2011 Ford Escape: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
48%
639 of 1,353 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Ford Escape are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 61% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN04/10/2015CRASH2 INJURED
WHILE SLOWING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A TURNING LANE BEHIND TWO OTHER VEHICLES, THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM GEAR AND DISENGAGED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION REENGAGED THE ENGINES REMAINING TORQUE NOT YET DISPLACED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD CAUSING A LOSE OF CONTROL AND THE BRAK…
POWER TRAIN02/01/2016CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS WALKING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO PUT LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING TOWARDS HER. THE CONTACT DOVE TO THE GROUND ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO AVOID BEING HIT. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND STRUCK THE POLE TO THE BUILDING…
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE02/07/2026
I purchased this vehicle on 10/16/25 through Affordable Auto Sales 692 Pleasant St Fall River Ma as it is a buy here pay here. It had 97,626 miles on it day of purchase. I noticed trouble with power steering as it is electric and kept locking up and asked several times to fix it. It didn't get repaired until the week …
Three of 639 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner …
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service …
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. Th…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 Ford Escape
Ask the seller whether the transmission has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many transmission faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the transmission.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A transmission already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
