → | 14 | 38% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 22% |
| Power Train | 5 | 14% |
| Engine | 4 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 11% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 8% |
| Unknown OR Other | 3 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical System | 1 | 3% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 13 reported components →Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 34 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 80,500 miles (middle 50% between 41,000 and 101,625 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The steering wheel locked in one position i pulled over shut off the car restarted and the steering wheel started working again. Is their a recall on my 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid with this problem. This scared me to death I got lucky and the road was straight and I was able to stop the car. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX]…”
Steering · filed Jul 1, 2026
“The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, while attempting to stop the vehicle the brake pedal extended to the floorboard, causing the stopping distance to be extended. The vehicle was taken to…”
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · filed Aug 5, 2025
“The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while 65 MPH on the freeway, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering assist failed to operate. The contact stated that after turning off and restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned; however, the…”
Steering · filed Apr 17, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds
Defect Petition DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
- Loss of power steering while driving
Defect Petition DP15001 · opened Apr 1, 2015 · closed Jun 14, 2018
- Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Defect Petition DP12006 · opened Oct 2, 2012 · closed Feb 21, 2013
Technical service bulletins
4 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid.
Some 2005-2012 Escape Hybrid and 2006-2011 Mariner Hybrid vehicles may set DTCs P0A81 (battery pack cooling fan 1 control circuit) and/or P0A96 (battery pack cooling fan 2 control circuit) in the traction battery…
TSB 16-0118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 8, 2016
Ford: no service action is recommended for this condition. Please use at your discretion. Various 2010-2015 vehicles may experience a turbulence noise, similar to an helicopter noise, at highway speeds when the rear…
44863 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 1, 2015
Ford: on various vehicles with my touch,after any apim programming, replacement or disconnect from front display interface module (fdim), touchscreen calibration must be performed. Model years 2011-2013. No models…
AS1-32241 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2013
Ford: due to a possible leak in the internal check valve, the red brake lamp illuminates with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) c1015, c0101c or p1a1b with brake pedal feeling no change. *pe
TSB-22353 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2012
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 80,500 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.