Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and initially diagnosed with brake master cylinder failure. The brake master cylinder was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The mechanic then diagnosed the vehicle with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) and hydraulic failure. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) and hydraulic needed to be replaced however, parts were not available. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45-55 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal traveled down to the floorboard and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact depressed the brake pedal harder, and the vehicle came to a complete stop. The contact drove to the residence, where the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed to the floor before the vehicle started to slow down. The contact veered to the side of the road and waited for a few minutes to restart the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS system was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35-45 MPH, the brake pedal would go to the floorboard when depressed. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with hydraulic brake control failure. The mechanic informed the contact that it was a recurring issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the pedal extended to the floor and the vehicle did not immediately stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the brake master cylinder however, the failure recurred. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty ABS module however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 200,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle was slow to respond. The contact stated that the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Unknown. Steering and brakes locked so i lost all control of the vehicle doing about 60 mph down the highway. Which resulted in being drove off the side of the highway through a fence hitting 2 trees before rolling twice. The airbags never deployed and both my passenger and i were taken to the hospital by ambulance. They sustained deep bruising and i suffered a closed wedge compression fracture of the L2 Vertebrae and some lacerations
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would depress the floorboard without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who performed various brake tests and found no faults with the braking system. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
I was parking my car at a mechanical shop. When I pulled into a parking spot the car failed to stop and went into the neghbors yard going into the wire fence scracthing the the car. I was not going fast but car was scratch up badly. As far as I know the car was not inspected by anyone. The car stayed at the mechanic's garage for about seven weeks until the ABS was replaced.
Purchased car in Dec 20. Brakes were 'mushy'. Previous owner had over $1000 in brake work done (new pads-front, shoes - rear, new master cylinder, new rotors, etc.) I am a GM and John Deere-trained mechanic. I determined the defect was in the ABS valve assembly. There is at least 1 of 4 ABS side solenoid valves not seating/sealing properly. Replaced the defective ABS unit with a low mileage used valve assembly, keeping the original ECU since it is keyed to the VIN. 9 months later, the ECU has failed (Code B1342 ABS ECU inoperative). Service brakes are still tight and function. Tried cleaning / reseating main wiring connector with no luck. Problem was sporadic over past 60 days (ABS light / ASC / Parking brake lights illuminated) and then would disappear. ECU finally failed completely with warning lights on continuously. Vehicle has 142,000 miles and is over 12 yrs old. …
Brake complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2009 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 108 complaints about the brakes of the 2009 Ford Escape, 6% of the model year's 1,693 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Ford Escape brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2009 Ford Escape, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Ford Escape brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.